Tenue de Nîmes - Amsterdam

Red Wing Shoes Amsterdam 1 Year

2011-07-29T18:27:00.002+02:00

On July 22nd we celebrated the one year anniversary of our Amsterdam based Red Wing shoes store. We would like to thank everybody for a legendary event.

For those of you who were not able to make it, we made a video report. It was a night of beers, burgers, bourbon and of course a few brownies (we love you Queen of Tarts).

This autumn will be all about boots and denim people. Let the rain begin!

The End

2010-12-29T22:13:00.003+01:00

Our Tenue de Nîmes blog has changed to www.tenuedenimes.com - see you there!
(Image via The End)

Our new home

2010-12-24T19:26:00.002+01:00

Today we celebrate a Tenue de Nîmes milestone. After months of hard work our new website is finally online.
The site includes our new blog (a daily update by the name of Journal de Nîmes) and a web-shop with most of the products we stock in our Amsterdam based store.
On top of that the website features all the past issues of our paper magazine Journal de Nîmes. As from today they can be read on the website too.
A huge thanks goes out to our web-director Kim, the people of Intervisual who built the site and to Riekele, Milou, Timo, Hanna, Olivier and to all the other people who have spilled blood, sweat and tears for this project.

We hope you will enjoy our new site. Have a great Christmas. Until soon, Menno, Rene and Joachim.

Please renew your RSS feeds, we're moving over to www.tenuedenimes.com, our new home.

Dressing the Man

2010-12-23T18:32:00.008+01:00

This is something I would like to have for Christmas: Dressing The Man. All the basics a man needs to know or have in terms of fashion is available in this amazing book. Whether you look for the history behind the sports jacket, the brogue shoe or the pocket square, all the basics are presented in this book. Available online as from this Friday.

Quote

2010-12-23T17:55:00.001+01:00

All life is an experiment.
The more experiments you make the better.

Ralph Waldo Emerson Journals, November 11, 1842. - Thank you Adriana.

Winter Treasures

2010-12-21T15:38:00.004+01:00

We, Tenue de Nîmes and Anothersomething, shared our new Treasures in Blend Magazine. This time focusing on the harsh winter weather and all you need to survive. 1. Rocky Mountain Featherbed at our online store > tenuedenimes.com / 2. Icon 4x4, Cars built to resist. icon4x4.com / 3. Winter by Joachim Baan / 4. Nigel Cabourn's Fisherman beanie by our favorite designer. cabourn.com / 5. Best Made, Because they don’t make them like this anymore. bestmadeco.com / 6. 7. 8. Denim Demon. Project wear outs is the search for the ultimate denim wear out. denimdemon.se / 9. Country House Hideout, Welcome to the perfect country house hideout. countryhousehideout.co.uk / 10. Red Wing Gloves, Deerskin work gloves. redwingamsterdam.com / 11. Winter by Joachim Baan / 12. 13. Soulland, Nothing more romantic that a Soulland campaign. soulland.eu / 14. Gloverall Duffle coat, Men at work. gloverall.com

Mister Freedom - Californian

2010-12-20T16:19:00.007+01:00

Today we got our hands on a new Mister Freedom piece: The Californian. The style is inspired by the 1950's and is characterized by its lovely Mister Freedom silhouette, 'M' embroidery on back pockets and a handmade original, debossed natural cowhide leather patch on right back pocket. To get you guys in the mood for this great piece of true Americana we thought it would be nice to share these worn-in shots by MF himself.

The jeans are intensively abused for about 5 months and as you can see they show a great wear out already. "...a quick cold soak for 10 minutes, hung dry and worn still damp. Four washing cycles during the five months period, cold water, very minimal soap, turned inside-out, no dryer." Who says treating your beloved jeans isn't like cooking a master meal?

Camouflage

2010-12-19T12:11:00.013+01:00

Rene is a real (vintage) army fan. Whether it are jackets, watches, military cloths or camouflage patterns, he likes it all. After a a recent find at Lady Day vintage in Amsterdam he went online to determine where the jacket originated from. He found out that the parka we found was used by the Swiss army. On top of that he found some classic camouflage prints that have been used by different countries around the world. Have a look at our favorites below. Image above is: Swiss Alpenflage (Excuse us for the low resolution).

Chinese Tibet Occupation Camo

Danish M84 Fleck-tarn Camo. Pictures above and more camouflage images at HSM.

Monsters

2010-12-17T17:11:00.004+01:00

Our buddy Nestor asked us to arrange a pair of these 'monsters' by Red Wing that he found the other day. Of course we agreed to take the challenge and hopefully our Japanese colleagues can help us out with this amazing pair of 8" Classic Round Toe in Oro Russet Portage.

Images and shoes through Three Wood.

Child labor

2010-12-16T10:42:00.001+01:00

Have a look at these early 20th century images of child labor in the United States. I was really mixed up by this find of our friend Jonathan. The pictures are quite intense and I must admit that they are simply beautiful too. The shots show traditional work wear like cotton shirts with Dutch collars, high waist work overalls with suspenders and leather boots. All we like basically.

But on the other hand what we see is some very young blokes who should be playing with balls or reading books, not work under sometimes horrifying circumstances. Luckily for us Western people, this image is something from a century ago and it is not daily business anymore. Unfortunately child labor still is business as usual in a lot poor third world countries. Something we should all try to fight against, especially in fashion.

Image source: Acidcow.

Foretaste

2010-12-15T23:24:00.002+01:00

Tenue de Nîmes denim by MOOS

2010-12-13T12:11:00.014+01:00

During our two year anniversary celebration we received a very special package by our friend Koen, owner at MOOS Tailored Basics. He gave Joachim, Rene and me our first hand-made, tailored pair of denim based on our personal shapes, sizes and desires.

It is the first pair of tailored jeans we ever possessed, based on our individual requirements. Although Koen made the jeans similar in terms of denim and detailing his efforts resulted in three totally different shapes and many sleepless nights.

But not only the eye for each individual body makes a pair of MOOS jeans such a remarkable object. His hardly matched addiction to detail is just unbelievable. Have a look at the way Koen treated the hem for instance (below). And do not miss the fact that finally, we found somebody who does not make the inseam look like a part of the jeans that was made by an amateur.

Did we share with you already that he bakes every single waistband button himself?

And what about the blue piping inside the belt loops, and the way the coin pocket is folded so it unveils a little part of the selvage?

Let's just say this guy outshines in every detail. And let's face it: It is just great to have your personal pair dated and stamped with your initials, isn't it? Have a look at some of Koen's 'making of' shots in his Amsterdam based atelier at our Flickr. We hope we can show you our first wear out shots soon.

Danish Tattooing

2010-12-10T16:27:00.008+01:00

Joachim bought this amazing Danish tattoo book in Stockholm Monday. The book is written by photographer Jon Norstrøm and it show a great history of Dansih tattoo life since 1895.

