Nike and New York-based brand Kith come together to create a one-of-a-kind pop-up shop experience. Revolutionary design firm Snarkitecture constructed a simple interior within Kith’s Manhattan location – choosing a minimal color palette, in line with the aesthetics of both brands, and using casted Nike shoe boxes as architectural points throughout. Considering Kith’s founder Ronnie Fieg’s stature in the footwear industry as a resident sneaker-head, as well as Nike’s unwavering cult fandom, the store will include an ever-changing selection of exceptional shoes, including a rotating display of deep cuts from Nike’s archives. The pop-up will also house a customization booth with a series of limited edition Nike x Kith products alongside Kith Treats, the deluxe cereal bar currently located at Kith’s Brooklyn output. All of these elements will work together to portray a singular narrative story, which will change throughout the store’s duration.
The Nike x Kith pop-up shop will open its doors on Friday, August 5 at 644 Broadway, Manhattan, NY 10012.
For its 10-year anniversary, “Highsnobiety” pairs with eyewear brand MYKITA for a limited edition sunglass frame. Fusing past and present trends, the Berlin-based brands created a progressive design with a timeless aesthetic limited to 300 pairs worldwide.
Image: MYKITA.
The ATKA model has a translucent front in a nassau color that is paired with black temples and a modern mix of surfaces, uniting warm, vivid acetate and sleek stainless steel for a contrasting blend of material.
Image: MYKITA.
The light frame also boasts a tailored, click-in connection that creates a subtle trademark in the shape of a metal square. In the past, the media outlet has teamed up with Puma, Kith, and adidas, but it is the first brand to collaborate with MYKITA on this new, mixed-material style.
Sneaker savant Ronnie Fieg leaves a mark on boating shoe maker Sebago for a KITH-worthy, cool collab of moccasins. A continuation of a longstanding relationship, the new capsule brings three new colors to the style—burgandy, forest green, and dark navy—along with squared leather laces, vintage brass eyeless, and custom packaging. Constructed using a Goodyear-welted Vibram Christy sole with luxe suede leather from Charles F. Stead & Co., the new updates bring an urban energy to a classic style.
The Ronnie Fieg x Sebago Fall 2015 capsule releases tomorrow, September 12,2015, at both KITH locations and online.
After stepping out of his role as CEO of Vancouver-based company Native Shoes, young entrepreneur Damian Van Zyll De Jong is diving into a new project with his own brand, People Footwear. An avid skateboarder at a young age, De Jong also developed an interest in designing footwear. “Shoes were a necessary part of your kit that you had to re-up on a regular basis,” he recalls, crediting traveling and working with like-minded people as his main sources of inspiration: which is how People Footwear eventually came to be.
Image: People Footwear.
“With this brand, it isn’t just about selling shoes but also about the amazing humans around us that inspire and motivate creativity within our global community,” says De Jong. The focus for the new brand’s Spring/Summer 2015 line is lightweight materials, ultimate comfort, and timeless looks. The styles are made from the latest technology and constructed from their own performance molded foam known as Skylite EVA to ensure maximum comfort. The DreamKnit collection is especially unique as each pair is digitally knitted using high-tech machinery to create a one-of-a-kind look and feel. “I love the process of creating something dynamic and unique,” says the designer. His interest in future production techniques has truly made his brand one-of-a-kind. “The key is using the latest tools around you in the construction process. It’s all in the details when putting the final touches on something. Keep an open mind while staying true to the integrity of the silhouette.”
The complete line of shoes just launched online this week and will arrive at Kith NYC at the end of the month, greatly complimenting the styles the urban retailer already carries. “Kith has always been a great supporter of us,” says De Jong. The footwear store will offer an exclusive all-white limited edition color-way of People Footwear’s Stanley and Phillips Knit styles.
In the Washroom is a series of short interviews with interesting men in the fashion industry about everything appearance-wise except clothes. From overall grooming advice to wish list products, we sat down with Jonathan Evans of East Dane, Sam Ben-Avraham of Atrium, and Tom Kalenderian of Barneys New York to get a little insight into what goes into each man’s grooming routine.
Image: Jonathan Evans.
