Indigofan

Handmade Raw Leather Folio

Matt — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 10:49:47 +0000

I just finished this small folio bag.

There is a LOT of hand-stitching in this piece.

Thoughts on how it could be improved:
1. Reduce the amount of leather lining underneath the zip
2. Get hardware and zip that match

A-2 Jacket Art

Matt — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 09:42:36 +0000

Nice article on WW2 Jacket Art
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/wwii-war-paint-how-bomber-jacket-art-emboldened-our-boys/

Bangkok: PRONTO & Take5

Matt — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:12:26 +0000

I recently visited Bangkok after almost 20 years!
When I was there I visited both the Take5 shop in Siam Square, and the Pronto shop in CentralWorld (there are others). Both are worth visiting if you are in the Thailand. Take5 have a much larger range of the Japanese brands.

Here’s a funny video by the Pronto guys on how to fade denim. It’s like a Thai version of Jackass.

Check their YouTube channel for more videos in the series. Some include subtitles in English that you can toggle on with the youtube toolbar.

Blue Alchemy

Matt — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:01:08 +0000

This seems to be a large amount of the Blue Alchemy movie.

[ video removed ]

It’s cut off at the end, so I don’t know if it continues for much longer.
Also, you get to see some segments with Jenny Balfour-Paul.

Global Denim Project – Anthropology of Denim

Matt — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:55:59 +0000

Watch this video while you’re high… (presentation starts at 2m35s)

This is Daniel Miller, talking about his philosophy / anthropology of denim.
Here’s the book GLOBAL DENIM PROJECT

Here’s the web site
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/global-denim-project/

Cotton Crimes: Anti-slavery

Matt — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:25:35 +0000

http://www.antislavery.org/english/campaigns/cottoncrimes/default.aspx

Child slavery is an ongoing problem in Uzbekistan’s cotton industry. Around 90 per cent of Uzbek cotton is harvested by hand with approximately half of all cotton picked by state-sponsored forced child labour. Human rights groups estimate that hundreds of thousands of children are involved each year.

Uzbekistan is the sixth largest producer of cotton in the world and the third biggest exporter, generating over US$1 billion annually through the export of around 850,000 tonnes of cotton every year. Cotton is currently enjoying a 200 year-high price and Uzbekistan’s President Karimov recently announced that the profit from this year’s cotton harvest is expected to increase by 35 per cent. Despite these profits, those ordered to pick the cotton remain impoverished.

If you’re reading this blog, then you probably pay a lot of attention to clothing details. However, we cannot be certain if an item of clothing contains any cotton from Uzbekistan.

There is room in the market for some brands/retailers to really give the customer transparency.

Hermès: Saddle Stitch

Matt — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:14:18 +0000

Here’s another Hermès’ video showing leather handstitching.

Hermès: Hand Rolling

Matt — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:09:35 +0000

Here’s a great video where you can watch an expert hand rolling the hems on a Hermès’ silk scarf.

There are some good tricks with the paperclip and the pinning of the corner to a weighted pin-cushion.

Movie: Blue Alchemy: Stories of Indigo

Matt — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 13:13:26 +0000

BLUE ALCHEMY: STORIES OF INDIGO is a feature-length documentary about indigo, a blue  dye that has captured the human imagination for millennia. It is also about remarkable people  around the globe who are reviving indigo in projects that are intended to improve life in their  communities, preserve cultural integrity, improve the environment, and bring beauty to the world.

BLUE ALCHEMY: Stories of Indigo Trailer from Mary Lance on Vimeo.

sourcemap

Matt — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 04:22:10 +0000

Sourcemap is the crowdsourced directory of product supply chains and carbon footprints.

For some manufacturers/retailers I think it would suit their brand ethics to be publishing these types of maps along with their products.

We have a local organic farmers market where each fruit/vegetable stall has a label of the “food miles” that the item has travelled. Imagine something similar for garments.