Our favorite Paris based creative collective Surface to Air has just released an eyewear line well worth the mention. Here are our some of our favorites from the line modeled on some local common-folk (when we say common folk we really mean damn beautiful Parisians). You can snag your own pair here at their online store!
The West is dead!
You may loose a sweetheart,
But you won’t forget her.
-Charles M. Russell
Our friends at Aloha Sunday in San Diego, turned us on to this daring duo of clothing designers, known in the apparel world as The West Is Dead. Will Cheng and Kaelen McCrane’s story begins in Northern Montana and has since then moved them to LA where they hand stitch every seam and make everything in their line right here in America. Their line breathes the history of the West and of the people who came before us; the Blackfeet Indians and the Montana ranchers and settlers (people the likes of Charlie Russell whose letter to a friend is the inspiration for the name of the brand). I refer to Will and Kaelen as daring designers because of their story, and the chance they took together coming south from Montana, spending all of their money and investing all of their time on their first line of clothing and then displaying it in an authentic way, staying true to the story of the west in every way they could.
The clothing is stunning. From the hand-stitched durable salvaged denim, to the chambray cotton chino, every material is used purposefully, and every detail adds a point of difference to the item. The women’s line is classic, feminine, and tasteful carrying everything from 100% custom California knit pocket tees, to left hand twill chinos.
My sister Nissa and I both come from Whitefish, Montana, a small town an hour west of Browning, which is where The West Is Dead established their first partnership with Chief Earl Old Person, the Chief of the Blackfeet Indian Nation and past president of the Intertribal Buffalo Council (ITBC), a cooperative of 57 American Indian nations and over 15,000 head of buffalo. Endorsed by the Wildlife Conservation Society, the ITBC is a non-profit organization established in 1990 to coordinate and assist American Indian tribes returning the buffalo to their native lands. We have spent time in Browning and have seen what the first nations people struggle with on a daily basis. They have been pushed from their land into reservations, and their lifeline which was and is the buffalo was taken from them. The fact that The West Is Dead supports the Indians reuniting with the buffalo is a cause we will support until the end of our days.
We are honored to feature TWID today on Witness This and hope that you take the time to watch their videos, and take a look at their look book. Please visit them online or pay them a visit in various stores across LA and San Diego. You can be sure that you will be purchasing American made products that are durable, hand-made, that will last a lifetime, and support a just cause that pays tribute to the proudest people/cultures of this nation.
thewestisdead.com
itbcbuffalo.com
words by Kari Hendrick
I have been expanding my collection of printed pants and recently came across a number that has me drooling all over. The pieces of Clover Canyon. These are not just printed pants, they are truly a work of art, and as I was creating a wish list, I saw their swim collection…and THEN, I saw their collaboration with Los Angeles based artist Alexandra Grant. Based out of LA, each piece depicts the lifestyle and joyful spirit of California. All of these patterns are drawn, cut, and sewn in house to fit like a kaleidoscope of colors over the curves of these sunkissed women. The prints, they say, embark on endless voyage, from the tribal plains of Africa and the courts of ancient kings, through the annals of art history, and beyond. They’re bold, vibrant, and seem to dare me to try them on.
You can check out the Fall 2013 line for Clover Canyon here:
Scout is a boutique in Seattle, Washington. Scout is a new brand and they are already turning heads like crazy, carrying a beautiful array of merchandise, all hand crafted, and all with a story. Pay them a visit next time you are in Seattle at 514 28th Ave or visit their site and pick up some gear for your next outdoor adventure.
Chicago born Jesse Boykins III is a R&B/soul singer-songwriter and producer who is currently touring with The Beauty Created Inside. Today we wanted to focus on Jesse’s style as his original flavor is easy on the eyes not to mention inspiring beyond measure. His combinations of traditional African garb, mixed with sophisticated wools and cotton silhouettes makes his style impeccable. Enjoy some of our favorite looks from his blog.
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Blockshop Textiles embodies what it means to be ‘artisan made.’ Utilizing techniques used in Indian textiles over the past 350 years, the silk and cotton-blend scarves are as natural as they come. Each scarf is different, each design is unique and all of the scarves are are created and printed using only natural elements found in nature. Ingredients used in the process include dried onion skins, turmeric, pomegranate skins, mud, nuts and the sun. Each design is hand-carved into a wooden block and then hand-printed onto each scarf.
Blockshop Textiles is the creation of power trio Lily Stockman, Hopie Stockman and Vijendra Chhipa. Lily manages the designs while Hopie is at the helm of the business side and Vijendra brings a breadth of experience and knowledge as a fifth generation Master Printer. Blockshop also donates $2 from each scarf sold towards an initiative bringing a mobile eye care clinic to Bagru.
All images courtesy of blockshop.com
