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.

Each piece of the watch is designed and produced by the Parmigiani manufacture, minus the watch band which is provided by Hermes.

The watch recently accompanied Bugatti test driver Pierre-Henri Raphanel, while travelling at a top speed of 431 km/h in the Veyron Super Sport.

The new Bugatti Super Sport 16.4, at 1200bhp, has reclaimed the title as the fastest car in the world.

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.

LH: The brand has been described in a variety of different ways, “New wave 1980′s”, “60′s mod meets 30′s Americana”, “Edgy Savile Row”, but how would you describe it?

Sam Fayed: Its always interesting to see how different people interpret your brand.  Our roots & inspiration are undeniably English, so we’ve been often referred to as part Savile Row, part Rock n Roll.  That seems to sum it right.

LH: It’s a little like bringing the bespoke philosophy to a younger group, to those with very little familiarity with the process. Is that the goal? Quality for the all? What in particular made you decide against more casual wear (jeans, t-shirts, etc) that seem to be more widely popular with guys your own ages?

Paulo Goncalves: I guess you can say this is a goal.  If you think about it, our generation has been accustomed to having things whenever & wherever we want, down to the stylish clothes we sport.  And now with some of the mass brands that have popped up in recent years, they could be purchased with very little expense.  Due to that, some people have been willing to overlook the quality & craftsmanship.

But I do think more & more people are now taking notice of things that have more of a handcrafted story – whether its bikes, or lo-fi records to clothing.  It feels like people are searching for something authentic, something they could appreciate.  I don’t believe we’ll ever be for the “masses”, for now we’ll take it one customer at a time.

LH: Can you walk us through a bit of the manufacturing process, deciding on the materials, where you source them, assembly?

Liam Fayed: Most of our fabrics come from either the UK or Italian mills.  We try to use the smaller mills, ones that have a story behind them.  Some used to provide for the big name brands of London back in the day but have since lost their business to mills overseas.  Our advantage is that we’re relatively small so we’re able to work with these people without throwing a wrench into their operation.

We’re also fortunate to manufacture our shirts & ties at the Turnbull & Asser factories outside of London.  We’re the only brand that can say that.  It’s not the type of operation where machines spit out hundreds of finished shirts by the hour.  All of it is handcut & handcrafted, something you don’t see as much these days, sadly.    It takes 16 different skilled craftsmen to make one single shirt, each dedicating a certain part of its construction (from pattern making & cutting to cuff & yolk assembly).

LH: Whereas most treat the details as an afterthought, Bespoken’s seem to be well thought out and executed,  right down to the packaging of the shirts and embroidering edition numbers, where does this passion stem from?

Paulo Goncalves: I firmly believe that people are looking for something special, unique, something to justify them dropping the cash on a piece of clothing.  We’re very proud and fortunate to have the relationships we have with our factories & mills, the passion is something that stems from the pattern maker to the cutter to the sewer — we simply want to make sure we’re doing it justice.  We know there are many other labels out there that we compete with – with bigger and fancier budgets, along with massive operations that can turn things around in a snap. For us, it’s a matter of delivering the best product that we can and the details are everything, it’s as simple as it sounds.

LH: Finally, I’ve spotted you guys a few times in denim, what are some of your favorite denim labels?

Paulo Goncalves: We tend to stick to the classics, Levis hasn’t let me down.  I’m also a fan of Jean Shop, they take denim seriously – something I could appreciate.

Site: Bespoken

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.

LH: You’re starting to get into some product collaborations is this something we can look forward to in the future?

JB: Collaboration, when done well, benefits all parties with the talent and magic provided by the other person that you can’t conjure up yourself. Hopefully in the future there will be apparel goodies along with more toys, prints, digital play things and books. I guess really most work is a collaboration of sorts, whether it’s with another artist, brand or gallery. I like utilising the power of a more and different skilled individual.

LH: So any word from the Henrik Vibskov camp on your desire to collaborate on a cardigan?

JB: Haha no! I’ve never contacted them and would understandably expect them never to reply if I did. To be honest why would they want to collaborate ? Why would I want to collaborate – I’d just want to be Henrik Vibskov!

LH: Is the creative process different between commercial and personal projects?

JB: Yes and no. If the commercial people are smart they’ll let you do your thing and then it can be treated almost like a personal project. When commercial projects go bad (sounds like a good idea for a internet TV show) it’s when the process is messed about with by the persnickety client. Generally my process is very simple. Have an idea. Draw the idea. Make the idea as finished and as good as possible. End. Sleep. Wake up and release it’s still quite early in the morning. Sleep for a bit longer.

LH: Going quickly through your sketchbook I think I spotted a non-doodle piece that looked great, something for the future?

JB: Which piece do you mean ? I’ve been drawing in different ways for a while now. It’s still, hopefully, recognisably me, but with a slightly different flavour. I think pushing how I draw and drawing different things will only help to make me better in the long run.

LH: The life of an artist can be challenging, what for you has been the most challenging and the most gratifying?

JB: Most challenging sometimes is to keep motivated when you’re surrounded by amazing work by loads of other artists. Everyday I see, online generally, such great work that it tips over from being inspiring and sort of becomes depressing. It’s also challenging, of course, to earn your keep when you’re starting out. It’s all still better than doing anything else of course. Most gratifying is that I’m still going and it’s all growing a little each year. It’s nice that people respond well to my work and it occasionally inspires others to get drawing or making things. It’s also satisfying to of proved my old A-Level art teach wrong. Look at me now Mr Lucas, I’m being an artist and you can’t stop me! (He really was a mean teacher).

LH: So, what other forms of art and design do you appreciate, whether it be clothing, sneakers, musicians, kitchen utensils…

JB: I’m interested to learn more about fashion. Some fashion designers. like Christian Joy for example, make crazy stuff that’s somewhere in-between fashion and design and art and installation. I want to know more about it, I find it fascinating. Overall I like anything that’s a bit different within it’s field I think, be it art, design, books, movies or music.

LH: Lastly, with the recent launch of Inkstrumental, why is there no Burgertown cartoon TV show?

JB: Well, there are Burgertown figures, made by Kidrobot – available here! I’ve worked on a few cartoon pitches before but nothing has really clicked into place yet. Don’t worry though, it’s one of my ambitions to one day make a cartoon series!  Comedy writers get in touch ASAP!

LH: OK I lied, one more question, what sites can we find you on for inspiration or wasting time.

JB: Man, I look at video game sites and music sites and movie sites all the time, what with Facebook and Twitter and Flickr too, it’s all becoming a bit much. Plus a lot of people have Tumblr accounts and blogs and they’re sharing cool links and images and videos with everyone else. I’d say no more surfing! There’s too much going on as it is! I wont further provocate this modern day epidemic. Is it coincidence that China is the worlds fastest growing economy and it’s also banned the use of Facebook?

Visit Jon Burgerman’s official site here.

Lead photo credit: Aidan Kelly
Others courtesy of Jon Burgerman’s Flickr

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.

We have been hearing about Organic LED (OLEDs) for years now and until recently the promise has far outweighed the delivery. OLED technology, where the emitting layer is made from an organic material (thus the name) is very promising for the lighting industry because the illumination is spread over a larger area and therefore has great potential as an extremely thin and energy efficient light source. For the first time, we have seen commercially available OLED solutions like this O’Leaf from Modular. Although it is currently extremely costly, this technology has commodity potential and might be widely available in the near future.

