digdeep with a Challenge!

If you love the thrill of a trial rider, the dare-devil stunts of a street rider, then—digdeep!

UK street- and trial rider, Danny MacAskill, who has been taking the cyclist scene by storm, has just become the ambassador and brand icon for digdeep—the urban streetwear label of Britain.

Danny MacAskill originally hails from the Isle of Skye, where he began biking at the age of 4.

Working in a bike shop of Edinburgh, Danny spent the past 12 years practicing his street skills, becoming the most famous street cyclist and brand ambassador of digdeep.

Overcoming immense odds and obstacles, Danny is never afraid to dig deeper!

“All I think about, night and day, is looking for a spot to ride, I am thrilled to be working with a brand like digdeep that is all about giving 100% and that anything is achievable’’ exclaims Danny.

Danny’s skills perfectly portray the brand and image of digdeep, which is designed for the man that accepts a challenge, going beyond 100% and trekking that extra mile.

Photos Copyright digdeep.

City Rush and Time Active for Spring/Summer 2011 by Hogan

Milan, June 21st 2010—Hogan Presents the Spring/Summer 2011 Men’s Collection.

Essential accessories and ready to wear—functional and versatile—distinguished for their laid back elegance and contemporary design, while keeping unique details of great personality.

Made with ultra-light and innovative materials—of extraordinary quality. Hogan’s urban classics.

City Rush
This masterpiece Hogan, with its distinctive logo on the collar, is proposed in a new button-fastening version.

Essential lines—strong and steady cuts—city rush is realized in different ultra-light fabrics: from delave’ nylon and stone washed cotton to the innovative reflex material, in optic white.

Distinctive marks: double collar with border and logo.

Time Active
Aerodynamic lines with cushioned ultra-light rubber sole, Time Active is the epitome of the laid back elegance—a unique forerunner.

Proposed in a variety of versions: techno-nylon with contrast details, delave’ suede and leather in classic tones, ideal for everyday business occasions.

Materials
Stone-washed nylon and cotton
Delave’ suede and leather
Optic reflex

Colors
Monochromes
Natural shades
Blue and khaki

About Hogan

Hogan was born in 1986 as a producer of urban sneakers inspired by the world of cricket. Since then, Hogan has expanded into numerous cities of the world, as well as into new articles of clothing.

Photos & text Courtesy Starworks Group, Copyright Hogan.

Support Your Favorite Team at the World Cup!

Did you know that the first international football (soccer) match was held 1872 in Glasgow, Scotland, while the first World Cup by FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) was held 1930 in Uruguay?

This month, the World Cup is being held in South Africa. With 204 qualifying teams, only 32 teams are competing for the title.

While it is possible to support your favorite team by wearing the official t-shirt, you can also purchase fun Bumpy Pitch tees from the Five Four online store.

Bumpy Pitch is a cultural movement that encompasses a clothing company and an online magazine (theoriginalwinger) with the objective of showcasing and building the culture and lifestyle that soccer inspires.

So, what team are you cheering for?

Whomever you support, do it in style! Soccer style!



Photos Courtesy & Copyright Five Four.

Cristiano Ronaldo Reconfirmed as Spokes Model for Armani

Giorgio Armani has reconfirmed that Portuguese footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, will be official world spokes model for Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans autumn/winter 2010.

The soccer player strips down and bears a naked six-pack abs in the campaign ads.
Cristiano, born 1985 as Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, is from Santo António of Madeira, Portugal.

Awarded several times as “World Player of the Year,” Cristiano plays forward for the Spanish club Real Madrid and is the highest paid footballer in the world.

Vamos Portugal! Hurra Madrid! Forza Armani! Go Cristiano!

Photos Courtesy of Fashion Times.

Win Tickets to the Le Mans 24 Hour Race 2010 with Hackett London

Any race car aficionados out there?

Now is your chance to win 2 VIP tickets to the Le Mans 24 Hour Race 2010 with Hackett London!

Hackett London, a tradition British menswear label, is an official sponsor of Aston Martin Racing that produces the team clothing range.

The Hackett label is the offspring of a business partnership that was clinched in 1983 between Jeremy Hackett and Ashley Lloyd who met on Portobello Road in London.

