CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

New grooming concept, Harrys, likes to think of itself as making the chore of shaving that little bit easier, generally, or as the co-founders ANDY KATZ-MAYFIELD and JEFF RAIDER(above) put it, “We started Harry’s because we wanted to make shaving better – for ourselves and guys everywhere.”

Andy and Jeff both native Bostonians met whilst at a summer internship with, international management consulting brand, Bain & Company. A number of years later whilst on a business trip in Los Angeles, Andy had a bad store experience. He found himself struggling to shop from a locked case of shave supplies, then found himself overpaying for them at the checkout counter. His frustration prompted a to call Jeff …and thus, Harry’s was born.

Today, Andy oversees Harry’s global business operations, focusing on growing and scaling the team, distribution, supply chain, manufacturing and research and development and Jeff oversees Harry’s marketing, technology, customer experience, retail functions and everything else that directly impacts Harry’s customers on day-to- day basis.

From the get go, Harry’s razor blades have been engineered in Germany in partnership with an almost one hundred year old company comprised of extremely talented craftsmen who have been manufacturing some of the world’s finest blades for almost a century. They had such a great relationship with the factory that when Harry’s turned one year old, they completed a truly transformative transaction by acquiring the factory. As a result of the acquisition, they are now one of the only vertically integrated shaving brands in the world, owning and controlling the value chain from manufacturing to point of sale to fulfillment and customer experience. Since the two companies merged, they will double the capacity of the factory by 2018, and invest over 100 million euros into the local community.

Now Harry’s also over shave plans and their trail set for new customers., but they are not exclusively a shave plan business and customers can also make one off purchases from the site if that works better for them.

Harry’s Shave Plans offer a seamless way for their customers to order their shave supplies based on their individual grooming needs. The brand tailor delivery frequency based on how often you shave and deliver the products direct to their customers home, allowing the plans to be changed or cancelled at anytime.

Customers can sign up to receive the Trial Set for only £2.95, which includes the Truman handle, a set of blades and foaming shave gel. Following the trial they will be automatically enrolled in a subscription plan which they can modify or cancel ahead of their first payment.

As we continue to highlight brands that are not only being ethical, sustainable, but also innovative, the subject of today’s post is Ivywake is a British Organic Clothing Company that was built on the idea of creating a company which could incorporate city and country style while still being sustainable.

Ivywake, self-proclaims to not being a perfect company as there are always ways a brand can improve their manufacturing, dyeing and transport process. As they grow as a company they pledge they will constantly integrate new methods and technology into their supply chain, allowing them to strive to become the most eco-friendly clothing company in the world.

Their primary goal is to change the way the fashion industry operates, at the moment with fast fashion it is creating a huge amount of pollution and unregulated labour in the countries where the cotton is grown and where the clothes are produced.

These are the two main areas they are focusing on tackling. Ivywake are doing this by using organic cotton for their garments, then using biodegradable and recyclable materials for their packaging.

However at the moment the organic fashion industry has not really managed to transition into the main high-street fashion industry. This has created a gap where people are forced to compromise between buying sustainable clothing and fashionable clothing.

This is where Ivywake want to fill this gap, their motto is “Don’t Compromise”. The reason for it is because they believe they are creating a company that allows people to buy fashionably and sustainably.

For example Ivywake pride themselves on the fact that their t-shirts are made using:

• Renewable wind energy
o Very eco-friendly
• Fair wear Foundation
o No child labour
o No forced labour
o Safe and healthy working conditions
o Legal labour contracts
o Payment of living wage
o No discrimination against employees
o No excessive hours of work
• Closed loop dyeing system
o Water is recycled in closed loop system
o Dyed with GOTS approved chemicals
• Organic cotton

Through this process their t-shirts have:
• Reduced their carbon footprint by 90%
• Each T shirt saves 7 kilograms of CO2e
• CO2e (total carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and other greenhouse gases.
Then in their packaging, their mailing bags are made out of a material called Coex that is recyclable, they are also working on getting their latest product that is also biodegradable.

Their viewpoint is their packaging is to only use the essentials. The reason for this is because no matter how good it is for the environment to recycle, nothing is ever as good as simply not producing it. Therefore we have not added any swing tags to their clothing.

When purchasing an Ivywake garment you are not just purchasing clothing, you are investing in creating a sustainable future.

Founded in 1913 by Ralph Hawes and George Frederick Curtis, Hawes & Curtis, has developed into the quintessentially British brand specialising in fine tailoring and accessories for both men and women. The brand is built upon the promise of exceptional quality, innovation and outstanding value.

A Jermyn Street shirtmaker for more than 100 years, Hawes & Curtis opened its first store in the Piccadilly Arcade and is known for having introduced the backless evening waistcoat and the Windsor collar.

So when Italian automotive marque Alfa Romeo approached them with the idea of partnering with them to produce a tailoring first in an all-weather suit, the perfect style solution for a ‘heat-wave’ or rainy day, essentially, the Great British Summer.

This innovative and fashion-forward concept suit takes inspiration from the automaker’s renowned Italian heritage and the marque’s Alfa Giulietta design and technology, combining to showcase the perfect balance of innovation and fashionable design.

Inspiration behind the exterior of the high-performance suit stemmed from the Giulietta’s unique D.N.A driving mode selector, which allows drivers to seamlessly adapt the car’s driving capability to handle all weather conditions, just like the suit itself.

Applying that notion to the suit required integration of a luxurious Italian wool – taken from Hawes & Curtis’ 1913 premium collection made in Italy – combined with a water resistant finish applied to the fabric itself. Moreover, for even greater comfort, mesh lining inside the suit regulates the warmth of the body ensuring the wearer could sport the luxury ensemble during a UK ‘heat-wave’ or thundery downpour.

Inside the suit the Giulietta’s distinctive, standout design features are clearly on show thanks to the delicate inclusion of a honeycomb grille mesh lining, a bespoke print on the sleeve lining and the stylish red contrast stitching. Resulting in a suit designed to meet the needs of the modern professional.

Everyone knows a Swatch when they see one. and for over 30 years, Swatch has been creating some of the world’s most innovative timepieces. They have always created fun, innovative watches and now it’s YOUR turn !!! With the new made-to-measure concept Swatch X You series, Swatch fans can play the part of a budding watch designer themselves.

Customers can create their own signature Swatch in just five easy steps either online or in-store. Featuring pre-designed watch heads, straps, loops and pins, the process makes watchmaking a snap.
1) select a Gent or New Gent case size,
2) them follow this by selecting a watch head.
3) choose both sections of the silicone strap at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock – from solid mint green to racy red stripes, there’s an option to tickle everyone’s fancy.
4) Finish off each unique look with a loop. Can’t get enough?
5) Add a pin or an extra loop; with images including a birthday cake, flying heart and wedding bands, favorite events are all covered, making Swatch X You the perfect personalized gift.
By simply tagging #swatchXme on social media, newfound designers can launch their creations worldwide. Showing off an individual style has never been easier than with Swatch X You! So Unleash your creativity, show off your style. Create your Swatch. Own your design.