This classic bumpy acrylic lighting fixture from the King of the Organics, Ross Lovegrove, is just one of those designs that draws you in and never lets go. Cosmic Landscape features a combination of fluorescent and RGB LED sources to create white of colored lighting effect. In addition to the Table, pendant and wall versions of Cosmic Landscape, Artemide is also offering the Cosmic Mugg and Cosmic Rotation so you can fully surround yourself while waiting for the Mothership.

The always-interesting Modular Lighting of Belgium and the young designer duo Couvreur & Devos have collaborated to create the Spock, a futuristic spotlight that looks more like a B&O stereo than a light fixture. The extremely slender 12.5mm cross-section cleverly belies the complex construction reflectors and diffusers that conceal the 16 edge illuminating LEDs to produce a diffused 32 or 56 degree focused beam. Extremely interesting is the seemingly floating disc that is supported by an asymmetrical hinge joint, that can be turned horizontally through 359°.

The Italian master Michele De Lucchi and Alberto Nason combine forces to design one of the more interesting additions to a new trend of general lighting pendants that are made up of repetitive LED elements. Most of these creations miss the mark badly, but the Led Net for Artemide creates an interesting array of brushed aluminum and round frosted acrylic lens that looks like an elegant illuminated coral.

Last, but surely not least comes one of my personal favorites from Frankfurt. Inspired by the shining ring of an eclipse, the Corona by XAL has a ring of LED lights that illuminate indirectly outwards from under the highly polished aluminum casts body. The Corona creates a special ring of light on the wall and can act as a lovely frame for anything and nothing, but it works particularly well when encircling a mirrored center.

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).

Ford flew us down to San Francisco for the unveiling of Block’s new car, which I can honestly say is one of the most impressive vehicles I’ve seen in person. Maybe it’s just the realization of what will be done with it that makes it all the more special. An enthusiastic Block was most excited about designing a car “for tarmac that handles as if it’s on gravel”, something that’s key for pulling off the maneuvers featured in the Gymkhana videos. With its killer looks, comes massive power; its engine is actually capable of up to 850 brake-horsepower, but limited to 650 to get the torque Block needs, allowing for a 0 to 60 mph in a mere 2 seconds.

The vibe at the media unveiling was electric; fans lined the streets hoping for a glance at Block (who I should mention, was kind enough to go out and sign autographs, talk to people, even get a few of them in the event). Together with the Monster Girls and the flashes of the bulbs, the Gymkhana Three Fiesta was unveiled to cheers and excitement all around. While I didn’t get to take it for a spin around the proverbial block, the car was magnetic –you couldn’t take you eyes off it. Almost to the point of forgetting the 4 beautiful women smiling and posing around that brilliantly designed machine.

]]> http://limitedhype.com/2010/04/detailed-ken-block-gymkhana-three-fiesta/feed/ 0 http://limitedhype.com/2010/04/interview-dion-kovac-one-of-a-kind-shop/ http://limitedhype.com/2010/04/interview-dion-kovac-one-of-a-kind-shop/#comments Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:13:52 +0000 Jon Luk http://limitedhype.com/?p=29042

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.

LH: Australian brands are quickly beginning to make a name for themselves in North America, in your opinion, how much longer before they begin to have more of a global presence?

DK: I believe there’s a handful of brands from Sydney/Melbourne that have been doing really well in North America for a few years and now it seems like it’s only growing more and more. Australian brands continue to do well in the North American market, I think that the market is really receptive towards them. The U.S has so much choice and in a way is over-saturated by the Gap’s, H&M’s, Uniqlo’s, etc…When brands come along that offer something different – subtle details, excellent quality and fine fabrics, they tend to jump on them making so many Australian brands big names. Up and coming brands to look out for would be Three Over One.

LH: I was perusing the internet and I managed to find a video of you skateboarding up on Youtube. How big a part has that played in defining your fashion sensibilities and who you are today, as a contemporary men’s store owner?

DK: It was my background in skating that lead me to open my first store. At the time, a lot of skaters in the U.S and UK were starting up their own labels and I wanted to bring that to Sydney. At the time, I felt it was really important. That has always laid a foundation for what I have carried through to my present buying. Eventhough I have stepped away from skater/street brands, it’s still important to me to buy labels that offer something different, something special. I want the wearer to feel like they’ve just discovered something that is solely theirs, eventhough this may not always be the case.

LH: There’s no denying that surf culture’s huge here in Australia, but does that leave room for other niche markets to strive or even survive? I think you and the Wu brothers (Incu) have aimed to change perceptions, you guys carved out an area of the market that had previously been untapped or lacking and kind of created your own paths. Is it safe to say that’s what you had envisioned for Our Spot? You noticed a void and wanted to fill it?

DK: I definitely noticed a huge gap in the market and thought Sydney needed some more edgy concept stores and boutiques. We started with some younger streetwear brands from New York and Australia then as the years went by, I noticed that more and more stores were beginning to open and it seemed that everyone was carrying a lot of the same brands. The thing with Our Spot was to always bring something new and stay ahead and take risks. That’s when we opened the second store which was more targeted to a clientele who had travelled and knew good quality garments when they saw them. As the clientele grew older, so did my buying tastes. I have always felt it important to buy from the heart. If I’d wear a label, I’d feel as though it should be shared. And yes, there is a huge surf culture here in Australia, but those interested in fashion will be interested in fashion. The best part is that Australia is an easy going place. If you want to go label heavy, you can. If you want to mix it with your beach vibe, you can. Or if it’s 40 degrees, just rock out in your boardies!

LH: Have you noticed a shift in attitude towards menswear/workwear from when you first started? What do you think has incited its resurgence these past few years?

DK: Fashion always repeats itself. Classic menswear that might have a naval or military look is timeless and I think will always be around. It’s just exciting to see new designers emerge that might take a trench coat for example and throw their own little twist on it. People just want durable easy wearing garments, and in relaxed environments like Australia, it suits the aesthetic.

LH:  Which brand fits most in line with your personal style? Brand with the best creative direction?

DK: I love what Rittenhouse have done with the brand. They have managed to stay true to their origins with the collections and there’s always a few timeless pieces each season that I know will be favourites of mine for years to come. Some others from the U.S and Europe would be A.P.C., Whyred and Nom de Guerre. There’s a lot out there. I just recently saw the Dana Lee collection from Canada which was amazing..

LH: Lastly, favourite hip-hop album?

DK: That’s a hard one…Umm, how about KRS-One “I Got Next” and Ol’ Dirty Bastard “Return to the 36 Chambers.” That’s a classic!

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…)

“We felt like the market was missing some essential items for travel. We travel extensively in our business and we were looking for these perfect carry all pieces that could be useful…and look good,” explains Dexter.

Travel being the keyword, each bag is named after worldly airports. From Trudeau, de Gaulle, Malpensa, Charleroi, and Deurne, each model whether it be a weekend bag or passport cover is positioned to be your next favorite travel companion.

