Our regular readers don’t need reminding of our love for all things Billykirk.  Their Amish handmade leather accessories give you that perfect blend of classic and understated, with a healthy dose of modern silhouettes, and rugged durability.  Their waxed cotton carryalls are a particular favorite, which we’ve covered before, but we wanted to draw attention to their new navy colorway.  Personally, I’m always a fan of a navy and black combination.  It’s both extremely versatile and completely modern.  It’s amazing to think that not too long ago the combination was frowned upon in more staid circles (actually, it probably still is in the particularly crusty climes).  Thumb your nose at those peeps.  Available here.

One of the things we most look forward to every year is The North Face and Supreme collaboration. You may recall earlier drops in the form of the Summit Series, fleece collection and Denali in previous years, but this latest in the form of an anorak is the truth. Personally, I’ve always found this collaboration a bit off putting. There always seems to be something a bit off with the colorways or one year (back in 2007), the choice to run the brand name down the sleeve.

This season’s Expedition Pullover features a 100% waterproof 3-layer faille weave shell with tricot backing. Available in three colors, the jacket will release on March 18th in the US for both in-store and online as well as March 20th, in Japan. Many of us haven’t owned a pullover jacket in ages, but if there’s one to get, this is it. Points for the camo.

[SOURCE]

Another smart label doing exclusive tee designs is Cheer Up, out of Surrey, UK. Some days, you just need a graphic tee either as a base layer or a stand alone. And we’ll concede there’s never been a shortage of graphic tee companies, ever. That having been said, adding to a successful F/W 2009 collection, co-founders Edward Thomas and Matt Barnes have collaborated with illustrator and designer Keaton Heston to produce a new limited edition range for the Spring. While the new pieces each represent different aspects of the “feel good” philosophy that we love, the brand has also focused efforts on working with environmentally-friendly suppliers. The designs are playful and fun, while displaying a very fashion-forward aesthetic. Suitable for your casual Fridays, but that make a statement. Available here.

]]> http://limitedhype.com/2010/03/cheer-up-springsummer-2010/feed/ 0 http://limitedhype.com/2010/03/shop-180grammes/ http://limitedhype.com/2010/03/shop-180grammes/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:22:40 +0000 Scott Meleskie http://limitedhype.com/?p=26503

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

Logos are a love/hate thing. If you’re a lover, the bigger the better, and on every article you own. If you’re the latter, you end up leaving a lot of your favorite labels on the racks and shelves. The Comme des Garcons play logo has become one of the most recognizable and loved for the Japanese brand despite being largely plastered on t-shirts and to a lesser extent, cardigans, polos and coats. Haters can’t resist. Neither can the counterfeiters – just check eBay. This is from way back, but a little history on an influential brand never hurt anybody (we suggest starting with Nike’s iconic swoosh first). From Poland to Japan, Filip Pagowski gave birth to CDG’s iconic logo surprisingly organically after working with CDG on and off for a few years before being discovered by Rei Kawakubo.

“The PLAY logo happened just like that! I remember working on something, while all of a sudden not connected to anything, I got this idea of a red heart with a set of eyes. I drew it instantaneously and the first draft was it. The rest is history.”

Read the rest of the interview here.

Like the desert version of the ski-hill snowflake Holiday sweater, the Navajo pattern has been adorned by many for years. Somehow and someway, British label YMC manage to revitalize it and give it a fresh new look. With a chunky knit cardigan of a cotton/linen mix, you can channel your inner Navajo on those cool breezy nights. Available at Glass Boutique.

On our last trip to NYC, we had stopped in at the Ace Hotel for a night cap and were caught really digging the amazingly elaborate attention to detail of the vintage/retro feel of the decor. This feel carries through in their recent collaboration, and unless you remember last years’ release, you would never think a hotel and a footwear brand would have anything in common. Curated by Arkitip, the Ace Hotel Palm Springs have teamed up with Generic Surplus to release a mesh-canvas Shoe and Tote that lends itself perfectly to both the pool-side side of the environment and image of the hotel. This years’ edition comes in different colors, and is made of a breathable cotton mesh upper -perfect for that dry desert heat by the pool. A mesh tote compliments the footwear and allows you to carry your daily essentials around the resort. Available for pre-order here.

Admittedly, the last thing the East Coast needs is a Canada Goose redux for early Spring. Admittedly, there are a lot of options that are not of the Canada Goose variety. Admittedly, there are even more options for a technically sound, aesthetically pleasing coat. Admittedly, we want you to buy Canadian.

This coat is in fact, packed full of Canadian-esque features. From the down-filled body, to the removable down-filled hood, the Polartec fleece, and welt-flapped, zippered handwarmer pockets with fleece lining. Plus it hits a mid thigh which is never a bad thing for rainy days especially if you’re on the West coast. Fortunately/unfortunately there won’t be too many Spring days you’ll actually want to wear anything down-filled, but lucky for us Fall is just around the bend.

