Autumn is a funny one.

One one hand you’ve got the autumn leaves, the cold crisp mornings, wrapping up warm and log fires. All very lovely and picturesque indeed.

…then you’ve got the rain.

the rain.

the rain.

So i’m calling on you to send in your favourite autumn snapshots to me here – hollie(at)howies(dot)co(dot)uk, to remind us why autumn (or Fall if you’re Kim) is actually quite a nice month afterall. I’ll make a slideshow of the nicest ones at the end of next week. Remember to include your name and where the photo was taken so i can credit you accordingly.

So then this time next week we’ll all be able to sit back in front of a log fire, crack open a beer (hey it’ll be friday afterall) and enjoy…And then hopfully have an urge to get out there and enjoy it properly.

Here’s one to get you started. It was taken last weekend in Cwmcou, just outside Cardigan. Nothing spectacular i know…i just like trees.

Well I look at the rain with delight, more rain means better creek boating for all us canoeists and kayakers out there it also means more mud for all the mountain bikers. Now thanks to the lovely team at HQ sending me down a load of winter warm stock I can get out of my boat put on my Warm 49ers and Barrier Hoody, and be safe in the knowledge I’m snug as a bug in a rug.

I love the rain…

The Ride Journal Volume 3 is now available in store, we have a very limited number and if this one sells as quickly as the last two, you might want to start thinking up some ideas of how to get out of work early and come and bag yourself a copy!

I am very excited about this event.

Our friends at Drift Magazine suggested an exhibition and our Bristol shop and we jumped at the chance.

An all day event inculding surf photography, UK shapers and a visit from our mate Ruth from Surfer’s Against Sewage, plus lots more.

It all kicks off at 11 am, so pop on  and see the guys, have a cupa.

Dont miss it.

We miss Ali alot here at howies.

When we made this dress we named it after her, plus it is totally her style. Check out the colour ways of the Ali Dress.

We took the dress to Sweden to shoot and we all loved it. We rode our bikes in it, jumped in the lake in it, took it to meet Fredick in his garden, drank coffee in, drank beer in it, danced around the camp fire in it. Super nice!

Perfect with our Brook or Suzie jeans.

We only sold it in our shops, but then we thought, hey let everyone have it!

I hope Ali has hers!

Happy Friday Dress.

Pros
1. Warmer.
2. Dryer.

Cons
1. Look like an idiot.

Anna and David were desperate to be in the photo too…

Ackroyd & Harvey: The Walking Forest

This weekend, 14th/15th November, slow travel to the Arnolfini, Bristol

This Saturday Nick Hand, Amy and Jess will be cycling a number of tree saplings from the Bristol Tree Life Centre over to the Arnolfini in support of internationally acclaimed artists Heather Ackroyd & Dan Harvey’s exciting The Walking Forest project. ‘The Walking Forest has been developed in discussion with Sustrans and PLATFORM, and forms part of C Words: Carbon, Climate, Capital and Culture, 3 October-29 November 2009.

Nick Hand, Amy and Jess will be meeting up at the Tree Life Centre in Grimsbury at 11am this Saturday if anyone would like to help us transport the trees. Alternatively we will be cycling via the howies Bristol Shop at around mid-day if you would like to see us with our trees before we head down to the Arnolfini.

Many thanks to Nick (our bike pro) for his help!

When your jacket is dirty this causes the fabric to ‘wet out’ and loose its breatability.  If you wash your jacket in a standard washing detergent it will not help matters either, as it leaves residue behind.  You could use a non-detergent based tech wash.  This will not compromise the breathability or waterproofing of your jacket.  However over time your jacket will loose its durable water repellency, which is where re-proofing comes into play.

We think you should get the best out of your clothes so… we are now selling Grangers 30° 2 in 1 Cleaner and Waterproofer, at the Carnaby Street store and Bristol store.  This product has energy saving in mind, as you only need to use one wash cycle.    It is bluesign certified; and is the only aftercare company to have this accreditation.  Bluesign is the world’s only independant benchmark that guarantees products are free  from harmful substances, and as such are safe for humans and the environment.  We also have Grangers XT proofer spray available.  Many conventional re-proofers rely on heat being applied to activate it.  This means using your tumble drier or and iron.  We don’t want you to use this energy unnecessarily.  The XT proofer restores the perforormance of your jacket, with simply airdrying it after you have sprayed it.

I know this reads a bit like an infomercial…but hopefully we have imparted some knowledge on aftercare for you.

Tomorrow night is Grazia night in Carnaby Street and many shops and restraunts will be offering 20% off all evening, including our own shop at number 42.

Sounds like a great evening to me, and I half wish I wasn’t 300 odd miles away in Cardigan Bay, or I could probably get most of my Christmas shopping done in one go. But then, I wouldn’t be able to go for a nice run through the Teifi valley after work… so maybe I’m not doing too badly after all.