Explains Byron, “We wanted to bring the connection back to the person who may at Pearson today but maybe LaGuardia tomorrow and really highlight this inter-connectivity. So you know, it’s like us or even LimitedHype, we’re in Montreal but we do business in Tokyo…we were there last week…or us spending a lot of time in New York…there’s a connection to business all around the world. We wanted the brand to be the embodiment of the international aesthetic.” And since its birth in 2005, WANT has been cleared for take off with collaborations with The Sartorialist, J. Crew and an upcoming line in the works with Opening Ceremony.

Back in Montreal at WANT offices on Chabanel street, a street adorned with factories, manufacturers and warehouses, the emphasis is on and always has been quality sources and quality manufacturing. Naturally, the Pearts took their time to research the best. “We source our leather from Norway, which most people are surprised about being a Canadian brand, with manufacturing done in Italy and our cotton is from Turkey…so like what we were saying before in trying to be a very global brand, not just with the names of our products but we’re also producing globally and always trying ultimately sourcing the best products,” explained Byron, while holding an organic cotton bag from the new collection.

Aside from WANT’s range of city bags, weekend bags and a host of smaller leather goods, it has since moved to include a newer range of organic cotton bags which you may have spotted adorned with a WANT Organic for J. Crew label.

Byron and Dexter recount the birth of the collaboration, “We met Mickey Drexler, the CEO, of J.Crew on a totally random occurrence, so it’s not exactly something we actively sought out for like we set up a meeting and said “Hey, let’s do something together”. It was a meeting I guess that was ‘supposed to happen’…right place, right time. So we met, we obviously had a huge affinity for what one another were doing. It was very natural…organic, to do a collaboration. They were big fans of our leather collection but after some back and forth we were really thinking about what we could do in terms of an exclusive product offering and from that WANT Organic for J. Crew was sort of born as a sister to what WANT Les Essentiels was already doing.”

The family is definitely growing. The product of the inaugural collaboration was a collection of 8 organic canvas pieces ranging in colors from deep navy to black and red, all with a familiar, yet subtle burnt henna leather trim.

The Pearts are traveling. Literally and figuratively. More collaborations are underway, another season awaits, departures and arrivals are daily and of course, their bags are packed. With over 49, 000 airports in the world, here’s hoping there’s much more to come from Dexter and Byron by way of YUL.

Site: WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie

Photography: On&Beyond

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.

LH: What were you doing before 180g? How has that influenced you today?

NC: I was many things… an accessories designer, but I also worked in Marketing – defining visions (fashion), strength of a concepts, offers… All this led me to construct a different approach for 180g, an industrial approach to an artisan product. Something Made in France, very unique that clients could come pick up for themselves. Not something impersonal like a product produced in a series… I really wanted an “experiential” concept.

LH: What is the first thing people typically say when they come into the shop?

NC: That it’s a totally unique idea; a mix of tailor & dyeing like in the past, but revisited with hand painted process & modern look. They tend to spend a lot of time in the shop.

LH: If you can, explain the process of buying a 180g piece…

NC: You select your model from our man & woman collections, your fabric and a ‘nuance’ (dye) from the 100 color-palette we have to design your tailor-made piece of clothing, straight from our Parisian atelier. I feel like it’s something that goes back to tradition, back to a time of actual handmade work. Each piece is completely unique, from the texture, to the colors and effects – the clothing just comes alive.

LH: I heard your favorite color is black, do you have a dark side?

NC: No dark side at all, on the contrary… At 180g, black is color (like the famous French painter Pierre Soulage once said). 180g actually has more than 20 different black ‘colors’ (Ebony, charcoal,…ink blue).

LH: Which color pairs the best with black?

NC: Indigo blue, Grey, or Ink blue.

LH: The models you’ve chosen for the Nike Bastille Collab; the Air Flytop, Tennis Classic, and the Flash are models you don’t see everyday, what was your reasoning behind this choice?

NC: I found that they were sneakers with a real shoe style… they fit really well with our own collection, and they have that high-end look we’re after. Plus, they look stunning when dyed.

LH: What inspires you day to day?

NC: Researching new ‘handmade’ techniques, new ways of doing what we do here at the shop.

LH: What are your plans for the future of 180g? Any upcoming projects you can let us know about?

NC: There will be some new projects/collaborations with Nike, some upscale-type products. Also we’re developing some other collaborations with fashion & furniture brands… so, exciting times ahead!

180grammes is situated at 15, rue des Tournelles, Paris, FRANCE. or find them online, 180grammes.com

180g
15 Rue des Tournelles
75004 Paris
France

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.

LH: How long did it take to create your signature look?

ZJ: My style of watercolor and pen and ink developed organically while going to school, taking assignments, playing with media and sorting out how I wanted to express what I was trying to say.

LH: Explain your process… how you go from a spark of an idea in your head, to the ultimate outcome?

ZJ: Usually it’s a particular character or scene I want to bring to life. That’s the spark… getting this one idea out in some form or another. After the idea sets in, I usually find various references to help bring some level of believability into the equation. Then I sit down and throw color around to help define the composition and energy… then I add the line work and start developing the main bits. But nowadays my process is changing, as my ideas change and shift, so does the way I work. Now, I’m doing more work in graphite with watercolor as opposed to the definite mark of a pen… I’m even creating a series of new “paintings”, so I develop my work in ever-evolving ways…

LH: What typically influences you everyday and makes you pick up a pen and start drawing?

ZJ: I kind of have a very critical eye about life in general… most of the time I feel like I’m being fed a pile of dogshit; through commercials, billboards, and endless endless sales pitches and slogans. So I express my angst and criticism towards popular commercial culture through these characters and scenes and illustrations. I’m not necessarily inspired by one or 2 or 3 artists in particular but moreso by reality tv, infomercials, tabloids… It’s like I’m “fighting back” against this gigantic wave of cheap manufactured goods… something like that.

LH: Most of your work revolves around your drawings… with the advent of digital technology, photoshop and other digital tools, do you think hand-drawing is becoming a dying art form?

ZJ: Oh good god no! In fact, I think it’s pushing a revival of drawing and traditional art forms… Everybody is a designer and can create a cheap graphic using any number of free software, like glitter graphics!  I think it’s pushing more and more people to create better and better work, almost as a revolt against the cheapness the computer has brought.

LH: What are your views on the explosion of so-called “Street Art” on the mainstream?

ZJ: Um.. I don’t know. At first I was hating on that shit because it (say like wheatpasting) was to me the soft way of going bombing or writing graffiti, which is hard and dangerous. And I guess street art is an evolution of that. But I can’t really hate because people are doing amazing things out there with all types of medium in public spaces and I think it’s amazing. The real shitty thing about how big it has gotten is the marketeers and salespeople that come in, see that it’s popular, co-opt that energy, steal the look, and put it up in the streets on billboards that you will then get arrested for trying to paint or mark on.

LH: It seems that “art collecting” in general is becoming more and more popular with the younger crowd (damn those hipsters). Would you agree? How would you explain this; blogs/internet allowing more exposure for artists? The whole Shepard Fairey/Obama mass-media hype? Or just great artists creating great art?

ZJ: God bless em.. they make my life possible!  Art and design is so big right now, it’s turning artists into rockstars… like same status!  It’s nuts, art is huge and art is everywhere so collecting seems like a natural thing to do if you have the means… money or connections or whatever.  Shit… I’d personally love to collect more work than I have now!

