LAUREN SQUIRES : JEWELLERY

The new website for LAUREN SQUIRES - designed and built in collaboration with FRAN WILKS is wicked .... check it out here

Design Museum : Sustainable Design

Sometimes it would be great to still be in London!

THE NORTH FACE

Sustainable branding is a particularly pertinent issue for outdoor apparel brands because of the impact production has on the environment and the consequential damage to the sports’ arenas.

Patagonia has been the leader of sustainable branding before sustainable branding was even conceived. In this film The North Face, another salient outdoor brand that creates such great gear, present their sustainability programme.  The film is really enjoyable and gives a genuine insight into The North Face production process and factories. 

The film is directed by Renan Ozturk, his films are mind blowing... go to his Vimeo page here.

The North Face have a dedicated page for their sustainability programme www.expeditionsustainability.com.

Paul Smith x Maglia Rosa

The unveiling of Paul Smith's series of jerseys for Italy's famous Giro tour says a great deal about how well respected the British design industry is right now.

Picture source Giro d'Italia on Twitter @giroditalia

ICELAND: A SKIER'S JOURNEY

Arc'teryx are, in my opinion, pushing the limits of outdoor apparel and branding better than most, it comes has no surprise that they produce their gear with the same manufacturer as Rapha cycling.

Iceland: A Skier's Journey follows a similar format to a lot of the best films being made right now, but I think this video does it better than I've seen before. The story is beautifully told and ties perfectly with the journey that the skiers are taking, there is some incredible shots and great music (including a track from The Knife who are amazing).



Film by Jordan Manley Photography

UNION SPECIAL 35700

US MANUFACTURED COLLECTION BY DANNER BOOTS

The Stumptown boots collection from Danner is arguably the finest looking industrial and hiking boots. They produce the collection in Portland Oregon and have curated a fine selection of US manufactured products which they sell on their site. To shop the collection click here...

The products have been manufactured by: Beckel Canvas, Roy Toy, Council Tools, Rite in the Rain, Jacob Bromwell, Jameson Woodworks, Hardcore Hammers, Lone Wolf by Benchmade, Pendleton, Tanner Goods, Portland Growler Co. and Occidental Leather.

The Danner website provides tonnes of information about each of the makes featured. The log carrier from Beckel Canvas is going to make an excellent Christmas present for the parents who are always chopping and carrying wood for the burner!

VITSOE: MARK ADAMS

MARK ADAMS, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT VITSOE, DISCUSSES THE SUCCESS OF DIETER RAMS DESIGNS IN THE MODERN WORLD AND THE VALUES OF THE COMPANY. VITSOE IS A VISIONARY COMPANY MAKING SUPERB FURNITURE, FIND OUT MORE WWW.VITSOE.COM

DIETER RAMS WAS THE HEAD OF DESIGN AT BRAUN FOR HALF A CENTURY, HIS TEN PRINCIPLES OF GOOD DESIGN ARE, IN MY OPINION, THE WAY TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN DESIGN. YOU ONLY HAVE TO KNOW THAT THE PRINCIPLES ARE AN INSPIRATION TO JONATHAN IVES TO REALISE HOW POWERFUL THEY ARE. THE TOME "AS LITTLE DESIGN AS POSSIBLE" COVERING RAMS' LIFE AND WORK IS A MUST READ, GET IT AT WWW.PHAIDON.COM

UNION CYCLE WORKS

Social Enterprises come in many guises, helping disadvantaged individuals lead better lives through creating products that have value and contribute to the costs of running the charity. Building and fixing bicycles is a popular model because the users become proficient mechanics and can look after their own bicycles, and bicycles are always in demand so are easily sold.

Union Cycle Works based in Deptford have taken this model and created a really great looking business and community project, both for the disadvantaged and for cyclists who don't have their own workshop (which is a common issue in London).

They've also got an excellent best brand identity. Check out their website www.unioncycleworks.org.uk

MODERN DAY ARTISAN: RICKY FEATHER

Ricky Feather is the epitome of cool, producing some incredibly detailed frames with attention lavished on them at every point of production. This is my favourite film in the Modern Day Artisan series, probably just for the fact I love bicycles! I would recommend checking out more of Ricky's work at his site... http://feathercycles.blogspot.co.uk/ which includes the great Rapha collaboration which saw Ricky win the Best Road Bike at this year's Bespoked Festival in Bristol. More info on that here www.bespokedbristol.co.uk.

MODERN DAY ARTISA: SEBASTIAN TAREK

Shoemaker Sebastain Tarek is the focus of this film from the Modern Day Artisan series by Hype Beast. You can find out more about Sebastian's craft at www.sebastiantarek.com.

The film maker Chris Read has made some of my favourite recent shorts including the amazing Kick Ups with I-D magazine which pushes the boundaries of fashion in film. You can check out more of his work at chrisread.tv

MODERN DAY ARTISAN: MAX LAMB

HYPE BEAST TV AND CHRIS READ HAVE PRODUCED A SUPERB SERIES LOOKING AT MODERN DAY ARTISANS. THIS FILMS COMBINE GREAT MUSIC, ARTISTS AND SHOTS TO BE THE ALMOST PERFECT REPRESENTATION OF THE UNDERGROUND HAND CRAFTED MOVEMENT. THIS FILM FEATURES LONDON BASED FURNITURE DESIGNER MAX LAMB. EACH DAY I WILL FEATURE A MODERN DAY ARTISAN. THANK YOU HYPE BEAST AND THANK YOU CHRIS READ.

