Masters and Their Crafts >> Richard Avedon

"Fashion is one of the richest expressions of human desires, ambitions, needs, frailty, insecurity, security.  What we wear is an indication of our sense of ourselves."

I particularly love his portraits:

Tennessee Williams, New York, 1969

Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Waldorf Astoria, Suite 28a, 1957

Beckett, Paris, 1979

Brando, New York, 1951

Duchamp, New York, 1958

Cole Porter, New York, 1950

Dylan, New York, 1965

Drink About It >> Project7 Coffee: "Brew for a Better World"

Brew for a Better World from Project 7 on Vimeo.

"How can a cup of coffee change the world?"  For each cup of coffee you buy from Project7, you contribute to one of seven causes.  Just by buying what you already buy, from a different company, you can make a difference.  Check out the video, it's awesomely done.

LOVE this concept.  In fact, we're in the process of working on something like this ourselves, but I can't give anything away yet... pretty exciting!

 

Masters and Their Crafts >> Tartine

Tartine is one of my absolute favorite bakeries and a must every time I'm in San Francisco.  I actually am a little bit worried about what might happen once I move up there... I fear it could be habit-forming.  

Their bread is incredible, as are their sandwiches, desserts... pretty much everything.  It's a bakery, cafe, and even wine bar, and I love the vibe that comes from people opening up a bottle of white at lunch on a Saturday.  With the line almost always out the door, there's always a ton of energy, great people watching, and a cool European cafe-meets-San-Francisco,-specifically-the-Mission,-vibe.

Check out this video to see the owner and head baker, Chad Robertson, in his element.  Although I'll warn you, this is dangerous to watch if you're hungry.

[Tartine]

[Tartine cookbook]

[Kitsune Noir]

Dying for a Trip to Nashville >> Imogene + Willie

Four great things: the classic gospel song "Wade in the Water," the voice of Patty Griffin, a cool video, and a Southern selvage denim company.  This video was made by John Moessner for Imogene + Willie Jeans.

Imogene + Willie is a denim (and more) store housed in a cool old gas station in Nashville and i run by Matt and Carrie Eddmenson, a couple with experience at other industry standbys like RRL and Levi's.  But not only is it a store selling new and vintage denim, they actually make their in-house brand of selvage jeans on the premisis and they'll customize your pair for you the same day you buy them.

In love with their building... I'd like to move in please.

(Still) Made By Hand >> Mr. Sign's Signs in Montreal

Window-shopping is getting even more appealing in Montreal these days Dave Arnold, or "Mr. Sign," is bringing back the art of hand-painted window signs.  Apparently, his work is catching on like wild-fire and store owners are eagerly seeking him out. 

Isn't that cool??  A resurgence of hand-made anything is pretty exciting.  If you missed the post with the video about the dying art of hand-painted billboards in New York, check it out back here.  It's a pretty touching homage.

[Dave Arnold/Mr. Sign]
[Poppytalk]

Provenance You Can Believe In >> Latest and Greatest >> Apolis Activism's Market Bag

 

Along with your cycling pullover and Kanvas by Katin trunks, you might want to look into picking up Apolis Activism's latest product-- the Market Bag-- which is made in conjunction with Saidpur Enterprises in Bangladesh.  

Here's what they say about it on their website:

Saidpur, Bangladesh. Bangladesh was established after the war for independence in 1971. With independence came famines, natural disasters and widespread poverty. The non–profit Saidpur Enterprises started manufacturing Market Bags to help rebuild the economy and create opportunity for the whole supply chain — farmer to manufacturer. 

Mohammad Ghayasuddin, General Manager, Saidpur Enterprises. “The Apolis Market Bag is providing Bangladesh women jobs by connecting social advocacy to industry.”

 I'm hoping for a cool video accompanying this product as well! (See past cool videos here and here.)

Also, just found out from Robin Long that the Parton brothers behind Apolis Activism are from Santa Barbara!  How did I not know that before??  And does someone want to kindly introduce me??

Market Bag available here.

Provenance You Can Believe In >> Apolis Activism + Kanvas by Katin

Apolis Activism's latest project:

Bringing classic board short company (originally boat-cover-makers) Kanvas by Katin up to date with a men's chambray trunk.  As usual, it's all about the quality.  Love it.

Apolis Activism: Katin USA from Dave Christenson on Vimeo.

And, as usual, great video with a great story!

Also, I didn't realize these guys could surf!

Love them!  Available here.

Mast Brothers Chocolate

The Mast Brothers (who are actually brothers) do everything for their "American Craft Chocolate," from bean to packaging, at their Brooklyn "factory"-- a model not often seen in the chocolate industry.  And, there is no sugar or cocoa butter added-- the chocolate is purely what comes directly from the beans they grind and melt.

As such, their product has a great story, and I also happen to love their packaging and the look of their storefront/factory!

I love the combo of the beautifullly patterned and retro looking papers with the incredibly simple logo and modern font.  And it's awesome that their logo is a mast that also sort of looks like a crown, and the hand-drawn quality lends a homemade feel to the product and keeps it from looking like they take themselves too seriously.