LH: Many of your illustrations/art are very complex and busy… how do you know where to start? How do you know when you’re finished!?

ZJ: Good question… that’s the hardest thing for me to figure out myself. I never actually know when a piece is finished!  And to be honest, I don’t think many of my pieces are.

LH: Tell me more about Tank Theory, your T-shirt/apparel label… How / why did you decide to start that up?

ZJ: Basically, I was trying to find an outlet for my artwork after getting out of school… aka, I was broke and needed to figure out some kind of commercial avenue for my work to travel through. Luckily, I found a likeminded individual in Boston; Andrew Silverman, and we got to work getting a line together.

LH: What’s the relationship between fashion and art? Or what should it be…

ZJ: Well, from my standpoint, any printed fabric requires an artist… and that’s me. Otherwise, to me fashion is function… and I’m not necessarily trying to wear a piece of artwork on the day-to-day.

LH: Let’s chat about your Acid in Ice Cream series… I know I’ve had days at the office, after meetings or whatever, where I’ve felt pretty much exactly like the characters you’ve depicted… Have you ever worked an office job; cubicle, fake plant, annoying HR lady and all?

ZJ: Indeed, when I moved to New York, I got a job freelancing for the Nautica… the clothing company. Nautica is like one of 8 smaller subsidiaries from this huge global fashion brand, VF… maybe you’ve heard of it?  Haha. But yeah, cubicles, office birthdays, the whole nine.

LH: I find it interesting that the individuals in the series are pretty much all in black & white, grey and dull… whereas their heads are exploding vivid colors. To me, you’re trying to say something about our “live to work” mentality that’s so prevalent in North American society versus taking more of a “work to live” attitude towards everyday life… you know not being completely miserable from 9-to-5, suppressing our true desires to be artists, musicians, writers – or whatever else our career-councilors told us there was no future in. But maybe that’s just me…

ZJ: No yeah, that’s pretty much it.  But more specifically, something amazing (or violent or even just different) happening during that routine office birthday or office lunch.  It points the finger at routine in general – which to me, is a double edged sword: comfy as hell, but stifling at the same time and can act as a blinder to everything else around you.

LH: Actually, looking at the pieces again, I immediately think of the 1998 film Pleasantville. Don’t you hate Tobey Maguire? But I digress, I guess you can say there all some parallels between the themes in the film and your series.

ZJ: Haha, yeah he’s such a crappy actor… AND he has this stupid look on his face all the time??  I mean.. come on!

LH: If there was one word or emotion you’d want people to say or feel when seeing your art, what would it be?

ZJ: Well I like to tell a story in every work, and it changes. But overall, to open up your eyes, ears, senses and whole persons to the energy around you. I like when people take some time to look at the work, at the symbols and choices I’ve presented..

LH: What’s next for Zach Johnsen? Where do you see your art going?

ZJ: I’m really excited to get into more bonafied “paintings” and installation work.  I really want to build things, step away from just doing work on flat surfaces. Plus, shhh, but I might even get involved in video, film and animation through a public access show here in Portland… really looking forward to that!

LH: Ok, we’ll keep that a secret… If you’ve got anything to plug or having any parting words, the floor is yours!

ZJ: Thanks very much for the opportunity! Keep posted at www.zenvironments.com for more good stuff to come!

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.

LH: And what was the “A-ha!” moment for you when you decided to make your bags from a re-purposed military materials?

KYLE NG: I was showing my bag maker sketches of this back pack i wanted to make while we were in his vintage warehouse. He pulls out this  old dutch military pack that was exactly what i wanted except it was missing straps and a front pocket. I looked at the aged bag, and loved the way the fabric had stains and the colors were faded. It really told a narrative. I realized that i could never really manufacture a new product that could tell a story like that bag. This guys warehouse is like a vintage candy shop, where he had tons of  amazing stuff. I started to dig around and i found a bunch of these old gas mask packs. I looked at it and realized that i could cut them up and turn them into a front pocket. I then found this old military webbing  for the straps.  this bag became a vintage Frankenstein! By using repurposed material, each product is unique in its own.

LH: So are the materials hard to come by? How are you tracking them down?

KYLE NG: Most of my bags in the first collection are made out of vintage dead stock materials that are super hard to find! The 1940s oil wax Tin Cloth was originally used for Filson products. I am super surprised to find dead stock rolls of it! all the bags are limited editions because once i use up all the material, there is no guarantee i can source more.

LH: And The Weekend Collection, what about 50′s and 60′s workwear do you find personally appealing?

KYLE NG: The reason why its called The Weekend, is because it was inspired by weekends that I spent with my grandpa. He was definitely a product of the 50′s and 60′s style. I can vividly remember the feel and colors of his clothing. He was was a industrial designer for Kaiser aluminum, so i really wanted to create a shirt that had a pencil holder that would be functional for his drafting.

LH: And for the tank tops and pocket tees, what drew you to military issue garments from WWII?

KYLE NG: Military wear always had a certain robustness to it that i was attracted to. I think that a lot of menswear are inspired by military because of its functionality and quality.

LH: Where is the manufacturing being done?

KYLE NG: I get all my manufacturing done here in Los Angeles.  I would rather pay more to manufacture here in America then outsource it for cheap.

LH: Farm Tactics is relatively unknown despite being stocked at some influential shops like Craft and Brooklyn Circus, have you been happy with the response thus far?

KYLE NG: The response has been great! I have just released the first part of the collection, and have approached stores that I feel understand what the collection is about. People like Pete from Craft and Gabe from BK Circus have been very supportive in these beginning stages. They understand the concept and style that I’m trying to convey.

LH: Hey, how did you get involved with Mayer Hawthorne on these pictures?

KYLE NG: Mayer is a buddy of mine. We met when I was art directing his music video for “Green Eyed Love” . Mayer’s music pays homage to 60′s soul which is  definitely one of my favorite eras of music. Mayer and I realized that the tool bag was perfect for holding  45′s!

LH: What would you say is the most important lesson you’ve learned thus far through this experience?

KYLE NG: Being interested in film, I always saw the importance of narrative. Through Farm Tactics i realized that I could tell stories through garments, Just like The weekend collection told the story of my grandpa. Even basic tees can tell a narrative that comes alive when worn by different people.

LH: What can we expect from you in 2010?

KYLE NG: The next collection is inspired by the 60′s and 70′s The Whole Earth Catalogs. If you haven’t heard of them then you should fucking Google that shit now! The catalog was from the bay area, and it basically sold and  showcased  self sustaining products like (clothing, books, tools, machines, seeds). They would have stuff in there like bucky fuller’s geodesic domes, Teepees, canteens, moccassins, and crazy art shit. It was a perfect mixture of futuristic and primitive design. This collection will be larger than the weekend. There will be jackets, sweaters, pants, shirts, graphics shirts, and even my twist on a moccassin!

Website: Farm Tactics.

Available here.

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.

A dedicated craftsman constructing the M/S Canvas Work bag

If I hadn’t started Mismo I would be disillusioned for not having pursued the dream… But if it hadn’t been Mismo it would still have been something with a touch of design and entrepreneurship to it.