MADE : THE ENTREPRENEUR FESTIVAL : SHEFFIELD

The MADE festival has been held in Sheffield every year since 2010 and celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of Britain. Guest speakers this year included Vince Cable, Wayne Hemingway of Red or Dead, Will Butler-Adams of Brompton bikes and Peter Jones of Dragons Den fame. It connects people and connects ideas.

As soon as I stepped off the train in Sheffield I could feel the presence of the festival and when we arrived at City Hall there was already a buzz of excitement about the event and it certainly lived up to the hype!

The speakers were varied but all had the same message: “Be confident to go out and achieve success with your business, there has never been a better time to do it!”

The atmosphere was one of passion and enthusiasm, the audience and participants were mixed socially, culturally and ideologically but there was a common ground, and that common ground was the principle that commerce is a force for good. Where else but at an event like this would two strangers stop in the street to discuss a pitch that was about to be presented in minutes to a panel of business leaders?!

 For more information visit www.madefestival.com

CYCLOCROSS FILM

3 peaks cyclocrss race is back this month for another epic race. Last septmember I filmed parts of the race to produce my first short.

BROMPTON BICYCLES

The Brompton fold-up bicycle is a design classic in the truest sense. It was born out of the practical requirement for a better folding bike by the young engineer Andrew Ritchie in the early seventies, and the basic design has only been improved through better materials, geometry and components.

In this film the managing director at Brompton, William Butler-Adams, describes wonderfully the ethos and mindset at the company and accurately sums up cycling in UK cities. He is giving a talk at MADE festival in Sheffield this month which I'm really looking forward to! For more info on MADE visit www.madefestival.com.

The company has taken the bold move, and in my opinion the right move, of not forcing growth for growth’s sake or compromising quality for improved margins, as the bikes are still manufactured in the UK.

Having ridden my housemate's Brompton before it was nicked I know they are a dream to ride with a surprising amount of acceleration and top speed.



Any information on the producer and director of this film would be appreciated so they can be credited appropriately, thanks.

Nigel Cabourn by HELMSTYLE

Nigel Cabourn is the real deal when it comes to quality menswear. Here he is chatting about himself and his work. Nice work from HELMSTYLE HelmStyle

NYC

I'm off to Istanbul to enjoy some sunshine, thinking of travel I pulled these pictures from a trip to NYC earlier this year.

Super Glasses Factory, Italy

I don't know too much about SUPER but enjoyed the look of this short.

Will Leather Goods

I came across Will Leather goods in Present, the excellent menswear store on Shoreditch High Street, and was struck with joy and dismay when I saw their Large Army Tote bag as I have been meaning to make one of these for some time using an old army marquee I acquired.




Below is a video of the production of their collaborative bag with TriBeCa Film Festival which Will Leather Goods sponsor.




Check out more videos at Will Leather Goods

SILVER JEWELLERY BY LAUREN SQUIRES

Silver jewellery by the ever wonderful Lauren Squires. You can check out more of her work here www.laurensquires.co.uk

Photography by Orlando

Pointer Head Office in London

HypeBeast TV putting out another incredibly insightful film about Pointer footwear and their head office in London.

This is such a brilliantly conceived showroom and workspace, so many companies out there could take note of this ethos. 

Directed by Santiago A...see more films here

Hypebeast Spaces: A Tour of the Pointer’s Offices With Gareth Skewis from HBTV on Vimeo.

GF SMITH X OLIVER SPENCER FILM

Collaboration between the inspiration paper mill GF Smith  and the modern classic menswear brand Oliver Spencer. The film was made by Steven Mark Fisher and Sophie Pierozzi.

The quality of  Oliver Spencer is second to none and I'm sure this is because of the close links with the production.


GFSmith x Oliver Spencer from GF Smith on Vimeo.

NEW BALANCE

Representing the North West, New Balance produce some excellent footwear choices that still have running at their heart. 

FRYE'S BOOTS

"For nearly 150 years, Frye's core product line has been manufactured by skilled employees at factories in the United States."An excellent short film about the making of Fryes boots. Their best boot has to be the Arkanas Mid Lace.

RAPHA SUPERCROSS

CYCLOCROSS

FISHING TRIP

WINNING

Cycling Heaven

A dream stretch of road high in the Lake District.

PLAYGROUND

ESTATE

S L A Y E R

F U R

J O S E P H I N E D E L A B A U M E

B I R T H D A Y

R I O T

C H A R L I E L E M I N D U

THE MAKING OF A FANTASTIC SHOW IS IN THE PREPARATION.

C H A R L I E L E M I N D U

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

L E M I N D U

THIS IS ONE OF CHARLIE LE MINDU'S AMAZING HAIR PIECES FOR A\W 2010.
THE HANDBAGS WERE MY FAVORITE....GOLD CHAINS AND JET BLACK HUMAN HAIR MAKE A STUNNING COMBINATION.

T H E G I R L S A R E W A I T I N G

M A N R A Y

S H A D E S O F D A R K

N O N A M E

A GREAT BAND WHO DON'T HAVE A NAME.

D A M N E D

R O A D T R I P P I N G