NSC Expedition Sweater

 

 A great stumble upon of yesterday is the Expedition Sweater from North Sea Clothing. I was already looking for a good woolen sweater which could be worn over one of my denim shirts, which does not look preppy or stupid. The shawl collar seemed a good suggestion after I found some in Free & Easy. The problem was that I forgot the brands shown and lost the magazine. Bummer.

This sweater is made in England from 100% wool and comes in navy and white. Nice details are the brass shank anchor button - liking the definition - and the longer waist rib and inset arm. It cost almost 150 euro and is available through NSC and Garbstore. (images via Slamxhype)

Dead Stock Red Wings 708

Finding a dead stock pair of Red Wing Shoes is always an adventure. The best finds are when you have no clue as to when they were made or what they were specifically intended for. Then you know you have to really dig in to find all the information about this specific pair of boots.

A fine example of a pair of Red Wing Shoes that is completely unfamiliar to me is this 708 found on Ebay. It is in mint condition and it seems to be made out of oil tanned leather, possibly the Oro-iginal. The model has a round toe, is about 8 inches high with eyelets and speedhooks. Cool detail is the extra eyelets above the speedhooks. The crepe outsole is completely flat and the pattern is different from the traction tred seen on the current lifestyle collections.

I wander what line of work this boot was intended for. Seen this boots before? Let us know! Thanks to Jonathan Carroll for providing us with the link.

Meeting Mr. Sweasy

Yesterday we were fortunate enough to meet the owner of Red Wing Shoes, William J. (Bill) Sweasy. He is the third generation of his family to be a Red Wing Shoes executive. His grandfather gained control over the Red Wing Shoe Company in 1920, nine years after founder Charles Beckman retired, through stock purchases, and would become president one year later. In 1984, his grandson became president at the age of 33. How amazing is that?

You can imagine this was a unique opportunity. He even came to visit the store again today to buy shoes as a present for a friend of his. One pair of Briar Oil Slick Mocs coming right up sir! You can see Martijn and me with Mr. Sweasy on the picture. Crazy weekend..

Woolrich Beanie

A new addition to our accessories of the season are the Rib Hats from Woolrich. The soft fabric is very comfortable. Hardly a surprise, considering it consists of 95 percent wool and 5 percent cashmere. You can wear it US Navy style or like Rene, if you want to hide your lunch. Available in navy, grey and black for €49,90.

Fruta del Diablo

Not only taste makes food attractive. It might sound a bit strange but the outside, the packaging, is at least as important in determining whether you want to buy a product or not. If something is wrapped or packaged in an original way, it is much likelier to draw my attention and therefore have a much bigger chance of being purchased (by me).

This deadly salsa is a good example. It is a design concept made for Fruta del Diablo by Colorado based design agency Moxie Sozo. Not sure if the salsa is sold like this, but I love the designs inspired by woodcuts of Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada. This style could also be cool for a tattoo. (via FFOUND)

Red Wing Shoes on Star Tribune

The Star Tribune from Minneapolis-St. Paul posted an interesting article called "Sole Survivor" about Red Wing Shoes. They visited the factory, where it was shown part of the production process. It also features detailed information about the brand's growth after the recession that shook economies around the world. Read the full article on the website of the Star Tribune.

Red Wing Winter Socks

The first snow in Holland is predicted to fall this weekend and that calls for some good warm socks for your Red Wings. Our favorites are the woolen socks that Red Wing offers. The Merino Hiker is my personal favorite due to the softness of the wool. Merino sheep produce a fine wool that does not itch. Wearing these over the next few months, you can be sure your feet stay dry and warm until spring rolls around again.

For the extremely cold days we have the Arctic sock that adds extra warmth, wicks away moisture and provides cushioning. Another bestseller is the Deluxe Wool Crew sock, a woolen classic - slightly thicker around the heel and toe area - a must have this winter! The Merino Hiker and Wool Crew retail for €9,90 and their big brother goes for €19,90.

