Monday 23 December 2013

Armida A8 Brass… by Shaun Dangerfield


Continuing my love affair with divers and after enough hints my better half did good pulling this one in for me "Another watch ?" ...... Yes.
They always mean more when bought for you and I have many more meaningful ideas for her (no chance).

With its green dial and 43mm brass casing and bezel, brass hands and an alternative changeable bezel I think it's certainly worth the asking price.
I like the rubber strap (purely from a fetish point of view) but as always I switched it for the NATO strap which was also included.

Thumbs up from Sinister Island.....


Wednesday 18 December 2013

Leftfield NYC Indigo Sweat...By Saul Wilks


It's the season to be jolly, so I decided to treat myself to an early Christmas present in the form of Leftfield NYC's Indigo dyed sweater. I've been sharking this one for a little while, having combed through Hickorees on more than once occasion and finally found it on domestic shores at the ever ace Brighton based Peggs & Son.

Letfield's inspiration from vintage and classic American sportswear appeals to me in buckets and although I've probably got enough sweaters to kit out a platoon, I'm always searching out something to better the last.
Quality wise this is certainly up there, arguably on a par with The Real McCoys.

There's just something aesthetically pleasing about this sweater, from the quality of the seam stitching, to the beautiful swing tag, It just looks and feel's what it is - a quality garment.

Buy American, buy Leftfield...

Sold.






Monday 16 December 2013

The Why Radio / Punch Magazine Guest Podcast...By Saul Wilks


Over at Boogie Cartel we received an email from Portuguese Funk Soul Brothers (and sisters) The Why Radio and Punch Magazine, a black music podcast and radio outfit, asking us for a mix.

It was a pleasure to lay down an hour of choice vinyl cuts and some of my favourite boogie jams of all time and you can get involved here, which should see you right for a Monday afternoon.

If you're a partisan of underground black music like we are, then head over to http://www.thewhyradio.com/
for a shed load of sounds that will surely warm your soul.

Enjoy the mix.

Friday 13 December 2013

Natural Vegetable Tanned Leather Card Holder...


We decided the other week to make a few more of our current leather goods in a plain natural vegetable tanned leather with no finish applied because we think it would be nice to have a few "blank canvas" pieces that you can work in yourselves.

These are the samples for the 8oz card holder to start with and we will be adding more over the next few months for the leather enthusiasts amongst you.

Hand cut and hand stitched these are near perfection in our eyes and one for the purists amongst us who like to wear everything in from scratch….


Wednesday 4 December 2013

Ardour Brand Gaer Tweed Cap…

After the Ebbets Field collab caps we thought it best to bring things back down to a more classic level of headwear and work with what we love… Tweed. 

The Gaer scarves we stocked earlier in November have since sold out but we will be getting a small restock in the new year, below we have a couple of shots of our tweed Gaer cap which is due for release this month some time, basically as soon as they drop. 


Belstaff X Chris Bonington...By Saul Wilks


Sir Chris Bonington rightly holds the elevated status of Knight, awarded the illustrious honour for his valiant services to mountaineering and outdoor pursuits. Having successfully ascended Everest and lead exhibitions in some of the most unforgivable terrain known to man, his willing to push boundaries, both physical and mental, some what encapsulates the pioneering attitude of British determination and spirit. Following his successes and gallant assaults on nature herself, in the late 1970's Belstaff asked him to come on board and help develop a jacket for the outdoors and so the Belstaff Chris Bonington came to fruition.

More suited to rambling in the Yorkshire Dales than having a pop at Everest, this basic but beautiful parka has been a holy grail of mine for some time and I recently came across one in that mecca of old skool and vintage outwear, Bags of Flavour, Manchester.


If truth be told I've not taken this off since it came into my possession , it's fast becoming my jacket of choice: perfect for throwing on over a knit, a shirt or just a tee-shirt if I'm slumming it around. I love the muted green of the outer, the beige softness of the inner and of course, the all important circular Belstaff badge to the chest.

As far as design goes, it's pretty simple, well constructed and has a couple of handy pockets for every day goods, but there's beauty in basic, as I have come to appreciate over the years.

On this fine over cast afternoon where the sky forms clashing shades of grey and the air is crisp, I decided to go for a walk, take some writing equipment and head down to one of my favourite thinking spots. It's usually quiet around these parts, the echo of industrial clatter long since faded and the scene of inner city restoration fighting against modern decay. It's a poetic scene, romantic, helpless. 

The perfect back drop for such activities.


It's been a while since I put ink on paper and created any visceral works, poetry, thought jotting, whatever you want to call it, but today something in me felt different and so I did just that:


On the banks of Usk where I sit in solace, escape my thoughts for a moment in time, 
clash strong against invisible forces, grown soft and weary in this minds eye.

With hues of grey, the sky settled fair, meet with colourful thoughts, I sit and stare,
etched memories still, of days of thunder, and sunshine still, I think of those.

These vivid colours possess the scene, wash over me and cleanse me please,
abundant with passion, they cease to die, caress the earth, they kiss the sky.

When energy burns, refused to fade, with loving words to serenade,
Escaped this scene, now back once more, my mind at peace, my heart at war.