Print 2.0 - Journal de Nîmes interviewed by Hypebeast.

Hypebeast's Eugene Kan interviewed us a few months ago on the redefinition of the 'Print Craft'. Kan was wondering if print is a dying specialty, or simply a medium that changed dramatically. To get an idea of what sort of views and beliefs are routed in both the young and established print world Eugene Kan at Hypebeast interviewed Clark Magazine’s Romain Dauriac, Inventory’s Ryan Willms, Green Soccer Journal’s Adam Towle, HIDDEN CHAMPION’s Hidenori Matsuoka and yours truly: Tenue de Nîmes’ Menno van Meurs. Here is a brief highlight from the interview:

EK:Based on your relatively niche content, do you think that the Internet has to play a crucial part in the marketing and awareness of your magazine and what it represents?
MM:Well the beauty of the internet is that you are able to get in touch with like-minded folks from all over the world in a split second. Thanks to great network with online media players, like Hypebeast, we are able to spread our thoughts and beliefs very accurately. You simply reach extremely committed audiences that especially go to blogs and websites to get this kind of specific content. This is how niche content gets a perspective. My marketing background makes me very interested in these kinds of changes in media. We came from a strict push paradigm and right now stuff has turned around dramatically. People come to you for content, not the other way around. So as long as you know where your audience hangs out they will learn about you eventually.

Read the full article and the rest of the interview here. Please let us know what you think.

KSK Commando Smock

My search for a good smock has continued since my previous posts in February. The SAS smock I wanted is hard to come by and since then I came across some other good ones. The KSK Commando Smock is one I found in my collection of Japanese literature. It features a 2-way zipper, hook-and-loop fastener, 2-much pockets and comes in various sizes. This type of jacket looks so much better than all the designer reproductions. The only thing might be the sizing. Increase your beer intake if you want to have this slim fitted. It costs 75 pounds on RawVintage.

Bike Portage Strap

People must think I am Dutch because I like to post about bicycles. That is indeed the truth. Yesterday I came across the accessories of Walnut Studiolo. These accessories for the bike are handmade in Portland, Oregon. They have designed some crafty looking stuff to use on your classic bicycles.

One of my favorites is the Bike Portage Strap. I live in Amsterdam and I am used to carrying my fixie up stairs, around road blocks etc. This does not hurt my shoulder, but the strap does make your live easier. In a very stylish way that is. Available on Etsy for $34,-

Bike Spoke Ring

There is no need to always use precious metals for jewelry. The implementation of a recycled wheel spoke is ingeniously inventive. It has a form that is almost immediately recognized and the soldered edges give the ring an industrial look. Available here for $55.

Tattoo Pin Up

Hubba hubba.. I haven't seen a lot of pin-up art including tattoos. It could be an original piece or maybe the tattoos were added later. Regardless, I love it. A quick search for some background only lead to the Deviant Art page of a girl nicknamed Gio Sama. Let me know if you know more about this piece.

Sugar Cane Vintage Wash & Premium Care

What should we do with a nice rigid denim when it's dirty? I have multiple ways of keeping it clean but I have never used any form of washing machine or detergent. This special treatment by Sugar Cane involves eight steps to clean your precious jeans. The treatment seems to be denim friendly so I am going to give it a try for my current project, a selvage 501. More info on RAWR Denim.

Dinky Army Truck

"Hey this is an army car we can afford..!" I am having a hard time resisting buying this truck. Vintage toys have a great attraction to me. They show a great amount of wear. Some kid must have enjoyed it for years.

Joe King Helmets

An open face helmet is something I always wanted, since I found a bright yellow one as a kid in the bike storage in front of our house. My dad used it when he drove around on his Moto Guzzi. So if you ever saw a little kid on a 3-wheeler with a yellow helmet he could drown in, yes it was me.