Denim Sweat Pants

These "jeans" are not actually made of denim. In fact, they were made of fleece with a denim model digitally printed on the fabric. Each print resembles a specific model from denim history. The pants are made by Japanese label The Talking About The Abstraction Collection, which is famous for this kind of printing. Always up for a joke, I would to love to go to the gym in these. (via slamxhype)

Duluth Pack Wanderer

 

Yesterday we received the first shipment (still waiting for the rest) of our beloved Duluth Packs. The star of the team is the Wanderer pack in waxed canvas. As a city boy I find this a big pack, but for a Duluth Pack it is actually one of the medium versions. The Wanderer is a smaller version of the famous Rambler pack. Noted on the Duluth website is  "it is a functional pack with European flair." No clue what is meant with this phrase (because it is made in the USA), but we like it. 

Also available now are the Navy and Olive drab color Utility Packs. More info on these soon on the blog, or check them out in our shop.

Journal de Nimes Nº6 -The Dutch issue-

Yesterday we celebrated the launch of the Journal de Nimes Nº6 -The Dutch issue- together with the 2 year anniversary. I was honored to contribute to this issue of the journal. Here is a piece of what I wrote about our store:

"We try to provide people with products that fit their demand for good leather shoes, bags and accessories. The whole collection is built around a story of leather, canvas, durability and comfort. These elements combined with a good sense of style, a huge amount of enthusiasm and eagerness to learn more is our way of providing you with with something we found missing in our city."

Read the whole issue here.

Vintage Barbour Liddesdale

Recently I bought this Quilted Vintage Barbour Liddesdale vest for only € 20,- at a secondhand store in Amsterdam. A great find for a great price considering it still retails for about € 120! It is in mint condition and has a great fit. A lot of fashion brands jumped on this trend and are producing a similar look to the Liddesdale, but of course its like Conner Macleod said in Highlander: '' There can be only one''.

This is Matthijs modelling for this post by the way. He wanted to try the fit and I took advantage of the moment by taking the picture for this post.

Pendleton Motor Robe

Winter is kicking in for real in Amsterdam. A warm companion in the form of a woolen blanket is alway welcome in my house. Suitable for a watching a DVD on the couch or a cold picnic in the park. Just arrived in our shop is a small selection of the famous Pendleton blankets.

One of the blankets we carry is the Motor Robe. Also called steamer rug, it will be your best friend on every occasion where you can use a bit of warmth. Made in the USA of 100% pure virgin wool. It will be yours for EU 109,90. We carry these in blue and red plaid.

Filson Tote Bag with Zip

We finally have a tote that meets our demands. Normally the only use I have for a shopper is bringing it to the supermarket to be honest. For me, regular designs are not suitable for day-to-day use. My stuff gets wet when it rains and a typical tote looks feminine.

The Filson Tote with zipper is better equipped then most of the competition. The slight boxy design makes it look a bit more masculine. The branded zipper is of thick quality and keeps your stuff dry. The canvas and bridle leather are of outstanding quality, as you can expect from Filson. The handles are medium length, easy to carry on you shoulder or in your hand. Available now for EU 179,90 in the Tan colorway .

Demons Swallow The Sky

Another blog has caught my attention, and not even because of the fashion or the innovative ideas or creative blogposts, but more so because this guy does something different. Often enough, 'different' can mean good or not so much. But to be able to do something that's both interesting and keeps you entertained is something worth writing about. ''Demons Swallow The Sky" shows us a way to portray the world of war and violence from a different view and every photo is surprisingly different from the next. Enjoy...

Schnee's Rifleman's Shirt

Schnee's is a technical outdoor and hunting brand from Bozeman (which means ''angry man'' in Dutch), Montana. Since 1946 they have a mission to provide the best outdoor products to customers worldwide. You can tell they have 60 years of experience when you look at their collection of boots, apparel and related outdoor equipment.