De book shows a great selection of pictures that date back to the early 20th century. I would have sworn the image shown was Hannibal Lector (Anthony Hopkins) if I would not have known it is a Danish tattoo fan from the sixties.

The book also provides a selection of legendary tattoo accessories as used by various Danish tattoo artists and shop owners. More info and images at Needlebuzz thanks to Riekele.

Charlie Brown

2010-12-09T22:45:00.004+01:00

This classic 60's and 70's Charlie Brown jacket by Woolrich is one of the exclusive styles the brand produced for its 180th anniversary. Only 180 hand numbered jackets were made from a special archive wool with selvage details. The cuffs and collar are lined with real chamois suede and the interior of the jacket is lined with a cashmere blend pile. For the real collectors a vest and ditto head are available to make the outfit complete.

John Lennon

2010-12-08T21:26:00.003+01:00

Today Tenue de Nîmes honors John Lennon who was murdered thirty years ago on December 8th 1980. The image shows the timeless style icon as we like it, in denim. Image: Everette Collection.

Rugger

2010-12-07T21:50:00.007+01:00

This Monday were invited by Christopher Bastin, head designer of Gant Rugger to come to their head office in Stockholm, Sweden. He wanted to show his new ideas for their winter 2011 collection. The Gant office is located in Nacka Strand, a lovely part of Stockholm near the Baltic Sea. Caught by its wintery atmosphere we saw a glimpse of the new Gant Rugger collection. The main inspiration of the 2011 designs was a 1960's Rode Island School of Design year book that Christopher bought online for only a few euro's.

The entire collection is an oath to the days that Gant was the most popular shirt company of the USA. Christopher shared some remarkable anecdotes with us like the fact that Gant was the founder of the 'locker loop' on the back of classic sports shirts. Or the 'Fag Tag' as athletes liked to call it back in the days.

No branding is allowed since the Gant Rugger collection is all about garments, classic silhouettes and ditto fabrics. Instead, the Rugger shirts are branded with a traditional Union stamp with the remarkable 'G' sign added to it.
The images above are taken by Joachim at the special collection presentation by Gant on Monday where we were literally able to walk through the Gant world for the first time.

Stockholm day 1

2010-12-06T22:25:00.005+01:00

Today we were fortunate enough to be invited to Stockholm for the official launch of the Gant Rugger collection for winter 2011. After a very early flight we wandered around the snowy city during the morning and visited some of our favorite shops in town like Byredo, Jus and PUB. In the afternoon we saw a glimpse of the new Gant Rugger collection. More about this special sneak peak later this week. Tomorrow we will go South to Sördermalm where we will check out stores like Acne, Nitty Gritty, Our Legacy and Sivletto. God kväll to everybody!

Sinterklaas

2010-12-05T13:16:00.006+01:00

Today we celebrate 'Sinterklaas' in the Netherlands, basically a Dutch version of your beloved Santa. This tradition dates back to the 13th century and is all about rewarding the kids who behaved during a year. The myth tells us that naughty children were taken with Sinterklaas on his boat to his residence in Spain. Luckily for me Rene and I were allowed to stay after the holy man replenished his bag of presents at the shop and we took this picture with his black 'Pieten'.

Vintage Blazer

2010-12-04T16:46:00.002+01:00

Nike released another great Blazer recently as part of their Vintage line. We are glad to stock a limited amount of these kicks in wine red and peach.

Tenue de Nîmes x London Undercover

2010-11-30T11:58:00.001+01:00

Tenue de Nîmes has joined creative forces with Umbrella brand London Undercover to produce a special denim Umbrella. This striking accessory represents both brands perfectly: combining an established classic with a modern touch. The umbrella itself is made with an industrial strength traditional frame of natural beech woodwork which guides your eye to beautifully detailed artwork on the inside, made by Japanese illustrator Hiyoko Imai. The cotton flower illustration not only tells a story about denim, but also echoes the decorative nature of ancient parasols, which were often embellished with lavish, floral designs. It's this attention to detail and perspective, combined with the modern element of denim that makes this such a truly special piece.
Made in France, home of denim and the waterproof umbrella, the accessory is available to buy through London Undercover & Tenue De Nîmes from Monday 29th November.

Specially for this collaboration Hiyoko Imai made a short video to explain the concept of indigo rain and the main character in her design: Mr. de Nîmes.

Andy's place

2010-11-28T20:30:00.003+01:00

Fashion and interior photographer Todd Selby made some amazing portraits of people and their 'places'. Browsing through his website I found out he photographed our hero Andy Spade and his wife Kate Spade on our birthday (November 21st). The book "The Selby Is In Your Place" (Hardcover) is for sale at Tenue de Nîmes. Photography: Todd Selby. More here.

Big E display LEVI'S

2010-11-27T09:43:00.012+01:00

We are thrilled to tell you we found this unbelievable pair of vintage Big E Levi's display jeans last week. It is a size 76x46 and all the original tags are still on there. It is a selvage pair that probably dates back to the late fifties or early sixties. The seller told me that he had the pair in his house for more than fourty years after he closed down his jeans shop we he used it for display.The jeans have never been used or worn so the denim is intact. The button shows number two on the back and the paper "Joker" ticket is intact. Images by the seller. I will soon provide some detailed shots myself.

Vintage Red Wing's II

2010-11-25T19:07:00.012+01:00

Since our last post on the Vintage Irish Setters we got a lot of nice reactions from Red Wing fans from all around the world. Our French friend Mat at Nothing but Poetry shared one of his most beloved vintage pairs by Red Wing Shoes. I have to admit I would not know which style we are looking at here, but it is amazing. The leather and canvas combination reminds me of the Wabasha line. UPDATE: According to @tjadamarwa this is a Japanese pair of RW shoes with number #927. Agree everyone?

Tenue de Nîmes II Year Anniversary photos

2010-11-23T17:04:00.005+01:00

Last Friday we celebrated our two year anniversary and the launch of our new Journal de Nîmes, The Dutch issue. Joachim made some shots for us and posted them here. Enjoy!

Tenue de Nîmes collaborations

2010-11-22T15:24:00.003+01:00

The coming months will be all about a few groundbreaking collaborations between Tenue de Nîmes and some internationally rewarded brands. Here is a preview by Joachim that we just had to share with you. More info about this special collaboration -and others- will follow shortly.

Journal de Nîmes Nº6 - The Dutch Issue

2010-11-19T10:38:00.005+01:00

Our new Journal de Nimes Nº6 -The Dutch issue- is officially launched today. Because of the Tenue de Nîmes 2 year anniversary we felt it was the right moment to show you some of the great brands and concepts from our home country, the Netherlands.

In this Dutch-themed release we report on some of the most desirable retail concepts from Amsterdam as well as an interview with Denham Brand Director Ad de Hond. On top of that we searched for -and found- some of the best Dutch export brands like Jimmy Woo, Spyker Cars and the absolute king of Dutch denim: G-star.

