CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Now I have to be honest, I’m sure like your good selves, I have a penchant for Apple products. This first started probably some 20 years ago on a trip to LA when the entire crew from the photo shoot, took themselves off for an excursion to treat themselves to something called an, “iPod”.

What, so all your music can we stored in this neat, beautifully designed piece of trickery ? I was hooked. This is probably a story that resonates with many of you. Currently, WFH (working from home) my office, our bedroom, does look like a mini Apple showroom, OK albeit a fair bit messier. But, nonetheless this with the beginning of many a man’s love affair with all thing Apple. Well that was until one fatefully in April 2015, when I was watching the brands conference with baited breath to see if all the rumours were true and they were going to launch another revolutionary product that would change our lives and yet another gadget we just couldn’t be without…..

Errr no, the I-watch was the product in question. For the first time Apple had failed me, until now. Following the announcement of the Apple Watch Series 6 and Watch SE, lifestyle brand CASETiFY updates its best-selling collections with custom straps and accessories for the new devices. Available now, customers can personalize and purchase the latest style Apple Watch bands, shipping worldwide from www.casetify.com

Known for quality and customization in the tech accessory space, CASETiFY looks at every detail, creating Apple Watch bands just as stylish and resilient as the people wearing them. Customer favorites include the Printed Saffiano Leather collection, a sweat-resistant and scratch-resistant band, crafted in cruelty-free vegan leather and engineered for ultimate protection against the elements. Now compatible with the new Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE, shoppers can browse thousands of prints, add monograms, and complement devices with polished stainless steel buckles and metal adaptors. Built for all-day comfortable wear, the best-selling collection retails for £40

“We know how important everyday tech is to our community, so that’s why we only offer the best quality and style for our Apple Watch bands,” said CASETiFY CEO and Co-founder, Wes Ng. “As leaders and innovators in our industry, customers can count on us for the latest accessories that inspire creativity and self-expression.”

Elevating wearable tech with luxury finishes, CASETiFY offers its latest releases for the new Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch SE. Two collections crafted in European leather, customers can dress their new Apple Watches in essential colorways, with options to personalize and monogram the Genuine Leather Watch Band collection. For a custom, interchangeable band, look no further than the 2-in-1 Italian Leather Watch Band, featuring the world’s first universal adaptor, with three colorways in single and double tour straps. Genuine leather bands start at £50, available to shop today.

Who doesn’t love LEGO bricks? And who doesn’t have a fond LEGO memory from their childhood (or even adulthood)? Ahhhhh mine is often nearly breaking my neck, in the middle of the night checking on my children and standing on a piece of Lego and having to stifle an agonising scream, ahhhh memories. Whether you build from instructions, or dream up something from your imagination, LEGO building is the ultimate platform for creative experimentation and development.

And of course, no one loves creativity and playfulness—as well as infinite customizability—more than the forefather of denim, Levi’s. This is exactly why the two iconic brands have teamed up for a special Levi’s X LEGO Group collection.

“This is such a fun collaboration celebrating self-expression, creativity and nostalgia,” says Karyn Hillman, Chief Product Officer for Levi Strauss & Co. “It’s Levi’s and the LEGO Group coming together to co-create something really special and new, but undeniably familiar. With the customizable baseplates, Levi’s is now literally a new blank canvas for LEGO play.”

Exclusive to the collection, the collaboration features the first- ever flexible LEGO baseplate. It’s a pliable LEGO silicone panel onto which fans can create their own customized designs using LEGO DOTS, a new concept that was introduced by the LEGO Group earlier this year. Sewn directly on the garment, anyone can create their own design using the mosaic-like tiles that “snap” onto the baseplates.

The baseplate will be available as a customizable patch on a vintage stonewash Levi’s Trucker Jacket, a Dad Crop Trucker Jacket, 501 ’93 Straight Jeans, and a lineup of hoodies, crewneck sweatshirts, and accessories.

