Simple casual style: shades, t-shirt and a crispy pair of PF Flyers Sumfun Lo’s. Slimmer than Chuck Taylor’s & available in an array of cool tones with matching laces. The Sumfun Lo is a pure laid-back classic.
The compass watch will not point you to magnetic North, but it does function using a single point of reference. Inspired by aviation instruments, this beefy timepiece from Swiss watchmaker, Bell & Ross, is unique. Two concentric rings – one for hours, the other for minutes – rotate around the single hand at the top of the dial. Sounds tricky, but it’s not. The BR 01-92 Compass is logical. It is also durable & stylish. That’s Swiss precision for you…
Expected release – October 2010
Unlike most products made in Detroit, Equipe Watches might actually sell on the international market. That’s because they’re innovative and stylish. Their auto-inspired designs use proven Miyota/Citizen quartz movement & unique metalwork for looks that are much more European than American Midwest. Oh, and the pricing…more import than domestic, for sure.
In the Congo, African children too small to carry a gun are sent to the frontlines of war armed only with a whistle. Unthinkable, right? But sadly true. Wearing the Falling Whistle helps you share the tragic story of these forgotten children & gives them a voice. 100% of the proceeds goes to rehabilitating kids traumatized by the ongoing wars in Africa.
The mellower product collabs are the good ones. Kevin Smith makes cool movies, like Clerks, Mall Rats, and Chasing Amy. Etnies makes cool shoes for skateboarding & hanging out. Multiply these two characters and you have the Kevin Smith x Etnies collection. Some casual kicks logo’d down with IDs from Smith’s flicks. No big deal…but definitely dope even if you’re not “Schmokin weed, drinkin’ beeaz …”
Two American classics have teamed up to make a fine-quality watch even better. Hamilton Watches and actor/philanthropist Harrison Ford are bringing exposure to the Team Earth Project – an environmental program bringing industries & individuals together to make a difference. By choosing this American-made stainless steel, pilot-style, analog timepiece, you’re helping Team Earth spread the message of environmental awareness in a fresh way.
Stronghold has been making genuine denim workwear in Southern California since 1895. Way back when hard work was actually done in the region. Regardless, the timeless-style of this sturdy workcoat is a great fit for hard labor or cool nights on the coast. Made of 100% loom-woven selvage denim with a button front & 4 patch pockets – it’s (old) fashion that really functions.
Alchemy Goods is a brand really focused on recycling or upcycling as they call it – making used & discarded products into something new. In the case of their new belt, the ’cycling that inspired this product was actual cycling. As in bicycling. Made from rubber bike inner tubes, this belt is stitched into something stylish & functional to hold up your trousers. And, it’s made right here in Seattle, Washington.
Think about it. What does wearing a Guns-N-Roses shirt say about you & your tastes? Hold that thought. Now, imagine that same 100% cotton, slim-fit T with the cover art from the classics of world literature. Nothing says “I’m an intellectual” like wearing the book cover from Atlas Shrugged or Moby Dick. Make sure to at least read the Cliff Notes before wearing.
How often do you read “Made in Africa” on a label? The answer is not often. The export of raw materials to other countries is the general trend in Africa, but the guys at Sawa are taking one small step to change things by keeping it all on the continent. Sawa Shoes are made in Africa using only African materials…and that’s fresh. So are the kicks.
Try Soula in Brooklyn to score a pair.
First, the Threadless brand pioneered the custom-graphic T-shirt store with unique, artist-submitted designs. Now, they’re moving into custom graphic footwear by teaming up with Havaianas, makers of classic rubber flip-flops. With designs borrowed from some of Threadless’ most popular Tees, the vibrant graphic flip-flop footbeds are looking really good right now…especially compared to your toes.
It’s almost universal among men: every time we walk into the mall to buy clothes, we feel stupid. Well, that’s because shopping in the traditional way is stupid. It’s 2010 and we all have better things to do with our time. Now you can feel smart. Check out the wardrobe/stylist service Trunk Club. They assign you an expert, create your custom profile & then do the shopping for you. Even better, they ship your new duds via Fedex (for free) and you keep what you like. Logic in shopping, who would’ve thought …
Due to a massive increase in male-pattern baldness, the unseemly fedora has had a resurgence in popularity in the last few years. So, chances are you have one. But not one of these. The Cassette Tape Fedora has a great shape, perfect brim – it’s a good hat. But, the story behind it is much cooler. It’s woven out of “Sonic Fabric,” which is a blend of actual audio tape & regular thread. Sounds cool, right? It’s the brainchild of designer, Alyce Santoro. A tie is also available.
Simple fact: certain occasions call for a black leather oxford shoe. That doesn’t mean you have to follow in dad’s footsteps and don a pair of funeral Hush Puppies. Not even. The Bed|Stü Men’s Fiorentino Cobbler is a great alternative. These handcrafted cap-toe shoes are made of distressed leather with gold rivet details. Comfy too – fully cushioned insole & knobby rubber outsole. Definately not your dad’s kicks.
The Threadless online store offers heaps of cool, clever graphic T-shirts. Designers submit their own designs, the best of which get printed and then sold on the site. One epic example is this kicker by Tom Burns called The Communist Party. Featuring Stalin, Lenin and other infamous Commies toting keg cups and rocking party hats, its bold, red & tongue-in-cheek funny.
Like flip-flops, shorts are only allowed so far from the beach – maximum distance about 1-mile. Any further, you’re committing a fashion foul. So to beat the summer heat without penalty, Outlier’s Ultralight Summer Pants will take you the rest of the way. The thin nylon-blend weave is cool, the cut is casual. They’ll take you beyond the harbor, downtown to dinner and right out to the nightclub, where someone in shorts would (and should), be turned away at the door.
