Streetwear Week: Backpack

When on the street a few items are an absolute essential: Cap, trainers and the one which I am talking about tonight, backpacks. When making small trips, most people need a few things when on the move, possibly a change of clothes for an overnight stay somewhere or to carry bulky sound equipment like MIDI controllers, large headphones and possibly an iPad  (I apologise for being an Apple fanboy but that is besides the point.) Also for sheer convenience nothing can beat the ease of having your own backpack for food and drink.

I personally think that backpacks are really important for day-to-day living, especially as a student. Carrying laptops and notes can be extremely difficult if done by hand so having a backpack just takes the edge off. One thing I refuse to say are the backpacks you should all be wearing is an Eastpak or a Jansport because I'm sure you are all well aware of these bags and are don't particularly feel as if these particular rucksacks are anything to scream about. I have previously wrote about Fjällräven rucksacks which I think due to their variety of colours and well structured design are the much more savvy option, also Herschel bags seem to be popular due to their distinctive look and good reputation for accessories.

Marni Leather-trimmed Plaid Flannel Backpack, £720

Marni have launched two very interesting and fashionable backpacks which are available in a full leather version as well as leather-trimmed flannel version. The flannel version is extremely easy on the eye and is much larger than the ordinary backpacks making it both more attractive and more convenient for the wearer. Marni have a very strong reputation as a clothing label and had a great rise in popularity due to their range for H&M. The bag is an essential and although the price may not be seen as particularly street friendly you will certainly stand out from your Eastpak wearing chums.

A more wallet friendly option is Sandqvist, with a wide selection of rucksacks they put your current high street bags to shame. Extremely complex in their appearance the wearer gains an immediate respect as someone who is prepared for anything. My favourite Sandqvist from their current range (as I couldn't possibly choose my favourite in general) is the Lars-Goran hiking backpack in mulit-colour (pictured right) due to its interesting colour choices and how fun the bag looks. The backpack almost brings a smile to my face just looking at it as it looks so joyful in appearance and I'm sure that the wearer would have pretty exciting contents within it.

Sandqvist Lars-Goran Hiking Backpack, £150

Marni accessories are available at:

http://www.mrporter.com/

Sandqvist is available at:

http://www.weaversdoor.com/
http://www.asos.com/

Streetwear Week: A.P.C x Carhartt

Now I wouldn't hide the fact I have a thing for French fashion houses however A.P.C's collaboration with streetwear brand Carhartt is one to keep an eye out for. Carhartt has collaborated with dozens of brilliant designers over the years (Adam Kimmel being one of the most popular) however this stands out as being one of the finest yet. Their A/W range is somewhat admirable in its design and clear contributions from both designers can be made.

Detroit Revisited Jacket, €250

Knitted beanies and colourful cotton shirts make an appearance in the collection and are relatively plain in their design. I think this is where we see A.P.C come into play by toning down the usual designs of Carhartt and potentially giving each item more wearability. The two stand-out items are the 'Down Vest' in beige which has such a Canadian/lumberjack sort of look to it and due to the feather down lining is would keep the wearer extremely warm this winter. The other item is the 'Detroit Revisited Jacket' which with the sheepskin collar is exactly what high end fashion magazines are talking about. It is really simple in design however the shape of the jacket is covetous and extremely elegant.

This is a partnership which has only been going for a couple of years however each collection is going from strength to strength, workwear and streetwear have never looked so good and hopefully will only get better as the years go on.

Streetwear Week: HUF Plantlife

HUF is a well-known streetwear brand which was launched in 2002 and has been at the forefront of skating and streetwear ever since. HUF is fairly similar to most other skating-inspired brands with the usual five-panel caps, beanies, hooded sweatshirts and bold logo designs however there is a key item in HUF’s clothing arsenal. Plantlife socks have seen high commercial success and can be seen being worn by many on the streets and being endorsed by almost every Tumblr account online.

Plantlife is a simple concept of bold coloured socks depicting multiple marijuana leaves as the key design element. GQ Magazine noted earlier this year that colourful socks were a real this year and said the following: 

"swap out the sober socks you wore through winter for pairs with go-to-hell colours and busy patterns."

