Thank You

Hi all, so the time has come for me to move on. I've been awarded an opportunity to write for LimitedHype so from now on that's where I'll be. When I started this blog, I had no intention of doing anything other than disclosing my personal thoughts on things I perceived to be cool, and as a hobby, no less. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this going anywhere only to end up writing for one of fashion's most respected blogs. So all I can really do then, is thank everybody who's come by because in doing so you've helped me exceed all expectations I had for myself when I first began. Much love. Bye for now.

Jonathan Luk

Nigel Cabourn x Yuketen | The Army Gym

Yuketen have been a force to be reckoned with for quite some time now, manufacturing some of the most coveted boots to hit the high end footwear market. To add even more merit to a company whose industry standards are already among the best, Nigel Cabourn was brought in and given leeway to experiment with one of Yuketen's most popular silhouettes. He brings with him his infatuation for luxury cloth which is one that spans many decades. Often times his designs are rife with the use of premium textiles, each time gathered and selected by Cabourn himself, with Harris Tweed somehow managing to find its way into his hands time and time again. Its long-standing history has always resonated with Cabourn who likes to incorporate it into a lot of his work; never in an excessive amount, but rather as sort of a complimentary material to something else. Such is the case here with these hunting boots, as for each of the models, a different coloured tweed fabric encompasses a significant portion of the upper which coincides nicely with the signature Yuketen crepe soles and American hand sewn leather. A Japanese release only available at The Army Gym.

Ettinger for Monocle

Esteemed men's magazine, Monocle, have never been shy about parterning up with some of fashion's most preeminent names to help futher promote the brand as one that specializes not only in providing cutting-edge news in the realms of fashion and culture, but as one that also dares to delve into a more tangibile form of expression, succeeding where so many others fail. For their latest effort, they have teamed up with Ettinger of London who, when it comes to leather accessories, are in a league of their own, often cited as being the absolute best because of their dedication to quality. Their pledge to make a product as simple as a wallet, for example, be the pride and joy of what they do is a testament to how they do it - with passion. And the two companies have instilled more than enough of that into a two-tone cardholder which looks absolutely elegant. A tasteful representation of both brands.

The Haywood Suit from Steve Alan

From Steven Alan: “The cut is slim but casual with a subtle inset stripe on the pant legs that pays homage to more formal suit styles, but stays low-profile. And the fabrics are amazing- a soft brushed cotton oxford from Japan in Fall tones, and two incredible cotton/wool blends From Italy which have a vintage look and handfeel- classy!”

This suit is amazing. Perfect for any occassion and extremely versatile. I need to get my hands on one.

INVENTORY Magazine | Volume 1 Issue 1

Canadian Ryan Willms, the creative mind behind the highly lauded but now defunct h(y)r collective namesake, has relaunched his online magazine under a new identity. Aside from providing weekly updates and showcasing upcoming collaborations, Willms will also be taking his astute prowess for all things awesome into the print side of things with the inaugural issue of his newly backed INVENTORY magazine set to debut sometime later this month. It will include features on Yuketen and Engineered Garments and if Willms' recognition as one of the most fashion forward thinkers in the industry is any indication of how INVENTORY will be received, then I think it's safe to say we can expect intellectually written pieces on some of fashion's top designers and analyses of the latest trends and products in ALL forthcoming issues. This is one that is sure to be a breath of fresh air.

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