And it doesn't end there: with the 6th Journal de Nimes featuring an Amsterdam city map, the best vintage in town at Lady Day and a special on Dutch icons, you will understand why it is such an adventure to do a normally sized issue on the country you come from. Read the new issue online here.

Denim Demon x Kangol

2010-11-18T07:47:00.004+01:00

Denim Demon an Kangol teamed up recently and our friend Oskar was kind enough to test the head himself. Conclusion? We are ready for the cold! Available in navy and white.

Naked & Famous Stage III

2010-11-17T11:21:00.005+01:00

We are working clock round to launch are new online Tenue de Nîmes store very soon. We took the opportunity to update you about our Naked & Famous Skinny Guy wear out battle. The question that remains is: Do I have such fat short legs, or Joachim such long thin legs?

Momotaro exclusive

2010-11-16T09:49:00.006+01:00

I promised you I would show more extraordinary Momotaro releases after last weeks entry. Have a look at one of the most unusual fabrics we ever sold at Tenue de Nîmes. Your are looking at the ER007-3B made from an non-dyed yarn. This 13oZ Mlang denim has a mixed grey and white warp. These jeans will become lighter after wear. Heartbreaking isn't it? More Momotaro soon at our webshop.

Quote

2010-11-15T15:50:00.000+01:00

"There exist limitless opportunities in every industry. Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier."

Charles F. Kettering. Source: Denim Institute, Adriana Galijasevic

Living Pictures

2010-11-14T08:52:00.003+01:00

Ten Haaf projects recently opened an exhibition "Living Pictures," by Herbert Hoffmann (1919-2010). The show tells the story of Hoffmann's fascination for tattooed people. During the Third Reich, tattooed people were seen as criminals and consequently tattoo culture diminished. After 4 years being held prisoner by the Russians, Hoffmann began to work as a sales agent. Because he traveled a lot Hoffmann met with people that were fascinated by tattoo's as well although the Nazi's had banned them. In 1961 Hoffmann opened a tattoo studio and took a photo of the people he met or worked with. These photos are now a diary of his life. For years he was known as the 'oldest' tattoo artist around. More info on the exhibition here.
Image by Herbert Hoffmann.

Weekly favorites

2010-11-12T17:48:00.004+01:00

Whenever our buddy Mikkel enters the store we know something is about to happen. Last Saturday he selected his weekly favorites. Have a look at this Levi's Vintage jacket, Rocky Mountain Featherbed and The Hill-Side check scarf (worn as a XL beau tie). He combined it with his own late seventies selvage Levi's 501 and wine red brogues.

Just like you mentioned Mikkel, thumbs up for this selection.

Winter

2010-11-11T11:39:00.005+01:00

In search for proper winter gear we came across this fine Nigel Cabourn Shetland fisher knit. This is the kind of New wool crew that allows you to go out without wearing a jacket. The suede patches on shoulders and elbows make the garment fit closely around the body. This is a once-in-a-life-buy that will be part of your winter wardrobe for many years.

Heroes

2010-11-10T16:56:00.008+01:00

Our friend Jonathan sent us another great link today with vintage baseball photo's by Paul Thompson from around 1911. Make sure you Google some of these heroes from the past. You would be amazed by their stories. Image above: Walter Johnson, Washington Nationals.

Jimmy (Samuel James Tilden) Sheckard, Chicago Cubs.

Topsy (Tully Frederick) Hartsel, Philadelphia Athletics. More at Every Day I Show.

Painted Levi's

2010-11-08T17:40:00.005+01:00

The Atelier of Koen Tossijn (founder of MOOS Tailored Basics) that we visited last week was full of the most lovely (vintage) treasures. Most of them were photographed by Joachim and will be shared in the new Journal de Nîmes that will hit the store net next week. One of the things we saw in Koen's atelier was just to cool to be true, so we decided to share it right away. Have a look this crazy pair of Levi's that is used by his brother to paint in.

Now I know you guys are all aware of the effects of natural wear on dry denims. But have you ever seen an actual knee sticking out of a pair of jeans? These jeans got so stiff after all the drying paint that was spilled, that they look like the legs of the owner are still in there when you put them up straight. These legs look like fossils. Crazy! Best way to wear out your jeans from now on? Become a painter.

Double Indigo

2010-11-06T21:14:00.011+01:00

The Momotaro team keeps on surprising us with their unlimited denim master crafts. This week we got our hands on this 'double dye' denim with an indigo warp and a sulphur black weft. This is a highly exclusive line that will be available only temporarily.

The white and red selvage and yellow chain stitch provide a lovely contrast at the turn-up.

Who would not want pockets made from soft, light-blue chambray?

One of the most remarkable details of these Momotaro jeans are the (cotton plant) logo rivets. Let's just say there is a story in every detail. How will we ever match this pair of super denim?

Influencers

2010-11-04T07:54:00.004+01:00

Yesterday I received a nice tip through Twitter thanks to Lucas. He sent us a link to the short documentary Influencers. It shows you inspiration is everywhere and how creativity can rapidly evolve into trends with a global audience. Inspiration is in countries, cities, around the internet but most of all we find it in other people; in 'influencers'. The movie shows how people get influenced by others and how their beliefs are sometimes spread like a virus. The basic assumption that we derive from the video is that in places where people ensemble on pure passion, actual inspiration is available. Let's see if you agree. Enjoy the show. Film by R+I Creative.

MOOS at Tenue de Nîmes

2010-11-02T10:24:00.009+01:00

We are preparing the launch of our new Journal de Nîmes, The Dutch issue. In this paper we will show the world which treasures our home country shelters. One of the brands we will do a report about is MOOS. This Dutch one-man-company is all about specializing is three things: Denim, tailoring and basics. Although all of his garments are tailor made, the owner likes to see them as basics - or fundamentals if you will. So, although each of his jeans are specially made, MOOS considers it a basic must have that should never have to change. Well we were so attracted to this principal that we asked him to do a jeans for us. Olivier will write a special about this lovely brand and the philosophy of the owner in Journal de Nîmes Nº6. Have a look at the first preview of MOOS determining what strange curves should be added to our personal pair of MOOS jeans. More shots at Flickr.

This is an original (Dutch) RIH frame by the RIH Sport Amsterdam, another great example of the highly unusual stores that are available in our capital. Did we mention already these guys have been around since 1921?

Classic Rolls 'San Marco' saddle - the final touch of this classic track bike.

Inventory 3

2010-11-01T10:31:00.005+01:00

Last Friday we received the latest issue of Inventory magazine. The issue has a little Dutch flavor since Maurizio Donadi, Senior Vice President at Levi's XX, is on one of the two covers. He was interviewed in his Amsterdam office at the Dutch Olympic Stadium.
Although this Inventory is a little less thick than the previous editions, it takes only a second to determine I will not be leaving the house for the next three nights. Get your copy at Tenue de Nîmes.