HUF capitalised on this market by coming up with the boldest designs imaginable and reaped the benefits. Hopefully this style will remain in fashion for many seasons to come. Personally I am really keen on this particular design as it gives any outfit an edge which could not be achieved by a pair of plain black cottons. Plantlife socks are now available in a multitude of various colours and some are also themed towards a particular festive season.

HUF Clothing is available at:

http://store.hufworldwide.com/

http://www.lostartshop.co.uk/

http://www.size.co.uk/

Streetwear Week: Gosha Rubchinskiy

Gosha Rubchinskiy is quickly emerging as one of the best Russian streetwear designers to date. Gosha's passion for creativity has led him to having his clothes featured in Dazed Magazine and has been praised by Rei Kawakubo, founder of Comme des Garçons.

Gosha Rubchinskiy and friends

Gosha's designs are not one you would typically expect. Drawing inspiration from surrounding subcultures and the streets of Moscow as well as his own personal interests in skateboarding and black metal. Gosha's first professional collection is one to be proud of with a number of designs and interesting colour choices which are guaranteed to catch the eye of everybody in the room (for somebody with an interest in black metal fluorescent pink and yellow hooded sweatshirts hardly spring to mind.) It's exclusivity is also to be admired with the only known retailer to be Dover Street Market in London. This just makes me want Gosha's designs even more because they are so hard to get a hold of, with limited numbers in each design it makes every piece extremely desirable.

Gosha Wool Sweater (Black), £195

One  of the main reasons I am yet to purchase anything is the prices. It is seen as premium streetwear and the prices show for it. With some of the knits retailing at around £200, it could hardly be classed as obtainable. Who on the street has £200 to spend on  poloneck jumpers? John Smedley who have been hand making  knitwear for over 200 years have made roll necks from the finest fabrics in the world however they retail for under £130. So how exactly can they justify this price. Well I believe it is merely down to exclusivity. People will pay large sums of money to be seen as different or ahead of the crowd and Gosha and Dover Street Market are taking advantage of this.

Gosha Rubchinskiy has strong designs and a story which is admirable and also interesting. There is no arguing that Gosha himself is street, his influences are certainly street however I'm not sure if a £195 sweater by a fairly unknown designer can really be classed as streetwear.

Gosha Rubchinskiy is available at:

https://shop.doverstreetmarket.com/

To see the Dazed interviews with Gosha Rubchinskiy click the following link:

http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/
http://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/

Streetwear Week: Stussy

Due to the fact I haven't posted anything for nearly two months now I have decided to do a post everyday this week in order to compensate. This week will be all about streetwear including: brands, influential figures and the odd key item which has caught my eye within streetwear.

Now when you think of streetwear one brand is the figurehead for all brands out their today and is what inspired nearly every current designer. The brand I'm talking about is Stussy. Established in 1980 by Shawn Stussy it is often credited as starting the streetwear phenomenon. With stores in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, London and Paris it has established itself as a force to be reckoned with by not only streetwear labels but also high-end contemporary designers.

Bedwin Rick 3B Jacket, $622

There are two key elements which make for a successful streetwear brand: exclusivity and justifiable price points. Stussy is among the most popular of streetwear brands due to its exclusivity doing frequent collaborations with other designers both large and small. my personal favourite collaboration is the recent "Stussy x Bedwin" in a way it defeats the whole purpose of streetwear being premium in price (however they do include extremely affordable tee's as part of this collection) and offering little to its usual audience but it proves that Stussy is a brand which takes itself seriously and is looking to diversify its market yet also keep true to its street roots.

Price points are important not just in streetwear but in fashion as a whole, you need to be able to justify the price on the label by having a good product. Stussy is maintaining a strong brand by keeping low affordable prices but having a strong product on the hanger means they a high satisfaction and a constant flow flow of custom.

Stussy started the streetwear look and has maintained at the very top for over 30 years. It is evident that when Shawn Stussy started the brand it was not just a way to earn a bit of extra cash, it was a business and reaching the top was all that was on his mind.

The Kooples

It would only be a matter of time before I gave the Parisian brand a mention. Due to its ever increasing notoriety and popularity amongst young fashionable people across the globe it was only a matter of time before I brought it to the attention of the few which aren't yet up to speed with the well-received French fashion house.