For the past year, Jonathan Evans has been outfitting men of the world online with the brother website to Amazon’s ShopBop, East Dane. As fashion director, the Gilt and Park & Bond alum oversees a stable of brands that range from Public School to Marc by Marc Jacobs and 3.1 Phillip Lim—in fact, to celebrate its anniversary, the e-tailer dropped an exclusive capsule collection featuring designs from everyone from Patrick Ervell to Miansai and Mackintosh.
Essential Homme: What would you say is one piece of grooming advice that has always stuck with you? Jonathan Evans: My barber once told me that trimming my beard should be like trimming a topiary: just get in there with clippers and cut away what you don’t need until you have the right shape.
EH: Do you work-out? What is one of your favorite ways to exercise in the dead of winter? JE: Nowhere near as often as I should, though I used to be pretty good about getting to the gym regularly—need to start that again—in the meantime, does picking up a glass of whiskey count as some sort of lift?
Image: D.S. & Durga.
EH: Is there a product that you use personally that you’d be interested in seeing on the site? JE: D.S. & Durga cologne is a personal favorite, and I certainly wouldn’t object to having some of their scents on EastDane at some point in the future.
ESSENTIAL PRODUCT: If you could have gotten any grooming/fitness related product you wanted for the holidays, but could only have one, what would it have been? JE: Considering all those whiskey-lifts I’ve been doing, let’s stick to grooming. Baxter of California makes some really great hair products, and even though it’s tough to choose between them all, I think I could get by quite happily with their clay pomade and not a whole lot else. Luckily, we’re already selling that on East Dane, so I have a supply at the ready.
Image: Sam Ben-Avraham.
Sam Ben-Avraham has been an arbiter of men’s style for years. He’s founded two trade shows, invested in of-the-moment brands like KITH, and runs a growing men’s retail business that you may have heard of: Atrium. With so much success to his name, it’s pretty clear that Ben-Avraham has his finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the market.
Essential Homme: What would you say is one piece of grooming advice that has always stuck with you? Sam Ben-Avraham: The best grooming advice I’ve ever received was from my barber. He told me about Andis‘ beard trimmer and I’ve used it ever since.
EH: Do you work-out? What is one of your favorite ways to exercise in the dead of winter? SBA: Yes, absolutely. I enjoy yoga and I box with Eldan Ker at Work Train Fight.
Image: Malin + Goetz.
EH: Is there a product that you use personally that you’d be interested in seeing at your store? SBA: I’m a fan of Malin + Goetz products, the sage styling cream in particular.
EH: ESSENTIAL PRODUCT: If you could have gotten any grooming/fitness related product you wanted for the holidays, but could only have one, what would it have been? SBA: If I can only have one grooming/fitness item… I would want to move into the Great Jones Spa for a week! Hah, is that possible?
Image: Tom Kalenderian.
Barneys is undoubtedly synonymous with a certain type of downtown New York style. With a history that stretches back nearly a century, the multi-location department store stocks the likes of Balenciaga, Rick Owens, and Saint Laurent Paris. As a Executive Vice President and General Merchandise Manager, Tom Kalenderian has a pretty innate knowledge of style.
Essential Homme: What would you say is one piece of grooming advice that has always stuck with you? Tom Kalenderian: Never use a bar of soap on your face; find a facial cleanser that does not dry out your skin. I favor Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash. People tell me I look refreshed and maybe that’s why?
EH: Do you work-out? What is one of your favorite ways to exercise in the dead of winter? TK: I prefer to get up at 5am and get an early start for the gym—with a brisk walk before a workout, especially in the winter. I find that the cooler weather is a good wake up call and helps to get my engine running.
Image: Penhaligon.
EH: Is there a product that you use personally that you’d be interested in seeing at your store? TK: When I travel I try to pick up Penhaligon’s Bayolea Hair Pomade whenever I see it. I am excited that Barneys will now be stocking it!
EH: ESSENTIAL PRODUCT: If you could have gotten any grooming/fitness related product you wanted for the holidays, but could only have one, what would it have been? TK: I’d want the Molton Brown 4-In-1 Sportwash; it takes care of four birds with one stone. It works for your face, hair, body, and even shaving. It’s the perfect grab-and-go grooming product to always keep tucked in your gym bag.
