Considered the fastest watch in the world, last week Parmigiani released the new Bugatti Super Sport to coincide with the release of its namesake supercar. Making sure they spared no expense in making it as exotic and extreme, the watch contains the 372 movement – a successor to the 370 which worked using a transversal movement – the new watch features another extrodinary movement which transfers power to the watch face at a 90 degree angle. This first edition will be limited to 30 pieces, with white 18ct gold and carbon face, but varying models will be produced in the future, to a total of 200 pieces. At $259,000, it seems like a drop in the bucket after you’ve just spent as much as you have on your new Veyron.

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With roots on London’s historic Jermyn Street at British clothier Turnbull & Asser, the Fayed and Goncalves brothers are bringing the bespoke philosophy to ready-to-wear for the next generation. The brothers decided to try their hand at catering to the offspring of the Turnbull regulars who appreciate old-world craftsmanship on slimmer, more modern cuts. Designed and manufactured in England with materials sourced from British and Italian textile mills, Bespoke combines classic Americana with British mod wit. In a few short seasons, Bespoke‘s take on velvet, herringbone tweed and cashmere for blazers, cardigans and trousers have been well received both at home and on this side of the pond. We managed to catch up with 3 of the 5 that make up Bespoken just as the Fall/Winter 2011 collection is set to drop.

LH: We’ll start with the formalities, who are you, what are your respective rolls and what did you guys do in your previous life?

Paulo Goncalves: I guess you can say we’re a bit of a mixed bag.  There are two set of brothers – James, Sam and Liam who grew up in their family business of Turnbull & Asser in London.  Carlos & myself grew up in NY working in finance and advertising, respectively.  We collectively make it work, and being brothers and all, it keeps us honest despite the occasional headbutting (not in an Noel & Liam Gallagher sort of way). We’re all extremely passionate about this brand and what we do, so its definitely a collaborative effort.

LH: Growing up in and around Turnbull & Asser and given your backgrounds, it seems you could have gone in a variety of different routes and just as easily given up on clothing, so what about clothing makes it so appealing to you guys?

Sam Fayed: Honestly, it was something we could all relate to, born out of a frustration of our own.  Being guys in our 20s & 30s, we felt that its been difficult to find a menswear label that marries fine tailoring & construction with more contemporary fits and styles.  It was through working the sales floor at Turnbull where we were exposed to just how customers reacted & appreciate the quality and details, down to where it’s manufactured.  We thought we would bring this to a younger audience, and along the way, round out our personal wardrobes.

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From 2D to 3D Jon Burgerman has made a career as an artist by doodling with a pen. Like the rest of us, he started drawing on notebooks. Only, he never stopped. Today you can find him doodling on walls and doors, t-shirts, toys, Nike‘s and creating art for the likes of Kidrobot, Lomography and most recently, the new iPad application Granimator and soon-t0-be-released Inkstrumental iPhone game. A self-described tea lover and salad enthusiast, this Nottingham, UK native has quickly become one of London’s most revered cartoonists with exhibitions around the world and invitations to doodle on the walls of shops and hotels. This is a quick glimpse into the mind of Jon Burgerman. And yes, Jon Burgerman is his real name.

LH: Let’s get some formalities out of the way…What’s your background, how did you get started, how long have you been an artist and how’s that beard treating you?

JB: I was born in the UK, went to school, went to college and then went to university. And then I decided I’d try and not have a job and be an artist. That’s pretty much all I can tell you about the first 30 years of my life. Oh yeah the beard, how could I forget? At some point, when I was about ten or eleven, I grew a beard. He’s been with me ever since.

LH: Let’s talk about your style of drawings, a lot of people doodle, but you’ve done so successfully. What’s your earliest recollection of imploring it and what inspired you?

JB: Hmmm when people often asked me what style my drawing was in I’d nonchalantly say it was a doodle style. Somewhere along the line, many years ago, that began to stick. I’ve drawn like this for a long time, before I ever went to university. I just like keeping the pen moving and that means often not taking it off the page. I hope the drawings capture some sort of rhythm or melody. I have poor rhythm in real life as anyone who’s seen me dance can attest to. I don’t really know who I’m inspired by. When asked this question I normally just spill a slew of recognised artists and designers most people would agree are quite good. This list now resides on my website so I don’t have to carry it around in my brain with me.

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Since 2000, Light+Building has been one of the world’s largest tradeshows featuring the most innovative products in architecture & technology, often acting as a forum for leading manufacturers to launch the latest and greatest trends to conquer the world. Typically at these type of events, when technologies start surfacing at more than one booth, you know it is becoming an important trend to look out for. This year, LED lighting in home applications has exploded onto the scene with some fabulously designed lighting solutions. Often utilized for its low-energy consumption, the increasing demand from consumers for eco-design has pushed both the technological and design elements LED technology has to offer. Here are the best of the best from Light+Building 2010.

