CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Words by Isaac Perry

The brand was founded in the United States by Vaccines guitarist Freddie Cowan when they were touring around New York. The idea came into play when the band realised that they didn’t have clothes which they deemed appropriate to work in. Freddie proactively jumped onto this and got in contact with tailor David Chambers and so followed the birth of what is now Basic Rights. Basic Rights wanted to create everyday essentials which were tailored to a high standard alongside placing a pure focus on the fabric and fit.

“I used to go shopping and buy three of the same t-shirts, three of the same trousers. I want that shit taken care of so I can get on what I have to do,” Preparing to go on tour he explained. “I don’t want to be thinking about what I’m going to wear in the morning. I don’t want to have any questions about myself, like ‘does this represent what I think about music if I wear this?’”

Alongside creating some of the best fitting clothing which we at Clothes Make the Man have seen they are also attempting to break the mould through trying to tackle sustainability with it being a pure focus behind the brand rather than a token gesture. Since the brands birth, they have planted over 10,000 trees and are now aiming to plant a tree for each piece of clothing sold thanks to a partnership with Trees for the future. If you ask us that’s pretty amazing!

Basic Rights has come to the forefront of the industry recently due to working alongside an array of celebrities who are making the clothing look as fresh as ever. These stars include Donald Glover, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joe Talbot and Jim Chapman showcasing the brand’s shirt selection. We have been fans of the brand for a long time and since the release of their most recent collection, we have definitely seen some pieces which you should pick up.

The Long Sleeve Camp Collar Shirts are perfect for layering with a plain white t-shirt. This piece comes in an array of colourways including Dusky Pink, Navy, Burgundy, Mustard and Cream. A personal favourite is the Dusky Pink as it pairs perfectly alongside black & blue denim which is paired with a nice pair of boots you simply can’t beat that look.

Words by Cameron Mclauchlan

Another instalment of Something for the Weekend is here! and we think we have finally found the perfect basic T-Shirt. For everyday use. At an undeniably good price.

Whilst there are many T-shirts available below the £10 mark from your local retailer. I challenge anyone to find a better quality T-shirt for the same price as our first item in this weeks edition of something for the weekend…

It may come as little surprise to those of you who have shopped at UNIQLO before, that our ultimate basic T can be found there. For those of you who are yet to pop a head in, I recommend having a nose when you can! Current stores in the UK include Manchesters Arndale, Bluewater, and Londons Oxford St. As well as online.

UNIQLO. One of, if not the largest fashion retailer in Asia has seen an equally impressive rise in popularity across the EU & US. The brands origins can be traced back to Yamaguchi in Japan, post World War II—1949. Beginning its days as a textiles factory.

UNIQLO which was abbreviated from ‘Unique Clothing Warehouse’, opened its first store in Hiroshima in 1984. Nearly a decade after its first store opened, the great recession hit Japan in early 90’s. This prompted UNIQLO to flourish as cheaper price-point clothing was met with consumers looking to save where possible.

The brand now operates globally and owes much of its success to founder Tadashi Yanai, now CEO of Fast Retailing, the parent company of UNIQLO. UNIQLO as a retailer operates selling predominantly the same clothing for the entire season, leveraging its quality and affordable pricing as a reason to return. The brand has built some really interesting collaborative relationships with the likes of Jil Sander, Undercover, Kaws, Engineered Garments and more recently and more recently JW Anderson.

To shop the T-shirt hit the link below, sizes vary from XS to 3XL, sizes tend to sell out quickly so would advise heading in-store if there’s one close by!

2.   Stan Ray Slim Painter Pant – £85.00

Workwear brand Stan Ray, similarly to Dickies we featured last week is a brand coveted for its durability. Earl Beard founded the brand in 1972. In Texas US where it is based to this day. Earl entered the market at a time where the large majority of brands outsourced their production to the Far East & South America. American brand/American made was — and still is Earls vision.

The brand name ‘Stan Ray’ didn’t come until later, inspired by Earls son’s name — Stanley Ray. Stanley now oversees the family run company particularly when it comes to the operations at their  manufacturing facility in Crockett, Texas.

Now selling through roughly 2500 stores worldwide, the brand seem’s to have emerged into the UK and EU markets more notably in the last 5 to 10 years as a result of the tidal wave demand for street and workwear.