We chose to specialize in bags because back in ’03 when the idea first came to mind there were nowhere you could find a well designed bag in a nice material to hold your laptop. From there we’ve sought of expanded the line into every possible bag we could see ourselves use on different occasions.

What differentiates Danish design versus American design is subtractions, leaving only what should remain.

I really want people to know that when they’re paying for a Mismo bag they’re getting a meticulously crafted product that will follow them for years if treated with care. A product where heart and dedication has been equally put into every last detail… Buying a Mismo bag should feel like you’re getting a new best friend.

Our Limited Edition pieces are must haves…haha…something we do when we stumble across a special fabric or type of leather we only have limited access to, but have this urge to turn into a bag.

My thoughts on collaborations are that they can and should be a creative playground from where new and interesting products arises…. but too often collaborations seem conceived with the idea of promoting brands rather than products.

What you can expect from the Fall/Winter 2010 collection is a new vibrant navy and curry color and a handfull of new styles. We have a great new canvas weekendbag coming out as well a slim, practical document bag in all the canvas colors. And look out for a three style limited edition collection in a special developed, thick, wrinkle full-grain leather.

We don’t replace existing collections twice a year, once a product is conceived it stays in the collection unless there is a specific reason to replace it. So we merely add a few new styles and colors to the collection each season, but if it is one or five new styles depends on whether we feel we have something interesting to offer. Each bag we develop and bring to market needs to have a certain purpose or relevance. We don’t make new styles just to have something new to show.

The making of the AnOther x Peter Pilotto x Mismo shopper soon to be available at colette.

The most gratifying for me personally with Mismo has been that people have responded so positively to what we do. The satisfaction of having people telling and writing you that they absolutely love their Mismo bag is priceless, and basically the fuel that keeps the engine going.

The best part of my job is that I’m able do what I like the most…..design, create, invent, dream, travel!

The worst part of my job is that it never really leaves you. It’s a 24/7 commitment that has its firm place in the back of your head.

As for plans to expand Mismo beyond bags and accessories we still have so many bags we’d like to put our signature to, so no immediate plans of moving into apparel or shoes. But we have a few ideas, so it could be a matter of time…

We plan on expanding into North America very soon! In December we’ll be launching at Bergdorf Goodman and hopefully a couple of other great stores.

You can always find me using the next [Mismo] product to come. Our only way of testing new products are by using them. So I always find myself using different prototypes of new styles to come. Currently I’m using the new limited edition “wrinkle” leather shopper with our new full-grain laptop leeve (Shield) inside. But for traveling a natural Hercules or a navy MS Travel is the favourite.

Outside of Mismo, you can find me relaxing with friends and family, going to the countryside or by the sea. Still trying to squeeze in a round of golf, an hour on the tenniscourt or a football match at the stadium once in a while…Nothing beats the atmosphere of a packed stadium with 30.000 fans vigorously cheering for victory!

Mismo MS Canvas Work

Mismo MS Canvas Weekend

Mismo MS canvas Sleeve

Mismo MS canvas Travel

]]> http://limitedhype.com/2010/01/mismo-the-ultimate-personal-companion/feed/ 0 http://limitedhype.com/2009/12/feature-volta-footwear/ http://limitedhype.com/2009/12/feature-volta-footwear/#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:44:58 +0000 Scott Meleskie http://limitedhype.com/?p=23836

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.

READ MORE

LH: How do you believe you differ from other independent footwear brands like Common Projects, Opening Ceremony, Gram?

MS: I think we basically have different missions and visions. We like all the three brands you mentioned, and we like many more from the independent scene, but I think few of them actually match Volta goals. We want to be an instant classic of footwear. Being instant classics doesn’t mean hitting the market very aggressively from the very beginning with a live or die attitude. You can become an instant classic on a slower, step-by-step based strategy. That is why at this early stage, we are linked to higher-end brands like Common Projects, Gourmet or Opening Ceremony, even though all of them have a more “stylish” profile, have a significantly higher price-point, and only partially share our target. We are honored to stand besides those brands, because it means the most critical side of the market accepted us as a new option. We are grateful for it and will keep on working hard to satisfy those who chose us first. Anyway, Volta will soon be asked to make some moves, moves an ‘instant classic’ is supposed to take, and we will have to be ready to take the best decisions at the best timing.

LH: Explain to us about the Special #777 project… do you envision doing more limited edition models? Collaborations with other brands/designers?

MS: Special #777 was made for our best customers around the world, as a nice gift, but nothing more. Though the 21-stores-only concept is good for creating buzz, we didn’t really expect to have such a interest around the special. It’s great to open the mailbox everyday and find official “claims” about when it will be out and why it’s not out yet, how many pairs available, when we will post on the website the store-list… Quickly, #777 will be distributed through 7 stores in Italy, 7 in Europe and 7 in the rest of the world. The final store-list will be published soon, and it’s amazing we’re very happy with it. Each store will have a 24 pair limited range, we produced approx 600 of them, so I hope the collectors will be happy! We would like to launch one special a season, we all like the idea, and as long as our customers react so lively, we will keep on doing it. On the other side, we are not big supporters of this “collab” thing going on. I think it is good to join the force of two players to get best results for both, but I am still attached to a wider concept of co-branding and co-marketing in genera. I still think it is a delicate thing and it has to come at the right stage and be done in the right way. So for now we say no to collabs, we want to wait to be a stronger brand in order to work with prestigious labels – but only when we’re ready.

LH: What makes the Italian fashion so unique? How does the “street” scene differ from Japanese, American or British style?

MS: I think there is no “unique” Italian street fashion scene. We have been forced all the way from 60s to look around/outside for new trends, especially to the UK and US. When it comes to classicwear, we have always been masters. We still are, and I hope we always will be. I think there could be a time, maybe not now, maybe not our scene nowadays, when Italian kids will mix anglo-american or scandinavian street style with a touch of italian class, like some Cheap-Mondays/H&M/American Apparel thing mixed with Napolitan hand-made shirts and moccasins. That would look good, and very different from common preppy styles. By the way we do not consider Volta as a street-wear brand, because our shoes are sold to 20 year old hipsters as much as to 50 years old casual, updated professionals. Our retailers are already very different, going from sneakers stores, to high-fashion boutiques to strong casual/denim stores. I think we are already sharing something with our “idols” like Clark’s, we dream to get to that level where you are not street, or casual, or fashion, fresh or old… but just “classic”. The desert boot is like that; we want to be the new desert boot. There is a street-wear scene in Italy, all over Italy -there’s always been, along with punk, mod, skin, rockabilly scenes, everywhere around the country, small towns, small groups, big passions. Even if it’s true, that the UK indie-wave of last years pushed streetwear forward to a wider teenage-crowd. Most Italian streetwear brands are based in Milan. We like Marios and February, Dead Meat, Pharmacy, and Vanguard. We also like Super Sunglasses, and Noodlepark. Good projects and good people behind.

LH: Your tagline is “instant classic”, what is the most ‘classic sneaker ever’ in your opinion? What one sneaker do you wish you designed?

MS: The most classic sneaker ever is probably Converse Chuck Taylor, the most classic boot ever is probably Clark’s desert-boot. We wished we designed both of them! But we are also satisfied, we put a little something from them inside Volta, as an inspiration, a tribute and love.

