A better Class of Education – Public School X Tumi

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If if you haven’t yet heard of New York Dynamic Design Duo Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, that will definitely soon change. One of the up-and-coming conspirators in the new wave of young irreverent American menswear designers, their brand Public School, blends high and low references from fashion, music, and art to create a point of view that is both unique and precisely detailed. Represent the convergence and restless energy of New York city in which they live and work. So much so last year they were appointment Creative Directors of the eponymous New York Super brand DKNY.

Growing up, both Chow and Osborne attended public school in New York City, which had a huge influence on their lives and individual take of style. This season they have collaborated with TUMI to create a six piece collection encompassing both brand philosophies of high-quality design that brings its customers functional superiority and technical innovation. Each travel piece will prominently feature the PUBLIC SCHOOL design aesthetic, including the monochromatic color scheme of which the label is known for.

The range includes a 21” carry-on and 24” check-in wheeled bag, travel satchel, backpack, day tote and dopp kit. The wheeled pieces are crafted from TUMI’s own Tegris material in Black Graphite with a laser-cut netting overlay, creating a weave pattern effect on the exterior of the cases. The overlay of materials is based on an architectural idea of mimicking the weave of a garment and applying it to manmade material. This pattern, featured throughout the collection, is infused into the hardware and luggage tags of the day bags and accessories, as well as the 2-D effect on the bottom of the travel satchel. Nylon and leather are incorporated into the day bags and dopp kit, while the tote, described by the PUBLIC SCHOOL duo as the ‘quintessential bag’ was designed in leather and suede. PUBLIC SCHOOL drew inspiration and energy from their hometown of New York City, and have injected it into the collaborative collection.

Each piece in the collection bears a “PUBLIC SCHOOL x TUMI” embossed story patch on the interior lining as well as a rubber tassel inspired by the key chains and “strings” that hung from the designers’ backpacks in high school.

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Sick of your old faithful Brogues ? Grenson have the answer for you !

imagePlease forgive me if you think I’m going to use this post as an opportunity to lambast one of the finest examples of footwear, not just male footwear, ever created on God’s fine Earth. However, the upstanding and honest to goodness Brogue has been around now for some 200 years and although it doesn’t look its age and you have no intentions of trading them in,  you may be wanting to find another alternative to add to your versatile shoe ensemble.

imageIn answer to this cobbling dilemma, the excellent purveyor of fine footwear  Grenson for this season are offering up with an outstanding substitution. The Grover, never to be mistaken for the popular furry blue Muppet who frequents Sesame Street. No this is an iconic style that is the popular shoe of choice with the dapper and stylish chaps of France, but strangely has never been in part of the Grenson collection before, or in fact caught on to any extent this side of the channel. Sometimes known as a Chasse in France or a Y-tip in Japan, see you do learn something new every single day, due to the signature detail of this design classic and a short hand sewn apron and toe seam. Grover is the boot version on a solid rubber commando sole and a chunky split welt, in country grain leather. Then we have the Percy, the traditional shoe version.

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Many strings to his bow ? Hammond & Co launch Grooming & Watch ranges

imageIs there no end to Patrick Grant’s main talents, ?  He’s already enthralled us with his tailoring skills through his Norton & Son and E.Tautz Ranges, entertained us with his presenting skills on the Great British Sewing Bee and then blown the competition out of the water with his Hammond & Co range for High Street Retailer Debenhams. So what next then ?

Well he’s only gone and showed off a little more by extending the product categories of Hammond & Co to include a Grooming range and a Timepieces collection, and do you know what, their actually really rather blooming good.