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Long associated with Subaru, DC Shoes co-founder and internet sensation Ken Block recently jumped ship to the Ford Motor Company. This move has been a tremendous success both on the racing front for Block and for the North American Launch of Ford’s foray into the subcompact market, with the new Ford Fiesta (stay tuned for a full review of the Fiesta on April 26^th).  Fresh off a 36-hour journey from the World Rally Championship in Turkey, Block was in San Francisco to unveil his Gymkhana Three Fiesta, a beast of a custom-built Fiesta with a 650-horsepower engine with 660 pound-feet of torque. With help from the Swedish team at Olsbergs Motorsport Evolution, the Gymkhana Fiesta looks as fierce and aggressive as it will be driven in the upcoming video, set to be filmed and released this summer (though the location is a closely guarded secret).

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From his humble beginnings as a skateboarder to the successful business owner that he is today, some might consider Dion Kovac responsible for almost single-handedly pioneering a movement here in Sydney. Eight years ago, on his own dime, he braved his reputation and ventured into virtually unknown territory, opening up Our Spot in the heart of one of Sydney’s many surrounding inner-city village areas. And he did it on the basis that someone needed to challenge convention, selling goods by Rachel Comey, Nom de Guerre and Common Projects, thus exposing a city so transfixed by surf culture to a new kind of aesthetic in the process.

Fast forward to present day, and Dion is back at it again. Only this time, in an effort to promote the ever-growing stature of a few local brands, Dion’s keen eye has his new store – One of a Kind – stocking only the latest in what this country has to offer. From Rittenhouse, Vanishing Elephant and Three Over One, Dion has made it his priority to get those brands the recognition he feels they deserve. Nestled in a quaint neighbourhood, the vine-draped store is the only one of its kind for blocks. He tells me that the reception has been amazing thus far – most of it from curious onlookers who can’t help but notice the shop’s unique exterior. Formerly an art space, the intimate setting – adorned with only a few racks worth of clothes and shoes aligned in a very precise manner – doesn’t feel contrived at all. It’s friendly. It’s sincere. And it perfectly encapsulates the passionate personality of a man who’s seen and done it all.

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Not far from the popular mix of boutiques, bakeries and restaurants that adorn St. Laurent street, twin brothers Dexter (left) and Byron Peart (right) – founders of WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie – are balancing their agency life and their own accessories label from Montreal’s Garment District. Over the past decade Montreal has been the launchpad and home to several fashion and accessories labels ranging from Rudsak to MO851 to Philipe Dubuc. WANT however, has achieved notoriety in a relatively shorter period of time with quality leather offerings and models carried by major player stockists such as Harvey Nichols, Opening Ceremony, Le Bon Marche and Holt Renfrew. Backed by years of senior-level experience at Sixty and Diesel, their own agency, and each other, Dexter and Byron Peart are delivering WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie from Montreal with love.

(Continued…)

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Nestled beside an Art Gallery on a typical Parisian street, resides a creative shop like no other. A place where you become the designer and the artist, tailor-making your very own wardrobe from jackets, to sweaters, to shirts, to sneakers. From N°11 Blue Lagoon and N°22 Paradise Pink to flannel jackets and cashmere scarves, you can have your article hand painted in 180g‘s  atelier in over 100 rich, nuanced, luminous colors.

Owner and co-founder of 180g, Nicolas Chevalier first came up with the concept during an exhibition for Donna Karan in New York City with a desire to push his art to the next level, to make it dynamic and surprising. His paintings however, ended up on clothing rather than canvas. From there it didn’t take long before the unique pieces were being well received and launched in high-end shops like Isetan in Tokyo & Harrods in London.

From all that, 180grammes was born. A creative boutique that mixes tailor-made clothing and hand-dyed pieces where people can feel truly connected to their clothing. Most may recall 180g and Chevalier’s work on a collaboration with Nike whereby the Tennis Classic, Air Flytop, and Flash were given the 180grammes treatment. The process allowed for the materials on the models to be custom dyed, achieving a tailor-made type of aesthetic with various premium textiles and custom detailing. The result was an array of metallic and earthy monochromes with a slightly worn and unfinished look.

We recently caught up with artist, designer and owner of 180g Nicolas Chevalier, and toured the workshop.

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Nestled along the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, Zach Johnsen is quietly making a name for himself in the art world through his distinctive illustrations. Give him a micron pen and he’ll show you a world you thought only existed in your wildest dreams, or perhaps only in your nightmares. His style of frenetic pen lines and splashy water-based media evokes a serious critique on Suburbia and the overpowering consumerism in America today. But don’t let politics get you down, Johnsen’s art is inspiring and colorful, and has even used commercially many times – from a collaboration with the New York Times, to skateboards & snowboards, to work for NY/CA-based apparel company Tank Theory which he co-founded. His most recent collection, “Dancing Nun” is currently showing at the MOHS Gallery in Copenhagen. We caught up with Zach in his studio in Portland, a little hungover but still very much inspired.