Customization pieces from the collection will come with a Levi’s and LEGO Group branded bag of 110 LEGO DOTS, so that fans have a playful canvas for self- expression with endless options. Graphic tees are also included in the collection and while they won’t carry the customizable baseplates, they feature unique co-branded graphics that will excite fans of both brands.

LEGO elements also appear in product details across the collection including primary colored shank buttons in yellow, red, green, blue, white and black. The Levi’s standard leather patch has also been converted to a flexible red LEGO patch.

“There’s so much passion and energy in this partnership, working with the creative and iconic Levi’s brand is inspiring, and is pushing the way we innovate the LEGO brand experience,” says Lena Dixen, Senior Vice President and Head of Product and Marketing Development at LEGO Group.

It’s the deep emotional connection you have to your favorite pair of Levi’s jeans, combined with the love and fondness you have for LEGO play, offering one mind-blowing collection of nostalgia, playfulness and creativity.

There can’t be many fashion brands on the planet as Desirable, Aspirational or in demand as Supreme, at the moment. Already, I’ve committed a moral sin against the brand by describing them as a fashion brand, but surely to describing it as a street wear brand is also serving it an equal disservice ?

When James Jebbia launched this skate apparel brand back in New York in 1994, he, surely, couldn’t have anticipated the heights, hype, and clamber his baby would create some twenty odd years later? Equally, he can’t have foreseen he would work with hyper brands including Nike, The North Face, Levi Comme des Garçon etc.

BUT, and I’m really asking for it now, have they over stepped the mark? Have they sold out? Are the taking the piss ? I ask these statements as questions, because I too am genuinely not sure. When, one of the oldest Fashion Houses in the world, Louis Vuitton announced their collaboration with the Streetwear, Skatewear, Fashion Brand, ohhhh whatever, on a collection of dually branded clothes, accessories, shoes etc all of which debuted as part of their Fall-Winter 2017 show in Paris. People, literally wet themselves with excitement, the Fashion and style web went into meltdown and, the then, Creative Director of the Fashion House, Mr Kim Jones, was hailed a genius and a visionary. Pop up stores followed in the style capitals around the global and epic queues ensued !

Earlier this month, we saw the launch of the brands latest collaboration and somewhat of a departure and a first for Supreme when they worked with the hottest, current make-up artist legend and creative design director of Procter and Gamble beauty, Ms Pat McGrath. Producing a lipstick in the hottest of MatteTrance Supreme Reds ! And yes you guested, it’s literally selling like the old proverbial hotcakes.

Now returning to the questions I asked prior, essentially is Supreme Masters at Creativity or the Emperor’s new clothes?

I mean a simple black fold up chair, £108 ?!?!(see the actual chair above)

Supreme Hanes Crew Socks, this is a wardrobe essential, no mistake. Clean, simple yet effective design, perfect for round the house, perfect for sports activities, perfect for all attires! Can’t go wrong with this pair, but £54 !(see above)  

We can’t forget the Pat McGrath Labs lipstick is £123 or vintage piece of the collaboration collection with Louis Vuitton and be seen for sale online like this piece for a snip at £12,600.00, that’s used.

Fundamentally, it is your choice and as I stated earlier, I’m am not sure, as I tool have been enticed, excited and enthralled, but these usual partnerships and their undoubted collectibility.

With Brexit’s transition period nearing an end, could this be the time to breathe life back into British manufacturing?  Well, something good has to come of this mess surely ?

Sir Gordon Bennett is a British start-up that believes it is. Their mission is to procure unique British gifts which demonstrate the skill of British craftsmanship and British manufacturing. The platform was created to celebrate British brands and British products and its founders are firm believers in supporting the innate craftsmanship across Britain, both for the economy and the environment.

SGB believes that too much of the quality from bygone ages is lost in our culture of throw away and immediacy, so they chose to stoke the flame of tradition and excellence by bringing to life a place where craftsmanship and skill can be appreciated by all. 