3.   New Balance 990 v5 

Originally created at the beginning of the 80’s as an all new running shoe. The 990 has now become the king of ‘dad sneakers’. Whilst the latest iteration is named the v5, the 990 has actually seen a total of 7 variations since its birth in 1982. Other variations over the years include the 99X (2001), 991 & 992 (2006). With the 991 & 992 being created in celebration of the brands 100th Birthday.

So as you can probably guess from that last sentence, New Balance was officially kicked off way back in 1906 by William J Riley. Rumour has it that one day Riley was watching chickens strut around his back garden when he noticed how well they balanced with their main three points to use as balance. Inspiring Riley to design arch supports with three points of support.

Formally called New Balance Arch Support Company the company didn’t begin making actual trainers until 1961. By which point Riley and his main partner Arthur Hall had sold the company to Arthurs daughter Eleanor and her husband Paul Kidd in 1956. The new owners saw continued success selling the arch supports alone, until making the Trackster in 1961. Probably as a result to being approached by numerous companies to co-create a shoe with their now renowned arch supports.

Since the Trackster, like many shoe company stores we have featured in this series, New Balance has built itself into a highly successful sportswear brand through the creation of iconic silhouettes which have etched themselves across all aspects of culture over music, sports and fashion. Visible today with their sponsorships of European champions Liverpool FC and ongoing partnership with Londons sneaker store FootPatrol.

To shop the v5’s hit the link below, sizes tend to go like hot cakes but the v5 seems to have received a higher number of stockists than the v4, so if the link below has run out of sizes check out : Size?, New Balance or END.

Thank you for reading another week of #SFTW

As summer draws to a close, it’s about time you start thinking about updating your footwear to something a little warmer, a little more durable – but ultimately – still stylish: say hello to the  Novesta Chukka Boot.

Known mostly for their iconic Star Master silhouettes, the brand’s has had quite the 2019 following collaborations with the likes of niuhans, Universal Works etc. 

Coming in a handful of stylish colourways, the Chukka Boot features the typical Novesta sole, many have come to love, with choices of either suede or canvas on the upper, plus a super-easy lacing system for extra comfort.

As well as being a distinctly handsome shoe, the Chukka Boot remains in-keeping with the brand’s eco-friendly PETA-approved ethos, in creating footwear by using vegan-friendly, naturally sources rubber, alongside other eco-friendly materials wherever possible. The brand even uses wooden chips to warm its buildings so much is their passion for the environment.

Words by Daniel Ramsdale-Harris

As the English summer comes to end, (if we can even call it a ‘summer) we now turn to more warmer alternatives in our wardrobe to curate our outfits. And you can’t have too many hoodies in your wardrobe can you? We’ve selected our top 5 streetwear picks, ranging from rising streetwear brands such as Noah and Awake NY to established counterparts in Stussy and Comme Des Garcon.

Noah, founded by former Supreme creative director Brendon Barbenzian continue to establish themselves as a leading brand on the streetwear scene. A focus on transparency surrounding social stances and production processes, has transpired Noah as a brand who simply care, which in turn has created a loyal following of fans who buy in to their values beyond just product.

Perhaps their most recognisable silhouette is their signature logo hoodie, which emblazons the brand name with their red cross motif. Constructed with 100% cotton, with tonal overlocking stitching throughout and a black colourway, this silhouette is a staple piece that can be matched with pretty much all outfits.

Another founder formerly of streetwear staple Supreme, Angelo Baque started Awake NY back in 2012, with the aim to capture the unique cultural spirit and sensibility of New York City.

The brand sits in the group of emerging streetwear brands, expanding the core brand selection from the true OG’s in Stussy, Supreme and BAPE. And it’sSplit Patch Logo has become an instantly recognisable motif in the scene, alongside sold out collaborations with Asics.

The hoodie comes in a relaxed fit, 100% cotton composition, and of course the embroidered split patch logo. Another simple, but clean silhouette to add to the wardrobe.

Arguably the main brand that formed what is known as streetwear today, continues to deliver staple sweats, emblazoned with unique graphics and high-quality compositions.

The Stussy Basic Hoodie features the brands signature logo, a logo that was defined by Shawn Stussy himself, with the founder scrawling his surname on to hand crafted surfboards with a broad tipped marker pen.

The sweat features a cotton and polyester blend with fleeceback jersey and a printed logo. Coming in yellow colourway which allows you to hold on to those summer feels into the winter.