The custom helmets by Joe King in Brazil are the best of the best. The guys from Eat Dust pointed them out while talking about bikes and helmets. I told them it was a bit hard to find a good one because of my large head. I look like Toad from Super Mario with a regular open face helmet. Joe King use a variety of shell sizes and models, so even I should be able to find a suitable one. Take a look at their website and check out the retro designs. The Easy Rider helmet above is my favorite.

The Burning House

Your house is burning down. What are you going to grab in the split-second before you escape to safety? Pictures? Money? Your girlfriend? Are you going to choose practical stuff or your beloved memorabilia? It is a hard question. I know for sure the first thing I´d do is put my boots on and right after I´d throw all my jeans out the window.

My brother sent me the blog "The Burning House". Each post is a picture - with description - of the stuff people would save from their house first. The outcome is a very varied collection treasured possessions. Each person has different items, but a lot of people want to save their cameras. They must assume their partner will save him or herself. Luckily a few people want to save their boots as seen above. This blog is a must follow. Thanks Jonathan for sharing.

Deadstock Red Wing Shoes

Dead-stock products are what all us denim and boots aficionado's love to possess. When the Red Wing team hit Tokyo recently they came across an unexpected basement full of the brand´s treasures from the past at Made in the World. The store had an impressive range of 1950's Oxfords and black and brown 'Postmans'. For those of us who are not willing to pay nearly ¢1000,- for such a pair of treasures, Red Win, to our great relief shared an interesting tidbit with all of us: "Thankfully, we’re still making many of these identical boots to this day, the same way they did way back then." More images at the Red Wing site. Photo Credit: Michael Williams at ACL.

Russian Iron Worker

Just came across this picture of a Russian iron worker. His work clothing consists of cotton rags with patches all over. It is in grim contrast to the romantic image of blue collar work we are used to. Would this poor man would have guessed that patchwork would become really fashionable? I guess not.. (via LIFE)

Eat Dust Wallet

Yesterday I had a drink with the guys from Eat Dust Clothing. Keith and Rob are genuine motorcycle fanatics and have a lot of experience in denim. These passions are clearly visible in the denim brand they started last year. Eat Dust Clothing is about good quality jeans and apparel with details inspired by classic motorcycle and their culture.

A month earlier I noticed on their blog that they were releasing a limited edition, hand made wallet.  It is made by Chris Earhart from Holliday. The combination of natural tanned leather and the Japanese 13 3/4 oz. ringspun denim instantly caught my eye. K&R were kind enough to send me some good pictures for our blog. Imagine how the denim will fade and the leather will obtain a rich dark brown patina. The wallet comes with special packaging and includes a t-shirt. Release info and price will be added to this post asap.

Master Engineer

The 2268 11" Engineer is the toughest work boot in the heritage collection of Red Wing Shoes. It is inspired by the old work boots designed for engineers and truck drivers. We call it the Master Engineer. Heavy, rugged and enduring. The first engineer, the 919, was released in 1941.

The 2268 is made of 2.2mm Black Chrome leather. The Neoprene Cord outsole is extra thick,  includes a 2-piece heel and a steel re-inforcement. An engineer needed those characteristics to be able to do his job securely. With sources of extreme heat, burning ambers and dangers of heavy machinery you can't be  protective enough. The boots are still favorite among bikers and surprisingly also photographers.

As one of our customers stated: "Being a photographer is less romantic then it seems. It involves a lot of carrying heavy stuff from one place to the other. I destroy almost any type footwear in no-time. That is why I like this boot, it lasts and it protects my toes." Available for 319,95 at Red Wing Shoes Amsterdam.

Honda CB750 "Cyclone"

If you want to know how to turn a motorcycle from 1970 into a beast check this out. It is the Honda CB750 from 1970 rebuilt by Steve 'Carpy' Carpenter. The original does not look cool at all - if you ask me - but the outcome of this cafe racer project is dazzling. It features a silver / black paintjob inspired by a Ford Mustang. The front disk brake has so many holes you can play circular mastermind for at least a year. The mean steering wheel with small side mirrors and the upgraded rear tire do wonders for the bike´s appearance.

