Oliver Spencer Spring/Summer 2014 collection

‘Music: Idris Elba’, read the pre-show notes. Which I thought a bit strange – that Mr. Elba had been sat at home going through his iTunes library to provide the soundtrack to the show. As it turned out he hadn’t -  instead up he walked to take his place centre stage for a quick stint as official show DJ. And getting someone of Elba’s stature is a perfect example of how far Spencer’s shows have come over the last few seasons.

There’s still a core aesthetic that runs through everything (and you can spot one of his pieces immediately) but each season sees the collection grow and new influences permeate the clothing on show to great effect. For Spring/Summer 2014 the inspiration comes from American neo-impressionist painter Jean-Michel Basquiat.

This comes through in over/under dyed fabrics and using bleaching techniques that take their reference from Basquiat’s early graffiti work, which is contrasted against red, amber and multiple tones of blue. It was less colourful than this Spring/Summer season but what it lacked in that it made up for in finishing techniques, pattern and texture.

Another great show and the party afterwards wasn’t too shabby either. For more information on the label and to find your nearest stockist, go to the website here: Oliver Spencer.

Velour Summer 2013 collection

For their Summer 2013 Men’s collection, Sweden’s Velour have found their inspiration in Miami’s art deco scene. With its decorative and colourful palette applied to an ever classes range of clothing, it’s the perfect approach to a casual, yet tailored Summer look.

The photoshoot took place at Blå Tåget, with its beautiful train coaches in its original 60’s condition, providing a luxurious backdrop. And this provides ample setting with which to view a capsule collection that consists of shirts, jackets and chinos, each re-worked with different artworks and prints and a colour palette that consists of light pink, light blue, grass green and navy blue.

The shirts come in a variety of stripes, plains and checks, all with a parrot embroidered on the chest. These sit neatly under soft tailored, brushed cotton blazers and tucked into tailored shorts. Elsewhere a crew-neck brushed knitted sweater features the same parrots, this time embroidered all over a navy blue base.

For more information on the label, to find your nearest stockist, or to buy via their online shop, go to the website here: Velour.

Property Of… bags and accessories

Launched in 2006 by cafe owners & design collaborators Peter Teo & Richard Chamberlain, Property Of… is a constantly evolving collection of Men’s bags & accessories that transcends seasons and trends to bring customers a range of beautifully constructed and ever classic luggage.

Everything in the collection is designed with a signature, clean aesthetic and constructed from waxed canvas and vegetable tanned leather, which are used alongside contemporary coated tarpaulins, cordura and distressed cotton canvas.

All of this makes for great looking and durable products, that will develop their own unique patina over time. And by incorporating the best of the old alongside new manufacturing technologies, their bags and small goods are formed to be practical and reliable whilst reflecting modern needs and use, with detailing and function incorporated accordingly.

For more information on the label, to find your nearest stockist, or to buy from their online shop go to the website here: Property Of…

Redwing genuine handsewn collection

As the name suggests, this range from Redwing is lovingly created by hand in their Maine factory. Skilled shoemakers fit the leather to the last and hand-stitch the pieces together to form the moccasin shaped upper using century old techniques that have been passed from hand-to-hand, generation-to-generation.

It’s a style of shoemaking that’s one of the oldest and most traditional methods of constructing footwear and what it produces are simple fantastic shoes. The range features five main styles, three of which feature Redwing’s American made plantation crepe sole, made from 100% natural rubber, a common feature of boat shoes made in the 1950’s.

It’s details like these, along with rawhide laces and traditional ‘baseball’ contrast stitching that continues to give this footwear its huge appeal. The use of hard wearing premium leather, plus waxed leathers make sure the shoes are built to withstand years of wear, getting better and better with age and developing their own patina.

For more information on the brand and to see the full collection, or to find your nearest stockist and buy online, go to the website here: Redwing.

Mamnick Black Label

Named quite simple after the colour of the woven label that’s found on this range of garments, Mamnick’s newest products are yet another huge step forwards for the label, and one that sees themselves tied very firmly to the Far East.

You see, whereas their products to date are a UK made affair, everything in the Black Label range, from fabrics to buttons, to the manufacture is Japanese. Three separate factories were used, each using their own unique processes and each producing the garments by hand. The garment names are still kept close to home though and reflect the roads and hamlets situate around Mamnick’s Sheffield home.

The range consists of  two shirt styles – the Litton shirt comes in either charcoal or indigo dungaree cotton and the Allgreave shirt is constructed from cotton Seersucker. All are beautifully made and packed full of details, from large, vertical opening chest pockets on the Litton, to  dress shirt loop and offset placket on the Allgreave.

There are two short styles, come in two different colourways of floral print. The Onecoat shorts are in a cotton/linen mix, whereas the Laneside’s come in a simpler pure cotton. Finally comes the Bubnell hooded gilet in herringbone cotton, which features a half-moon placket detail and large rear pockets and the Bagshaw vest in a linen cotton mix which features a shawl collar and French seams.

Suffice to say everything here is extremely limited in quantity and if they’re anything like the label’s other products you’d better get in quick. If you like what you see here, or would like more information on the label, go to the website here: Mamnick.

The boundless adventures of Dave

A little gem of a video for Monday morning, courtesy of The Great Divide. This is the latest video for them by Danny Sangra, and presents the rather natty man called Dave on his adventures through time and space.

It’s a nice tongue in cheek way of displaying a few clothes and the video features some of The Great Divide’s brand, including the likes of  Carhartt, Edwin, Reigning Champ, Soulland, BWGH, Saucony and a lot more.

For more information or to buy online, go to their online shop here: The Great Divide.

OntFront x Rich Medina

Today’s post is a look at the first in a series of seasonal photo projects by Amsterdam Menswear brand OntFront. Featuring Philadelphian renaissance man Rich Medina. The project came about as a meeting of each’s love for menswear and fine craftsmanship, and a sharing some of the very same viewpoints on individuality and style.

The images were photographed by Marc Haers, and with them OntFront hopes to show off their savvy style to a broader audience, with Medina providing the physical canvas and the streets of Amsterdam serving as the platform.

There’s a mix of OntFront’s own label and also pieces from the likes of Generic Surplus, L’ecole National, Grenson, Brixton Castor, Nunc and Retrosuperfuture. The key piece though is undoubtedly OntFront’s own handmade light blue, double breasted wool suit.

For more information on the label and to buy via their online shop, go to their website here: OntFront.