We all know a stylish look has a lot to do with cool accessorizing. Here’s one of my favorite accessories for this fall season, the Voyager Dot Stole by Japanese brand Nonnative. Made from 100% viscose, this dark blue tasseled scarf with yellow, green, brown and blue striped detail is the denim maniacs way to keep warm while stayin tru to da blu…
Get it here.
Oslo based label Mardou&Dean was founded in 2006 by Ingrid Bredholt and Patrik Rosenfors with the aim to express itself through different kinds of arts, focusing on fashion. Inspired by Beatnik culture and literature, ‘Jeans by Mardou&Dean’ was introduced to the market in 2007 as a high fashion denim line, with jeans for both men and women.
The labels denim line is divided between two lines, the more classic styles and the more avant-garde ones, this allowing the brand to be both timeless and fashionable at the same time. Overall the jeans are developed with care down to each and every detail, particularly to the very original wide and slightly open fly, the position of the brand label and the engraved buttons and rivets. The jeans are produced in Italy, employing high quality denim throughout the line either from Italy or Japan.
Take a look at Mardou&Dean’s jeans and more images from their campaign shot by Norwegian photographer Oda Berby after the jump.
Mother Nature is not the common inspiration for a denim brand, but for New York based denim label 4 Stroke Spring/Summer 2010 is all about going back to its roots. Titled “Mother Mother” the labels latest offering is paying homage to nature by focusing on natural wear organic, pima cotton and Japanese denim. The line feature lighter washes along with light whiskering and wear & tears on lightweight, super-soft premium fabrics. Although Mother Nature’s ruggedness plays a big role in the design, 4 Stroke has yet to lose its modern, New York City edge.
“Our past collections have relied bravely on experimental denim fabrics, so with spring we wanted create a more true denim story,” says Nate Freeman, the brands creative director. “We wanted the jeans to look like they were broken in naturally like your favorite pair you just will not throw away. Of course we left room for some fun too. It wouldn’t be 4 Stroke if we didn’t.”
More images after the jump
You might find it hard to believe that ACNE’s inspiration for its S/S 2010 Pop Classics collection was Native American looks. But maybe that’s what I like most about the Swedish brand – its subtlety. Season themes never take over the labels modern and refined sensibility, so the outcome is somewhat of an iconography of the subject. As always denim is a staple part of the collection with the signature raw denim and some new bleached out styles from tops to bottoms.
More images after the jump
Japanese label UNUSED’s philosophy is simple: you must know and respect the past, to be able to create the next big thing of the future. It is a philosophy shared by many in the land of the rising sun, but this particular label has gone all the way in conveying its message. Alongside being one of the coolest lookbooks I have seen in a while (and trust me when I tell you I see many), it bears a political agenda within its images. Don’t be fooled by the humorist approach it suggests – the joke’s on you! Yeah, isn’t it funny how the western culture used to discard the old and worship the new? And now with all that vintage/heritage trend suddenly old is in mode (but only with objects)? UNUSED’s choice of an elderly model is not random, nor is it a publicity stunt; it is simply their way to illustrate what the Japanese have known for a long time: used is good – and only gets better with… age.
More images after the jump
Not to be mistaken with denim brand Edwin, Japanese label Bedwin is known for their high end street style. Creatively directed by Masafumi “Bebe” Watanabe, the labels Fall/Winter 09 collection follows a simple yet tried-and-true concept of fresh twists and perspective on classics. Also eminent is the mix of heritage inspired gear with modern technical garments which work perfectly together and create a fresh, bold look. A little style tip: leave the UGG boots at home…
More images after the jump
Take a look at this video by one of our favorite brands Folk for autumn winter 2009 shot by Matthew Donaldson with exclusive music by one of our favorite bands Zero 7.
Laidback 1980’s American west coast and grungy 1990’s style clash in the Tiger Jeans collection for the Spring/Summer of 2010. It’s a play with preppy style in two directions that ends up in an updated interpretation of Americana – a modern blue denim concept that owes its heritage to American style ideals and an easygoing coordination of garments. Denim washes range from original worn-out looks via stonewashed to more purple tones with a hazy look. Colours in other parts of the collection are from a multitude of blue shades to light colours – mainly pastels with an attitude.
More images after the jump
Our friends at Denim Geek did a nice interview with Naked & Famous’s Brandon Svarc.“Naked & Famous Denim is the opposite of everything that is wrong with the “premium” denim industry. Instead of selling “glamour” and “celebrity culture”, we just make a better jean for a better price. We find special and rare Japanese denim, then import it into Canada where we do all our production, and, we keep everything fully raw and simple”.
