The Fall/Winter 2015 collection from Osaka's Ring Jacket marks the brand's first launch in the United States. Using a blend of Japanese, British, American, and Italian sensibilities, they have been producing some of the finest Japanese ready-to-wear garments since 1954.
Hats off to Ernest Packaging Solutions for creating a space for creativity, innovation, and all-around fun. Their "Cardboard Chaos" series, in conjunction with Signal Snowboards, is all about testing the limits of cardboard through a bunch of design challenges. In the videos below, a surfboard and skateboard are designed and built from paper before being field tested by pros like Tony Hawk.
Dating to 1771, Gieves & Hawkes is one of the oldest tailoring houses in the world, and while they still offer bespoke tailoring and shoe making that is the epitome of refinement and sartorial precision, creative director Jason Basmajian's most recent collection appears decidedly more casual.
"Vacancy" is the newest clip from Nick von Werssowetz, aka lurknyc, the up-and-coming videographer documenting NYC skateboarders. It has all the grit and grime you've come to expect from von Werssowetz and his crew, especially after the release of "Strangers" (2015), a 16-minute rampage through the streets of New York.
Eiichiro Homma has been designing Nanamica(translation: House of the Seven Seas) since 2003, and he continues to be at the forefront of contemporary Japanese menswear. (He is also responsible for North Face Purple Label.) Homma's latest Nanamica collection, entitled "One Ocean, All Lands," represents the things you love about the brand: very wearable, modern interpretations of traditional pieces made from technically advanced materials. Who doesn't like to look good while staying warm and dry?
Based in rural upstate New York, the Aurora Shoe Company has been making quality shoes by hand for both men and women since the early 1990s. All materials are sourced domestically--including leathers from Horween and Vibram soles--and assembled by skilled artisans. While their staple slip-on, the Middle English, isn't going anywhere, the folks at Aurora recently introduced their first new men's design in more than 20 years. The North Pacific is a stylish, full-grain leather chukka mounted on a sturdy Vibram sole. If you order, they recommend sending tracings of your feet to insure the best fit. After all, comfort and long-lasting wear are of the utmost importance.
Christopher Bastin, creative director of Gant Rugger, used Sonoma County as inspiration for his forthcoming Fall/Winter 2015 collection. For your money, Bastin has beautifully blended Gant's prep aesthetic with the more relaxed California wine country vibe. He describes the looks as "what you'd expect when you open your heavy, wooden, countryside closet door."
Beckett Simonon is on a mission to provide stylish, handmade shoes at the most affordable price. Their team handles all aspects of design, production, and sales, which significantly reduces the markups that you're used to absorbing when purchasing footwear. Recently, they shifted their approach so that the customers decide through a pre-ordering process which models will be made. With all four styles in the inaugural March campaign successfully funded, the April offerings--cap-toe oxford, penny loafer, double monk, and tassel loafer--are now on the table. Each model is made of full-grain leather and features Blake construction, which means they can be easily resoled. Orders for the current batch will be accepted through April 30, and are expected to ship in late June. Price per pair is $135, or buy two pairs for $235 with the code "2PAIRS" at checkout.
St. Pauli is a German football club known for their left-wing politics, punk ethos, and fantastic match atmosphere. They've also got a progressive approach to management, allowing their supporters a real voice and engaging with them so the club thrives as a community.
The newest addition to the Corning Museum of Glass in Steuben County, New York, was designed by architect Thomas Phifer. The 100,000-square-foot Contemporary Art + Design Wing includes a 26,000-square-foot building dedicated to the presentation of contemporary art in glass. Adjacent to the new gallery, a renovated historic glass factory ventilator building houses a 500-seat theatre for glassmaking demonstrations. The new wing opened to the public on March 20, 2015.