LH: How difficult is it for a brand like yourselves to break into the North American market?

MS: Though in Europe we are a fast growing brand, we are approaching the US market very slowly. We are conscious it will become one of our main markets, and we already have been in contact with few important players, but we still have concerns about brand-positioning on the one end, and retail price-point on another. We are in few independent stores like Revolve, Joyrich, Otte, Shoerepertoire and hopefully Gimmeshoes and ReedSpace before the end of the year. As a matter of fact, we are called only by highly selective stores. Our nature is to start from there and grow stronger with them as partners.

LH: Anything special on the horizon for Volta?

MS: The upcoming AW2010 will be a big collection, with a lot of great Italian fabrics and color combinations, we’re crazy about it. For first quarter 2010, we will launch another special, to be out by March. In May, we will be designing a special edition shoe for the German store Azita, to celebrate their 5th anniversary. We were very happy the Azita team selected us as special partners for the event, it’s a real pleasure for us. So look out for that!

Click READ MORE to discover our picks.

A Killspencer bag is something special. Made from “used-in-combat” military truck tarps and assorted military spec components, they are completely handcrafted with the utmost attention spent on every detail. You won’t find these in your local Army Surplus store. Available here.

There are certain must-haves in ones’ wardrobe, and a classic Trenchcoat is certainly one. What’s brilliant about this Gabardine Coat by Resistance is that they find a way to not only make it unique, but they also make it look good. A vast array of Tartan buttons give this piece contemporary character and timeless class. The Holidays are the perfect excuse to pick up a fashion staple. Available here.

Omega’s Proprof (Plongeur Professionnel) actually dates back to the 60s, when Jacques Cousteau and COMEX French Diving Engineers developed the shark-proof diving timepiece, but Omega re-released a slightly more modern version of this watch, one of the most distinctive and sought after watches of the year.

The M65 military jacket is one of our favorites, and this past year has the seen the release of more than a few great examples. One of the most surprising is Nike Sportswear’s remixed M65, which has a minimalistic/utilitarian style that makes this 100% waterproof nylon jacket of our favs of 2009. Available here.

Nothing says winter like a pom-pom’d hat. Now the most stylishly inclined individuals can rock one without having to worry about looking silly. This Moncler knitted hat, with its reindeer and snowflake design, is the perfect accessory for a snowball fight in the city. Available here.

While not as luxurious as their Gold Label (a pair can take up to a year to make), Momotaro Vintage Label Jeans are hand-made from 100% Zimbabwe cotton, using the same traditional techniques as their $2000/pair siblings. As Japan’s premiere denim label, you’re assured to get one of the finest pairs of jeans you’ve ever put your legs into. Available here.

A necessity for the Holiday season, at least for those of you that have to deal with snow, is a decent looking boot to keep you cold and dry. Zeha-Berlin’s Alexander Barré and Torsten Heine have given a historic brand a modern outlook, drawing inspiration from 20′s Oxfords & Derbys and creating high-end contemporary footwear. You can’t go wrong with these ankle lace up boots, handmade in Naples from vegetable-tanned leather. With replaceable leather soles, these Zeha-Berlin boots will last a lifetime. Available here.

Matt Gorton and Jon Contino have used their strong portfolio of work for design studio Onetwentysix to craft one-of-a-kind Tee’s for their new brand CXXVI. Each T-shirt is hand-printed, individually hand numbered and made from soft 100% combed cotton. The designs are unique and have working class aspirations, yet the end product is as fashionable a T-shirt as you can get nowadays. Available here.

For the trendsetter who needs everything to be as fashionable as his best outfit, this Jack Spade Waxwear Travel Bag is the perfect gift this season. It’s stylishly utilitarian; rugged waved-canvas outer, waterproof-lined inner, and an overall classy aesthetic. Available here.

There’s really not much more to say about the Amazon Kindle that already hasn’t been said. The millions who have picked one up swear by it, and since it’s release we’ve seen a swarm of other players jumping into the e-book game. With over 360,000 titles (and counting) to choose from, this is the “must-have” gadget for 2009. Available here.

These one-of-a-kind frames are for the most avid collector and sunglass connoisseurs. Possibly the world’s most luxurious sunglasses, this exclusive Joost Horn collection from eyewear maker Ralph Vaessen is handmade from natural horn in a small German studio. Very exclusive, very luxurious and very fresh.

The year has been a very plaid year, with some fantastic looking pieces being released in our favorite pattern. At the top of the list is this Band of Outsiders flannel shirt jacket. Perfect for those days in between; too cold for a sweater, too warm for your Canada Goose. Available here.

]]> http://limitedhype.com/2009/12/holiday-buying-guide-2009/feed/ 2 http://limitedhype.com/2009/12/2010-volkswagen-golf-tdi/ http://limitedhype.com/2009/12/2010-volkswagen-golf-tdi/#comments Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:43:19 +0000 Joe Fotheringham http://limitedhype.com/?p=26137

We recently had the opportunity to go to Seattle and check out the latest iteration of the Volkswagen Golf TDI, a car with a rich history and doing it’s part to stay relevant to modern consumers.

The Golf first appeared in 1974 and very quickly became a car that found roots as both an economical city car and as a vehicle which removes a lot of the frivolities in lieu of simplistic elegance. It quickly found it’s way into drivers hearts, drivers who appreciated a connection with their vehicles and also enjoyed the ability to personalize and tweak. This point made it especially popular to the weekend racer, the person who would take their daily driver to the track on the weekends for some friendly competition.

Read more after the jump.

Over the years the Golf has naturally grown slightly overweight and cumbersome, trading simplicity for utility, as it’s European market was introducing even smaller compacts, it’s American consumers wanted bigger cars, with all the modern conveniences.

With this 2010 Mark 6 introduction, Volkswagen chose to revisit what had set it apart in the past, luckily they found a resurgence for it’s demand in the market and so became what we see here.

Driving this car is a real pleasure, while it feels tight and responsive in every way, it handles the rough stuff with particular ease and this is something I especially noticed as my past generation Golf currently communicates every single road feature quite efficiently through to my body, which is something I can definitely go without. The diesel engine is something you don’t think about, it sounds great and feels much more like a GTI, with it’s low end power and 6 speed, DSG gearbox, you only find yourself shifting sooner than you would in the petrol alternative. The DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) actually has dual clutches and allows the gears to change in a fraction of a second when you hit the paddle shifters and while I’ve driven with a manual clutch and gears forever, this alternative is actually starting to make more sense, ease and performance wise.

We congratulate Volkswagen on the work they have done here, the small refinements are all superb and the golf lineage is starting to resemble that which has made its relative, the 911 Porsche so famous.

As much as we appreciate particular aesthetics, design, and quality in the brands you normally find here, one area we rarely venture into is skincare products aside from the occasional visit to Honeyee. Part of the reason being most of us either stick to what we know and don’t experiment with other/newer brands, the other being we simply don’t have the time or want to spend the time researching, shopping, trying and deciding. The recent launch of Bread & Butter Skincare however, has  removed that entire process while killing it with their aesthetics in the form of their branding design and quality.