Vintage Red Wing's

2010-10-29T11:41:00.009+02:00

Our friend John from Canada sent me an offer I couldn't refuse: He had this vintage pair of Red Wing Irish Setter's for sale (in my size: US10.5). According to John the shoes are in a near mint shape - pretty remarkable for a pair that probably dates back to the 1950's. Gabor, European GM at Red Wing, was surprised to see the instep cap which reminds us of a golf shoe. Any one of you ever seen a detail like this on a pair RW shoes? More Red Wing news through Dyed in Red.

Tenue de Nîmes 2050

2010-10-28T08:01:00.003+02:00

This is the second picture that could show Tenue de Nîmes in forty years. Lisa May Post used to call it "We love our mothers".

Identity

2010-10-27T17:43:00.005+02:00

We proudly announce that Tenue de Nîmes is featured in the book 'Graphic Design for Fashion' thanks to the great work of our partner Joachim. The books shows our Tenue de Nîmes identity amongst other companies like Acne and Viktor & Rolf. The book will be for sale at Anothershop and Tenue de Nîmes soon. Pictures through September Industry.

Alright

2010-10-26T17:29:00.002+02:00

We love this "Everything is going to be alright" Ace Hotel selvedge 9oz chambray scarf by The Hill-Side. The scarf is hand-embroidered at the bottom corner and comes in a limited edition at Hickoree's.

Duffle Coat

2010-10-26T07:19:00.004+02:00

We are huge fans of the original Duffle Coat. Thanks to our UK friends from Gloverall we came across this lovely vintage advertisement add that shows one of the their trade shows back in the days. Wish to read more about this legendary coat? Have a look at our previous Journal de Nîmes (The British Issue) for the full history.

Pioneers

2010-10-24T18:45:00.006+02:00

Even in winter René refuses to wear something else than his vintage Levi's (capital E) denim jacket. Luckily for him the denim icon teamed up with Pendleton Woolen Mills who added a beautiful (winter-proof) lining to Rene's one and only friend.

Freedom

2010-10-24T10:24:00.007+02:00

Ian Barry's Kestrel Falcon motorcycle driving along the LA River. This is what freedom must feel like.

Under Construction

2010-10-22T07:30:00.004+02:00

Our friend Nathan supplied us very unique army cloth for a new Tellason collaboration that will hit the store shortly. Have a look at Tony and Pete cutting the pockets for the new Tellason x Tenue de Nîmes jeans. The guys from RC did an interview with both of our denim friends last week. Get in the mood here. More info on our second release soon.

Ping Pong 2.0

2010-10-21T10:15:00.003+02:00

We managed to get our hands on a new ladies denim label Notify last season. Rene found out that their designer Ron Arad does more than creating the perfect ladies blue: Ping Pong, anyone?

The Depression

2010-10-20T14:39:00.006+02:00

For those of you who did not have the chance yet to have a look at this extraordinary selection of 'America in Color' images yet, please be overwhelmed here. Our friend and great photographer Liza May Post was kind enough to make me aware of this selection that, as far as I'm concerned, is the most beautiful collection of early 20th century color images available. The images were taken by the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information and they provide a unique view of American populations during The Great Depression. The images are the property of the Library of Congress.

According to Liza May the most unusual aspect of this collection is not just the fact that it is available in color (although black and white was a lot more common in those days), but the identity of the color itself. She told me it reminded her of Technicolor, used in Cinema - where each color was recorded separately. And although it was an impossible camera to handle, a lot of Hollywood productions during the early 19th century were shot like this.

Thank you so much Liza for sharing. Have a look for more at Denver Post.

Style

2010-10-18T22:36:00.003+02:00

Our friend Chris at Converse sent us this fantastic style scheme that shows you what fashion, heritage and inspiration do to this season's collections in retail. Meet the 'Heritage Hipster'. Image through WSJ.

My Freedamn III

2010-10-17T08:02:00.006+02:00

Sunday started off really well today since I got my hands on a first print copy of the third My Freedamn book by Rin Tanaka. This 'Vintage Sports Jackets' special was out of production for quite some time now but after months of searching I found one online. The only mission right now is the even more rare second MF book by Tanaka: The Vintage T-Shirts issue.

Nigel Cabourn Mallory

2010-10-14T13:51:00.004+02:00

Joachim has introduced us with an impressive amount of quotes since we started working together. One of the most important ones that he once wrote to us comes from Winston Churchill: "The further backward you can look, the further forward you can see". Until today this quote inspires us in everything we do.

But this line of wisdom could be created for one of our favorite designers as well: Nigel Cabourn. As you all know NC gets inspired by the past and the Royal British Army in particular. Nigel seems to be able to translate his inspiration into a contemporary context like hardly anyone is able to do - although every brand claims to have a heritage these days.

This winter one of the classic Nigel Cabourn designs was released again and we simply had to share it with you today. Have a look at this Mallory jacket made from a blue Harris Tweed fabric. It was worn by George Mallory in 1924 to trek up the Mount Everest because of the durability of the material. The jacket is tailored in a small, old-fashioned factory in London's East End. The vest (right) creates a lovely two-piece outfit that makes it typical for the early 20th century. Nigel Cabourn is our official King of this winter's sophistication. We are ready for the cold.

Battle update

2010-10-13T09:57:00.006+02:00

While Joachim and I are still wearing our Naked and Famous Skinny Guy on a daily basis Brandon and Bahzad at NF pushed our little contest to the next level. We showed you their Broken Twill after 1 year wear already a few weeks ago. Well, the guys just teased us with their image of the jeans post-wash. Click on the image to take a closer look. In Dutch we would say: "Enjoy the Game".

Indigo

2010-10-12T14:23:00.016+02:00

When I was was looking around on the net in search of nice examples of (recycled) patch work denim, I came across this 19th century blend of indigo dyed cotton from Japan. The beauty of this sort of methods is that it is simply unique. There is no way one could ever match this pattern because every single piece of fabric is aged on itself, it has a history of wear.

This image shows why we believe a repair of a pair of jeans must never be done with a new piece of fabric, but with textile that aged similarly. Compare it to skin transplantation. Is it that sensitive? Yes it is.

Have a look at this close-up that shows the different fabrics that have been used during time at this particular Japanese 'boro' (cover). Let's all start to repair more instead of throwing away our old garments. This is art. Pictures by 1stdibs through Ounodesign.

Vintage Red Wing's

2010-10-11T18:17:00.004+02:00

We stumbled upon this massive pair of 1970's industrial Red Wing's yesterday. Isn't this another great example that the dirtier they get, the more beautiful they will become?

Rocky Mountain Featherbed

2010-10-09T13:11:00.003+02:00

We have been waiting for a special package from Japan since April. Rocky Mountain Featherbed sent us a unique selection of their authentic vests. To get you guys in the mood we felt it would be nice to show you this amazing vintage style with a green nylon shell and the characteristic leather yoke. More soon.

