Film | Re-Waxing your Barbour Jacket

An instructional video showing you how to re-wax your Barbour jacket. It's also the meaningful story of how Lark got started with Barbour.

www.lark.me 

Film | Barbour x Grenson

Video by BarbourOfficial

A beautiful video showing the craftsmanship of the making of  Barbour x Grenson shoes.

www.barbour.com

Joseph Ford | WAD Magazine Series

Schmutter meets scenery in Joseph Ford's series, shot for the January Issue of the French magazine, WAD. The aerial photographs were taken in Sicily, and the clothing images were taken in the studio, to match up with the landscapes. You can check out more of Joseph's great work on his website.

www.josephford.net.

Interview | Dominic McCann

Dominic McCann is a professional retoucher and free lance digital artist from the North East of England. He's done work for big names such as National Geographic and Billabong, to name a few. I caught up with him to find out a little bit more about himself and his work.

An Interview With Dominic McCann

When did you first become interested in retouching, art and photography etc.?

It wasn't until I turned 20 that I became interested in digital art... it was actually eBay that pushed me down the retouching path. I had an online shop selling vintage clothing, one of the jobs was to photograph and edit the images before listing items. I started enjoying playing about with the images to make them stand out more to buyers, adding effects etc. While I was making money from eBay I got accepted onto the Fine Art uni course in Newcastle, the decision I made then is what has took me to where I'm at now. I chose to ditch uni in favour of Photoshop and eBay. Over the following year (thanks to a lot of YouTube tutorials) I became quite advanced in image editing and manipulation... and so when I found a freelance website where I could use Photoshop to make a living, I let the eBay shop go. That was 6 years ago and I haven't looked back since.

Have you always been good at what you do, for e.g. do you think it’s a natural talent, that you just found it easy to do, or was it a steep learning curve and lots of of hard work?

From a young age I've always loved and excelled in Art, being creative is when I feel most comfortable. People can still achieve great things without a natural talent, but it certainly helps to have a creative mind in this industry. Its been a huge learning curve, I'm still learning now and will be for as long as I continue down this route.

So where are you at the moment in terms of work. Are you working for a company, are you free lance or a bit of both?

At the moment I'm working Freelance. I get work direct from customers who have found my online portfolio, but I also use agents. I currently have 3 agents from different areas of the world who give me work for a commission percentage.

I know you done some work for National Geographic for one of their commercials, you must have been thrilled. Were you approached by them? It must have been great giving the opportunity? 

The Nat Geo project was given to me by one of my Agents. I'd only been retouching for a year when that one came in, so it was a huge confidence boost. Securing a job for a company of that size spurred me on to work harder and become better.

Now then the Subbuteo image you done for the Tyne & Wear derby, which I love by the way! It made it's way on to the front cover of A Love Supreme. You must be well pleased with that, again were you approached by the people over at ALS or did you contact them?

I've been an avid Sunderland fan for as long as I can remember, its a great passion of mine.. so I thought it would be fitting to combine my two passions, thus creating the MON Subbuteo image. I had a feeling that it would turn a few heads when I posted it on Facebook, but I was shocked when the editor of ALS got in touch asking for permission to use it. He's since given me the freedom to come up with other concepts for further issues... Its nice to think that my work can have a positive influence on others.

When your not busy retouching or putting together digital images, what is it you like to do in your spare time?

Nothing too 'rock n roll' any more I'm afraid. I live with my girlfriend and her 5 year old, so any spare time we get is spent doing family orientated things... teaching the little one to ride her bike without stabilisers is currently proving to be a difficult one ha ha.

Finally Dom, what are the plans for the future?

Not many people get the opportunity to make a living doing what they love, so if I'm in the exact same position in 20 years time then I'll be a happy man. There's always the chance for me to become the agent, and delegate work for a percentage... but I enjoy doing the work too much myself at the moment so maybe that can be much later in life. 

_______________________

Thanks for taking the time out to speak to us. You clearly have a great talent, and we hope all goes well for you in the future.ACM

www.dominicthierry.daportfolio.com

F As In Frank | Vintage Clothing

Toronto Store - Images by F As In Frank

Recently came across this brand based in Canada...the two guys behind the brand are Jesse and Drew Heifetz. They were born and raised in Ontario and grew up in an environment heavily inspired by vintage clothing. They have developed their family-orientated business right from the heart.

