Young men. Young business.

     In this world of young entrepreneurs, it's not uncommon for many young men to have their first business card made. If you don't have one, think about getting one; even if it just has your name, number and email. It shows you take yourself seriously and are well prepared, and it will feel less awkward when someone hands you their card.

     Whenever you get a card, make sure you hold on to it. You never know when you may want to get in contact with that person. I recently found this Steven Alan business card holder and think it's a sleek way to store all of the cards you have accumulated over time. And remember, whenever you meet someone and exchange cards, try to email them the next day to remind them of who you are, and how it was a pleasure meeting them. Staying organized is a great way for young men to maintain their young business. 

Steven Alan business card holder. 

A Great Read

     Later this year The Great Gatsby film will be released, and chances our culture will grow a bit more nostalgic, with shows like Downton Abbey, Mad Men, and Boardwalk Empire all being a part of our obsession with past decades. With it being summer, I found this the perfect time to reread this classic. Refresh your mind and get lost in the glamorous, scandalous life of some of New York's finest. 

 

Click on the book to purchase the hard copy, and the Kindle for the Kindle version of the book!

Steven Alan: Summer Picks

     While recently spending this past weekend meandering around Manhattan for a new spot to eat with friends, we stumbled in Steven Alan. Somehow the brand never came about on my radar, but I'm glad that it is now. The Meatpacking store was quaint and charming, and I found a great bathing suit that was bright orange and perfect for summer. The lady working was very happy to go through the different products with us and really seemed to care about what she was selling. I had to check out their website and was thrilled to see how many things they had to offer. I highly recommend checking out all of the products (I've included some of my favorite below). And for those interested we ended up eating at Bus Stop Cafe on Hudson. The Pasta Polo was great, and their hot chocolate is a cheap thrill to end the meal.

Interview with Kirk Von Heifner, of VBN

Kirk Von Heifner, Design Director of VBN. As well as Eric Adams
Devon Craychee, who are Creative Directors of the brand. 

Skinny Suspenders: VBN is a relatively new brand. Why and how was it created?
Kirk Von Heifner: Devon, Eric and I were just circle guys trying to fit into a square corporate holes, and it wasn't working. We hated the fact that a 9-5er job dictates our life and turning us into zombies, so creating a company of our own was our only choice and we had the most experience in fashion. We wanted to be part of something that is creative and fun but also benefits others. Through the brand we currently organize bi -monthly benefits, charities, environmental clean ups, etc. The end goal is to use the brand as a vehicle to really drive our social events while delivering utilitarian clothing. The bigger we get the more people we can impact and the better the line will evolve.

Skinny Suspenders: What is the brand's goal and mission?
KVH: As per above, We want to create and curate products for a man life as we see it, and through that improve the lifestyle of less fortunate and help preserve our natural environment.

Skinny Suspenders: What makes it different from the other brands out there?
KVH: The three of us are pretty different than most you meet in this industry. Besides that it's our brand's mission that sets us aside from most brands. We want to build a community. Unfortunately, we are trying to build a lifestyle brand and community from very little. Speaking from a indie brand stand point, a lot of brands are started by privileged kids and we are just hustling to make it. Hustling builds character and teaches you to run efficient, it's a good thing too.

Skinny Suspenders: Who do you see your customer being, and what are his needs as a consumer?
KVH: We translate to a lot of guys, yet we make clothes for a guy who surfs, grows his food, fishes, rock climbs, skis, gets his hands dirty and then brushes off and shows up at work in the city in the same outfit. Our clothing translates across multiple areas of a guys life, and that is what we design them for. Utilitarian clothing but pulls ascetics from the hot beds of our urban modern youth. (Venice, Silverlake, Williamsburg, Ballard, etc)

Skinny Suspenders: How difficult is it being an eco-friendly brand?
KVH: Everything is difficult about it. At first everything in the line was eco. Now only a portion of the line is eco, because we couldn't compete with the big brand's non eco lines. We had too many strikes against us so we needed to simplify our guidelines. Today it's more about supporting the work force in the USA when we can, using clean dye facilities, using fair factories over seas and ultimately using VBN to organize our socially responsible events. As we grow we will again push organics as a majority fiber.

