05/03/2013
In this episode of “Labels to watch”, we’re looking at another of the tiny UK-based, 2-person companies doing interesting things whilst being under the radar of most folks. ARN Mercantile is the label of Neil and Akimi, the name being made up of their initials combined with that of their son, Robin. The Mercantile comes from the period when Neil…
05/03/2013
My interest in clothes has evolved over time. From finding items I kind of liked in highstreet shops, to actively seeking out the really special items. A lot of my old favorites have been moved progressively further into the darker realms of my closets, as they have been replaced by truly great items. I’m not saying the things I like…
03/03/2013
One of the places I was most keen to visit in London was the SEH Kelly workshop on saturday morning, as they’re usually only open at weekends. I’d never been to the Shoreditch area before (or so I thought, as it turned out I’d actually been quite close the year before, when I visited the interesting Boxpark trading area), and…
02/03/2013
Being the creator of an iconic jacket like the Cameraman must fill the designer with pride. Over 10 years it’s been regarded as a jacket to aspire to, a modern classic with a nod to the vintage style. Without a doubt instantly recognisable as a Cabourn Cameraman. So, how can it feel to have designed such a piece and to…
01/03/2013
The second book in my brief series of books you ought to buy (or borrow or steal), is “Icons of men’s style” by Josh Sims: From the description on the inside cover: “Behind nearly every item in the modern male wardrobe is a ‘first of it’s kind’ – the definitive example, often designed by a single company or brand for…
01/03/2013
One of the most iconic jackets of recent years has to be Nigel Cabourns Cameraman jacket. It was first introduced in 2003 as 1 of 12 pieces designed & released as the Ascent of Cabourn collection to mark the 50th anniversary of the Hilary ascent of Everest. It’s a jacket that has been available every summer and autumn since then,…
28/02/2013
The life of an all-season cyclist in Norway covers everything from fine warm summer days to bitingly cold winter says. Not extremely cold right now, only -10C when it could be -25C, but enough to make pretty frost on my spokes! In case anyone is curious about what to wear when cycling in the cold, here is a quick guide…
28/02/2013
I have a few thoughts about shoes and would like to start out with one I consider to be a true icon in footwear. The original Dr Martens black patent leather work shoes. Now, I’ll confess to having always thought of these as being British, so found myself quite surprised upon reading the entry in Wikipedia about Dr Martens to…
27/02/2013
If you’re feeling a bit short on manliness, and are of the type that likes to read to improve your lot, you can hardly go wrong with Glenn O’Briens fabulous “How to be a man”. Covering most instances you might imagine, and a whole lot you wouldn’t have, this should potentially boost your understanding of being a man for a…
27/02/2013
Following on from yesterdays impressions of Savile Row, I was inspired to mention a rather special, somewhat related, company I came across recently. SirPlus, a cunning pun relating to the source of their source of materials being “cabbage“, surplus or offcuts, from other tailors. What SirPlus do is collect the “cabbage” and refashion, or upcycle to use a trendy term, …