Read the full interview here
I just love the classic oxford style shoes from Rachel Comey. With their supple Bordeaux leather body and orange twist on the rubber sole – I get a hell of a kick just looking at them…
Get them at Steven Alan
True to the labels Scandinavian origin, Won Hundred’s spring summer 2010 collection is cool, clean and casual. You won’t find any of that vintage stuff here – perhaps a little nod to old times in their choice of materials, but other than that the collection’s relaxed, modern vibe is all about now, not then. My favorite look? The cropped chinos and denim shirt, of course!
More images from the lookbook after the jump
Inspired by the edgy functionality of vintage army and biker wear, Kuyichi’s Autumn Winter 09 collection juxtaposes urban functionality with elegant design. Using unique detailing such as reinforced seams, epaulets and badges, the collection gives focus to superior finishing, adding to the distinctive style and tailoring of the collection. Meanwhile, silhouettes are slim and fitted, while colours range from earthy neutrals such as brown and ochre, to pop-up brights such as purple and red. Dirty washes and finishes create a toned-down and vintage feel to the collection.
A pioneer in sustainable fashion, the Dutch brand is constantly finding new ways to innovate and up the benchmark in its field. Consisting mainly of organic cotton, the remaining products are made up with new materials such as hemp, bamboo, vegetable leather and recycled cotton.
More images after the jump
The varsity jacket is a well established classic. We can all agree on that, but somehow it seems to me it’s particularly right for right now. That’s the way it goes with trends – it doesn’t have to be new to be in mode– it only needs a fresh perspective. Now, as it is with any trend, things come in many shapes and sizes (some are rad, some just bad); here are two of my favorite examples, each on an opposite side of the scale.
Continued after the jump
The fourth runner up for our ‘Best Denim Shops‘ title is a heavyweighter, but (to be honest) not your average denim shop. Actually denim is only one of the many categories this mega-store has to offer, but with such great selection and a dedication to the timeless quality of vintage wear and ware – LA’s Mister Freedom deserves our full attention (and a trophy).
The concept behind Mister Freedom is the brain child of French expatriate Christophe Loiron. Since 2003, MF’s brick building at Beverly Boulevard is filled with a huge inventory of vintage clothing, footwear and accessories for men and women from the 1850’s to the present alongside Loiron’s original creations. The 3200 sq ft retail space also offers rare textiles, vintage books as well as antique props for deco. This extensive eclectic collection of vintage items is collected around the world and updated regularly with new finds. Oh, and let’s not forget Mister Freedom also collaborates with Japanese manufacturing experts “Sugar Cane & Co” (of Tokyo based “Toyo Enterprises”) for a full line of clothing, made in USA and Japan.
Mr. Freedom/Loiron was kind enough to answer some questions for us:
DM: How and why did you start Mr. Freedom?
CL: I have been scouting flea markets for a long time and digging through ‘trash’ since I was a kid.. I’ve always appreciated old things. They have soul to me, tell a story and are often intriguing. I love real stories and there is always one associated with a vintage piece. There are like a book. You can like the cover, but what gets you is the story.
After a while I realized that you could actually make somewhat of a living doing it, and that beat a 9 to 5 for me. I opened my own ‘found objects’ thing. Mostly clothes and an eclectic selection of things that inspired me. Textiles, props, books etc…I had made friends in the design field early on, working at American Rag and having a vintage store in Kyoto for a while…Since fashion didn’t interest me, I started catering to people who were more into archiving, research and inspirational pieces.
When the hunt became a little monotone for me, i started making things that I wanted to find in the rags. I learned how to ‘recreate’ the old (graphics, washes, fade, silhouettes etc…) that was getting too hard to find, or just had not yet existed. MF was the result of years of trials, a mixture of vintage and things I was making.
What’s in the name?
I found an original promotional pamphlet of the 1969 William Klein movie a while back. Loved the graphics and the red/white/blue pop art treatment. Hadn’t seen the movie then, but liked the name. Thought that if you could pick your last name, Freedom would be a good one! I value my own, and went for that went I opened my showroom.
Where or how do you source your goods?
Big secret! I get asked everyday! “Where do you FIND all this stuff???”
It’s a full time job mixed with an obsession of finding things wherever i go. I can’t travel without hitting a local flea market or hitting antique or recycled stores. I went to Cuba for 3 weeks on vacation, and couldn’t help looking for Guyabera shirts and other Batista era left over clothes…Seemed all the white tropical stuff is gone though.
I’m constantly on the lookout. I’m often up at 3AM on Sundays, for flea markets. I don’t do EBay either, I need to see and feel before I buy.
Continue reading + more images after the jump
