Mister Mort has posted up an exclusive look at the much anticipated Opening Ceremony x Levi’s collaboration. The first of the collection to be released is a 3-piece corduroy suit. The suits is all made in the USA and is based on the 505 jean and will be available in seven different color ways. Corduroy always comes in to fashion in a big way then goes out super quick. So we will leave the opinions up to you…

HYPEBEAST

Japanese Brand MUG (Minotaur Urban Gear) was established 6 years ago by Eiichi Izumi. Izumi named the brand Minotaur after the 1930s Surrealist collaborative publication of Dali and Picasso. The concept of MUG is to combine elegant design with a functionality geared towards the demands of daily life. The fusion of excellent design and ease of use is the basis of all MUG products, and is clearly on display in the slender, easy to wear design of the Mouton Boot.

From their new collection MUG has released their new suede desert boot. Featuring a sheepskin lining, wax laces and a nice thick crepe sole the boots will be available in three different colours ways all featuring a white contrast stitch. Its a nice improvement on a shape that is redesigned every season. Available now at oki-ni.

HYPEBEAST

Altamont have released details of their latest instalment of the “Cut from a different cloth” video series and collection, featuring a peek into the life of skater, Brian “Slash” Hansen. Each season Altamont invites people from a wide variety of professions to help contribute to their collection to add some different ideas. This time around it was Slash that got the chance to add his own personal style to the collection. Altamont aren’t out to please everyone and they know they wont. They just want their idea to help inspire you to pursue whatever it is you love, as that is what they are doing.

hypebeast

Interview Magazine has sat down with the king of hip hop Jay-Z for a chat . The interview discusses Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter favorite movie charectors, his presidential buddies, collaborations and his rise to fame that has been sustained over such a long period. Jay-Z turned 40 last year and is at the pinnacle of the Hip Hop world with his writing, producing and record label dealings. It’s a good read and gives you a nice little insight into the world of Jay-Z.

Created by former Evisu and Levi’s designer, Mark Westmoreland, One Denim is a jean designed for true denim connoisseur, taking iconic features from all of the hallmark heritage denim brands – Levi’s, Lee, Boss of the Road, Stronghold and Wrangler – to create what is possibly the best pair of jeans I have ever seen.   Ultra exclusive,  a mere  100 pairs of ‘One’ jeans being sold and they will only be available from five retailers worldwide.

The end product of  four years from Westmoreland, in conjunction with the Shiotoni brothers of Japan, his mission was to create a supremely crafted yet simple denim jean which pooled the knowledge of all the world’s greatest jean makers.

Created from US cotton the 14oz denim is loop dyed and woven near Hiroshima at a family run mil, it is crammed full of detail and is effectively a best-of denim.  Details include:

•Rivets are ‘washer & burr’ – an authentic piece of denim hardware – identified by the cotton threads poking through the middle.
•‘X’ stitched bar tacks on the back pockets are inspired by Lee.
•Pocket bags are 9 oz denim, inspired by Levi’s first jean, the Nevada.
•The fly is one continuous piece, inspired by Boss of the Road denim.
•To keep things as pure as possible, all sewing has been done by a single stitch machine, using cotton threads, with the exception of the belt loops which are from a twin needle.
• The waistband is one continuous stitch, tracking around the patch to the waistband – a Japanese standard.
•The back seam and yoke have been hand finished to produce a ‘french seam’ – a technically brilliant finish that’s rarely found in bulky fabrics.
•Arcuate stitching spells M W – the initials of designer Mark Westmoreland. •Slight knotting might appear in the selvage – a sign of the loom used to weave the denim being re-set.
•The heart shaped fly button has been produced by a reproduction company based on a old railway jacket button (that was originally used by Carhartt). Although only intended for the 20 pairs given away by the designer, it was loved so much by everyone who saw it that in the end it ended up on every pair. The unusual back was a suggestion by the factory.
•And finally, all jeans are sold in an old U.S Mint coin bag, with a Japanese one yen in the pocket.

SLAMXHYPE

News is breaking today that Levi’s seem to be shutting down their local operations in Japan.  Whilst it seems they aren’t retreating from the Japanese retail market their new global strategy is seeing them shutting their Japanese office and moving any key remaining employees to their Hong Kong base, which will now be their sole office in Asia.

Levi’s Japan has been responsible for some of our favourite denim projects over the last few years, including the collaborations with the likes of Tommy Guerrero, Neighborhood, Krink and of course lines such as Fenom and LVC.   LVC is now mostly being produced in the United States, and designed in Europe and Hong Kong, but it is currently unclear what will be happening with Fenom and the other high profile collabs we have seen come out of Japan.

SLAMXHYPE

ACL founder, Micheal Williams and UrbanDaddy creator Randy Goldberg have just wrapped up their second edition of the popular Pop-Up Flea store concept. Held on Mulberry Street, NYC the store was a huge success. Featuring proudly American made products of the highest standard, both new and vintage pieces from labels such as Gitman Bros. Vintage, J.Crew, Jack Spade, Tellason plus many more. Not ones to rest on their laurels the guys have already started planning the next installment to come in the Spring.