Raised and educated in Clifton, Bristol, Jeremy left school at the age of 17 to work in a local men’s fashion shop.

A year later, he departed for the fashionable King’s Road and, later, onto Savile Row where he dreamed of starting his own business. The rest is dream come true!

For additional information on how to enter the competition, click here.

Photos & slideshow Copyright Hackett London.

The Jack Purcell Shoe—Badminton Anyone?

John Edward “Jack” Purcell (1903–1991) was a Canadian badminton player that shot to world fame in 1933, later designing an athletic shoe that still bears “Jack Purcell.”

Growing up with tennis and golf, Jack took Ontario by storm when he picked up a badminton racquet and shuttlecock in 1924.

Already in 1929 and 1930, Jack was crowned Canadian National Badminton Champion!

In 1935, Jack designed a badminton shoe out of canvas and rubber for B.P. Goodrich of Canada. Converse purchased the rights in the 1970’s.

What sets the Jack Purcell shoe apart from, say, Chuck Taylor All Stars is the smile across the front.

Never have the Jack Purcell sneakers been more popular than today—75 years later! Jack keeps on smiling!



Photo & slideshow Jack Purcell shoe, Copyright Très Bien Shop.

Digging Deeper into Capoeira

Last year I published an article on an athletic shoe called Paraná, which was inspired by Capoeira—an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines martial arts, dance, and rhythmic motion to the beat of drums: Paraná, Capoeira & Italian Football.

This Saturday while attending a street festival in the small historic town of Princeton, New Jersey, located just 50 minutes outside New York city, I met a group of performers who belong to Senzala Princeton University.

Although Capoeria dates back hundreds of years, Grupo Senzala was founded in the Sixties by two brothers, Rafael and Paulo Flores Viana, in Rio de Janeiro.

The movement soon expanded throughout the Americas and Europe, spreading to the New York area. The Princeton group was founded by Mestre Zumbi, who began training at the age of nine.

For additional information or to watch movies of Capoeira Senzala, click here.



Photo & slideshow Copyright Men's Fashion by Francesco.

Antonio Cassano—Diadora’s New Face

In occasion of the grand opening for a new store in Milan, Italy, Diadora has recruited Italian footballer Antonio Cassano as its new face.

Diadora shared this new gift of honor with the public at a press conference that was held on Friday, April 23.

Born 1982 in Bari, Italy, Antonio Cassano plays second striker for the Series A club Sampdoria (otherwise known as Blucerchiati).

Founded by Marcelo Danieli in 1948, Diadora has become equated with Italian sports clothing, shoes, and accessories, setting a fine tradition of high quality.

The name Diadora was derived from the Greek for the Dalmatian city in Croatia, Zadar, literally connoting “sharing gifts and honor”.

Photo Courtesy of Fashion Times, Copyright Diadora.

The Philipp Lahm & Floris van Bommel Anti-AIDS Activity

What do the German football star Philipp Lahm and Dutch shoe designer Floris van Bommel have in common?

The 2010 autumn/winter fight against AIDS!

The Van Bommel shoe company dates back to 1734 in Breda, the Netherlands, and is now managed by the ninth generation of three brothers: Floris, Reynier and Pepijn.

Philipp Lahm was born 1983 in Munich, Germany, and is a footballer who plays as a defender for Bayern Munich.

Now these two men bring together two related but separate worlds—shoe wear and football. They do so in an all out effort to support an education campaign directed at children and adolescents with AIDS.

Instead of an athletic sneaker, the choice went hands down for a black patent leather dress shoe.

Sheer in look, the shoe is lined with brown linen and, on the pink insole, you will find a chic joint logo.

100% of the proceeds from the sale of the special model shoe will be donated to the German AIDS Foundation.

The edition will be available by December 1, just in time for World AIDS Day, and will sell at a price of 260 euro.

Photos Copyright Van Bommel.

Chris&Tibor, Spiraling with the Best

So what do Romain Kremer from France, Veronique Branquinho of Belgium, and Juun J. from Korea all have in common?

What captivating force can draw these radically diverse designers into the same ring?

The Chris&Tibor collaboration project!