Skinny Suspenders: What makes the products organic?
KVH: Cotton, using a cotton fibers from a plants 8 generations old grown within certified organic regulations (Organic Trade Association). The cotton plant must be grown with organic pesticides and fertilizers. It takes 2kg of fertilizer and pesticide to produce the cotton used in one t-shirt and in result there is a large amount of chemical run off and contamination of water supplies. If the farmer uses biodegradable substitutes then the run off is less destructive to the ecosystem. Other fibers such as recycled polyester is produced from soda bottles, or organic wool is sheered from open range sheep feeding mainly from their natural surroundings. Also, using dyes that do not contain heavy metals and/or are bio soluble. Producing goods locally to reduce carbon emissions. The list goes on and on.

Skinny Suspenders: What inspires the people behind the brand?
KVH: Living our lives around building this brand from nothing and doing the activities we love. You have to live a balanced life, and it's easier said than done.

Skinny Suspenders: Is there reasoning behind the constant use of neutral colors in all of the collections?
KVH: It's just the colors we love and the colors that most guys want to wear. We will be pushing more colors in the Spring'13 line. Check it out in July on the site!

Skinny Suspenders: What's a typical day for the creative team of VBN?
KVH: Answering e-mails, making tech packs, spec garments, designing trims, web site, color pallets, and maybe sketch some clothes. Too much to talk about. It's only really me in design and it's only Devon and Eric running the bulk of the company, sales, operations and helping with creative direction which keeps my area afloat. We obviously don't have 40 hr work weeks, it's a handful to say the least.

Skinny Suspenders: Where is VBN currently sold at?
KVH: Bloomingdales, Nordstroms, Urban,American Rag, Atrium, Gary's New Port and much more. You can go to the stockist link on our page and it should direct you to a retailer near you.

Skinny Suspenders: What's your favorite aspect of designing for men?
KVH: The classiness of it, there are rules and regulations to designing for a guy and it's not an easy task. Designing menswear is like car design. There's always 4 wheels, a chassis, motor, and body. It's within those guidelines based on history and trend you can create and design. It's somewhat calculated but without law set in stone and I like that aspect of it. If you are a well experienced designer you can move a lot creatively. Some people see menswear as too many restrictions and that's just not the case. You have to be an architect to be a menswear designer and a sculture to be a womenswear designer.

Skinny Suspenders: What's in store for the future of the brand?
KVH: Continue to grow company and build our social movement. The Spring'12 and Fall'13 are the renascence of VBN and it will only get much better so you need to watch for the new seasons.

Interview with Alexander Liang, of Kenton Magazine

Alexander Liang, Editor-in-Chief of KENTON Magazine.

     The growth of online magazines has often intrigued me, so needless to say I was excited when I had the recent opportunity to speak with Alexander Liang, Editor-in-Chief of KENTON Magazine. Below is my interview regarding his past experience at print publications, the future of the magazine, and his Favorite Fashion Five.


Skinny Suspenders: You attended Parsons School of Design. What did you study, and what did you take away from studying there?
Alexander: At Parsons, I studied Design & Management, which was a combination of both business and design. It was a great program and I use a lot of the knowledge and skills I learned at Parsons everyday.

Skinny Suspenders: From there you worked at various publications such as Details and T: The New York Times Style Magazine, as well as worked in PR. What made you decide to move forward to create Kenton Magazine?
Alexander: I always wanted to run my own company, so it was really just a question of when I would start it. I met a lot of amazing contacts throughout my work experiences and had the opportunity to observe the industry through the experts. Combined with my education at Parsons, I felt very prepared to take on the world of entrepreneurship. I also really had nothing to lose by starting a business, so I thought: why not?