BLEND x VANMOOF

2010-10-08T17:33:00.003+02:00

Our friends at Blend will officially release their BLENDxVANMOOF bicycle today. The bike has a little Tenue de Nîmes touch since it has been re-designed by our buddy Joachim Baan.

Driving home

2010-10-07T09:39:00.006+02:00

I'm back! After two weeks of surfing, lovely books (Buyology, M. Lindstrom and Dreams from my father, B. Obama) and of course my lovely family; it feels great to be around again. I almost decided to drive back from Bali when I discovered this amazing Volkswagen "Acapulco" Thing near our hotel in Seminyak.

This orange monster was completely restored and my guess is that it dates back to the early seventies. This particular model was originally designed for the Las Brisas Hotel in Acapulco. This The original version: The Volkswagen 181, was used by the NATO between 1968 and 1979. After '79 they switched to the updated 4-wheel-drive version: The Volkswagen Type 183 IItis because the initial NATO 'Europa Jeep' project was canceled.

According to Wikipedia this 'Acapulco' beauty was originally developed in orange and white (above), yellow and white, green and white, and blue and white. Let's just say we would not mind to ride of of them from now on. More soon.

Wiley Brothers 4-Loop Belt

2010-10-06T15:14:00.001+02:00

A hoof-pick belt is made of a folding hoof-pick made off solid brass. According the creators of the belt above, a hoof-pick "just happens to be a great belt buckle." We do not see them often, but it really stands out compared to the standard brass buckles. I am going after a good one on short notice, and this is one I am enthusiastic about. The light havana 4-loop belt made by the Wiley Brothers in Charlottesville, Virginia. It is their signature product and I can see why. Made of the thick vegetable tanned bridle leather from England. Hook me up.

(image via Selectism)

45rpm Winter Lookbook

2010-10-05T11:48:00.001+02:00

Japanese 45rpm has just released their quarterly lookbook for the winter called "BADOU・R AI45". It shows products of the 4 brands that are sold by 45rpm. It shows a inspirational combination of tweeds, cotton and cashmere products. Especially for women, it is very refreshing style when you compare this to what you see on the streets.

Orange Hand Explorer II

2010-10-04T22:49:00.001+02:00

Speleologists are the scientists who research caves. In the complete darkness you can easily loose sense of day and night. Rolex came with the very clever idea to design a watch for them. They must have thought that speleologists were big business.. Anyway, in 1971 they released the Orange Hand Explorer II.

The special thing about this watch is the big orange hour hand which shows it if is time to sleep or to stay awake. Small adjustments were made to the design until it was discontinued in 1985. The example on the picture is from 1980. During its production time it has not been a very popular watch, but now it is wanted among collectors. The nickname of this watch is the "Steve McQueen Rolex" because he owned a 1655 model.

Kangol Lookbook

2010-10-03T13:47:00.001+02:00

Always nice to see friends and family. Oskar and Anton from Denim Demon are featured in the Autumn 2010 Lookbook of Kangol. Next week will have a selection of styles in the shop. As soon as they arrive I will update you on the details.

Gloverall Duffle Coat

2010-10-02T13:06:00.002+02:00

The research you have to do for a new jacket for the winter is fun. Much more fun then dragging yourself from shop to shop. One thats always in the back of my mind is a Duffle Coat. It is yet again a silhouette that has not changed for years. Off course there are variations, but I would recommend staying close to the original.

The Duffle Coat's name is referring to the fabric which originates in Duffel, Belgium. The fabric has a long tradition in England, where coats from this fabric where already marketed in 1890 by a man called John Partridge. The Duffle Coat gained popularity after WWII. The British Royal Navy had issued a camel version during the war. One famous wearer was General Montgomery, this is where the nickname "Monty Coat" comes from. After the war these coats found their way from military surplus stores to fashion in the 50's and 60's.

The Gloverall Duffle Coat is a example of a coat that stays pretty close to the original. With its wooden toggles, rope fastenings and deep navy blue color you can imagine yourself sailing the seas with the Royal Navy. Available now at Tenue de Nîmes.

Union Treasures

2010-10-01T15:08:00.001+02:00

For the last International Blend Magazine we've put together the Treasures we found when visiting the Red Wing Shoes factory back in June: 1. Red Wing Shoes - Mister Red Wing Shoes repairing himself. 2. Denim & Boots - The prefect combination. 3. Cars - What can be more ‘Americana’ than a gliding, vertiginous roadster? 4. Bob Dustrude Quick Buck Saw - The saw you can not do without when you're in the wild, especially when trying to setup a camp fire. 5. Team - Just don‘t ever forget. 6. Duluth Pack - The beautiful US factory of Duluth Pack. 7. Gloves - Not just for factory workers - lovely reindeer skin gloves. 8. Northern Water Smokehaus - Best place to survive the rainy weather up-North and the best sandwiches of... the universe! 9. Levi’s Vintage 10. Sang Blue - This tattoo reminded us of our favorite magazine Sang Blue. 11. Treasure hunting - Sure, it’s best to go to Brimfield, the famous flea market in Massachusetts, USA, but until we are able to go there: eBay it is. (photography by yours truly)

Download the PDF here.

100 Legendary Trunks

2010-09-30T13:22:00.002+02:00

I think we're all fascinated about these used pieces of luggage. Louis Vuitton together with Abrams will publish '100 Legendary Trunks' this december. A book showcasing the most beautiful creations of the House. 'Authors Pierre Léonforte and Éric Pujalet-Plaà curate 100 of the finest trunks the Louis Vuitton company has produced on commission, including boxes made for movie stars from Douglas Fairbanks to Sharon Stone and couturiers from Jeanne Lanvin to Karl Lagerfeld, as well as cases designed for Ernest Hemingway, Leopold Stokowski, and Damien Hirst. Illustrated with 600 images taken from the Louis Vuitton archives and new photographs made especially for this book, this is the definitive history of personalized objects of both practicality and luxury.'
We are very much looking forward to it!

Henry Cuir

2010-09-28T22:26:00.003+02:00

We love to travel (Menno is in Bali, Rene in Paris and I will go to LA next week), and we love to travel with style. Henry Cuir is one of these brands we'd love to have on our travels as our companion.
Henry Cuir is an Italian workshop focussing on leather bags, shoes and small leather goods (amongst others). The products are hand-sewn with waxed linen thread in various colors. And the best thing is; each piece is an original, unique and different from another, and all signed with these childish embroideries instead of some glossy branding.
They're not for free. This Globetrotter Travel Wallet is somewhere between the 500 and 1000 dollar, if you can get your hands on it, since they are quite rare…

Patchwork Denim

2010-09-28T12:42:00.000+02:00

Patchwork fills me with mixed emotions. I do not throw away my old denims and do patch them up with they threaten to fall apart. This way I can elongate the life of my jeans, while still looking sharp as a knife. On the other hand, patchwork as a form of decoration is something I do not appreciate mostly. Why? It is very hard to "reproduce" a jean that looks somewhat authentic. Some designers do know how a denim wears out and they either work for RRL or Levi's.