Click through for more photos and a behind-the-scenes video at their Brooklyn storefront/factory...

(Still) Made Here >> Grafica Fidalga

The sheer existence of a company like this, still doing things the same way they've been doing it for years, and doing it because they love it, makes me feel a little bit better about the world.  Oh, and the video is really well done.

"Grafica Fidalga, a printing press in São Paulo, Brazil, makes posters on a 1929 German letterpress using hand-carved wooden letters."

via Uppercase

(Still) Made Here

 

GREAT article here on the trend of consumers wanting to know the source of their products and food, as well as the story of the company.  

As we all know, buying local and handmade is very important to the eco movement, but this article, which is by a trend-watching firm, also discusses the added status that luxury goods companies can attain by making it known through their marketing that they use traditional methods and eschew outsourced production.  So true and very interesting.

  

See previous posts on this topic by clicking the "provenance you can believe in" tag directly below this post.

Provenance You Can Believe In >> The L.L. Bean Bag

Love these behind-the-scenes, see-how-it's-made videos...

I think we as consumers are definitely going to keep moving in the direction of wanting to know the story behind the product and where it came from, and even paying more for something just because of the story, whether bags or food.

Here's a quick one on the classic L.L. Bean "Boat and Tote" Bag.

Provenance You Can Believe In >> Izzy Lane Wool

I've mentioned before that I love the trend going on towards consuming locally-grown foods, companies supporting local economies, etc., and here's a company that takes these philosophies very seriously:

 

Izzy Lane in Britain saves sheep that are destined for the slaughterhouse for being lame, missing a pregnancy, or being male, and puts them to use for their wool instead.  Then, the cloth is woven in a nearby ancient mill by neighboring craftsmen.  Does that make you love it or what?

  

Unfortunately, their methods of production are more endearing than their designs, and the sweater above was really the only piece I really liked!  Maybe they need to collaborate with someone else, like Apolis Activism does, to get a good designer in there.  They've already got all other pieces in place!  Still, thought the company was worth sharing...

the milk man + the ice cream truck = something more than the sum of its parts

MilkMade, in Manhattan, has combined the concepts of the milk man and the ice cream truck, along with a lot of other great ideas, and is delivering their dessert delights to doorsteps in select neighborhoods in Manhattan.

MilkMade is a membership-based service, and members receive one flavor a month.

 

 Using ingredients from the local farmers' markets, MilkMade creates unique flavors, like Maple Pancake, Peanut Butter and Brown Sugar, and Chocolate Five Spice.  Each of the flavors is only made once, so each month is something new.

  

  

And of course I love the packaging with its simple brown craft paper and handwritten label.

MilkMade was started by this cute lady in her kitchen.

  

After finishing the first batch, she wrapped each one in twine (the icing on the packaging cake) and loaded them up in her cooler.

And then set out to deliver them to the first 50 members!

I'm rooting for this girl.  Mostly because I hope someday it will be a nationwide service so we can get some ice cream love out here in Cali. 

Images are stills taken from this video on Food, Curated.

Provenance You Can Believe In >> S.N.S. Herning

Oh how I love a brand with a good story.  Who doesn't, really?  Knowing the provenance of a brand makes all the difference in how you feel about a product, and I think it's actually a brilliant marketing tool. 

With the return to traditional techniques, local materials, handmade, etc., I think people want to believe in what they're buying and are turning away from enormous faceless corporations mass-producing things in who-knows-where.

S.N.S. Herning definitely fits the bill...

According to online boutique Gargyle...
 "S. N. S. Herning was founded by Soren Nielsen Skyt. As a young man he made his living selling knitted garments to the fisherman of Denmark. In the 1920’s he started to explore new knitting techniques that would make his sweaters warmer. He knew that the fisherman of the Danish West Coast were in need of woolen sweaters to help them bear the rough weather at sea.  In 1931 he succeeded in making a sweater that would serve this purpose, today renowned as the Fisherman’s Sweater.

To this day, S. N. S. Herning knits are crafted in the same old manner, using the original machines, in the original factory. Production is very limited, and as a nod to this fact, every item is signed in hand by the artisan who makes it."

 A cross-section of a machine with codes referring to each part in case they need to replace something.  On the website it says, "If we needed, say, a new handle, we would have to ask STOLL in Reutlingen for spare part No. 577.  The knitters use the handle when the machine needs to be started up manually after a halt."

However, may I submit again that the menswear industry is doing a much better job of this than womenswear?  I feel like all the cool brands that are promoting their use of the traditional methods, local materials, etc. are all for men!  Why aren't womenswear brands onto this trend yet?

Maybe it's because menswear has a pretty limited range of actual articles and styles, and so they are more focused on craftsmanship as a means of differentiating themselves?

But still, women do wear button down shirts, sweaters, etc., so I think there is definitely room in the market for a womenswear company that does all these staples well like some of the menswear brands out there... until then, I'm tempted to just wear some of these ones for men.



See also: Apolis Activism and Stanley & Sons for more brands with great stories here , and Madewell for menswear vs womenswear debate here.

S&S Herning website.