LH: For those who aren’t familiar with you and your work, give them the low-down… who is Zach Johnsen?

ZJ: Zach Johnsen is a 31 year old artist, designer, illustrator and all around visual conductor living in Portland, Oregon.  I do fine artwork for gallery settings. I do commercial illustration. I work in wood and fabric and photo and I also work in print and apparel. I dabble in all types of media and have much to learn.

LH: How did you get your start as an artist… when did you realize you had what it takes to make it professionally?

ZJ: I probably got my first artistic push from my mom who is also a fine artist and graphic designer.  At 18, I decided to attend the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston and that’s when I started to really take seriously art making and art as a profession.

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I first got wind of Kyle Ng and his label Farm Tactics on a recent trip through to Craft in LA and name drop from Eddie Cruz. While repurposed materials are anything but new, Ng’s choices of materials for Farm Tactics certainly are. Among our favorites are bags made from materials such as 1960’s Dutch military bags, 1940’s gas masks and Oil Filson Tin cloth and other military webbing. On the clothing side of things, you can expect to find a similar aesthetic with pieces inspired by Ng’s grandfather who was an industrial designer in the 50’s and 60’s, but with a self-described “neoclassical” twist. Intrigued, we wanted to know more and caught up with Ng to talk about his idea, the process and Mayer Hawthorne.

LH: So Kyle, tell us about yourself. What’s your background?

KYLE NG: I am an artist designer based out of Los Angeles. I’m originally from  the San Francisco Bay Area, and moved down to Los Angeles to work as a filmmaker. When I First moved to la When i was 18, i met a lot of amazing influential people who helped guide me. People like Darren Romanelli and Nathan Cabrera took me under their wings and taught me about art and fashion. They  were really important in my life because they made me realize that  you shouldn’t just limit your creativity to one field.

LH: OK, Farm Tactics. Let’s talk about your reasons for starting it and what you’re trying to achieve…

KYLE NG: I originally started Farm Tactics as just a t shirt line in 2006. I had a partner who really fucked me over, and I stopped making clothing all together.  In 2009 I started to have an itch to make clothing again. This time I wanted to do something totally different. I was very interested in creating a line that represented my American Heritage. I am sixth Generation Chinese American! My family were one of the first Chinese in Texas! I wanted to create a narrative that reminded people of what this country is all about. Its ridiculous to see more Americana brands being made out of Japan then here. Americans really need to step up and take back our heritage.

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It’s interesting times out there if you’re in the market for a canvas bag. With the growing acceptance among men for totes for everyday use and duffles for carry-on travel, more and more brands have been entering the market, each with a claim of putting their own spin on canvas. Small, but quickly growing, Danish brand Mismo‘s spin on canvas almost qualifies of a lack of spin. And that’s a good thing. Instead, Mismo brings it back to basics by championing simplicity in design and construction, with superior quality materials in the form of rugged, water resistant canvas and full grain leather accents. Behind Mismo’s products is the philosophy that real luxury arises from the choices made – about what to subtract, and what would should remain. While we’re currently in the midst of being unkind to a MS Shopper bag (shown above) to see how it fares overtime, we had a quick chat with Mismo founder Adam Alexander Bach about Danish design, collaborations and the worst part about his job, along with a peak inside his operation.

Before Mismo I did not have so many worries, nor did I have so many thrills….

The name Mismo comes from Spain…. Mismo has two meanings; “the same” or “something that refers to yourself”, which we liked as reference to the personal marks each person leave on their bag because of the natural materials we use.

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Relative new comer in the game, Volta Footwear has been taking the dressier elements of your typical Italian-designed shoe and fusing them with a casual sneaker spirit, all in a unique Chukka-esque silhouette. While it’s rare that new comers specialize in only one model, in only their second year, Volta balances their mono-product approach with a wide array of different color options straight from Milan. These hybrid boot-sneakers were inspired by the footwear development of the last 50 years, which is why you’ll instantly get their retro vibe and timeless (yet very modern) lines. These are shoes simple, refined, made to be worn everyday and self-described as an “instant classic”.

We caught up with Volta’s Brand Director and one of their designers, Mauro Simionato, to find out more.

LH: What is the main inspiration behind the brand and the designs?

MS: We wanted to create some footwear to replace sneakers and boots. Better yet, we aimed for an evolution in footwear. Something to come after sneakers and boots. A third, new choice if you will. After so many years of “sneakers everyday and everyway”, we all got kind of sick of them, and started to look back to casual ankle boots, to our old pairs of Clark’s and Doc Marten’s. But at the same time, we got used to trainers, to the comfort and feeling. So we said to ourselves, “let’s make a pair of boots that look and wear like sneakers”. Anyways, we were not the first to have such a goal; Clarks did it already some 50 years ago.

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