The example shown above is a example from RRL which we came across on Ebay. It looks good, not to much damages and no extraterrestrial materials were used on the patchwork. On the picture it almost looks like a flare, but I believe it is a loose straight cut. Below is one of the nicest examples of Levi's which was on Hypebeast a while back.

Vivian Maier

2010-09-27T22:46:00.005+02:00

A beautiful post on Anothersomething by Tobias Ulrich.
This nice blog was created in dedication to the Vivian Maier (1 February 1926 – 21 April 2009). Vivian, a french-born street photographer from the 1950s – 1990s, who came to the US in childhood, worked for several years as a nanny in Chicago. Her photographs remained unknown until after her death and was discovered by John Maloof, a Chicago estate agent, at an auction in 2007. The work includes 100 000 mostly medium format negatives and lots of undeveloped rolls of film.

At this time, John has no idea what to do with this kind of street-photography-masterpiece. As you can read in his flickr post, he’s thankful for every direction.

More picture over at Another Something >

Tolix Chair

2010-09-27T20:52:00.000+02:00

The first French industrial designed chair was designed by Xavier Pauchard in 1937. The Chaise A was stack-able and made of galvanized steel. A complete collection of furniture was designed by Pauchard under the "Tolix" brand. A set of these chairs is simply astonishing to have.

The model pictured on top is not one of the original designs, but it is the AC Chair. The difference is that this model has slightly bigger seating. Personally I like to see it a bit damaged, dented and with a fading paint job. Click here for two examples of the originals which resemble the way I would like to have them in my living room.

Levi's Lithostone

2010-09-25T22:26:00.001+02:00

If you have this kind of gadget in your collection, you will never ever search for a vintage Levi's rag doll again. A lithostone is used to print with the method of lithography. This stone was used to print the labels of Levi's in the late 1900's. You can see there is a phenominal amount of information on this piece of art. I am curious what something like this would be worth if you would put in on Ebay. Probably out of my budget..

Inventor of the Cowboy Shirt

2010-09-24T22:05:00.001+02:00


Jack A. Weil. Photo by Rick Wilking, 2006

Most of the flannel and denim shirts available nowadays have lost their direct link with cowboys and lumberjacks. They are a integrated part of fashion. The more interesting is the history behind some of the detailing on shirts that you can probably find in your own closet. One of these is the snap button. For good reason, snaps were used on western shirts because they released quickly when a shirt got caught on the horn of a angry bull.

The first to implement snaps was Jack A. Weil (1901-2008) also called "Papa Jack". He started Rockmount in 1946. The shirts were tailored slim-fit and featured yokes that seemed to broaden the shoulders of the person wearing the shirt and often featuring "smile pockets". I was amazed when I found out that he was the oldest CEO in the world, until he died at an age of 107 years old. He was famous for refusing to take the production out of the USA.

NY Times has published an article on this wonderful person just after he died. A must read for all fellow fashion historians about the father of western shirts.

Gentlemen from Congo

2010-09-23T13:16:00.001+02:00

Have you ever seen the gentleman from Congo? "La Sape" is what they are called. They look so sophisticated they would fit perfectly in the African version of the Sartorialist. Amazing that they can dress so well with so little means. Their mixture of bright African colors and European style ingredients give them a unique appearance.

The Italian freelance photographer Francesco Giusti is orientated towards investigation of issues of social relations, communities and identity. During his career he was awarded multiple times for his work. Giusti has documented immigration and asylum seekers in Italy and the Mediteranian Sea. He has also worked in the slums of Nairobi, Cairo and Port au Prince. More recently he has been in Haiti, Western-Africa en Congo Brazzaville.

Giusti is currently having a exhibition with two other photographers in Brussels about his work in Congo. It is well worth visiting if you have the opportunity.

- “La Sape! Gentlemen from Congo” -
Francesco Giusti – Héctor Mediavilla – Baudouin Mouanda
De Markten, 5 Vieux Marché aux Grains, Bruxelles, Belgium.

Vintage Perry A-2 Jacket

2010-09-21T21:07:00.003+02:00

Over here we are not familiar with good bomber jackets. We associate them with hardcore music and the youth culture around it that was present in the 90's. Paolo Bellini sent us this fine example how a bomber jacket should look like. It is an original Perry Sportswear A-2 Jacket from a 1942 Army Air Corps contract. It features a very special English-made (??) insignia of the 44th Bombardment Group "Flying Eight Balls" embroidered on wool felt.

The 44th Bombardment Group was the first unit to be equipped with the new B-24 four engine bomber during WWII. The complete history of the bombardment group is well documented and can be seen here. A bit of research led me to the photo below. See the second guy from the top left. That is pretty cool, don't you agree?

crew of the 68th squadron - 44th Bombardment Group

Southbay Classic

2010-09-20T22:09:00.002+02:00

Sometimes the name says it all. This bicycle is inspired by an American Schwinn frame from the 1960's. It features a basic frame, a sporty front fork and thin chrome fenders. Instantly recognizable are the cruiser bike handlebars. This combination gives normal commuting a antique twist. The 3-speed model is available in 3 colorways for men and 3 for women.

The other models from South Bay Bicycles are also worth checking out. This is just like reading Free & Easy, if you do not read Japanese, you can just enjoy the pictures..

Bali

2010-09-19T09:05:00.003+02:00

The coming two weeks I will on a Bali break. I'll be looking at this magic bottle and my surf board for for two weeks. My brother Matthijs (DyedinRed) and Joachim (Anothersomething) will make sure that you will still be informed about all the lovely treasures that we have found lately. Stay tuned.

Ajanaku

2010-09-18T11:59:00.004+02:00

Our friend Maurice celebrates the launch of his updated Ajanaku website today. Both me and Joachim were asked to contribute to his new online platform. We took this opportunity to sneak peak an exciting new denim collaboration that will be released next month. Have a look at the article here and don't forget to enjoy the rest of the new Ajanaku website.

Ijin's 1972 Fiat 500

2010-09-16T17:15:00.004+02:00

It has been a while since we heard from our friend Philip Goss at Ijin Material. Now for those of you who thought that Phil was just a genius denim professor; you are wrong. Today I received an email from him in which he introduced me to his latest project: Phil Ijin's 1972 custom 500. In his email he wrote to me, Phil said: "I know you at Tenue de Nîmes love the odd shot of a muscle car parked outside the store, but this is the only set of wheels to be seen driving where I live (Italy, ed.). And it is much easier to park. Bought as a demolition wreck, I completely refitted every part, turned it inside and out and specified a modified bi-color livery. Check the blue piped seats (juts visible) and the rare white sun roof and long 'eyelids' on the headlights.
Well, after all, she is the 'other' Italian woman in my life."
I guess I see what the magic is when we talk about Italian women Phil: They are classic, colorful, full of temp and a little small. Right?