One of the cool items I noticed was the Rifleman's Shirt. Not sure what the fabric is made of, but it is warm like wool and has the wicking and drying properties of a synthetic shirt. It may sound a bit technical but it features nice details like its triple stitching, leather reinforced button loops and collar stand. Looking good on a cold windy day!

Levi's Meatpacking

Last Thursday Levi's opened a new concept store in the Meatpacking District of New York. Quite a big space with its surface area of 420 square meters. The collection available contains Levi's Vintage, and the collaborative "Levi's Workwear by.." collections with Filson and Pendleton.

I was pleasantly surprised to read that they are also going to sell accessories by Billykirk and Upstate. There is an actual tailor in the store were you can get your denims modified or repaired. Not cheap, but I like that this service is offered. The pictures shown are a selection from the interior design and a peak into the tailor shop-in-shop.

(photo credit - Phillip Angert Photography)

11" Engineer Bruiser

Last week we received some fine additions to our collection in the shop. Next to the already familiar colorways we got two 11" Engineer Bruisers in. The Sand Bruiser and the Oro Russet Bruiser share a very special look. The leathers are distressed and look like they have been treated with a steel brush. As you can see they both have darker spots on the toe area and the shaft. This is done with a process of heat and friction for a more rugged look. You no longer need to drag your boots behind your car to rough them up.

They combine well with washed or heavy worn in denim. When you wear this style keep in mind that the boot has an "old" look. Shape the shaft of the boot a bit so it matches with the color. The picture above gives you a example of how it should look. Last but not least, get your outsoles dirty.

Cone Mills x Levi's 505

The 505 is a good classic. Originally from 1967, not as famous as the 501 one but very popular because of its different fit around the waist. Lay the 505 and the 501 next to each other and you can clearly see the difference. Levi's released a 505 jean constructed with the infamous Cone Mills denim. No mill today is as rich in history, and it still has strong ties to the Levi's brand because of the interconnected heritage.

The Cone Mills x Levi's 505 Limited edition - only 505 pairs - is sold at the Levi's Concept Stores in San Francisco and New York Meatpacking District. It costs an affordable $178 USD. The only thing missing is the chainstitch on the hems as commented on HB's original post. Too bad, but that is something the guys from Tenue de Nimes can solve for you.

(pics via Hypebeast)

INFLUENCERS

INFLUENCERS FULL VERSION from R+I creative on Vimeo.

INFLUENCERS: How trends & creativity become contagious surfaces as it highlights the idea of influence and stickiness in creative worlds such as fashion and music. A wealth of New York -based creatives are interviewed to each offer their own respective insights into what it means to be influential and how that notion is achieved.

(via Peter Giang)

Disciple Wallet

Texas based Barrett Alley makes leather accessories by hand. Production begins with the selection of organic materials. Whenever possible the use of American raw materials is preferred. Every products is hand-cut and sewn and produced in limited supply.

Cool detail is the signature hand-stitching. It is even stronger than machine-stitching. When a machine stitch breaks it falls apart but a saddle stitch by hand won't because it will be held together by one of the two treads. This best and most affordable item is the Disciple Wallet. It looks like a small envelope and is ideal for your cards. For coins you already have the fourth one on your jeans right?

Smokejumpers

You've probably seen people putting out forest fires with the help of hand tools and hard labor. I only recently learned that people parachute out of aircrafts to be dropped near the actual blaze. This line of work is called "smokejumping" and has a very long history dating back to the end of WWI. After the war, the U.S. Forest Service began setting up aerial patrols with the help of the US Army Corps. This was to detect forest fires in a early stage. They did some experiment with parachutists but it was found to be dangerous and impractical because "..many deemed parachutists to be daredevils, crackpots, or crazy, and so the thought of having men jump to fires had little chance of gaining recognition.."

In 1935 Aerial Fire Control Experimental Project was started. They would experiment with water and chemical bombings. Bombing was considered impractical with the equipment available at the time. The bombing tests were discontinued and in 1939 official tests with parachutists were started. Much time was spent on the development of special parachutes and equipment. The first actual fire jumps were made in 1940 at Marten Creek in the Nez Perce Forest 1940. Pictured above is the first squad of jumpers.