Rei Kuwakbo’s Comme Des Garcon continues to be a giant in the streetwear game. A brand worn by all ages, and one that is identified by many as a pioneer for all Japanese fashion.

Their ‘heart’ motif is one of the most recognisable logos in fashion, yet alone streetwear. For this silhouette, it comes in its black form, an alternative to the classic red.

The hoodie is made out of 100% polyester with the embroidered heart on the chest and back of the garment. An ivory colourway way is spotted, offering the perfect light subtle tone for the upcoming winter.

We finish off the picks by going back to one of the OG’s in the streetwear game in A Bathing Ape. Since opening up in 1993, the Japanese brand is one of the biggest in the world, and one that continues to resonate with multiple generations.

Famous for their camo prints, this silhouette however shows off a more simplified design, featuring the iconic ‘Ape’ logo on the chest, with ‘A Bathing Ape’ spelled out across the back.

Sporting a green colourway, the hoodie comes in a regular fit with a 70% cotton and 30% polyester blend. A streetwear classic to add to your collection.

Looking good is a godsend, but not everyone has the means to always look dressed to the nines daily, especially if they’re working a nine-to-five. That doesn’t mean that fashion is for those who can afford it. Your clothes can look expensive if you know how to style them right.

Having a fashion sense is not mandatory, but it helps bolster your self-confidence and overall make you feel more in control with daily dealings in your life. Great style is not fixed on a bracket of a certain amount of money.

There are ways you can get around to having a budget. If you happen to have a closet full of clothes that you don’t fully utilize, take some time to go over everything you have. If you have clothes you haven’t worn and don’t plan to, you can eithersell them online for a profit or donate them. Either way, you’re freeing up precious closet space and getting rid of things you don’t need.

Not really convinced that you can look luxe on a budget? Here are styling hacks and tips to help you.

Invest in Classic Pieces

Quality will always trump quantity. Instead of buying the latest trendy clothes, keep it simple by investing in classic pieces that you can keep reusing for longer. Quality items will not wear out as much as the trendy pieces will. If you buy them in neutral colors, they are versatile to be paired with any existing clothing you have.

Repair What You Can

Stains, missing buttons, and stubborn zippers are annoying. If you are thinking of throwing away clothing that has these, consider repairing it yourself. You can extend the shelf life of damaged garments by applying DIY remedies. Spot-cleaning with a sponge or a toothbrush if you see pen marks can do wonders on your clothes.

Learning how to sew is a handy skill to have. Going to the tailor can be expensive, especially if the damage is a little tear or the seam coming undone. Do it yourself by picking up a needle and thread. If you are interested in ruined-cloth hacks, check out thisarticle.

Never Wear Wrinkled Clothes

Carelessly handling or storing clothes can make them wrinkled. It can be an inconvenience to see a garment you anticipate wearing have unsightly wrinkles. It can be unbecoming to don clothes that are rumpled and creased, so you should iron them before putting it on and going out.

Better yet, invest in a steaming iron instead of the traditional one. Most clothes made with synthetic fabrics like polyester are sensitive to heat and run the risk of getting misshapen or burned. A steamer is an alternative way to get wrinkle-free clothes.

Black Always Looks Expensive

There’s a reason black is one of the most favored shades in the color spectrum. There are a lot of things that the shade is credited for, and it can be described in words such as elegant, slimming, and uncomplicated. Black clothes make the wearer look more sophisticated, and while the reasons vary, they are universally understood.

Additionally, dark clothes make the wearer appear visually thinner, and that is why self-conscious men and women prefer to wear black: to make their bodies look sleeker. If you’re new to fashion and don’t have a lot of knowledge or experience in bold prints and patterns, black on black is a safe choice.

There are many perks to wearing black, apart from the aesthetic. It is a versatile shade that pairs perfectly with any color. If you are a messy eater, you can feast with abandon when you wear black because it hides any food stains. Remember that when you’re going to an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Alter Clothes to Fit Better

Not everyone can afford bespoke clothing. Make the best out of clothes you can buy off the rack by making them fit your frame better. This idea also works for pieces you adore but are not available in your size.

It can be a pain to go to a tailor to have your clothing altered and expensive in bulk, but remember that it is a good investment. It is certainly cheaper to alter clothes than to buy expensive ones. If you have the skills and equipment like a sewing machine to do it, then why not do it yourself?

What other styling hacks do you know of that are not listed above? Share your tips in the comments section below.