The Shop

It’s hard not to get excited when you find yourself in a place like The Shop. As far as literally building your dreams, it doesn’t get much more tangible than this and it’s my favorite type of story to cover.

Brett Beadle and TJ Schnieder have been channelling the shop in their own personal lives for years and finally it has come to fruition. When I visited The Shop it was about a month away from its grand opening and for that reason, the visit felt even more special. You could see the work that had already been done, new elements being built and how excited they are for things to come.

Unwrapped merchandise sat on tables and a few stunning denim jackets by Eat Dust hung from the rack. You could simply squint your eyes and imagine them accompanied by all of the other brands to soon join them. The thought put into each decision of what to carry in the shop is enough evidence to believe that when you walk into this place to buy something, you are buying ONLY what the guys want in here – the brands they have a connection to and brands they believe in. Some of our favorites will find a home here; Brixton, Deus, Filson, Lifetime, Stance, Penfield to name just a few. The shop even carries handmade motorcycle handlebars made right out of a local Vancouver garage.

The Shop opened a few weeks ago to the excitement of the riding community in Vancouver, but it’s more than just a cycle shop, it has quickly become a place to hang out for riders and non-riders alike; stools line the windows and you can also find a damn fine cup of coffee within these walls. Whether it’s to see old friends, make new ones, pick up some new gear, or even just to get shelter from the imminent BC rain as you’re cruising around the city, there is a special energy here that warmly welcomes all that venture inside. Something tells me this little shop nestled right off of Hastings street will live to tell a big story for decades to come.

 

theshopvancouver.com

 


A sneak peek at The Shop under construction.

Brett Beadle walks us through The Shop from Witness This on Vimeo.

 


Scout & Catalogue

Influenced by the Mexican beach culture, Toronto-based Scout & Catalogue was born from creator and designer Breanna Musgrove’s year living in Mexico in 2009. It was there she began exploring the craft of tye-dying leather and ‘accidently’ began making bags and scarves. A couple of years since her trip and currently living back in Canada, Scout & Catalogue is steadily gaining ground and continues to create unique and quality accessories.  Now expanding to include “The Scavenger Series” and the “Yard Sale”, Musgrove uses fabrics sourced from thrift stores and restores unique vintage pieces. Also be sure to check out the blog featuring beautiful imagery and designs.


SUPERbrand

When you enter SUPERbrands new studio in Carlsbad California, you will be met with the unique contrast of surfboard shaping, glassing areas in the back, and silk dresses up front. With their cool and casual aesthetic, creative graphics, strong attention to detail, and use of high-quality fabrics like silks and leather, SUPERbrand has merged boutique and traditional surf fashion to create something new. It doesn’t stop at their clothes either, SUPERbrand has also incorporated this look and feel into their surfboards by covering them with skate-influenced full-board graphics, and bringing in some of the best surfers in the world (Dion Agius, Clay Marzo, and Ry Craike) to help create innovative shapes. This is definitely a brand to keep an eye on as it begins to take off.

Take a look at the entire fall 2012 line: www.superbranded.com


Witness Kelly Shaw

Kelly Shaw has our attention. This young designer from the UK has something special going on here, on so many levels:

1. She’s pulling together  Grayson Perry, the Occupy movement, The London Riots, fashion from in between WW1 + 2,  and George Orwell, into one eclectic contemporary blend of patterning, color, and design.

2. Her design screams, “Lighten the fuck up!” She’s playing with silhouettes that shouldn’t work together. She’s having fun and looks gorgeous on so many levels.

3. She’s launching her Spring/Summer 2013 Collection right around the corner and she hasn’t held back with anything. Her messages are clear and we have a feeling this line will make some serious noise, if it hasn’t begun to already.

 kellyshaw.co.uk

 


Witness The Leather Shop

Witness This had the pleasure of speaking with The Leather Shop about their recent release of an arsenal of stunningly hand-crafted leather products. Now we are suckers for this sort of Made in America story, but after talking with Ken from The Shop, we fell even more in love with what they do.

The Leather Shop was founded in Seattle, Washington in the summer of 2008 by a young designer named Mark. Fast forward through the last four years and countless hours of hard work and determination and we now are gifted with the opportunity to share in their craft. You can now get a glimpse below, and on their online store, at what they have created and it’s impossible not to get excited about the finished product. We had the chance to ask the guys about their inspiration, and we love the story we uncovered, “It all started with a leather pouch that Mark remembered from his childhood. His great-great grandfather hand made it in the early 1900′s and passed it down, generation to generation. The pouch had aged beautifully, the leather had character to it- so much so that it carried a history to it. Why not make something that lasts this long? This shaped our company, and our motto Time passes, Leather endures. We craft products that combine old world craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. The results are products that are unique in their appearance and their longevity.”

The Leather Shop studio has found it’s home in the Georgetown district of Seattle, where the craftsmen and artists of Seattle reside. Look them up when you are in Seattle, or visit their online store to share in a beautiful craft that defines heart and hand design.