Naked & Famous Stage II

2010-09-15T16:30:00.010+02:00

In Spring Rene, Joachim and I started a contest to create the perfect Naked and Famous wear out after seeing Brandon's 'Skinny Guy Broken Twill' after one year of wear. We simply thought we could do a better job. After 3 months of intense wear it felt the right moment to give you the first impression of what happened with the jeans. Joachim will share his interim score at AS soon.
The out seam shows a lovely light blue wear because it is always the part that scratches the stuff you touch wit the upper leg.

Amsterdam is the city of bikes and the crotch reveal some nice damage made by my leather Brooks saddle.

The one thing you don't want in your backpocket when you jump on your bike is scissors. Have a look at the repair on the right back pocket. Luckily our master tailor Mehmet repaired it with another remarkably gentle touch.

Rugged

2010-09-13T21:18:00.003+02:00

Red Wing Shoes provided us another (updated) autumn favorite. Have a look at this great 8" inch Moc with a suede upper which is a variation on the famous 877 style. The shoe comes with a special leather 'boot lace' which gives it an extra rugged appearance. The Hawthorne Muleskinner ages very nicely, it will get a bit more rough and dark toned over the years. The Euro traction-tred out sole provides you with the comfort and grip you can expect from a pair of US made Red Wing boots. More RW news soon.

Soaking

2010-09-11T14:43:00.004+02:00

We had some serious doubts whether we should publish this image or not. But we finally decided we just could not keep this to ourselves any longer. The bath you are looking at belongs to our friend Bas. The water in the bath was like this after he soaked his Atelier Laduracnce Prescott Sterling for the first time after one year of wearing. I guess the result leaves very little to say......

Momotaro Vintage label - 9 months

2010-09-09T16:00:00.008+02:00

A client of ours by the name of Dagomar is one of the most fanatical denim enthusiasts we have in our clientele. Ten months ago he bought a Momotaro Vintage label, slim fit straight at Tenue de Nîmes. After one soak and his first wash (after 8 months) the pair did not shrink at all, so he decided to trim and chain-stitch them. We were so amazed by the reult of his wear out that we simply wanted to share his adventure with you.

Have a look at this lovely pair that Dagomar recently washed on 40ºC without using any soap. His comment was that he washed it warm because it seems to emphasize the color differences better. It creates a more intense contrast so to say, without having the soap damaging the deep indigo tones and make it 'flat'.

After washing (without centrifuging) he decided to wear his pair immediately while being wet. The jeans basically dried while he wore them during the day. All you denim fetishists will know this, but for those of you who never did something like this: this process will get your body shape into the garment extremely well. Especially when it is done with salted (sea) water.

The coin pocket is always our favorite part of the wear out. Especially when the owner of the jeans uses it for change.

The part where the turn-up touches the leg you will always get these strange holes. This is just because the seam is way stronger than the denim on the leg itself. Compare it to the crotch: It will always break, no matter what kind of tough denim you will wear. The (double) seamed parts are just to strong for the denim that touches it. But hey, any repair will add value to your favorite pair won't it?

Band of Outsiders x Sperry

2010-09-08T18:12:00.005+02:00

We have temporarily replaced our summer Top-Siders by Sperry for a more autumn-orientated kind of product. Have a look at these chukka's by Band of Outsiders for Sperry. Only a limited run of these shoes have entered the market this season and we had the pleasure to show you the first glimpse of our two favorites.

The first style is made from a classic, duo color ripcord fabric with a subtle white and blue lining.

The second style we selected is made from a army green Gore-tex kind of fabric that we believe is the ultimate metaphor for the rainy Autumn that is about to hit Amsterdam. More Sperry Top-Sider news soon.

This is a pair of Levi's Jeans

2010-09-06T21:29:00.008+02:00

We have been reporting about the latest addition to any collector's bookshelf: Jeans of The Old West: A History by Allen Harris last week. Next to that we published about some of the classics in jeans literature over the last couple of months. In addition to these posts I would like to take this opportunity to shine a light on one of my favorite denim-classics that is probably pretty unknown for a lot you: "This is a Pair of Levi's". The book was written by Jill Novack Lynch, Cathleen McDonough and the female denim icon Lynn Downey; the American archivist and historian who has been associated with the Levi's archives for decades. The book is described as "The official history of the Levi's brand" and it contains lovely classic Levi's adds, the brand's history and of course a lot of great Levi's denim classics. Not only because of its size, but merely because of its powerful content this book should be in any of your private collections. Have a look at the preview below and buy one of the last copies available online.

Traveler's Notebook

2010-09-04T21:44:00.006+02:00

After the first few months of practicing with our Japanese Traveler's Notebooks by Midori, we found out that we did not even use half of the possibilities that these books feature. This is why we decided to take some pictures from Brigitta's notebook - one of the lovely ladies that sold us the books. Looking at here selection of accessories, Midori seems to provide the solution for all my structure issues. Notes, business cards, receipts and even a pen will be in one place as from now on. Have a look here for a Traveler's Notebook video in case you never got your hands on one before.

Horn

2010-09-02T18:57:00.006+02:00

Finding the right pair of (sun)glasses is a process that takes time. Compare it to the perfect last of your favorite pair of leather shoes. You simply wish they never change it. At our Grenson factory visit the guys showed us molds that have been used for more than a century. After receiving an email of our friend Jonathan with this wonderful 40's industrial factory mold, I thought back to our trip to the lovely shoe factory in Northamptonshire.

According to the seller, this steel mold was used to fabricate 'horn' glasses. It has the original foundry numbers on the sides and the object seems really heavy - a nice accessory to control those piles of paper on your desk. I can't help to wonder what the glasses were like that have been produced on this collectors piece for decades. Wouldn't it be great to own an original B&L version? I guess it would. Thanks Jonathan for sharing.

Calabrese

2010-08-31T22:33:00.004+02:00

Although I like to carry around my stuff in a simple TdN canvas tote bag, I have to admit a proper accessories can make me very happy. One of my favorites at this moment is the Calabrese weekender with the subtle blue and white stripes and cognac leather details. This is the gear you need during a proper autumn city trip. This lovely piece of Italian craftsmanship is available now at Red Wing Shoes Amsterdam.

Menno Lumber Co.