Originally launched in Autumn 2013 Hammond & Co offers sartorial styling, sharp separates and luxury accessories for men with an inherent sense of style. Now the Hammond &Co watch collection takes inspiration from the opulent vintage and heritage military watches of the mid-20th century. Presented in a classic palette of navy, tan and black with well-worn finishes, dials are off-white. Smokey hues and printed markings soften designs giving a warm vintage feel.

imageThe 25 piece collection builds on the popularity of the Hammond &Co brand with a luxurious yet affordable range from £100 to £140. Designer Patrick Grant says of his new brand extention, “In the words of William Shakespeare, ‘better three hours too soon than a minute too late’. At Hammond &Co we believe punctuality should be part of every gentlemans being. I also believe that he should turn up looking the part, so my first watch collection spans the formal to the sporting, practical and stylish whatever the occasion.”

imageNow then, Mr Grant is particularly well known for his dapper and well turned out appearance in every facet of his satorial being. So it comes as no surprise that he’s launching a grooming range for this forthcoming season. The fragrance is clean and crisp with a heart of cedarwood, citrus and botanicals. In Grant’s own words, “The Hammond & Co fragrance is fresh and crisp with woody, spice and citrus notes making it a perfect year round gentleman’s staple.”

The grooming collection includes;  Eau De Toilette; Face & Body Scrub set £15; Wash Bag with Body Wash, Shave Gel and Face & Body Lotion £18; and a Travel Bag with Face & Body Lotion and Shave Gel. The Hammond & Co by Patrick Grant Fragrance collection is available in 50 Debenhams stores nationwide and online from 19th October 2015. Whereas the watch collection is available from September. All in times for those all important Present lists, notice I didn’t say the ‘C’ word, yet.

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Rad-ical thinking – Rad Website

imageWith the world of e-commerce and on-line shopping becoming more overcrowded than Oxford Street on Christmas Eve, it’s increasingly difficult to stand out from the crowd and get your message across to the poor, old, oversaturated consumer.

One website that has achieved this holy grail in its native France is Rad. Rad company was established in July 2012 in Paris by the quartet of David Smadja, Anthony Serero, Simon Amzalag and Julia Serero, as an international online product discovery platform that hosts the latest trends in urban fashion.

imageDefining their point of difference to the congested, populous of other websites. They work with different artists from around the globe who create exclusive designs that they host and sell on their website. Their focus is on hipster clothes and accessories and likens itself to the online equivalent of Urban Outfitters. With a great sense of humour, some might say a little unusual for a French website, but certain not Clothes-Make-the-Man, Rad definitely have their tongue firmly placed in their cheek when it comes to the themes for their product selection. Hipster Churchill, Baron Von C3P0 and out of character glimpses of the Hulk, Wonder Woman and Batman & Robin, this is website, not only worth checking out but for bearing in mind for more thoughtful and slightly off the wall gift ideas for the season to be jolly.

Having recently expanded into the UK and Germany and the aim is to hit the U.S. within two years, Rad have some really rather Rad-ical plans ahead for themselves.

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Building on perfection – Whistles Menswear Essential T-shirt

imageThere are few more iconic pieces of clothing than the classic crew neck T-shirt. I mean how many countless unforgettable and stylish images do they play a roll in? James Dean in Rebel without a cause, Marlon Brando in  A Streetcar named Desire, Chuck Norris in Delta Force, Joan Jett, the Ramones, the list goes on and on. I mean how many times has the t-shirt been use to get a message across ? Whether it be depicting eponymous figures like Cha Guevara to Morrissey or a slogan with a little more Political slant. Plus there are few people the world over that does possess a T-shirt in some way, shape or form.

This Season Whistles have taken their essential tee and improved every aspect of it to make the definitive t-shirt for everyday us, yes made it quicker, faster, stronger, better. Available in the three classic colours of Black, Navy and of course White, plus made using an advanced, technology-driven process, they truly believe they’ve nailed it.

Crafted from premium, weighty jersey that’s been designed to generate insulation from the outside, keeping you warm. To keep the piece feeling superior they’ve given it a carbon brushed finish – a process that develops a slight fuzziness on the surface of the fabric and leaves it with an extra soft touch on your skin. The cut has been improved, keeping it fitted across the chest, arms and shoulders and straight through the torso – the definitive men’s silhouette.

 

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