If you are interested in smokejumping the National Smokejumpers Association can provide you with loads of information. We need to thank our friend Paolo Bellini for sharing his knowledge with us. He sent the enclosed long video about airborne firefighting and smokejumpers training. Amazing..

Driza-Bone Bushman Jacket

Two weeks ago a customer came into the store with a very nice waxed canvas jacket. We talked about his jacket and he told me it came from Australia. He told me the name of the brand but unfortunately I did not completely catch it. No wonder, because after googling "Australian waxed canvas" I ended up at the site of Driza-Bone. The name sounds like a medicine for androids. The brand is genuinely Australian and started manufacturing oilskin coats in 1898. The initial long coats were made by recycling torn canvas sails and were designed for sailers.

However I really liked the model of the jacket and after a bit of browsing I found the one and only Bushman Jacket. It is a mid-cut jacket with hood, drawstring waist and comes with a flanellette lining. The best detail is the typical cape. This is mostly seen on traditional, long riding coats. Driza-Bone does produce such long ones, but I am not sure if I am ready for it. Might be a bit tricky on my fixie. The Bushman costs 329 Australian dollars which is approx. 215 euros. Not that costly compared to waxed coats from the familiar brands.

Red Wing JCP Hiking Boots

These vintage Red Wing Boots where especially made for J.C.P back in the 1970's. Nowadays they don't deal with Red Wing Boots anymore but wouldn't it be great to see this style back again! Unfortunately the bidding on Ebay for these closed already.

J.C. Penny Company is an american wholesale company that can provide you with just about anything. Its a pity they don't do these anymore because I would like to have a pair!

Here is some eye candy...

2nd Anchor Necklace by CXXVI

USA brand CXXVI introduces their second anchor necklace. According to Selectism it is an improvement on the first edition because of the more traditional anchor shape. It is made by heating the steel in a coal forge and hand-hammering it into this unique rough shape. Made in the USA, the greatest thing about it is that you can also open your beers with it. Finally a way to spare my teeth.. The anchor is about 2 inches long and is attached to a 22 inch chain. Check the necklace and their other accessories out here.

(via Selectism)

Bares, Broncs, and Bulls

Following the first preview at the end of October, more and more news about the collaboration between Levi's and Pendleton comes in. Marking this collaboration, Levi's has worked together with VICE / VBS.tv on a documentary which will air on VBS.tv on november 15th. The movie will focus on the lives of young Navajo cowboys in the desert of the US. Selectism had the honor to be the first to show a trailer of the film.

I am really looking forward to seeing the film. From a marketing perspective I am curious what VBS.tv came up with to integrate the products in the documentary. Product placement? What is the connection between the products and the Navajo cowboys. Is there any? We will see.

Vintage Engineer Boots

This is only a part of the Engineer Boots collection that the author of Vintage Engineer Boots was kind enough to share, apparently he has another box full of boots and I for one would be more then excited to see those as well! The ones we see here include some really nice Buco's and some Red Wing 2268's that are pictured underneath this article. Soon we will do a full article about the Red Wing 2268's but first you can enjoy this pair of Red Wing 2268's customized by Okuyama.

East River Tattoo

This tattoo shop from Brooklyn, New York was founded in 2000 by artist and self proclaimed patriot Duke Riley. The shop specializes in custom tattoos, influenced by maritime folk art and traditional tattooing from the 19th century. The nautical references can be seen clearly.

Next to being a tattoo artist, Riley's website shows us that he is the mastermind behind the creation of beautiful mosaic, scrimshaw and art installations. His artist statement reads like a poem:

"..Throughout my projects I profile the space where water meets the land, traditionally marking the periphery of urban society, what lies beyond rigid moral constructs, a sense of danger and possibility.."

(via WMCF)