Tibor Matyas graduated from the London College of Fashion, while Chris Liu studied art management and marketing. Both went on to work as design consultants for Burberry Prorusum before starting their own label, which was born out of a natural quest by Chris to find the perfect gym bag.

Unsatisfied by the findings, Chris decided to take a swing at designing his own, which, when spotted by Tibor, was called a sure knockout!

What’s unique about Chris and Tibor is that they fuse history, style, and a love for their city into their designs, naming all the bags after streets in London or local figures of fame.

The 2009 a/w collection is entitled “the Krays Meet Teddy Boys,” which is based on the lives of the twins Reggie and Ronnie Kray—amateur boxers turned mobsters—who held London’s East End in their grip throughout the fifties and sixties.

As nightclub owners, the Kray twins shrewdly passed themselves off as socialites, entertaining figures like Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Diana Dors, assorted lords, and MPs.

In just four years since its inception, Chris&Tibor is already selling at 65 stockists around the globe. When it comes to bags, Chris&Tibor has spiraled with some of the best!



Photo top right Reggie and Ronnie Kray from Chris&Tibor.
Photo center left Tibor Matyas and Chris Liu Copyright Chris&Tibor.
Slide show 2009 a/w collection Copyright Chris&Tibor.

Paraná, Capoeira & Italian Football

What better model than Italian footballer, Lorenzo De Silvestri—who just turned 21 on Saturday—is there to kickoff the summer campaign for the new Italo-Brazilian sneaker Paraná?!
Discovered by the Italian entrepreneur Marco Gaudenzi while vacationing in Brazil, Paraná sneakers come in vibrant colors and are so lightweight that they fit like a glove.

The shoe was originally created for capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian art form that was brought by the slaves from Africa, most likely Angola, which is characterized by martial arts, acrobatics, and African dance.

One of the most popular songs sung while performing capoeira is Paraná ê, which refers to war of 1865 between Brazil and Paraguay, which lasted for five long years.

At that time, it was decreed in Brazil that any black slave who volunteered for war and survived would be granted freedom

So as the triumphant ex-slaves approached the Paraná River on their way home from battle, they sang a song of freedom, Paraná ê:

I will tell my wife, Paraná
That capoeira won [the war], Paraná
Paraná ê, Paraná ê, Paraná.

Paraná speaks of triumph, liberation, and—with a few modifications—Italian design made in Brazil!

Happy birthday, Lorenzo! Tanti auguri!!!

Photos taken from Fashion Times with permission.

Veja's Green Gooooal!

Several weeks ago I posted an article entitled, London Fashion Week: Doubly Green, in which I presented several eco-brands that debuted at estethica—London Fashion Week's green initiative.

One of the companies featured was Veja, a Paris-based company that designs comfortable shoe wear inspired by 1970's Brazilian volleyball styles and produced by coops in the remote Amazon. Intrigued by Veja's three pillars of ethics, I requested an exclusive interview, to which the company responded immediately:

How was Veja conceived?
Veja was created as a challenge; the idea was to make sneakers and to respect both the environment and the work of people, from raw materials to the deliveries in stores.

I always enjoy a good challenge! So, who exactly was the driving force of this challenge?
Sébastien Kopp and François-Ghislain Morillion, the co-founders, went around the world to study sustainable development projects made by big companies and realized that, in order to change things truly, one had to create a project that respects nature and men at its heart.

That's drive! But how did fashion and apparel factor into the challenge?
They both were sneakers addicts and decided to create some in Brazil, where all the necessary raw materials can be found: organic cotton for the canvas (in the North East) and wild rubber for the soles (from the Amazonian forest).

Tell me a bit about the coops that I mentioned in my first article...
Veja works with a cooperative of small producers who grow organic cotton in the North East of Brazil.

How do these small producers grow the cotton?
The cotton is grown without manure and pesticides according to agro-ecology—a sustainable farming model that also takes into account the producers’ food independence and soil erosion, among other things.

And Veja's role?
Veja buys this cotton according to fair trade rules.

I also wrote about the soles of the sneakers. Please tell me more...
The soles of the sneakers are made from wild rubber. Rubber comes from the hevea trees that grow in the wild, in the Amazonian forest, and is collected by Seringueiros—people of the forest who live on rubber harvesting.

