The North Face Purple Label Fall/Winter 2009

Exclusive only to Japan, the North Face Purple Label sees its most diverse collection yet. The materials used and the colour combinations are a little bit uncanny, but they work to bring out a side of North Face that is rarely ever seen. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

via Highsnobiety

Working Class | Robert Konjic by Andreas Kock

In recent years, American-inspired men's workwear has seen a resurgence in popularity that has taken the entire world by storm. The clothes - which used to reflect a period in time when hard work was the only way to prove one's worth - are now being idealized by today's trendsetters and tastemakers as a way to recapture the essence of the past in a day and age where it seems everything gets handed to us on a silver platter. The notion of embracing a past America has become especially prevelant ever since the stock market began its huge downward spiral because it is a reminder of how things used to be before materialism reared its ugly head. A lot of companies are taking note of that and are doing their best to appeal to a consumer base who are trying to find refuge in an era that took nothing for granted; an era that leaned heavily on true American values. How ironic is it then that at the forefront of this movement are the Japanese, who have paved the way in terms of being able to fabricate a sense of what a blue-collar worker embodied in his heyday. So, in an effort to keep pace with the Japanese or to take back what has always been rightfully theirs (open to debate), American heritage companies - like Red Wing and Woolrich, both heavily steeped in tradition - are once again beginning to make their presence felt by manufacturing quality items that have strong ties to the past. And people have responded well, as they understand it may not take more than a pair of boots, or a flannel shirt in order to convey the confidence of, what we perceive to be, the ideal working-class man.

images (not the kind of workwear I had in mind, but I couldn't resist - the pics are dope) via The Fashionisto

Visvim Fall/Winter 2009 footwear

Never ones to shy away from the spotlight, Visvim are back and at it again, bringing their usual flair for the eccentric. But for those who feel that they don't have the audacity to rock a pair of leopard prints, Visvim manage to counterbalance the collection with a few subtle arrangements as well which some might find more to their liking.

via Slamxhype

Wishlist: Wings + Horns Melton Wool MK2 Field Jacket

Wings + Horns are really coming into their own, with each passing seasonal collection a testament to the hard work that they've put in to promote the brand and a showcase of what we can consistently come to expect from them in the future. For founder Craig Atkinson, this labor of love has paid great dividends. His unwavering work ethic has put his brand on everybody's radar and his impeccable eye for detail the talk of many fashion blogs. In what is already an overly saturated market, Wings + Horns have been able to carve out an identity for themselves by taking inspiration from all facets of contemporary style. Atkinson's ideas for the direction of the brand came to fruition while he studied in Japan where American influences on the already avant-garde Japanese youth were abound. However, Canada is where he will forever call home, and it's in the fact that he takes cues from all these different cultures that his clothes come out looking exactly as such.

images via Context

Wings + Horns x Nom de Guerre

Vancouver-based Wings + Horns team up with menswear powerhouse Nom de Guerre on a Fall/Winter line that sees a return to basics in the form of crewnecks, hoodies and pullovers. Mid-layered garments specifically befitting of cold, drab winters, need not be anything more than what designer Craig Atkinson had in mind when he began soliciting ideas for this collection - warm, simple and comfortable - and that's exactly how the finished products have played out.

via limitedhype

Nigel Cabourn Cameraman Jacket

Opening Ceremony have just aquired this stunning Nigel Cabourn jacket to be added to their vast inventory of things that are way beyond my budget. But I can guarantee that it won't be staying on shelves very long. It's supposed to be a replica of the one worn by Sir Edmund Hillary's cameraman who accompanied Hillary and his climbing partner, Tenzing, to Everest where together they were eventually able to claim their place atop the world's highest peak, making them the first to ever successfully do so. The detailing on this jacket is unprecedented. Outiftted with metal-clip fastenings, a drawstring hood, and 4 button flapped pockets, there's not much more you can ask for in terms of little accessory pieces. But it's the utilization of contrast fabrics - a Harris tweed lower body and a Mackintosh upper - that really make this a standout from this Fall's collection.

The Process | Eddie Cruz

Rickey Kim of Evil Monito magazine and Levi Maestro of Maestro Knows collaborate on a new video series entitled The Process in which the two profile the streetwear industry's most prominent figures in an up close and personal manner. The inaugural webisode features a portrayal of Eddie Cruz, one of the game's biggest players, as told from Kim's point of view.

The Process - Profile: Eddie Cruz from Evil Monito Magazine on Vimeo.

via Highsnobiety

Penfield A/W 2009

Winter feels like it is upon us here in Winnipeg, eventhough we are still only in the midsts of the fall season. So here to make your winter a little more bearable is the A/W collection from Penfield. Once again they continue to uphold their reputation as one of the best manufacturers of cold-weather wear. Because when it comes to battling the elements, using only the best in carefully selected premium goose down serves both function and purpose, ensuring thermal efficiency, exceptional breathability, comfort and a final product which becomes virtually weightless. Not many are able to rival the quality and workmanship with which Penfield operates, which explains why they've been around since 1975.

Nigel Cabourn | The Army Gym

Nigel Cabourn is an example of a man who will go to the ends of the earth to look for inspiration, often having to travel extensively throughout Britain just to obtain the materials necessary to fulfill his desire to maintain an authentic look about his work. Anything with a bit of heritage and a deep-rooted history will do, according to him, which is why templates for his designs are derived, more often than not, from his own personal collection, consisting of some of the rarest expeditionary and military clothing to be in one's possession. It's no wonder then that in order to properly pay homage to the men whom these clothes may have once adorned, Cabourn never cuts any corners - only using the finest of hard-to-get fabrics and paying heed to even the most miniscule of details. His due diligence has earned him the satisfaction of opening up a store in Tokyo to commemorate his foray into the "high-end, rugged workwear" market, which began nearly 40 years ago.

via Slamxhype and Hypebeast