Being a large fan of The Kooples, I have watched it evolve from having a relatively niche market, based as concession stalls within large department stores, to having more than a dozen boutiques throughout the UK. With it constantly looking to expand, it is no surprise that The Kooples is one of the most promising brands in fashion today.

Long-sleeved roll-neck pullover, £185

The Kooples name originated from the french pronunciation of 'couples' which is an underlying theme present within the marketing and advertising of The Kooples. Using real life couples to model the clothes gives a fun, and real, feel to the brand. It also gives a sensuous impression: the clothing is quite sexy as well as being fashionable without having to be suggestive and revealing. This is also amplified by the use of the skull 'n' crossbones theme throughout which gives the wearer a quirky and rock 'n' roll edge which many other brands couldn't.The brand has also received celebrity support from a collaboration with English rockstar Pete Doherty and Eric Cantona (along with his wife Rachida Brakni) modelling for The Kooples sportswear.

This Autumn sees the release of The Kooples new AW12 range. The brand has always cited Mod culture as an influence in the design and manufacturing of the clothing however it has never been so apparent with Saville Row tailoring and target t-shirts making an appearance in this year's collection. A stand-out item for me in this collection is the long sleeved round-neck pullover which is both subtle as well as up to date with current fashion trends because of the range of stitching and colours to choose from.

The Kooples is no doubt one of the fastest rising fashion houses in the world today and its popularity doesn't go unwarranted, visit The Kooples online today at:

http://www.thekooples.co.uk/

Marshall Artist

Marshall Artist was established in 2001 with a simple yet effective goal in mind: to produce high quality British menswear. It's this basic outlook that helps the brand stand out from its competitors. Living by the philosophy that the fabrics must be of a high quality and be extremely well cut leads to not only practical and hard-wearing garments but an excellent and well fitted look.

Marshall Artist really bridges the gap between modern tailoring and practical menswear with some of the most well constructed clothing currently on the market. Owning a few pieces myself I can't help but be passionate towards this brand and if the showcase of their Autumn/Winter 2012 collection is anything to go by then I'm sure they have a bright future ahead of them.

Marshall Artist is available for purchase at:

http://www.flannelsfashion.com/

http://www.ranshop.co.uk/

Fjällräven

As any adolescent will tell you; when on the move- whether it's a trip to the park, a short weekend trip in London or a house party at some lad's house you don't know- one thing is an absolute must before leaving the house. A rucksack is important for everyday life and comes in handy with ferrying your necessities around when you are on the move.

Swedish Brand Fjällräven is popular amongst most young men and even women nowadays due it's simplicity and durability. Because of its ever increasing popularity it is quickly becoming one of the most iconic and fashionable accessories of 2012 and is destined to be used by fashion savvy youngsters across the globe.

I know that this blog seems to favour Scandinavian fashion houses but I believe there is a reason behind this; it is not simply down to my own ignorance for brands outside of Europe. The Scandinavians are bridging the gap between fashion and style, making fashionable items which are also practical and distinguished. Creating simple garments that won't age, due to the simple aesthetics, alongside a  natural slim fit  make for a successful clothing brand.

Like its other Scandinavian counter-parts Fjällräven is well constructed and stylish which makes it an obvious choice for the modern man. The clothing is great but the rucksacks are in a league of their own with a variety of bold colours and simple designs, make sure you don't leave the house without a Fjällräven.

Jungmaven: History of Hemp

Now I by no means condone the use of cannabis however if there is one thing I would like to do with it is make a t-shirt out of it. That is what the talented guys of Jungmaven have been doing since 2005 and they are quite the stylish tee. Jungmaven are known for making their tee's using a cotton and hemp blend and the results are fantastic with incredible durability and prints that put hipster tie dye tops to shame.

Jungmaven is trying to change the fashion industry by using eco-friendly materials and recycled fabrics and has launched campaigns trying to get every american (but that doesn't mean the rest of us can't take part) in hemp t-shirts by 2020 and with exciting prints and designs I don't see why it can't be done.

Hemp has been a material which some believe could change not only the fashion industry but also stop world hunger but not only that; hemp t-shirts are also cheaper than its cotton counterparts so save your pennies and save the world with Jungmaven tee's.