To break it down simply, you pay once and you’re done skincare product shopping for the year with two mail-order deliveries. The Winter Kit includes a 180 day supply in the form of 2 face cleansers, 2 face moisturizers, 1 body moisturizer and 1 lip balm. In the first week of June, you’ll automatically receive the Summer Kit which includes another 180 day supply in the form of 2 face cleaners, 2 face moisturizers with SPF 15 and a shave gel. Everything is carry-on approved.

So far, we’ve been enjoying the Winter Kit immensely and without getting into the specifics of what makes the product quality (you can check the site for an ingredients break down), we can tell you they borderline on odorless and fresh smelling, are non-greasy and shine-free. We’re also particularly fond of the package design matching perfectly with the simple, no-nonsense brand name.

Bread & Butter Skincare is currently the in-house product line for The Gladstone and sold at The Drake, both in Toronto. You can order your kits here.

]]> http://limitedhype.com/2009/12/bread-butter-skincare/feed/ 2 http://limitedhype.com/2009/12/surface2air-under-the-radar/ http://limitedhype.com/2009/12/surface2air-under-the-radar/#comments Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:07:14 +0000 Justin Li http://limitedhype.com/?p=25372

Surface To Air has either conceived or been a part of some of the most creative projects you’ve no doubt come across in the past few years. In the late 90’s Surface To Air consisted of a group of friends in Paris who wanted to work on projects they liked and since then, the team has grown into a multidisciplinary company spanning across creative domains such as fashion, graphics, photography, design, music, and films. They are part creative agency, part clothing label and part studio. Past projects have included but are not limited to music videos for Justice and Chromeo, art directing the Blason shoot for Pharrell’s line of jewelery for Louis Vuitton, commercials for Diesel, Sony and Louis Vuitton and more recently, launching UNIQLO in France and a capsule collection with Kings of Leon. And we’re just getting to the clothing side of things.

Since 2004 and before the clothing collaborations with the likes of Justice and Chromeo, S2A has been widely recognized for their modern interpretations of classic and technical garments along with a separate line of S2A accessories. Breathable, fully waterproof outerwear pieces with taped seams; superfine Merino cardigans with leather patches; calf leather bags; fine leather ankle boots; porcelain dipped and dirty gold jewelery are among some of best pieces going at the moment. Being long times fans of the line and creative exports, we felt it was only appropriate to start from the beginning and chat for a few minutes with S2A founder Jérémie Rozan in between shoots, creative directing, and putting the final touches on his latest music video for Chromeo – Night By Night.

My name is Jérémie Georges Louis Joseph Rozan, my role at Surface To Air is founder and Creative director.

Before Surface To Air I had a life.

What I want people to know about Surface To Air is we do whatever we want and that you [can do that] and do it successfully. You do not need to be specialized to do something.

I know something is a big idea when everybody talks about it…in our office

My approach to creative direction is let’s do it and we’ll see. It is quite hard to analyze more. But I like: epic, poetic, erotic, destruction, brutalism, nature.

The project I’m most proud of is Surface To Air in general because it is the project of all projects. The whole idea of S2A is to be able to jump from one project to the other with a refreshed mind that you would not have if you’d always worked in the same field. That’s the basis of our originality I guess

What I love about the Surface To Air clothing line is it is made by us and for us. It is a mix of all our geographic and social origins. The S2A team gathers more than 14 nationalities.

Our brand has always had part of its roots in the States. It is more than time for us to come there with a proper project we have always found an amazing support there in NY or LA.

I really admire people who have 3 kids because 2 is quite tough already.

Outside of work you can find me working.

My hopes for 2010 are for Surface To Air to build 2011 properly.

Since 2002, the S2A boutique/gallery near the Louvre has showcased the S2A’s own fashion
collection, the lines of other alternative designers, and the work of many artists including Banksy.

]]> http://limitedhype.com/2009/12/surface2air-under-the-radar/feed/ 0 http://limitedhype.com/2009/11/2010-toyota-4runner/ http://limitedhype.com/2009/11/2010-toyota-4runner/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:06:54 +0000 Joe Fotheringham http://limitedhype.com/?p=25248

In keeping with our theme of wanting to share discoveries and experiences with you, we jumped at the chance to test drive the all-new 2010 Toyota 4Runner before it hit the showroom floors.  Admittedly, we’re used to reviewing ideas, design and wardrobe pieces, so you’ll have to forgive us if this review lacks the usual technical jargon of typical auto reviews but that having been said, we felt it would be good to share our own personal take of the ride and keep things accessible to those less familiar with lateral rods and dual-pistons. Having been previous owners of old-school Toyota Land Cruisers, G-Wagons and Defenders and well aware of their capabilities, we took the 2010 4Runner off-roading in the Nevada desert outside of Las Vegas to see how it fared.

READ MORE

Our first impression of the 2010 4Runner was that it was big (inside and out), with exterior stylings slightly reminiscent of the FJ Cruiser and a well laid-out interior cabin with easy to use, easy to find controls that all look like they would be easy to work with gloves on (that’s the Canadian, practical side of me talking). We had the Trail edition which looked more aggressive than the Limited with unpainted fenders, roof rack, water-resistant seats and no-nonsense looking rims. The plan: Through the desert en route to some kayaking along the Colorado River.

We were far from pushing the 4Runner Trail to its limits, but were still able to play with the off-roading technology. The Multi-terrain Select let us choose between ‘Mud and Sand’, ‘Loose Rock’, ‘Mogul’ or ‘Rock’ and when it came to going over more sketchy areas over very low speed, we used The Engage Crawl Control which modulated the electronic throttle and brakes. Going downhill we used the Downhill Assist Control that automatically limited our descent on steep inclines to keep us from cooking our brakes. Off-road capability: Check. Playing with every button and knob: Check.

After kayaking, we played with the sliding cargo deck in the trunk, the Party Mode function that blows music out through the tailgate, and the always convenient 120V AC power outlet to charge our iPhones and update the site. We particularly liked the sliding rear window which isn’t a new feature if you’ve been a 4Runner owner for the last little while, but something you come to really appreciate when your current SUV doesn’t have it. We suppose it’s also convenient for hauling around 2×4′s, Shawn Bradley and surfboards.

Taking the 4Runner back to LA to try it out on the road wasn’t a disappointment either. Obviously the voice-activated, touch-screen navigation and dual climate controls were nice, but we were more impressed with the ride and relative interior noise on the highway, plus, it had some jump to it when we needed to overtake people. Naturally, the 4Runner is geared towards the outdoorsy types, meaning you’ll need the aforementioned off-roading capabilities, space, and all that. But if fuel efficiency and ride are more your bag, maybe the Highlander Hybrid or Rav4 will be more to your liking. Although, we were told that this new 4Runner is actually more fuel efficient than the previous generations. The long and short of it is, if you, much like us are metropolitans with a bit of the weekend warrior in you, the new 4Runner might just be your best bet for an everyday driver, 7 days of the week.

All the technical details of the 2010 4Runner are available here.

[A big thanks to Chad, Marc, Charley, Mike & Evan]

////CONTEST WINNERS AFTER THE JUMP////

T-shirt brands are a dime-a-dozen, yet we can’t ignore the fact that so many of the great, influential brands of today have evolved from designing Tees out of a basement. NY-based label CXXVI are doing things differently. Using their strong portfolio of work for design studio Onetwentysix, Matt Gorton and Jon Contino craft one-of-a-kind Tee’s; all are hand-printed, individually hand numbered and made of soft 100% combed cotton. It’s all about details with CXXVI. Just look at the attention to detail in their labels – each with a date of when it was printed and packaged. This goes a long way in creating a link between the artists and those who wear their art.

