We recently made our first trip offline into print with our spot in Art & Design Montreal. Straight from the source, through expositions and publications, “A&D will contribute to the rise of Montreal design as much on the local scene as the international…From photography, illustration and graphic design through fashion and industrial design, A&D concentrates on four points of view: personal work, commercial work, the relationship to the client and the creative dimension.”

Our spread features none other than our E in C and the contents of his carry-on bag on a recent trip out West. We’ve always found it pretty interesting to see what other creative types carry around with them, so we were thrilled to share. If you’re wondering, our new logo on the bottom left corner is on lockdown until we drop our upcoming projects.

Big ups to Jimmi Francoeur for the opportunity. A&D is available here.

Founded in Osaka in 1998 and now based in Toronto, Creep by Hiroshi Awai is yet another quality Japanese take on classic American workwear.  Here, Awai brings us a tailored, slim cut work jacket in a chalk-striped navy blue.  The jacket has a riveted three-button front with a stand-up collar, and features a hunting-style patch over the right shoulder and assymetrical chest pockets.  One interesting detail is the layered hip pockets with rounded button flap pockets concealing an extra patch pocket underneath.  Available here.

Spring is right around the corner, which means that it’s time to trade in those heavily insulated winter boots for something a little more breathable. But with the winter melt usually comes the daunting task of trying to maintain a shoe’s appearance and some will stop at nothing to keep theirs in as pristine a condition as possible, adamantly avoiding water at all costs. But despite their best efforts, the inevitable will eventually take place, only to leave the wearer in great sorrow and anguish. Now I wouldn’t suggest you go trudging around the damp parts of town with these Cosmic Wonder Light Source boots on for fun, but it certainly never hurts to ‘get your feet wet’ every now and then, both literally and idiomatically speaking. With a distressed leather exterior, they already give off the vibe that they’ve been around the block a few times anyway; kicking up a few puddles, whether intentionally or not, shouldn’t do much to tarnish the boot’s rugged worn-in look. The leather laces and hand-sewn crepe sole set the boot off just right. Available here.

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For those among us that prefer a closed-toe shoe for sockless enjoyment in the summer, aside from the classic boater, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better choice than the look and feel of a good moccasin. And that’s not to say we’ve forgotten about the Nappa leather that wraps our bare feet in a classic Common Projects sneaker. Surface 2 Air makes some of the finest looking footwear for a non-footwear based label. Each piece, from their boots to their sneakers are always on point and this seasons drop is no different. We’ll eventually get around to giving each model its proper stage, but for now, we’ll just describe these moccassins made from soft, premium suede with a flexible, lightweight sole. Available here.

Part of the new Kitsuné golf range, this Blouson jacket is inspired by the classic harrington. We’ve been partial to the look of a classic Baracuta as of late as we prepare for Spring, but there’s something fun about wearing a piece for the course off the course. With the exception of argyle of course. Made from seersucker cotton in a 3-colour gingham, what really sets it off is the Kitsuné golf patch on chest which is something entirely new. We’ve never been ones for big logos, but a small, embroidered patch that’s well designed is really the way to go. Available here.

We mentioned ‘Stylo’, the new Gorillaz track featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack, in our recent Monthly Music Roundup. Yesterday saw the release of the accompanying music video, an entertaining semi-animation starring the usual suspects (although no Russel?) alongside Bruce Willis at his ever-squinting best. It’s a beautifully shot piece that centers on a classic high speed car chase. In addition to the obvious “you can’t run from John McLean” moral of the story, there’s an amusing although twisted little PSA promoting healthy eating habits. The open ending suggests that we can expect more from this ambiguous storyline, and so long as Pete Candeland is still at the helm that’s not at all a bad thing. The director/animator, in collaboration with Passion Pictures cohort Jamie Hewlett, is responsible for much of the Gorillaz’ fantastic videography – an impressive feat considering how integral the group’s animated persona has become to their success over the years. In addition to music videos Candeland’s impressive portfolio includes work with the BBC, Coke and KIA, but perhaps best of all is his work for Harmonix, for whom he did the stunning cinematic opening for Beatles Rock Band. Expect a lot more from this visual mastermind.

Best Made Co. was founded by designer and author Peter Buchanan-Smith, and outdoorsman and environmental entrepreneur Graeme Cameron to create the finest, most beautifully hand-crafted axes. Buchanan-Smith, a Grammy award winning designer and author who has created designs for Wilco, Philip Glass, Brian Eno, David Byrne, Paper Magazine, The New York Times, and Isaac Mizrahi among others. You may have already spotted their axes that double as works of art on the November/December issue of I.D. Magazine.