They have two stores one in Vancouver and one in Toronto. A veritable treasure trove...vintage items ranging from the 1900's to the 1990's. Everything from rock tees, flannel shirts, dresses, leather jackets, military jackets, boots/shoes, handbags, jewellery and champion basketball jerseys. To high end/ top shelf collectible clothing, inspiration pieces, movie rentals and everything in between. They also stock the largest selection of vintage sports gear in Canada, including snapbacks, starter jackets, t-shirts and deadstock gear.

www.fasinfrankvintage.com.

UVU | Extreme Craftsmanship

UVU is a new premium performance brand designed by Dominic Stansfield in conjunction with the KTC Factory in China, who have been making premium outdoors and sports products for over 30 years. Crafted for the worlds elite ultra marathons, these garments will perform in the harshest conditions on the planet. 

It's a forward thinking brand, where sharp design meets serious fabrication. It's definitely a big step forward in garment technology. The garments are tested in extreme climates, such as the Arctic (that's a bit extreme, I hear you say), well that's what makes this brand and their garments innovative. It's product engineering, material science, an understanding of: running, environmental conditions and athletic insight.

UVU has been in development for two years now and come April 5th you can get your hands on the Cold Race Jacket 01. They are yet to confirm their prices, but they are certain that there will be something in everyone's price range between their Race and Train collections, when they launch.

www.uvuracing.com

Interview | Iain Trickett, TRiCKETT -England-

The new and upcoming British label TRiCKETT -England-, is based in the red rose country. Their aim is to preserve a piece of sporting heritage, which is slowly being forgotten. Clothing, food and sporting goods is at the core of what they stock. Selected and sourced from the finest manufacturers and crafter's from across the USA, Canada and of course the UK.

After an e-mail to Iain Trickett, the founder of TRiCKETT -England- to enquire about the size of some socks, we got talking. Seems we have some common interests. I wanted to know what made Iain tick; and wanted a bit more of an insight into the label, so I asked him if it would be possible for an interview. He said he loves a good Q&A and agreed, so here it is.

An Interview With Iain Trickett

Firstly Iain could you tell me where it all started?

I can pretty much pinpoint the period where I wanted to be involved in clothing or sportswear of some sort in 1996. It was the season that Les Ferdinand had started playing for Newcastle, wearing what is, in my opinion, one of the most iconic strips in football history. Don't get me started on the composition of the Newcastle 95 -97 home shirt or I may well never finish. In the same year Nike released the Jordan XI, which again is an example of classic, simple design (which influences TRiCKETT to this day).

From that point, I would always design shoes, trainers, and jackets, whatever I saw. I can't stress enough that I never went to art school or fashion college to learn design, I just winged it (I actually did a Music degree).

After a bit of dipping around in Street wear after being influenced by big brands like The Hundreds, Diamond Supply Co., Mighty Healthy etc and forming my own company that failed miserably, I decided to go back to my roots and form a brand around things that I loved rather than trying to find a fashion to sell into. So that is the point I am at now.

You said you used to run a blog. What was the blog about and how did you go from blogging to having your own label?

I would always find things that I liked and would show them to my girlfriend and say 'How amazing is this' or 'Do you remember these?' Being the good sport that she is, she would look at them and they made her smile. So she said that rather than just showing them to her, I should tell more people about my discoveries so that is pretty much how I got into blogging. I got a few styling jobs, sold a few t-shirts and made some good friends along the way.

What I didn't know is that the blog would now form a huge part of my research and I use it almost as an archive now. I am far better at unearthing things from the archives than I am at redesigning something that already exists.

Why is there only small numbers of each product?

I grew up in the 90s where it was all about having trainers, jackets, jeans or whatever that no-one else had. Before the internet, going on shopping missions with my dad driving, looking for a Boca Juniors Away shirt in some dodgy sports shop in Cirencester, was probably about as exciting as it got for me.

I thought that it would make people remember that special moment when they got / bought something really special for the first time in their life, I also quite like the idea that all the products are collector's pieces as we are all anoraks at heart!

Who/what inspires you?

I guess the biggest thing that inspires me daily is sport of Europe and North America. I know that is a big thing that inspires me, but I am always intrigued by how every region has it’s own sporting culture and way of dressing. Obviously the best example of this is football - Teds, Mods, Skinheads, Casuals, Terrace Monkeys - throughout the ages they have all had a keen interest in football and looking good, which I guess is what my brand is all about.