The brand prides itself on delivering a plethora of British brands that define craftsmanship. It is the purveyor of British made gifts. Proud to showcase quality products from artisans, crafters and manufacturers from the four corners of Britain. They are a newly curated online store that believes in four cascading pillars. Whether the British brands are 200 years old with a Royal Warrant or 2 years old with a right royal future, they all hail from the four corners of this green and pleasant land.

From the finest accessories, bags and clothing, to home decor, gardening products, leather goods and artisan skincare. These British brands celebrate the unique, specialised nature of bespoke handcrafted gifts for him, gifts for her or gifts for any occasion for that matter. 

And, well, it wouldn’t really be British without a few items that you might not expect, from Corgi socks, Fox Umbrellas, Dents gloves to Original Satchels.

By now I think we all understand that we can’t carry on consuming at the current rate we are, or hopefully have been. Cotton is a perfect example of being a victim of mass consumption. Everyone from Reuters and the BBC to Inside Fashion and The Economic Times have reported on the simple fact that we are running out of Cotton as a pure, raw material.

So what’s the alternative? Well, believe it or not Bamboo is being hailed as a miracle material being used for everything from flooring, to being used as an alternative to coal or peat for heating. But today we are focusing on how it is being used in clothing.

Bamigo, the sustainable men’s fashion brand from the Netherlands, offers a premium collection of pants, t-shirts, socks and pyjamas, Bamigo’s products are all handmade using bamboo fibres that allow the skin breathe and offer unparalleled comfort. Handmade and silky-soft, Bamigo offers a perfect fit which feels like a second skin, whilst looking effortlessly stylish. As we know, Loungewear is a must-have in the modern man’s wardrobe. These items are primarily worn around the house and are specially designed to enhance relaxation, offering truly unbeatable levels of comfort. Unwind in your favourite bamboo loungewear, and look great doing it.

The bamboo fabric used in all Bamigo products offers excellent ventilation thanks to the microscopic holes in bamboo fibres, helping to keep you looking and feeling cool whatever the temperature.

The bamboo fibres absorb up to 70% more moisture than cotton without retaining unpleasant odours, allowing the skin to breathe and ensuring freshness throughout the day, no matter the situation. The thermal regulating effect of bamboo fibres provide added protection against the chill of a cold day while preventing overheating on warmer ones.

Bamigo is committed to the design of a sustainable and more durable alternative to cotton clothing. The entire range, crafted by hand using bamboo, is kinder to the environment than cotton as it needs only sunlight and rainwater to grow. The use of bamboo also has a positive impact on other global environmental concerns such as deforestation and the greenhouse effect.

Benefits of bamboo clothing include;

 Extended Freshness: Fabrics made using bamboo offer excellent ventilation thanks to the microscopic holes in bamboo fibres. Bamboo also has a structure that repels moisture, meaning it wicks away moisture quickly.

 Excellent Heat Regulation: Bamboo fabrics also have several insulating properties that influence heat exchange. In warm weather, bamboo fabrics feel fresh while also providing added protection against the chill of a cold day.

 Hypoallergenic: Bamboo is hypoallergenic, which means that it does not trigger any allergic reactions. This unique property of bamboo is particularly welcome for those who have sensitive skin or suffer with allergies.

 Protection Against UV Radiation: Bamboo provides natural UV protection and can filter up to 97.5% of harmful UV rays. This makes it the ideal fabric to have next to your skin on hot days with prolonged exposure to sunlight.

 Crease-Free: Bamboo clothing does not require ironing. Thanks to the properties of bamboo fibres, the fabric is almost impossible to wrinkle and holds its shape exceptionally well.

 Sweat-Resistant: Bamboo clothing absorbs up to 70% more moisture than cotton without retaining unpleasant odours. The thermal regulating effect of bamboo fibres helps you stay sweat-free and feeling fresh.

 Eco-Friendly: Bamboo has a positive impact on global environmental concerns such as water scarcity, deforestation, soil erosion and the greenhouse effect. Bamboo is a by far more sustainable textile than cotton available to help create a better world.