Best Made Co.’s first foray into apparel doesn’t stray far from their roots firmly planted in the great outdoors. A favorite among lumberjacks and hipsters alike, The Red Cap of Courage just may be our favorite hat of the season, made of 100% cashmere. Believe us when we say, everything has been considered, right down to the packaging. It comes delivered in a small, hand-made spruce and cedar crate, wrapped in a hand-stamped paper and secured with red cashmere string. Best of all, the small non-descript logo provides a subtle touch of color and is embroidered in a way that reminds us of the Cub Scout badges we worked hard to earn back in the day. We believe this article fulfills the requirement for our Computer Badge.

Available here.

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Fixed gear bikes have been back in the spotlight for awhile now, made popular by hardcore bikers like city messengers. Their attraction lies in their simplicity. Fixed/single speed bikes are essentially track bikes, the type that are designed to be ridden on banked ovals, they have one speed and the rider to road connection is uncanny, something that you can’t quite explain until you’ve tried one. They are simple to maintain, since they only have one speed they have no gears to adjust and keep in order, and along with this they need little to no brakes as fixed gear means just that, no freewheeling here. They are easy to transport and secure since they are lighter than most bikes and have less “stuff” hanging off of them.

When most people get into the fixed gear game they usually choose to buy an old frame, fix it up, bolt on some nice anodized parts and splash on some paint. The T1 represents Treks aluminum track bike, which along with being a reasonably priced purchase, also comes spec’d with some descent parts such as a nice carbon fork and parts from Bontrager. This would be a great bike to get into the sport with, a city bike which is hassle free as well as looking very clean. Check out the Trek T1 here.

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Another day, another tote but whether you’re a believer in its practicality or not, it’s always good to stash one in the car or rucksack for impromptu shopping.  The word Eena is a Chinook term that means the beaver who builds the best lodge. For over 40 years Portlands own Beckel Canvas Products has taken this motto to heart, creating traditional canvas tents for the camping enthusiast. The same rugged good looks and timeless style defines these durable canvas bags that suit a variety of purposes. Each bag is locally crafted of 20 oz. canvas, with leather trim, sturdy zippers and stitched label. Old school cool Oregon-style, they will take you anywhere you want to go. Available here.

Several years ago, designer Dean Heckler decided to leave behind a successful business as a software UX/UI designer for the decidedly more risky prospect of furniture design.  In our opinion, he has been instantly vindicated with his minimal and perfectly functional OneLessDesk design.  Heckler created it out of a distaste for the more common heavy wood desk designs that didn’t seem to jive with our modern flat screen monitors and sleek titanium notebooks.  The powder-coated steel design incorporates two “decks”, one slightly larger than the other which tucks underneath it.  All told, the desk only occupies 12 inches of room space when tucked together.  They are crafted in Phoenix, Arizona, and come finished in red, yellow, white, silver, and black, as well as custom color options at an extra cost.  You can also add the OneLessStand or OneLessFile.  They are all available direct here.

More pics after the jump.

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We remember spotting the Series 1 of this collaboration awhile back and being blown away. We’ve always been partial to the Pierre Hardy high-top sneakers that have remain unchanged season after season, but this ongoing collaboration with Kitsuné continues to impress. For Series 7, they’ve gone with soft tanned suede uppers and inners, thin white leather sole and contrast color laces. In our humble opinion, the Spring/Summer 2009 drops still remain the ones to beat. Available here.

Marc Jacobs‘ designs down the years have always skirted the line between serious fashion and outright playfulness to great effect.  As his career has hit dizzying heights with his own line and his work for Louis Vuitton, often forgotten is the fact that his infamously irreverent “grunge” line for Perry Ellis in 1993 led to his eventual firing and nearly extinguished his career before it really started.  On the flip side, his diffusion Marc by Marc Jacobs men’s line can at times feel a bit trendy and underworked.  However, here he brings us a more discerning design in the form of a motorcycle jacket-inspired sweater.  It comes in a black and white marled knit blend of linen and cotton with an offset zip front featuring black tape trim and a notch collar with silver snaps.  It also features side and front zip pockets as well as zip closures at the sleeve for the full motorcycle effect.  Available here.