Aside from the obvious, old photos of sports teams always inspire me, not only in terms of what they wear, but you always wonder 'who's that?', 'what position did they play?' or, 'were they actually a good team?'

Hip-Hop had and still does have a huge influence on me as it always gets me in the mood for a bit of research and I like how the artists mix sportswear, high end designers and work wear together effortlessly.

The other influence is just two words Michael Jordan. Enough said.

When did you first become interested in sports culture and sportswear design from the past?

Sportswear is one of those things that has always interested me, ever since I can remember I always had a pair of Nikes on my feet and my Mum bought me my first pair of Jordan’s and matching tracksuit when I was 6 so I was always destined to be into training shoes / sporting goods.

I always liked how things looked in terms of what teams played in and this was all the more prevalent in the 90s when football shirt design could be at best described as 'experimental.' On a Saturday night I always got to stay up late and watch Match of the Day and more often than not my dad and I would discuss the shirts and boots more than the results.

Sportswear design from the past has pretty much always interested me. From the 1950’s onwards, dedicated sportswear companies started cropping up that made functional, simple garments which are pretty much all I am about. They were at the forefront of what sportswear design was going to be and still to this day not much has changed. I also like how they used hardwearing fabrics as opposed to cheap polyester and market it as performance. I won’t lie those tight lycra Kombat shirts that Kappa made were revolutionary for all kinds of reasons and eventually translated in to all sports, however I like my sportswear to look better the more it is used.

Sports culture came quite a bit later on when my uncle always used to take me to watch Burnley (being a Stanley fan, it was the only 'decent' football I could watch so I was told). We always got to the game for the 2nd half as he and his mates would all be drinking, discussing clobber and when they were next going to Italy to buy some special Stone Island pieces. He bought me a Burnley jumper and told me it was a Stone Island limited edition (it wasn't, but how amazing would that be?) and I wore that jumper until the seams split.

It was at that point I realised that sport wasn't just the result; it was the journey, the fans, the stories and memories. I don't think that anything else can even come close in terms of an influence on my life, as it seemed OK to like sport and clothes for the first time in my life.

What’s your favourite sport and do you play any sport in your free time?

I can't help it, I do love football, but I can't really get into the Greedy League (Credit the Casual Connoisseur for that) as it is all just a bit too fame, glitz and glamour for me. The only person that has kept me going this season is Grant Holt as he really is a traditional centre forward, apart from that I am a bit bored with it all.

Recently I got back into basketball. Although I do have an interest in most sports, be they North American or otherwise, basketball always draws me back in. The athleticism of the players and genuine talent is always something I am drawn to. Having been a Los Angeles Clippers fan all of my life, it is a good time to watch them after years of utter, utter crap.

I play football on the regular, however the most active I get is dog walking, so when that is internationally recognized as an Olympic sport then I will declare myself as physically active.

I will agree with you there Iain, football has become more of a business than a sport these days. What team do you support/follow?

I am a rare breed of Accrington Stanley supporter. I can see the ground from my house and I am there fairly regularly, work permitting, with the other two fans. It's still a traditional club in my eyes, crap stadium, waterlogged pitch, terraces and a port-a-cabin club shop. What more could you want?

I know your good mates with the lads from Casual Co/One up. Do you plan on collaborating with them or anyone else in the near future?

Well the lads and I are meeting up very soon for a pint of mild, clutching sketchpads and fabric swatches. All I will say is that there is something on the cards, but I genuinely don't know what it is yet. When I know I will let the CC chaps tell you, they can draw better than I can.

Sound’s good. Finally Iain what does the future hold for TRiCKETT?

TRiCKETT is steadily growing which is really good as it is always nice to see that people share your vision and ideas. I am making some baseball bats really soon with Louisville Slugger, which are due out this year. I will be releasing the baseball caps, which people have been pestering me for months over and hopefully a few secret collaborations with some reputable sportswear manufacturers too.

I will also continue to scour the planet for nice items for the shop, if I can get it all sorted I am releasing an insulated mug for your Bovril on the terraces so that will be amazing, no-one likes a cold brew.

Thanks for taking the time out to talk to me Iain. Good luck with the expansion of your label and the collaborations. I look forward to seeing how it all turns out and what new products you have in store.ACM

www.trickett-england.co.uk