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.
Mac Premo and Sanford Shapes collaborated to make skateboards out of discarded plastic buckets from construction sites. They and 14 other artists answered a challenge posed by the World Wildlife Fund - UK and Do The Green Thing to "take stuff that already exists, repurpose it, and give it new life."
This week, Supreme followed up cherry (2014), the brand's grimy debut skate video, with the red devil. It's more of the same from cherry director William Strobeck, with the likes of legend Jason Dill and strong BX up-and-comer Tyshawn Jones casually stomping ridiculous tricks and generally defying authority.
Woolrich John Rich & Bros. is celebrating 185 years with an extraordinary collection. It's divided into three themes. The "Authentic" line (with pieces such as the railroad vest and hunting jacket) features original American wools from the Woolrich woollen mill in Pennsylvania. "Teton" gets technical with a focus on performance, durability, and protection from the elements. The "Contemporary" offerings--knitwear, felted-wool blazers, fleece chinos--are stylish, comfortable, and casual. You'll be keeping an eye out for this sizzle next fall.
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