Admittedly, people will be going out of their way to avoid Canada Goose for the next few seasons to differentiate and position themselves as a ‘trendsetter/tastemaker’ rather than a follower, and to them we have two thoughts: One, you’re doing yourself a disservice on the warmth front. Two, your trendsetting boyfriend Drake isn’t deterred. But admittedly, I also thought starting a bunch of sentences with that word would work in my literary and comedic favor.

Before we pack away our winter footwear, here’s a damage assessment of my second Canadian winter with Shofolk’s Andre Boot (photos on the next page). While we’re no stranger to boots made by American craftsman like Quoddy and Yuketen nowadays, a few years ago, European labels was where it was at.

These have held up fair. Based on our research, they are handmade in Portugal from Italian leather, and in small batches just like their aforementioned American counterparts. Efforts to find a long-term test with the competitors unfortunately yielded no results. After begrudgingly and shamelessly wearing them through heavy slush and pools of salt for two seasons, and even after spraying them, the lower uppers are beginning to look more weathered, even with a relatively thick sole that generally keeps you above the slop. That’s not to say though that the leather doesn’t still look the part because they do. While we’re on the topic of soles, these don’t have a tread, which proved challenging on a Bambi-on-ice level on several occasions. In snowier conditions however, these are the truth with interiors that are thickly lined with sheep-skin and leather. We’ll stop short of saying these could beat a Sorel, but from a purely aesthetic perspective, these get the co-sign.

]]> http://limitedhype.com/2010/03/detailed-shofolk-andre-boot/feed/ 0 http://limitedhype.com/2010/03/lh-%c3%97-ad-magazine/ http://limitedhype.com/2010/03/lh-%c3%97-ad-magazine/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:14:43 +0000 Justin Li http://limitedhype.com/?p=28556

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

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

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

Perhaps it’s the changing of the weather, but we’ve been on the lookout for great looking frames as of late. Previously unnoticed on our radar, for whatever reason, Danish designer Han Kjobenhavn has a brilliant collection of traditional-inspired timeless frames. Beautifully vintage lines and artistic direction make up the simple, yet elegant aesthetic of the collection. While each of 5 available styles offer something a little different, they are all classics. Our two personal favorites, if we had to choose, would have to be the masculine Grand Danois frame and the retro-looking Wolfgangs. Each frame is available in multiple colors with various lens options.

Thanks Christina!

]]> http://limitedhype.com/2010/03/han-kjobenhavn-frames/feed/ 0 http://limitedhype.com/2010/03/creep-tailored-work-jacket/ http://limitedhype.com/2010/03/creep-tailored-work-jacket/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:54:10 +0000 Judson Lee http://limitedhype.com/?p=28480

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

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

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

Australian footwear label Vanishing Elephant offers up a luxurious take on the classic Desert Boot. Fittingly, the brand is committed to marking a return to gentlemanly style, and achieve this exact goal with this boot. Made of soft leather in an elegant dark navy, the leather sole and contrast stitching give the aesthetic some real modern punch. There’s something to be said about a man who can wear (and pull off) a blue dress shoe, the resulting look is bold and confident. Available at Need Supply.

New to the scene, Herschel Supply Co. Brand looks to simply deliver high-quality bags & backpacks. While the debut collection has all the classics, the overall impression is one of heritage looks, utilitarian design and modern functionalities. Unique bags like the Stadium backpack, features a patent pending hat case allowing you to carry up to 3 hats safe and secure. The Novel Duffle features a separate shoe compartment to keep your kicks away from your kits.

READ MORE for a look at the entire 2010 collection.

]]> http://limitedhype.com/2010/03/herschel-supply-co-2010-collection/feed/ 0 http://limitedhype.com/2010/03/uniqlo-spring-2010/ http://limitedhype.com/2010/03/uniqlo-spring-2010/#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:06:45 +0000 Scott Meleskie http://limitedhype.com/?p=28411

There are three major reasons why Uniqlo is one of my personal favorite brands. For starters, the Japanese brand’s entire business models rests on the philosophy of providing high quality products, at the lowest cost possible. Through their New York and Tokyo R&D Centers, they invest heavily in collecting and compiling trends found on streets from around the world, then developing stylish apparel under their own label. Secondly, Uniqlo consistently has some of the most brilliant advertising campaigns seen not only in the fashion industry, but in any industry. Thirdly and most importantly, Uniqlo makes great looking clothes. It’s plain and simple, and their newest Spring collection exemplifies the fashion forward, hip look you get when wearing a Uniqlo piece. Slim cuts, unique silhouettes and an overall very modern style are at the heart of it all for the Spring. Available at the Uniqlo shop.