In 2002, I bought an Eagles Starter Parka on eBay for 28$US shipped. I also cut some fancy parts in my hair. My childhood swagger was back. Unfortunately, the jacket was roughly the same size I would have worn when I was eleven, and the haircut was not greeted warmly by women. I’d made a slight mistake, failing to fuse my nostalgic yearning with my contemporary needs.  

Last holiday season, when images of Starter jackets started appearing and rumors of a revamp began to buzz, memories of my youth (and my misguided style choices in 2002) were ignited. Recently, we were greeted to official confirmation of the rumors. Starter is back… or more appropriately, the brands profile has been reinvigorated. Helmed by Jeff Staple, Starter Black Label is sporting heritage meets contemporary sportswear.

Over email, Jeff shared some of his thoughts about and inspirations for Black Label.
Read The Feature Here…

Taking inspiration from vintage clothing seems basic on the surface. However, rarely do people push beyond the basic rehashing of old themes and looks. Garbstore is about capturing a feeling in manufacturing and detail. Against the rash of retro style and nostalgic graphic pilfering, this approach is certainly refreshing. It proves the benefits of looking closely at material culture and extracting lessons from that exercise.

Having founded One True Saxon, and helmed R. Newbold and Red Ear in the Paul Smith empire, Ian Paley’s reputation speaks for itself. His experiences, no doubt, have provided him with necessary tools to pick apart aspects of the old and re-imagine them so cleanly. Garbstore is a brand hinged directly on the quality of its product and the joys of making new items.

Ian and I connected over the phone. He was in one capital city (London), and I was in another (DC). We did not talk politics.
Read The Interview Here…

The intersection and merger of diverse artistic and sub-group aesthetics and influences plays a major roll in the contemporary iteration of what we call street culture. Beyond the music, graphic, and even transportation choices, there is also a balance between the authentic and the watered down. This comes, primarily, from tensions related to work with corporate entities.
Andy Howell, as an artist and a skateboarder (among many other things), has traversed many of the rocky trails that define the mingling of the corporate world and the street arts. Working with companies as diverse as Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, DC Shoes and Rossignol (presented to you in the previous post), along with his own New Deal and Element, Howell has created and collaborated on some highly visible art works.
We had an in-depth conversation with the artist about his work, his inspiration and views in general.
Read The Feature Interview here…