Dawson Denim (UK); Taking note from others.

 Kelly Dawson and Scott Ogden of Dawson Denim have spent the last 15 years working in denim; they hand-make their selvage workwear aprons in their Brighton workshop UK using top-of-the-line Red line selvage from Japan.

Every Dawson apron comes in a presentation box with a Log Book (you can return your apron to Dawson Denim if it needs a repairing). There are four apron models to choose from, all based on historical garments that the couple have collected over the years. To see the range, go to Dawson Denim.

Goedemorgen Amsterdam

Called away on a shoot (my other job) and heading out to Amsterdam for a couple of days. Plan to use the time, if I get any, hitting the markets and vintage emporiums. While I was living there a couple of months ago I found some interesting fabric shops, so will be heading out with an empty suit case.

Take Ivy.

Take Ivy- published in Japanese on September 20, 1965 by Fujingaho sha, Tokyo, Japan.

Essential Reading.

Learning from the east.

A seriously inspiring and interesting book to flick through, if only I could own a copy of me own. The Japanese always do it well. Brain Child of Mr. Kazuo Hozumi. 

Shanty Suits. Sapeurs.

There are strict rules of dress for Sapeurs: three colors are the maximum for an outfit and the status of style is increased by accessories, such as cigars, pipes, ties, glasses, and walking sticks.

SAPE -  the religion of style.

Sharpen up with a Sharpie.

So. Decided to go and do the sensible thing. Buy myself a notepad and a Sharpies marker. It was now time to unleash my thoughts and ideas onto paper. I didn’t want to get to ahead of myself and chose to focus on the branding itself. No design - yet. Tempting as it is to start drawing aesthetically pleasing sketches of garments, I refrained and started making note of the core meanings and foundations of what I wanted this brand to be about. More importantly who it was for.

You may be wondering, if your following this and give a shit. Why no name? Like with a baby (not that I have one..) you name it once it is ‘born’ and it’s exactly what I plan to do with this. Nothing to limit it; making for a freeform process to create an identity that is not anchored by anything from the beginning. 

After spending the time forming a basic framework of brand image, I couldn’t resist and spent some time drawing out detailing that I plan to use in the range, before I had forgot them.

This was done all whilst taking in the newly printed fifth-issue of Jocks and Nerds. For those of you unfamiliar, it’s a devilishly good free quarterly style publication. For readers interested in proper style it’s history and culture surrounding such things.

Basic Lessons.

Sir Hardy Amies - a British style legend. 

Entry Level.

So. I decided this a couple of months back after much thought.

Just a bit of background - I graduated from university two years ago with a degree in how to be an ‘Ad man’. Spent 6 months in Amsterdam working in an ad agency. Moved back to London and started working in the east-end at a menswear outfitters and am still here at present.

I’ve got a serious thing for vintage menswear dating from the mid 50s through to the early 70s. Not only that, I’m fascinated with the origins of style and the way individuals and sub-cultures take these elements upon themselves in order to form an identity, be it for the first time or with an element of nostalgia. 

I plan to use this blog as personal platform to share the steps I take, right or wrong, in order to start up my own menswear collection in time for a S/S 13. Alongside this I will be sharing some of my inspiration, ideas and thought processes behind what I’m going to be doing.

Feel free to follow, read and maybe even learn something - I know I will.