So how do these people and the forest benefit?
Using wild rubber and paying a fair price to the Seringueiros is a way to increase the value of the forest and to fight against deforestation.

Do you employ any chemicals in the manufacturing process?
The leather used is ecologically tanned, that is to say, tanned with vegetable extracts, such as acacia extracts.

How about the factory conditions?
The sneakers are assembled in a factory near Porto Alegre. The factory is regularly audited to make sure that the rights and dignity of the workers are respected.

Once the sneakers are processed, where do they go?
The sneakers are then shipped to France where Ateliers Sans Frontières, a social association, stocks and delivers them.

Just an aside...why doesn't Veja produce other garments?
The co-founders chose to make sneakers as they are an accurate example of inequalities between Northern and Southern countries. As a consequence, creating sneakers made from fair trade and ecological materials is symbolic.

You just scored a goal with me! And have you achieved your goals since accepting the green challenge?
There are always things to better; for example, the dyeing, we would like it to be more natural, but the colors are not satisfactory. We also think about recycling.

What is your long-term goal?
From Brazil to stores, Veja tries to build solidarity and an ecological chain.

Many companies describe themselves as green but lack a written and enforced code of ethics...
Our code of ethics has been at the heart of the project since its very beginning, using ecological materials, working according to fair trade rules, and assembling in respect of workers’ rights and dignity.

Photos Copyright by Veja.

London Fashion Week: Doubly Green

On Friday, February 20th, the British Fashion Council kicked off the 6th season of estethica—London Fashion Week's green initiative. Reputed as the world's leading showcase of sustainable designer fashion, estethica has grown from 13 to 37 designers, who adhere to one of three guiding principles: organic, fair trade, or recycled. From design to production onto retail and disposal, estethica aims at promoting sustainable life cycles in high end fashion. Encouragingly, several notable menswear collections were in attendance.

Born in Denmark of a Portuguese father and Danish mother, Naia Rico studied at the London College of Fashion, going on to design for Article 23, which inherited its name from the 23rd article of the Declaration of Human Rights. Inspired by the legendary 19th century figure Sherlock Holmes, Naia combined retro and contemporary styles to create a timeless selection of British poshness and "falsely neglected dandyism." Using organic cotton and natural materials, the collection was produced by a women's co-op in India.

Promoted as the voice for animals in the fashion industry, the impassioned knitwear designer from North Yorkshire, Izzy Lane, runs a Sheep Sanctuary of Shetland and endangered Wesledydale sheep that have been saved from slaughter. Portraying a cosy "1970’s goes to the country" theme, her ethically and sustainably Made-in-Britain collection was woven at an ancient mill in Selkirk, using hundred year old Victorian machinery and, then, hand knit into plush chunky garments.

Prophetik presented its preachy, almost apocalyptic "wearable philosophy" in the Impulsion collection, which represents slow fashion advancing with wisdom and substance. Inspired euro street wear that manifests art, love, poetry, and internal freedom, Prophetik supports numerous children's charities around the world, working also with the Asian Elephant Art and Conservation Project. "In raising funds to buy land for the elephants," says designer Jeff Garner, "our partners train the elephants to paint on our organic silk fabric, which we turn into dresses to sell for the cause."

Based in Paris and produced by local co-ops in the Amazon, the Veja collection of comfortable shoe wear was inspired by 1970's Brazilian volleyball styles, merging an urban and vintage feel. Utilizing organic cotton canvas and Amazonian rubber soles, Veja rests on three pillars: 1) use of ecological inputs, 2) fair trade cotton and latex, and 3) respect for workers’ dignity.

Since Men's Fashion by Francesco will be contacting these four designers in the next several days, please feel free to present your questions concerning sustainability and menswear below!

Photo Sherlock Holmes Copyright Public Domain.

Photo Wensleydale sheep by Vicky Brock Copyright Creative Commons Attribution Sharealike 2.0.

Photo Asian Elephant by Rajesh Kakkanatt Copyright Creative Commons Attribution Sharealike 2.0.

Photo Amazonia by Phil P. Harris Copyright Creative Commons Attribution Sharealike 2.0.