Get yours at:

http://www.oipolloi.com/shop/brand/jungmaven

Guide to Summer

There is one thing that is important to remember during summer in Britain: that the images that we have of a scorching hot sunny day drinking Pimm's topless never actually happen! Hot summers in Britain simply just don't exist. Last week saw both T in the Park and Wakestock festival launch an unofficial start to the UK festival season. They got lucky with the weather with temperatures reaching the high twenties, however lets not forget that one thing is an absolute necessity in any UK festival backpack.. a waterproof jacket. Here is a short guide on what I deem to be this years most stylish way to stay dry this summer:



K-Way Claude Jacket
Already being used by festival goers is the lightweight Claude jacket from K-way. Due to it's affordability and durability, the jacket  will be sure to turn heads as it also comes in a variety of colours. Being both affordable and stylish, the jacket is an excellent purchase for anyone looking to stay dry in the summer showers.







Norse Projects Elka Jacket

An absolute gem of a jacket! Made almost completely of PVC it is about as waterproof as a jacket gets.  Although limited in colour the jacket is brilliant due to its simplicity and effectiveness. It is a versatile jacket which is breathable during summer however will also warm enough to last you into the autumn and possibly even winter providing global warming hurries up.






Pretty Green Camo Festival Jacket
If standing out from the crowd just really isn't your thing and you are more prone to blending in then this jacket will help. Pretty Green do numerous festival jackets but this one (ironically) stands out as being the best of the lot, made from 100% nylon and being fully waterproof.  It is sure to keep your best festival t-shirt dry during the summer. Also it's called the festival jacket; it basically sells itself.

Knitted Tie

This weekend celebrates the comeback of Madchester band The Stone Roses and their highly anticipated gigs in Heaton Park. Possibly the most highly celebrated resurgence of 2012; however this is not the comeback I'm going to be talking about in this blog: after all this is a fashion guide. 2012 has also seen the revival of the classic knitted tie.

Band of Outsiders Striped Knitted Tie, £95

The knitted tie can be seen across all good retailers with many designers such as Ralph Lauren bringing back the classic look.  But why are people opting for a knitted tie rather than the typical solid counterpart? Well firstly its down to it's versatility. The knitted tie can be worn at almost any occasion, whether your pairing it with a crisp white shirt or a chambray for a more summery stylish look, it is a completely seasonless tie. Secondly, the knitted tie has a certain level of originality and stands out amongst the crowd and gives the wearer a distinct edge over his peers as being someone who knows how to look good. Finally they give the wearer the ability to wear plain block coloured ties without looking boring, the black silk knitted tie is the safe way to go knitted however I would recommend that if you want to go knitted don't be afraid to go bold especially when it comes to stripes: think thin horizontal stripes paired with a white shirt. A stylish look that every man should be wearing this year.

Norse Projects

If you haven't heard of this Danish brand already then you have some serious catching up to do, Norse Projects although only established in 2004 in the Danish capital of Copenhagen, it has quickly risen in notoriety and is now one of the largest requested brand names in heritage menswear.

Anton Oxford Shirt in Yellow

Popular amongst the fashion savvy male with an eye for quality garments the brand has a wide range of jackets, shirts and knitwear in such a fashion forward range of colours that will never go out of style and give a casual look that just oozes class and individualism. It also has a popular accessories range with bang on trend five panel caps which can be spotted on any streetwear blog or tumblr page. It's safe to say that the only way is up for the brand with popular collaborations with the likes of  Elka and Pro Keds being the most recent of the brands but also Adidas, Lavenham and New Balance have previously been associated with the Scandinavian powerhouse. Owning a few items myself I can safely say that the garments are made and engineered with quality materials which results in an excellent fit which means I will definitely be purchasing more items in the near future.

Saxpop 5 panel cap in Green

The Norse Projects stands by it's slogan as being "Created for life - Good for all seasons" as it is hard-wearing, made with quality fabrics and long-lasting however is also launching itself as a fashionable stylish brand with a lot casual and streetwear potential for the Danes.

Norse Projects is available online at:

http://www.norseprojects.com/store

http://www.weaversdoor.com/shop-by-brand-1/norse-projects.html

http://www.oipolloi.com/shop/brand/norse-projects