Skinny Suspenders: What are the difference between an online magazine and a print? 
Alexander: Online and print magazines have many similarities content-wise. However, the timing and angle of the content is what varies. Print magazines have to work well in advance to make deadlines for printing. Content always has to be checked for their relevancy after the magazine is printed. Online magazines are more up to the minute. Information can come in during the morning and be published online by the afternoon. Both print and online magazines plan content ahead of time, but I think there is more spontaneity with the web.

Skinny Suspenders: What is the daily routine of being an editor of an online magazine? 
Alexander: Everyday is different, but the constant daily tasks include email, Twitter, Facebook and the like. I publish all of the stories on KENTON's site, so copy editing, formatting and design take up part of my days as well.

Skinny Suspenders: What's your favorite thing about your job?
Alexander: My favorite thing about my job is meeting and connecting with passionate, talented, hard-working people in the industry. And of course, I live for fashion week and the constant discovery of unique style.

Skinny Suspenders: Are there any misconceptions people have about online magazines?
Alexander: The number one misconception about online magazines is that they are blogs. I won't get into it, but there are definitely distinct differences. The second misconception is that working at magazine is all glamour. False. Yes, there is glamour, but there's also a lot of grease.

Skinny Suspenders: What would you say is the goal of the magazine?
Alexander: Our goal is to continually grow and develop as a magazine. We aim to connect with our readers and provide timely, engaging and evolving content.

Skinny Suspenders: Kenton Magazine offers fashion news for both men and women. Do you find it being double the work to please both audiences? 
Alexander: We've never really seen it as double the work, but rather double the excitement, because we get to work with both men's and women's brands and topics. It can definitely be overwhelming at times, when news is coming in that's relevant for both sexes. However, we've heard from many of our readers that they often enjoy checking out stories geared to the opposite gender.


Skinny Suspenders: What's your hope for the future of Kenton? 
Alexander: My hope is the KENTON continues to grow on an upward, exponential curve. I plan to be running the company for the rest of my career, so I definitely hope we can see consistent success!

Skinny Suspenders: Let's say you woke up and the Internet was nonexistent, where do you think you would end up within the fashion industry, if even the fashion industry?
Alexander: Interesting question. Easy answer would be that I'd be working at a print magazine. I might also be a stylist, since that is also part of my job as is. If I wasn't in the fashion industry, I think I might like to be a psychologist.

1. I'm currently plotting the purchase of this Joe Fresh blazer.

2. This Sperry Patent Boat Shoe.

3. Obsessed with Hermes Clic H bracelets and lusting after one.

4. Absolute favorite lunch spot is Bouchon Bakery in Columbus Circle, NYC. It's frequented so often that we joke at KENTON that it's our office.

5. Favorite new movie is The Avengers. 

Revive Levi's in France

     With flagship stores in San Francisco, New York, and London, it only seems natural that Levi's opens their newest flagship store in France. Coming in at 7,000 square feet, the brand is opening the store this weekend where they plan to lure customers in with musical performances and three-stories of merchandise.
     I quite like the brand personally as I seem to have really gotten into the American heritage vibe happening in menswear lately. My only thing is by looking at their other flagships stores I can't help but be slightly disappointed with the design aspect of the store. Levi's has been so creative lately, I expect something a little more grand from a flagship store. However, there's no doubt that the store will be well-received by the people of France.

Images Courtesy of WWD. 

American Giant

     Tags on clothing with the words "Made in the U.S.A." is rare, but is gaining popularity and momentum with the help of brands like American Giant. The brand focuses on the importance of garments made in the United States, despite all of the talk about the expense of doing so. To some, this concept is important, to some it's not. The great thing about American Giant is the product stands up for itself in its quality craftsmanship. 

     I was recently gifted the snap button cardigan from American Giant and was impressed. The presentation was excellent. This idea of presentation is really important for all labels and stores to pay attention to. It sets the tone; you can make the customer feel like your product is that much more special. Creating an experience in a box that they will remember and keep them ordering products from you.

    The cardigan fit very well, and I got a lot of compliments on it. It has a very baseball jacket / James Dean vibe to it which I really liked. Regardless of your stance on things, their products are well-made and will be something that will stay in your closet for years. 

For more information on this product or purchase it, click here.