THE BANDANA AIN'T JUST FOR COWBOYS

The bandana makes it's way from a useful accessoire into fashion.

 It started with the guys who wanted to look rugged and outdoorsy, but that's history.

 You separate the man from the boys with a bandana combined with every outfit, whether it's a rugged denim our a dressual outfit. 

THE HILL-SIDE LOOKBOOK FW 2015

The Hill-Side is a collection of ties, scarves and handkerchiefs created by brothers Emil and Sandy Corsillo of Brooklyn, New York. The collection is handcrafted in the U.S. from heavy-duty fabrics such as canvas, selvedge denim and chambray most of which is sourced from Japan.

The Hill-Side just released the latest lookbook featuring their F/W 15 collection and an announcement of a new sub-brand, The Hill-Side Mills, that produces domestically grown and woven custom textiles all done on shuttle looms in Pennsylvania.

MIKIA BANDANA BRACELET

Mikia Bandana bracelets.

 Mikia is a Japanese jewelry line designed, by Aki Mitsubayashi. Using natural stones, African trade beads and other unique materials Mikia creates distinct pieces that complement any style.

As bandana is from the Hindi word बन्धन bandhana which means "to tie" these bracelets make even more sense to me. 

DO YOU KNOW A MAN CALLED BOJANGLES?

Roy van Creij is the creative brain behind the brand Monsieur Bojangles. He started a year or so ago with handmade bracelets and is planning to add some more goodies to his brand.

Every sailor bracelet is handcrafted with love and care in the Netherlands. Made from high quality American made type III commercial grade 550 paracord. And finished with an engraved stainless steel D-shackle. 

Paracord was originally used in the suspension lines of U.S. parachutes during World War II. Today it is still part of the U.S. army standard equipment. And it is also used for many practical applications such as outdoor building shelter, fishing line, shoelace, dental floss, fall or as a splint for a broken ankle and various other improvised solutions.

Each Monsieur Bojangles bracelet comes with a custom designed recyclable matchbox inspired package. Don't wait till next Christmas, start shopping already here on etsy.

A SUMMER HAT-TRICK - THE PANAMA HAT

Spotted on the International Fairs this summer, the Panama hat is back!

A Panama hat (toquilla straw hat) is a traditional brimmed straw hat of Ecuadorian origin. Traditionally, hats were made from the plaited leaves of the Carludovica palmata plant, known locally as the toquilla palm or jipijapa palm.

Panama hats are light-colored, lightweight, and breathable, and often worn as accessories to summer-weight suits, such as those made of linen or silk. Beginning around the turn of the 20th century, panamas began to be associated with the seaside and tropical locales.

Straw hats woven in Ecuador, like many other 19th and early 20th century South American goods, were shipped first to the Isthmus of Panama before sailing for their destinations in Asia, the rest of the Americas and Europe, subsequently acquiring a name that reflected their point of international sale, "Panama hats", rather than their place of origin.

The popularity of the hats was increased in the mid-nineteenth century by the miners of the California Gold Rush, who frequently traveled to California via the Isthmus of Panama. In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt of the United States visited the construction site of the Panama Canal, and was photographed wearing a Panama hat, which further increased the hats' popularity. The hats were later worn by many early-twentieth century film stars during films. (text via Wikipedia)

CHAD'S STORE VISIT - JACK SPADE, LONDON

Thursday March 29, 2012 the doors opened of the first Jack Spade Store in Europe, based @ Brewster Street, next to Stone Island and the Woolrich Store. Jack Spade launched their collection in an environment just like their stores in New York & Chicago. The collection is presented between props like old calculators, gnomes and salt & pepper sets like hamburgers. The first Jack Spade bag was sold to a hardware store in 1997. In 1999, Jack Spade opened the first store at 56 Greene Street, New York. The concept was travel bags, trench coats and general merchandise. It was modern haberdashery mixing found furniture, model rockets, vintage Playboy magazines and classic products: Levi's 501 jeans, Timex military watches, Lacoste tennis shirts and Mackintosh raincoats. Over time, Jack Spade took their reputation for well-made, functional and stylish products and applied it to clothing. Thanks to the Jack Spade team for letting me taking these pictures!