With all the collaborations NEXUSVII has been dropping as of late, we sometimes overlook their pieces as a stand alone brand. Recent drops  have included a track jacket with adidas, a New Era for Huf, a messenger with Porter and our personal favorite from earlier this year, a t-shirt collaboration with Nas and Stussy. Maybe it’s upcoming Halloween that’s drawing me to this Gore-Tex jacket from NEXUSVII with the black base and splash of orange on the collapsible hood. Best paired with their Pendleton check shirt on some straight 40s vibe. Available here.

Mostly known for their $2000 jeans, Momotaro Jeans, recently dropped their Vintage Label – making it their fifth label after Momotaro Jeans Gold Label, Momotaro Jeans Copper Label, Momotaro Jeans Red Label and Momotaro Jeans Blue Label. While each label does a fine job specializing in Japanese denim on their own right (The Gold Label jeans are rare and take up to a year to make, and the Red Labels are more for daily wear), the Vintage Label presents their first foray into raw denim. Like all Momotaro jeans, this collection is crafted at the famed Rampuya denim mill using traditional Edo Period techniques (hand weaving and dyeing techniques), passed down through the generations.  Details: 15.7 oz. raw shrink to fit selvage denim, natural deep blue indigo, 100% Zimbabwe cotton and “made by hand without compromise”.  For now, the cuts are: Tight Straight and Slim Fit Straight. Available here.

We recently made it down to Waterloo, Wisconsin to Trek Bicycles to begin our bike collaboration and while there, we got a firsthand look at Trek’s inner workings. Everything from the design studio to Project One to the manufacturing floor was at the mercy of our camera. While we couldn’t show you everything, here’s a look at what went down and what we saw on day one. There will be more developments on our collaboration in the coming weeks.

Hit the jump for the rest of the story…

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MA, the new for 2009 offshoot of Japanese label Julius, has focused on sharply-tailored outerwear for their fall/winter collection.  Here they deliver a puffer jacket with a super-slim cut, which is a very welcomed rarity, to say the least.  Everyone loves the warmth of a puffer jacket, but the general bulk usually leaves you looking like some kind of cross between the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and the Ski Patrol.  This jacket brings a much more refined look with a high collar, narrow sleeves, and a darted back.  Stay warm, look dope.  Available here.

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While we, and everybody else, got a first look at these YSL signature sneakers at colette in a straight white and blue while back, we’re please to see them out with two other color options for Fall – gray flannel (FUMO) and black flannel (NERO). For the price, you might want a little more branding on your sneakers, but we think there’s something to be said and commended about the simplicity of the “Y” branding and overall design. You may run the risk of blending in a little too well with the Nero (let’s face it, for the price, you don’t want that), but the Fumo’s when paired with the right black/red flannel would have you straight killing it.

Available here.

It’s another winner from Yosuke Aizawa and White Mountaineering. We’ll forgo our usual love fest for both, but we can’t overlook another quality, hunting-inspired piece in the form of this YA-2 jacket. More than anything, we’re suckers for the technology that went into this. Aside from playing off everybody’s favorite seasonal fabric, the exterior wool flannel shell features Windstopper and is insulated with PrimaLoft, to provide the ultimate combination of breathable, high quality thermal insulation. PrimaLoft was actually invented for the U.S. Army back in the 80′s as an alternative to goose down which was rendered ineffective when wet. While it’s not as lightweight as goose down, it can still retain insulating capabilities even when wet and remains one of the most expensive synthetics to manufacture. Add waterproof zips and elbow patches and this jacket makes Mother Nature soil her pantsuit. Available here.

Out on the East Coast, it didn’t seem all that long ago that everybody and their mothers rocked some version of a goose down vest of The North Face variety. Gone but not forgotten, we’ve started to notice some new, less mountaineering-inspired down vests made with better quality materials that can be worn a little more formally. No stranger to down, Crescent Down Works actually started as a custom order down vest company back in 1974. Founder, Anne Michelson has since spun her passion for the outdoors to a complete line of down clothing, while still sticking to the classics like this olive tweed, Italian, vest lined in dark green ripstop lining with leather button reinforcements. So while you may be resistant to the comeback of the down vest, you’ll at least have a quality one at your disposal when you’re ready to dive back in. Available here.

We showed you the Duracell incarnation of this idea a couple of months back, now there is another player in the game and its name is the Powermat. It comes in either a simple desktop form or a folding portable version, but in either case it is a mat that can charge up to 3 gadgets using magnetic induction. For the system to function all devices require a proprietary jacket or add-on, but it is a small requirement for the simplicity it brings. They even have a pretty funny commercial you can check out after the jump.

Pick up your own desktop Powermat right here, or the portable version here.

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You’ve seen Nike 6.0 around but it is only now, with this campaign latest campaign that it is starting to really come into it’s own. Artist Todd Selby has a knack for capturing people in their element. His website, The Selby, is a celebration of ‘interesting people and their creative spaces’ via photographs, videos and paintings. Each collaboration is a study of how people both contribute to and draw from their personal space for inspiration. The fact that his work features such a diverse range of subjects – each a bright mind in their own right – makes it all the more intriguing. In recent months, Selby has teamed up with Nike 6.0 to develop their current ad campaign. Inspired by sports like BMX, surfing and snowboarding, 6.0 is the brand’s ‘alternative’ line, sponsoring athletes like BMX star Nigel Sylvester, pictured (and painted) above sporting the Angle Breaker Jacket. Staying true to form, Selby documents these athletes in their respective environments with guided tours of cluttered bedrooms, swimming holes, eateries… even the back of a 24-hour tanning salon. The watercolour paintings are a charming touch. These guys may not conform to the conventional image of a Nike-sponsored athlete, but Selby’s approach is a fitting tribute to this new generation of sports icons.

