CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Showering or washing is something we do, or should do everyday. Let’s face it Showering is a key part of a man’s daily regime, but until now, men have had to compromise when it comes to the product they use in the bathroom.  Experts in men’s skincare, Bulldog’s new line of environmentally conscious and vegan-friendly shower gels care about their impact on the world. They pride themselves on only using gentle, naturally derived cleansers, natural fragrances and bottles made of 100% post-consumer recycled plastic.  What’s more, these shower gels come in an oversize 500ml and 1L bottles to cut down on the amount of packaging per wash.Original Shower Gel

Featuring our signature scent with top notes of bergamot, lemon and lime and base notes of cedarleaf and juniper, this non-drying shower gel will gently cleanse your skin so that you are ready to face whatever the day throws at you.

Lemon & Bergamot Shower Gel

The light and refreshing explosion of citrus will give you the perfect morning pick-me-up whatever the weather is doing outside. This sunny shower gel has been formulated to cleanse your skin.Peppermint & Eucalyptus Shower Gel

Minty and invigorating, this is the ultimate post-gym shower gel. This refreshing treat is not at all drying yet will leave you feeling as clean as a whistle. Pop one of these in your gym bag and keep it in your bathroom after a sweaty commute home from work.Vetiver & Black Pepper Shower Gel

Warm, earthy and comforting, this spicy shower gel will cleanse your skin after a long day. We recommend using this before a hot date or a big night out for a soapy pre-event boost.

Well an awful lot if you care to look around, Charlie Brown and his Peanut friends do seem to be everywhere at the moment. The Peanuts gang, of course including Charlie Brown and not forgetting the effortlessly cool Snoopy, have seen an exhibition in their honour, just come to a close at Somerset House, London, which was to rave reviews, had people queuing out the door and set social Media on fire.

Additionally, iconic watch brand TIMEX re-released their classic and still much in demand Welton Vintage Snoopy watch, which pays homage to Charles Schulz’s globally renowned and much-loved comic creation, mr Joe Cool, himself Snoopy. 

Now if that wasn’t enough, following on from the exclusive collaboration between the genius Garbstore and the USA-based label in 2018 to celebrate the stores 10th anniversary, TSPTR – an acronym for Truth, Symmetry, Pleasure, Taste and Recognition – specialise in sportswear inspired by vintage ‘60’s and ‘70’s American surf culture and collegiate style.

TSPTR introduces an anaesthesia to a Pre-Apocalyptic world, where our youth are discontented, disillusioned and disorientated with the state of their nation. 

Now available at the brilliant Notting Hill concept store Garbstore, it arrives as a collection of sweatshirts and tees emblazoned with Peanuts characters Snoopy, Charlie Brown and, of course, Woodstock, now if these don’t make you smile nothing will.

When you think of Sweden, what comes to mind ? Volvos, ABBA, IKEA, or more trend driven brands like Acne, J Lindberg, Tiger. Either way its indisputable this Scandinavian nation has been responsible for countless iconic brands and design led products for generations. 

One maybe not as well known but equally iconic and has been loved for generations, used for decades and won hearts all over the world with its timeless design is Fjällräven and their Nordic design classic the Kånken backpack. 

Kånken started life in 1978 as a practical solution to a pressing problem. Back troubles were increasing among Swedish children. Fjällräven founder, Åke Nordin, decided to find a solution. And that solution was Kånken – a simple backpack with space for two A4 binders and a pencil case that made carrying school gear more comfortable. Over the years Kånken has become more colourful (there are now more than 50 colour combinations), and more varied, with different sizes and materials (including Re-Kånken, made from recycled plastic bottles); but the basic shape and effortless simplicity hasn’t changed. That, along with its history, has helped catapult it to global success.

It’s now more than just a backpack. It’s an extension of the wearer’s personality. It’s photographed, graphically recreated in social media and used as a styling accessory. So when it was protected by Svensk Form (The Swedish Society of Crafts and Design) as a piece of art, part of Swedish cultural history, Fjällräven thought it would celebrate.

It commissioned two Swedish artists, Cecilia Heikkilä and Erik Olovsson, to design unique prints representing their personal connections to nature combined with a touch of Kånken playfulness.

Cecilia is a graphic designer who, among other things, writes and illustrates children’s books and Erik is known for working within the fields of product, furniture and graphic design. 