The 2009 Fall collection revolves around a nautical theme, inspired by the harbormasters, fishermen and blue-collar workers of small American Fishing Towns. We caught up with the guys at CXXVI to get a behind-the-scenes look.

My name is CXXVI and I’m currently made by Matt Gorton and Jon Contino.

CXXVI is all about the American working man because that’s who we are, and that’s who we care about.

If we hadn’t started CXXVI, we would not be doing this interview.

The name CXXVI comes from Rome. Well, technically CXXVI is a nice way to reference our design studio without directly mentioning the name “Onetwentysix”.

We chose to produce Tees because we’ve designed so many tees for so many different brands. We felt it was finally time to do something of our own.

We originally came up with the idea for CXXVI when we both had separate ideas for shirt lines and thought it would only make sense to combine the two into one solid, coherent, and probably much better line.

We chose to only produce Limited Edition/Unique pieces because we value the process so much. In doing limited edition/unique pieces, we’re able to manage each one individually and also document the process fairly extensively giving the entire brand a very hand-crafted and personal aesthetic.

Our thoughts on collaborations are very positive. We love the design challenges that collaborating entails and we love the fact that the customer gets a product that’s a combination of two brands they love.

My work for Onetwentysix enables me to eat turkey sandwiches, drink beer, and take off early to watch Yankees win the World Series.

The most gratifying for me personally with CXXVI has been having complete control over every aspect of the brand.

What I love about New York is how nicely the letter N interlocks with the letter Y.

The best part of my job is having hardcore blasting on iTunes, The Burbs playing in the background, and questionable websites open at any given moment.

The worst part of my job is all the screaming kids in the daycare center behind the office.

Currently, I’m in the midst of packing and shipping out orders. (PS, order more!)

What you can expect from our next collection is more tees, some new outerwear pieces, and some interesting collaborations.

Outside of CXXVI, you can find me campaigning the Academy to retroactively give Tom Hanks the Oscar for his starring role in The Burbs.

My hopes for 2010 are to one day see a ferry pulling into the harbor out my window.

Out my window I see a ferry pulling into the harbor out my window. HUZZAH! We achieve our goals early!

A behind-the-scenes look at the hand-printing process, and the making of the Fall 2009 Lookbook…

/////CONTEST/////

Matt and Jon want to hook you up with the Complete CXVII Collection:

TO ENTER:

Leave a REPLY telling a creative story about an early American fishing town in exactly 10 words.

The favorite will win the complete CXXVI collection packaged in a tote bag of your choice.
Three runners up will win 2 free shirts of their choosing.
CONTEST ENDS AT NOON (EST) FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30th

The winners are…

GRAND PRIZE:

Chris
Lost my father, my captain, my drinking companion. On Tuesday.
“They were all really really great entries but Chris’ story really created its own environment and felt to us like a real, true tale.” – MATT GORTON

RUNNERS UP:

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…

From the first moment you walk in the door, you know whose house it is. Each of the bikes Lance Armstrong personally rode to victory at each Tour de France adorns the main area. On the adjacent wall are the bikes of fellow Trek rider Alberto Contador (one of only five people to win all three grand tours as well as the youngest to do so), who was quoted after his 2009 Tour de France victory as saying “I have never had admiration for him [as a person] and I never will.” Incidentally, there were 3 bikes on the Contador side (2007 Tour de France, Giro d’Italia 2008 and Vuelta a España 2008) and 7 bikes on the Armstrong side.

In someways, Trek is a typical corporate office, in other ways, it’s not. Yes, there are cubicles and industrial carpeting but everybody at Trek has at least one bike sitting outside their office or cubicle and admit to having more than a handful at home.

These two were our favorites, one inspired by WWII fighter planes and the other with airbrushed cobwebs. From there, we started to get a glimpse of what was possible for our project.

Entering the design studio with one of our two hosts, Eric Bjorling. Like most designers, the Trek designers also prefer to work in the dark. Having arrived at around lunch, we also noticed that the healthy lifestyle is really apart of the culture there. It seemed like everybody was coming back from a run, ride, yoga class or cafeteria with salad and water. Incidentally, that web design area below, used to be the office gym.

We were able to see 3 of Lance Armstrong’s personal bikes that either didn’t make it in time or didn’t make the cut to be part of the Project Stages collection for the 2009 Tour de France. The one on up top was seen @lancearmstrong’s twitpic.com/j2az3 a few weeks later after we got to play with it. 1274 represents the amount of days Lance was in retirement for, during which 27.5 million people died of cancer. The white UNITE bike, featured in the bottom right of the previous batch of photos, featuring the fists of solidarity didn’t make the cut. The yellow was ready to go for the Tour, but arrived a little too late.

Up in the Industrial Design loft, our other host, Sam, showed off the first ever Trek District concept bike to us along with the designer himself, Mike Leighton. We fell in love with the District right from the get go and seeing the very first concept bike further solidified that love. While admiring it stationary on a desk, the simple chrome and black color scheme and offset wheels just made it look like the fastest city bike we’d ever seen. We also checked out our raw parts for our build – Aerospokes, District frames and lots of carbon.

We got to see Mike Leighton’s personal bike, the prototype of the first carbon fibre District. On the right, the Bishop, a prototype electric bike dressed up as a vintage motorcycle, complete with gauges, chrome and really subtle detailing like scull icons on the bar ends.

Every Trek product is tried, tested, and compared with their competitors and every batch of frames produced by Trek is cataloged and stored for warranty purposes. If you’ve ever sent your bike back to Trek, your model is compared with one here and if it’s a manufacturing defect, you get a brand new frame of equal value in return. That day, they had just shipped out a brand new pricey carbon fibre frame for one rider’s 10-year-old carbon fibre frame.

The paint area for Trek’s custom bike program – Project One. The same group that paint Lance Armstrong’s bike paint your bike for the right price. It was tough to navigate this place without bumping into freshly painted frames.We’re lucky enough to have these same people doing all the custom paint on our bikes and can’t wait to see how our  paint schemes turn out.

We got a quick pep talk from Eric Lynn, Creative Group Director at Trek (pictured top left) on our project before starting to think up concepts.  Then after a long day of working, we checked into The Mission Hill Inn, Trek’s own bed & breakfast in Madison, WI. We worked late into the night continuing to think of concepts, color schemes, parts and everything in between.

Stay tuned for our follow up story with Day II of the build.

For more pictures, peep our Flickr stream.

For daily updates on the project, add us to Twitter.

Another big thanks to Eric, Sam, Mike and Eric!

////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

/////CONTEST/////

Virgil and the guys want to hook one of you up with an RSVP t-shirt

TO ENTER:

Leave a REPLY here OR

(on Twitter) RT @LIMITEDHYPE SHOP: RSVP GALLERY | CHICAGO http://bit.ly/5NAs3

We’ll draw randomly noon (EST) Tuesday, October 20th.

]]> http://limitedhype.com/2009/10/shop-rsvp-gallery-chicago/feed/ 17