More pictures and paintings after the jump, as well as a video featuring wakeskater Ben Horan.

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Martin Margiela has been coming into the sneaker game with some hits and far misses over the last little while. The ones we’ve liked have been relatively simple with a unique use and choice of materials, while the misses have involved complicated silhouettes with an out of place strap here, an awkward stitch there. We’ll chalk this one up into the first category. These simply constructed hi tops from Margiela are covered in a deep burgundy flock velvet and lined with calfskin. Really liking the fact they continued with the material onto the sole instead of going with a two-tone. Available here.

////CONTEST DETAILS AFTER THE JUMP////

Something new is brewing in Chicago. Something that’s new in stores. New in concept. And new in retail. In the past it was maximum product relative to retail floorspace. The future is an in store experience in terms of design, offerings and conceptual background. Enter RSVP Gallery in Chicago, a shop offering up merchandise that doubles as art and inspiration. Under the glow of RSVP’s green neon lighting and against exposed brick walls featuring commissioned neon art, pieces from Takashi Murakami, Kaws, Ambush, Dee & Ricky, Super, PLAY Comme des Garcons, Head Porter, A Bathing Ape, and Nike can be all found alongside original, vintage pieces from Louis Vuitton and Chanel.

We caught up quickly with Kanye & Co. regular, Virgil Abloh – whom along with Don C (West’s manager), and Marc Moran founded RSVP – to talk about the gallery, design and oddly enough, Chris Brown. We’ve also switched up the interview style because even we get tired of the Q&A formats once in awhile.

My name is Virgil Abloh and I’m currently listening to Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1 & BBMing on the Blackberry.

Before RSVP gallery I had a dreams of owning a concept shop that was worldwide focused on creative products.

I run RSVP gallery with a host of friends and local kids that believe in the same vision of creating a destination WHERE POP ART MEETS LUXURY, SPORTSWEAR FUSES HIGH FASHION.

Marc Moran is keeping the lights on at the shop in between photoshoots with David Anthony.

We originally came up with the idea for RSVP gallery when we saw a niche in retail that we felt we could fill. I myself am a consumer and wanted to create a space that would satisfy my consumer needs and well as a platform to educate, much like a gallery.

Inside you can expect to find products from all over the world and all across the map in terms of design intention. “POW” Ambush Jewelry designed by Verbal alongside Vintage CHANEL brooches and wearable works of art by Takashi Murakami. At the same time we sell neon art from a private collector and all the shoes designed by Kanye West from 2009. You can expect to find the unexpected.

(A sample of the offerings from RSVP Gallery)

We chose the location of the shop based on an energy. It was important to create a real destination store. There is enough focus on New York and LA retail. It’s time to create a name for Chicago. The physical space was chosen because of the raw gallery type vibe. The online presence is as well important for us. We consider that a location as well.

What I love about Chicago is the ambiance. The fact that it embodies characteristics about Paris, New York and LA with a unique environment all its own. I see it as fertile soil to plant any idea.

The dopest thing you can find in the shop right now is this CHANEL crossbones necklace (I am contemplating buy this myself!). But we also have a Louis Vuitton Steven Sprouse skateboard with accompanying custom trunk and KAWS Original Fake Tees from early seasons.

The RSVP Gallery label (clothing line) is being launched over the next few months and will be an experimental in house label providing a platform for artists and designers.

My average day is like Emails, search for inspiration, design, design, design, sleep.

Currently, I’m in the midst of designing an aesthetics based on my point of view.

When I saw Chris Brown wearing the hat I designed I thought it was dope. I like celebrities that aren’t perfect and ones with good taste are even better.

The guys from The Brilliance are some of the most self-driven talented kids I know. Every conversation yields tons of new ideas. We are the Internets most internet internet site.

My hopes for 2010 more outlets for getting my ideas out and more impact on the world from a design standpoint.

RSVP Gallery
1753 North Damen
Chicago, IL
T: 773-770-6666

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We’ve really been blown away by the offerings from Adidas Originals by Originals for the Fall and Winter. Kazuki Kuraishi’s pieces for O by O are understated and still manage to combine superior functionality in regards to waterproof materials and seam sealing while not looking the part. All this combined with Japanese brand Neighborhood‘s military/technical/outdoor background and you’ve got this killer, all waterproof Peacoat. This classic naval silhouette starts off with the famous Peacoat design and adds a typically modern, Kuraishi twist with zip closure pockets and waterproof and breathable Diaplex construction.  The only branding you’ll find is an embroidered Adidas x NBHD logo on collar along with the famous three stripes on the wrist. While there have been several options of Peacoats available on the market season after season, it’s always nice to see one that’ll separate you from the pack of the big box brands.  It’s the perfect mix of old and new, form and function. Available here in very limited numbers.

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