If you are in the area, I reckon it will be worth checking out. Click here for details on how to sign up for the event.

Our next Wee Do at the Carnaby Street store is next Tuesday, 17^th November; and we have Betony Garner coming in to talk about the Ski Club of Great Britain campaign Respect the Mountain.

She is passionate about green issues and has been trying to raise awareness about how to minimise the impact of snowsports on the environment for the last four years.

Respect the Mountain was a campaign launched by the Ski Club of Great Britain in 2004 with the aim of safeguarding the mountains for future generations to enjoy. Its basis is raising awareness and educating skiers, snowboarders, resorts and the whole snowsports industry on how they can do their bit to minimise their impact on the environment. The talk will investigate how the mountains have changed, how humans have impacted them and what we can do as skiers and snowboarders to help.

For more information about the campaign go to: www.respectthemountain.com

 If you would like a free ticket to this event, please email (carnabyst@howies.co.uk) or call us (0207 287 2345) to reserve a space. 

As always we have free organic beers and juice available.  Doors open at 7.15pm.  Spaces are limited so get in touch quickly.

 Hopefully see you there :)

Click here to view the embedded video.

This made me laugh a lot today.

George what a voice.

bourgeois bicycle check it out for more giggles and bikes

I have this thing about fenders / mud guards. They’re kinda lame.

But I can’t handle getting so wet anymore. I’m fed up of having an ice cold sodden crotch every morning.

So I might these: SKS Race Blades. Are they good?

I don’t have any mounts on my bike so my choice is limited.

The boys are still on the road, still pulling their bikes and boards.

Sheltering from the rain and  then enjoying the sunshine when it pops out.

Seraching for waves, jokes, writing and taking cool shots along the way.

Check out the website it is super duper good.

Good Luck, and see you in a few weeks bourgeois bicycle caravan boys.

If you want to avoid the rainy, grey weather today, come along to the Climbing Festival at  Undercover Rock. It’s at  Bristol Climbing Centre, St.Werburgh’s Church, Mina Road, Bristol, BS2 9YT ( 0117 941 3489). 

We will be selling some fabulous t-shirt designs at fabulous prices and maybe you’ll spy one of us attempting to traverse the climbing wall.

the second skin jumpers are finally here in Carnaby St just in time for winter and they are truly amazing, it has definitely been worth the long agonising wait, we all put one on straight out of the box, so if you can’t find your size you’re going to have to wrestle us for ours (seriously), im ordering mine first thing monday morning!

My old friend Russell who sells Cannondale for the South West is having a garage sale for all his salesman samples. He has got bikes new and used, components, clothing the lot. And it will all be bargain prices.

It’s this Sunday 8th November 11am to 6pm at Barefoot Photography Studios, Bishops Chambers, 14 Cathedral Close, Exeter, EX1 1HA and it will be worth the effort.

Can you save me a hard tail?

We decided to do a secret ballot after the talk and let people enter there highest bid, we had alot of generous offers but in the end the winner of the poster was George Bridgeman…

I’m sure his donation will help to make alot of dogs and cats very happy!

You are cordially invited to Jo Holdaway’s free exhibition private view, upstairs at the howies Bristol store on 12th November at 6:30pm.  

You may have seen one of her colourful illustrations in Ride Magazine before, but it’s a whole new experience to see her work in large format.

By the way, if you smile nicely we will provide you with drinks so that your inner art critic isn’t parched whilst discussing the merits of Jo’s work.

Remember that the exhibition is open to all who stumble into the howies store until the 20th November, so if you can’t make it on the 12th , all is not lost.

I keep telling people it’s not cold, honestly.

Today though, I might cave.  The wind has picked up and the howies office has the windproofing properties of a sieve.

And on the way to lunch I spied the nice man with a van full of Second Skin jumpers.

James is counting them in right now.

If anything can make me give in it’s a merino jumper.

If you’re coming to the Wee Do tonight bring some cash with you…this is an awesome print!

The phone is back in business, so feel free to give us a ring, sorry about any inconvinience the last few days!

0207 287 2345

It’s that time of year again…the Christmas lights on Oxford Street are being turned on tonight.  Usually it’s a “well loved” British celebrity who does it.  Not this year…no no…it’s only going to be Jim Carrey!!!!!!!!

So make sure you’re down at Oxford Circus for 5pm

Financial Controller
Marketing and Communications

If you’re interested you can find out more by e-mailing jobs@coldatnight.co.uk

Emma Ras from our Carnaby St. shop has been busy knitting away these awesome iPod/iPhone/Blackberry/Phone/Camera cases.

We’re selling the full colour range in store and a select 6 online.

Alas, it’s goodbye to little Claire Margetts today.

She is leaving us to go off and help out on a polar expedition.

Claire has had a busy year arranging the Do Lectures and stuff.

But no matter how much pressure was on, that smile never faded.

And anyone who went to Do this year will tell you what a top girl she is.
(She’s a mean race car driver too apparently).

