Billykirk: Handmade Leather and Canvas Bags

Billykirk is started in 1999 by brothers Chris and Kirk Bray in Los Angeles CA (USA). It’s a leather and canvas design company which was founded on the desire to make lasting items that get better with age. Billykirk, now partnered with three US-based manufacturers, has been located on the East Coast since 2005. Most of their small leather goods and bags are handmade by in-house artisans or by a group of Amish leather crafters in Pennsylvania. Below their Spring Summer 2013 collection.

www.billykirk.com

The Blue Beards Revenge Post Shave Balm & Shaving Cream

Recently I received these two samples from ‘The Blue Beards Revenge’ from Bianca van Galen. Bianca is the owner of Hairpomades.com, a great distribution company full of authentic hair- and shaving products. Thanks for sending these samples, great branding!

The Blue Beards Revenge: Post shave balm;

The Blue Beards Revenge: Shaving cream;

www.bluebeards-revenge.co.uk

www.hairpomades.com

New ‘Pace Jeans’ Fit: PX-04 Dry Japanese Redline Selvage

The New fit from Pace Jeans from Sweden: PX-04. The specifics of this new fit are: Tapered fit, Normal waist, Tapered Leg, Button fly, 13,75 oz right hand twill, 100% cotton and made in Italy. As always Pace used their high quality Dry Japanese Redline Selvage Denim. It’s a great new fit full of authentic details. Pure craftsmanship from Sweden!

www.pacejeans.com

Available here: www.vielgut.nl

President’s Japanese Printed Flower Shirt and Bull Pant Jeans from Italy

SEVENBELL, a company from Italy has a rich history in making the best and unique denim and denim-related pieces. Besides the authentic denim brand Roy Roger’s, the company also has a premium brand called President’s. The President’s products are all made with high standards, true Tuscan craftsmanship. This summer they will bring a brand new collection full of Japanese influences. We all know that the Japanese are famous for bringing only the best quality products, and for always being focused on special details. This inspired the design team of President’s for the new Spring Summer 2013 collection.

We are highlighting two specialties: the first item is a Hawaiian Japanese printed shirt with a single chest pocket. It has an all-over flower print and it’s made from Japanese fabric. The second President’s item is the 5 pocket Bull Pant, made of organic Japanese selvage fabric with a red listing. They used leather reinforcements under the rivets, a vegetable tanned leather patch and classic herringbone fabric inner pockets. All in all two great items, ready for the summer vibes!

<———————————————————–>

President’s Hawaiian Japanese printed shirt;

President’s buttons;

Single chest pocket; All-over flower print;

Short sleeve detail;

<———————————————————–>

 President’s Bull Pant;

President’s donut button;

Selvage coin pocket;

Leather reinforcements under the rivets;

Herringbone fabric inner pockets;

Inside waistband label;

Vegetable tanned leather patch;

Backpocket;

Japanese selvage fabric with red listing; Check also this video where creative director Guido Biondi tells you everything about the new Fall Winter 2013 collection. See you soon Guido!

www.presidents7bell.com

Onitsuka Tiger X Mita Sneakers Panda Shoe

Giant pandas Ri Ri and Shin Shin are the inspiration for a limited-edition collaboration between Japanese lifestyle brand Onitsuka Tiger and Tokyo‘s famed Mita Sneakers store. The bamboo-eating carnivores, whose names emphasis vitality and innocence, are national icons in Japan. Originating from China, giant pandas are symbols of peace revered for their spiritual qualities and ability to ward off evil spirits. Their black and white fur is believed to represent harmony between two opposing Yin and Yang forces.

Onitsuka Tiger was established in Japan in 1949 and has since created footwear and clothing inspired by Japanese values of craftsmanship and attention to detail. The shoe is made in a limited run and only available in some selected stores. Great concept to link an authentic brand to a national Japanese icon!

www.onitsukatiger.com

The Historie of Buddy Lee (Jeans)

Buddy Lee was an advertising mascot for Lee Jeans. When Buddy was introduced it was immediatly a classic! In those time it was totally new to bring such a marketing tool like a doll. The doll, a promotional item for the company from 1920 to 1962, was brought back as the star of television advertising for the company’s Lee Dungarees line from 1998 until the mid-2000′s. Sales manager Chester Reynolds, later Lee’s board president, came up with the great idea of using a doll to model miniature versions of the company’s clothes for store displays. True innovation in retail! Nowadays the vintage Buddy Lee doll is a rare item and you are lucky when you find an original from the early days. Here’s Buddy Lee!

The Buddy Lee story;

http://eu.lee.com

Dawson: Handmade Denim Workwear, Aprons and Bags from UK

Dawson is besides their family name also the name of their denim company. A company which made all of their products in their own specialist workshop in Brighton, East Sussex. Each piece comes with a “log book” inspired by the same document from the golden age of motoring. The ideal of being built to last has long been forgotten but they are proud to be able to offer a durability guarantee with each of their products. They use red line selvage from Japan, the red in selvage was introduced around the 1930’s to denote the highest quality. The mill they work with is family run and is over 100 years old. The Dawson family makes pure products with a lot of craftsmanship. Enjoy the impressions below.

www.dawsondenim.com