I watched "The Secret" yesterday and now I am only thinking about this bike. Hopefully it will show up in front of my house tomorrow! Or should I start saving money? Might be a better idea. More pictures by Jared Schoenemann on Bike Exif. Thanks Gabor for sharing.

The Shipwrights

Our dear friend Joachim Baan published a very special set of photos today. Lee Jeans donated a few pairs of raw denims to the employees of a shipwright where they build Botters, a typical Dutch fishing boat. Joachim went to the shipyard and truly captured the spirit of local craft and the endurance of denim workwear.

"Behind the beautiful facade of the old village of Spakenburg, an almost lost world of real craftsmanship is hidden. Last year, my friends at Lee gave all the shipwrights a pair of unwashed jeans. One year later, a few pairs haven’t survived the hard work and though conditions, but a few aged like hell. Under a thick layer of oil, tar and paint, and patched together with extra ruler pockets the denim was hardly recognizable and almost look like waxed jeans. A beautiful setting for this original workwear. Enjoy the bigger picture on our Flickr page."

 

Vintage Irish Setter US20

Here is my latest find from the magical world of Ebay. Just purchased this humongous prairie boot from Irish Setter. It is a size 20D, standing 26cm tall and 40 cm long. It looks completely different because of the dimensions. To compare: my size 10D is 23 cm high and 32 cm long.

From the pictures alone I would say the boots are made from Oro-Russet Portage leather, but it might be Oro-iginal. It is hard to tell though. It was originally used by shops as display material. A big boot always makes a good impression. Sorry for the bad pictures. They came straight off Ebay.

Black Chrome Oxford

The Work Oxford is the little brother of the famous 6" and 8" Mocs. It was intended for factory managers who moved from the office to the factory floor. The low silhouette provides a feeling of instant freedom around the ankles when sitting behind a desk. The construction is a bit different from the higher Mocs. The toe area is made from a single piece of leather instead of two and it features a welt construction looking similar to a Norwegian welt.

The Black Chrome is a sturdy black full grain leather with a shiny look. The patina will change over time and will become more matte. It comes with black laces but as you can see the gold/tan laces are adding flavor to the boots. Available for €259.95 at Red Wing Shoes Amsterdam. (picture via redwing1905)

Melt Me Ring

Silver is one of my favorite materials for jewelry. I am not an accessory addict, but I do like to wear rings and stuff that remind me of special moments or people close to me. This way accessories can be so much more than a form of personal decoration.

The EM Melt Me ring is a design I like. The silver rings are manipulated in a molten state. This method creates an effect that makes every ring unique. Available here for approximately €100 euro. (via trendhunter)

HBH Bandana

Hummingbirds' hill is a USA style restaurant and bar in Tokyo. I stumbled upon their website while searching for some jewelry that I found earlier in the Free & Easy. I instantly noticed the HBH bandana which stands out from the rest of their HBH Goods.

I really like the design and they are surprisingly cheap. A bandana costs only 840 yen (which is roughly €7.20) and 3% of their revenue will be donated to the Japanese UNICEF.

Beach Buggy

When I was really young the Beach Bugyy was the most exotic car I could dream of. With its aggressive looking body, big wheels and steel roll bars it looked like a prop from Mad Max. It took years before I found out that the Buggy was based on the Volkswagen Beetle, another all- time favorite.

This is not an all-weather car, but in a dry climate I can not imagine a car more fun to drive. Light, powerful and stunning. Read more info on the history of the Beach Buggy on the Manx Club Page. (images via JAS Buggies)

Men at Work

Check out these wood engravings from the 20's and 30's. Would love to have some of these on the wall of my living room. They all depict scenes of people at work. I found them on the blog FRENCH CANCAN. A great vintage blog by the way.  Check out more of them here.