We wish her well. She will be missed.

Wrap up warm dear.

Hold onto your hats people!  We have the wonderful people (and dogs) from Battersea Dogs Home coming in next Tuesday 3rd November (7.30pm) to give a Wee Do lecture on their work – they will be bringing in two of their canine friends to assist with providing the more technical elements of the talk.

This is going to be a fantastic event.  We are massive dog people here at the Carnaby Street store - next to our till we have two dog breed books, a pack of 3d dog cards, and four dog puzzles.  We all prefer mutts, but we also just put together our top five dog breed lists to celebrate the moment.  What would yours be?

As an added bonus we are providing a sneaky 10% discount, for half an hour, at the end of the talk – just a little bonus seeing as we just took delivery of our winter collection. 

As usual the talk is free – however if you put your name down, but are unable to make it please let us know since others will loose out otherwise – just contact us at the store (our phones are down at the min) just email  carnabyst@howies.co.uk.  We will also have free organic beer and juice. 

We will be taking donations from attendees for Battersea Dogs Home should you feel so inclined. 

To say that I am excited is not a lie.

The artists design the pieces in the same way that pixels on a computer screen are coloured and organised to form images. As if that’s not complicated enough, they then have to actually work out each cube puzzle to get the colours they need. phew, seems like too much hard work.

When me and my sister we little we used to just peel off the coloured stickers and then stick them where we needed them to go on the cube. Cheating? perhaps…

You can hear us, but we can’t hear you.
sorry about this, we will get it sorted as soon as possible.

for the time being if you do have a question email the shop at: carnabyst@howies.co.uk and we will reply to it within the hour.

thanks
charlie

Today it’s November. That means it’s time to grow a Moustache.

If you haven’t heard of this annual challenge it’s called Movember and it’s to raise awareness to male health issues, in particular prostate, testicular cancers & mental health.

To make it even more exciting we’re challenging some of the guys from Innocent in a ‘tashe-off’

So ditch your razors and lets get in on!

and the winner is….Robert Ellis

it’s got a nice Hunchback of Notre dame feel about it.

Congratulations, you have officially won braggin rights for the next year!

Happy howies Halloween.

Rather than keep all our photos hidden here.

We just put up 5 galleries of photos from our Sweden Shoot. They loosely follow the our trip.

There are out takes and behind the scenes shots as well as beautiful pictures that couldn’t fit in the catalogues.

So click here to go to our flickr.

Or even better our IHKH page (it’s flickr but presented a lot, lot nicer)

If you want a daily dose of our photographs bookmark our blog; howies look.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I have some news.  Today will be my last day steadying-ish the helm of the Carnaby Street store.

I have had an amazing time working for howies – a company that really does what it says on the tin.  It isn’t a marketing facade, the people who work for this company really are splendid – and what they are trying to do in changing the way people conduct business is actually working!  

I have been given the opportuntiy to move on and work with Sustrans on a variety of sustainable transport policy issues.  I am excited about what the future holds and also grateful for what I have learned and experienced over the past seven months.

It isn’t really a proper goodbye since I will still be loitering around at the Wee Do lectures and helping out with the occasional sample sale.  Also I have been promised a starring role in the next catalogue shoot – along with my own trailer and cold sparkling water whenever I ask.  So that is nice.

Without being too gushy, yet also also engaging with my sensitive nature, I wanted to thank all the customers who have come into the store over the past few months.  You guys have some seriously interesting lives.  Thanks for sharing your stories, jokes, cakes, germs, and giggles. 

Finally, if you haven’t yet had the chance to stop by the London store you are really missing out.  There are six really awesome people waiting for you to come in – so why not take five minutes, over the coming weeks or months, and pop in to say hello……..I promise it will be worth your while.

Hold onto your hats people!  We have the wonderful people (and dogs) from Battersea Dogs Home coming in next Tuesday 3rd November (7.30pm) to give a Wee Do lecture on their work – they will be bringing in two of their canine friends to assist with providing the more technical elements of the talk.

This is going to be a fantastic event.  We are massive dog people here at the Carnaby Street store - next to our till we have two dog breed books, a pack of 3d dog cards, and four dog puzzles.  We all prefer mutts, but we also just put together our top five dog breed lists to celebrate the moment.  What would yours be?

As an added bonus we are providing a sneaky 10% discount, for half an hour, at the end of the talk – just a little bonus seeing as we just took delivery of our winter collection. 

As usual the talk is free – however if you put your name down, but are unable to make it please let us know since others will loose out otherwise – just contact us at the store (0207 287 2345 / carnabyst@howies.co.uk).  We will also have free organic beer and juice. 

We will be taking donations from attendees for Battersea Dogs Home should you feel so inclined. 

To say that I am excited is not a lie.

On to the next one now.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Serious Sam Barrett plus shreddin equals a recipe for success, here’s his brand new video…