2010-08-30T10:21:00.010+02:00

Joachim will soon be crowned as the official online King of vintage in The Netherlands. After finishing the Red Wing Shoes store with us in Amsterdam, he kept on searching the net for various (vintage) collectible objects. He came to the store with money bags, lamps, tools, shoe care products, bird cages and other unusual artifacts that somehow seemed to be connected to stuff we do. Joachim ignores our lack of space with such enthusiasm that we welcome around 10 new finds every day - this makes 3650 a year, but anyway. Last week he mailed me what my day of birth was because he found me a present. Because he refused to wait until October he came to Tenue de Nîmes and gave me a small box with this present in it.
The package contained of a an amazing vintage 1940s work apron, made of natural cotton canvas with black graphics of a cartoon man with Menno (my name) Lumber Co. as company logo. Where he finds this kind of stuff? I haven't got a clue. But I know one thing: this guy needs to get in rehab, because otherwise we have the most incredible vintage store of the Netherlands before we know it. More of Joachim's finds at Anothersomething.

Journal de Nîmes Nº5 in Stockholm

2010-08-26T17:36:00.018+02:00

With great pride we hereby announce that after Amsterdam and Paris our Journal de Nîmes is officially 'sold' in several great stores in Stockholm, Sweden. This on behalf our columnist Erik from Repeat to Fade. He managed to get our Journal in some of Stockholm's finest stores like: C Store, Nudie Jeans, Mr Mudd & Mr Gold, Sivletto Ab and Tokyostop. After looking at the images we thought Rene emigrated to Sweden for a moment (bottom right), but it turned out to be a brother from a different mother. We hope to share more happy news with you about the coming Journal de Nîmes soon. Nº6 will become a special print since it will be our official 2 year anniversary issue. Stay tuned.

Kate Moss by Mario Testino

2010-08-25T13:49:00.006+02:00

We received a unique book yesterday thanks to our friends at Mendo - Amsterdam's finest store for exclusive books. Mendo managed to get their hands on 15 of the 1500 Kate Moss books by Mario Testino. They ran out of copies before they even had the chance to put the books on display in their store, but we found out that Taschen left a few copies online. If you are desperate to get one as well, take your best shot here. If you are in Madrid somewhere this winter, make sure you visit Testino's show, Todo o Nada, at Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza.

Winter

2010-08-24T10:24:00.005+02:00

Swedish fashion brand Velour released a video that provides a 'behind-the-scenes' view on the brand's collection for this Autumn-Winter. Enjoy the video below. Thank you Selectism for sharing.

Or Glory

2010-08-23T10:05:00.002+02:00

In September another great book will be released: Or Glory: 21st century, by German photographer Horst A. Friedrichs. Friedrichs managed to create a fantastic portrait of the worlds most important denim advocates: Rockers. Their style is pure rebellion and the photographer managed to immortalize that global cult in this book. More info and images at Southsiders. Or Glory: 21st century is available soon at Tenue de Nîmes and Anothershop.

Denim Book

2010-08-20T12:09:00.007+02:00

Finally! There is something new to share with you guys in terms of denim literature. We have been discussing the lack of proper denim books lately. Everything would have been said and some disappointing books came a long for crazy prices. But since this July there is another superb denim title that needs to be added to all our book shelves: 'Jeans Of The Old West: A History 'by Michael Allen Harris . The book gives a special insight in the world of the jeans as a functional workman's overall in the 1800's. Where denim literature is focused on the period after Levi Strauss came into the game, Harris provides a spectacular look on the Old-West denim icluding brands like Greenbaum Brothers, Neustadter Brothers and S.R. Krouse. The first drop of twenty (hard-cover) books will arrive shortly. Reservations are welcome.

Free & Easy

2010-08-19T12:17:00.009+02:00

It has been a wild ride over the past couple of months. New projects, new impressions, new playgrounds - all extraordinary, but energy absorbing. Therefore one has to get away from all of that every once in a while. Sometimes chaos makes you want to disappear into the great outdoors. The forest for instance, is a place where all worries seem to disappear. Therefor the new Free & Easy came as an unexpected source of inspiration this month. The new issue is full of wooden cabins, country houses and legendary wooden interiors (Japan style of course). Forget the city people - what we really need is to be outdoor!

Red Wing

2010-08-18T12:45:00.007+02:00

Red Wing released some amazing new colors in their iconic 6" Moc. Red Wing Amsterdam was the first to show them to the public. We thought it would be nice to share our two favorites here: The 6" Moc 'Maize Mustang' (above) with a highly unusual yellow-like non-oiled leather. And the 6" Moc 'Sage Mohave' made from a lovely, gray 'reverse suede' which is water and dirt resistant. More RW news at Dyedinred.

Outdoor

2010-08-17T11:18:00.008+02:00

Edwin goes back to the sixties and its colorful 'freedom' spirit. This tailored and luxury lined check shirt is what the Edwin brand is all about: clever details for the educated individual.

Inscription

2010-08-16T12:50:00.006+02:00

The beauty of vintage watches is that each timepiece tells a unique story. By the way the watch aged you can tell if the previous owner treated it well, what kind of job he or she may have had and if they were really in love with it. Sometimes you will face very personal details like the inscription on the back of the vintage Omega watch above. With such inscriptions, wearing a vintage piece can almost feel like cheating. That feeling is often the result of being unable to determine for what occasion the watch was presented to somebody. On top of that you can only take a guess at why somebody would let go of their personal treasure.
The vintage Omega watch as shown above was for sale on Ebay and caught my eye because of the beautiful calligraphy that was used to immortalize the former owner 40 years ago.

Moma

2010-08-15T11:06:00.005+02:00

The new Fall-Winter collection by Italian brand Moma is a way to show the brand's passion for freedom and creativity - far away from stereotypes. This 'Born to be on the road' collection is known for its earthy colors and treated, washed and stained leathers. We are so happy to determine that black is finally king again. The great thing about these shoes is that they are far away from 'perfect': Moma shoes are classy and tough at the same time.

Nigel Cabourn - Camera Man Jacket

2010-08-13T15:05:00.006+02:00

Our favorite designers are delivering their Autumn-Winter collections at the moment. Nigel Cabourn provided us this weeks climax yesterday by sending us the legendary Cameraman Jacket. The coat is known for its characteristic clips and button combination which made it ideal for mountain climbing.(Who wants to take of his gloves during a -30ºC expedition?). The lightweight mackintosh upper, combined with the original Harris Tweed bottom make this jacket a true icon with insulating and practical qualities. No wonder this Cabourn piece became a collectible style for numerous NC fans around the globe.

Le Labo

2010-08-12T16:14:00.003+02:00

We have been searching for a way to express our happiness that we officially stock Vintage Le Labo candles (with Tenue de Nîmes label) as from today. But instead we found this quote that we could never match:

"When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a candle from le Labo. Than later I realized that God doesn't work that way, so I stole one and prayed for forgiveness." Banksy ( by Le Labo).

Weekly favorites

2010-08-12T08:48:00.003+02:00

The start of the autumn-winter season is a fact and believe it or not, we got our heads up in cold weather again already. Have a look at this lovely combination of a natural white selvage denim shirt and this reversible vest both by Japanese brand Spellbound. The army tie by our friends at The Hill-Side provides the final touch. We are ready for winter people - what about you?