Born out of Japan over a serious fascination with product, Evisu reached the international masses with strong global brand recognition. As a result of this success, the brand unsuccessfully juggled its roots with its new found glory, implementing the Kamome (seagull) at every opportunity – for better or worse. Thankfully, the Spring-Summer 2010 collection turns a new page in the Evisu story with the recent appointment of Scott Morrison as creative director and CEO. Scott not only brings to the table an exceptional eye for high quality product and washing techniques but also a small team of loyal staff that helped build his two previous brands. One of them is Miguel Hurtado, who is playing a vital role in the re-branding of Evisu. Taking the brand back to its product focused roots was the mandate, so with the first shoot of Morrison’s newly washed jeans, Hurtado literally washed some of the branding along with it. You get a real back to basics feel when viewing the shoot. All of photos are in black and white and were shot under the Williamsburg Bridge in NYC giving the shoot have a classic feel. The first drop of the new look Evisu teams products start to arrive around the middle of Jan in stores. Be sure to check them out. (HB)

Rising Sun & Co.has been producing hand crafted jeans out the back of their shop for the past two years. Rising Sun has a big link back to vintage Americana styles with not one aspect in construction left untouched, whether it be the vintage machines  or the turn of the century details on each pair of jeans. We have been lucky enough to catch up with the crew for a company profile.

Why does the world need Rising Sun Denim?

One of our goals is to show the immense quality that traditional American needle work can produce. Some of the heartbreakingly beautiful needle techniques we use have become obscure artifacts of a forgotten past, made unnecessary by more automated and efficient modern sewing machines.

What is the store behind the name?

We are inspired by the optimistic spirit America is founded on, symbolized by the rising sun. So long as the sun rises and we are provided daylight we can labor for our passion. The idea of using the rising sun to represent this optimism came from Benjamin Franklin who witnessed the signing of the United States of America’s Constitution. In speaking of the painting of a sun on the chair of the Convention President, George Washington, he had remarked often wondering if the sun was rising or setting and with what must have been profound conviction he was certain it was rising.

Where are you based?

We are based in a city named from the tongue of the  Minnesota Chippewa Indians. Pasadena, which means “of the valley,” was meant to convey the fact the city’s location of being on the top of the valley. Today it is home to the Rose Bowl flea market, the most famous vintage denim and workwear destinations in the world. We are inspired by both our neighbors and the 15,000+ monthly Rose Bowl visitors.

How many retail outlets do you have? How many countries?

We currently have select distribution to 10 stores that we feel understand our aesthetics and philosophy. These select stores are in Germany, US, and Japan.

How many styles of denim does your collection have? Ladies/Mens?

Mens: 7 jeans, 3 denim jackets, 1 vest, and chambray and western selvage shirts. Womens: 5 jeans, 2 denim jackets. We also offer a selection of knits and tee shirts.

Whats your price range?

150 – 500 USD; our core styles are in the high 200’s.

Whats your vision/dream for Rising Sun in 10 years from now?

To continue crafting the finest jeans and offer them around the world in our own stores.

What makes the perfect pair of jeans?

We believe in the meticulous pattern making and sewing techniques employed by master tailors of a bygone era. We believe in crafting garments that are certain to last just like in the old days when clothes were tools that helped people provide a living and build a nation. For us the workmanship is crucial. It’s our belief that the sum of all the small details make a world of difference. It is this conviction that sets us apart.

What projects do you have coming up next?

We are working on resurrecting some late 1800’s mine find jeans with some very resourceful denim relic hunters/archaeologists.

With the recent economic downturn can you see a slow down in denim purchases?

The short answer is Yes. But the fact that we have a loyal/cult following is helping us weather the storm. The important point is we founded Rising Sun to be a brand with longevity that will with time have its own heritage and history. This partly explains why while we are aware of fashion’s ever changing trends we do not impulsively jump on any fad bandwagons.

How long would it take to construct a pair of Rising Sun Jeans?

From A-Z, cutting to sewing, it takes a full day.

Is ever single pair made in the back room of your store?

Every denim garment is made in our haberdashery in our shop.

Can a customer buy a ready made pair as well as a made to measure   pair of Rising sun Jeans?

Yes, we offer a ready made selection as well as made to measure service with true tailoring techniques.

What trends do you see coming through for 2010?

As makers of clothing that are meant to withstand the test of time we do not subscribe to trends. Quality and craftsmanship will never go out of style.

What is your best selling styles?

A style called “The Standard”

What are your thoughts on the increasing number of celebrities designing their own lines of denim?

So long as there is design and production integrity we can find room to appreciate it. The problem arises when star power creates an illusion of quality and compromises on product integrity.

What is the worst denim crime?

We refrain from faulting people for loving denim in their own way. One of the most beautiful things about denim is the diverse ways in which people can appreciate it. But we will often guide customers away from embellishments that do not make sense in terms of aesthetics, history, or rational thinking.