In addition, Fjällräven is expanding its support of good causes with the launch of the Arctic Fox Initiative, a collaboration between Fjällräven and its customers. By donat- ing a percentage of the proceeds from sales of Kånken Art, Fjällräven will support cause that work to protect our environment and/or inspire more people to spend time in nature.

“Kånken has been used as a canvas by many of our fans for years,” explains Henrik Andersson, head of innovation and design at Fjällräven. ”Inspired by this, we decided to launch Kånken editions with original art from some of our favourite creatives. It adds a nice expression to the Kånken packs and we’re happy connecting them to the Arctic Fox Initiative.”

You may or are about be made aware of the #IAMNOTAFRAID campaign by Men’s care brand Harry’s, who have launched a unique partnership with Premiership and England footballer Harry Kane on a campaign that embraces difference, integrity, hard work and determination. 

Harry’s and Harry Kane go further than the shared name. It’s about shared values.  In 2017, Harry’s published ‘The Masculinity Report’ and found that British men most aspired to core values such as reliability and dependability, and gained the greatest sense of wellbeing from satisfying work and committed relationships. Many see Kane as the  embodiment of these values.

Because despite being not too shabby at football, Kane’s not afraid to be himself; to step up when necessary and to ask for help when he needs it.  Harry’s, want to promote these characteristics and see Kane as being made of different, more genuine stuff and shatters the industry stereotype.

Both Harrys share the commitment to amplifying the conversation around men’s mental health, they care about charitable initiatives and making a positive impact on the lives of men. As part of that effort, as a brand they set aside a percentage of their sales, for charitable organisations.

Let me paint you a picture and if I may indulge in a little self nostalgia. It’s a barmy warm day in May and I’m on my way to a chemicals plant in Warrington. Woah ! Don’t you dare leave, it’s gets better, I promise ! The year is 1990 and I’m off to Spike Island, yes what became known as the Woodstock to my generation, I’m going to see the seminal and most influential band of the 1990’s The Stone Roses!!!!

What a day and to makes matters even better, I’ve managed to bag myself a backstage pass, honestly, thank you Michael Fitzgerald, I don’t think I could ever thank you enough for that. It’s the end of the night, we’re on our back to the car to bring us home, not gonna lie, tad gutted not to have met the guys, but still buzzin. Then, we get called over to an area near the stage, no biggy we manage  to make our way through only to be flipping introduced, extremely normally to the lads themselves. If I’m completely honest the next couple of minutes are a literal blur, but reading between the lines and unfortunately knowing myself and countless past hero moments. I think it must’ve gone something along the lines of;

• I talk nonsense and coolness goes totally out the window.
• I frantically search for a pen for the lads to sign my posters, plural not singular. Probably, ending in me yelling, HAS ANYONE GOTTA PEN ? 
• I walk off with a smile on my face which isn’t removed for a good 24 hours with several signed Stone Roses posters later. 

Fast forward, nearly 30 years, the kids of today are obsessed with everything 1990’s from the TV shows, the movies, of course the music and lets not forget the fashions.

Now I certainly wasn’t the only fan of The Stone Roses or to be hugely inspired by them. Two other guys you may have heard of were too and have used the iconic artwork of The Rose’s John Squire as inspiration for their SS19 collection. 

Kent & Curwen Creative Director, Daniel Kearns grew up listening to The Stone Roses, for him they are a band that established the look and the sound of the 90’s. Squire’s artwork and music created by both John and Frontman Ian Brown now forms the inspiration for the Kent & Curwen Spring/Summer 2019 collection which celebrates the feeling of British summertime, iconic British music and British culture.

To complete the collection, Kent & Curwen incorporated the iconic rose logo, reimagined by Creative Director Daniel Kearns onto a selection of T-shirts and sweatshirts. The combination of the iconic lemon slice and the handstitched vintage woven rose patches in yellow, green, grey and blue mark the new direction, creating a modern lifestyle brand based on the authenticity of its legacy.

Ohhh and Kearns’ business partner not only is a bit of a Roses fan himself, and has in fact been known to take himself and his kids to appreciate the delights of this 90’s phenomena, but is an adopted son of the city famous for being the birthplace of the Stone Roses. What’s his name again? Ohhh yeah David Beckham.