Journal

A chronicle of people, places, happenings, and creations we admire.

Paul Smith Concertina Bags SS 2016

Overview

Paul Smith women's chocolate brown 'Concertina' tote bag from the spring/summer '16 catwalk show, featuring contrasting yellow, brown and ochre pleats at the side, giving a striped effect.  Made in Spain from a supple, high quality smooth Italian calf leather, this tote bag has two leather carry handles and contains an internal chocolate brown leather zip fastening pocket.

Finished with a gold foil Paul Smith signature on the interior and exterior, this bag is lined in black fabric and a black Paul Smith dust bag is included.

Northampton Sneaker Co.

"If sneakers were cars, ours would be an Aston Martin...Handcrafted over weeks, rather than mass manufactured."

Northampton Sneaker Co. create extreme-luxury handcrafted footwear entirely in the UK using traditional techniques and the finest materials.  They combine the modern street-style and comfort of athletic footwear with the incredible quality of traditional English shoe making.  Unadorned by stripes, lightning bolts or machine guns, the Northampton Sneaker has a discretely embossed tongue with evidence of any remaining labels or branding hidden inside the shoe itself.

Using the innovative and legendary Goodyear Welt, a process that involves stitching the sole and upper together rather than glueing, the Northampton Sneaker has a feel of sturdiness, permanence and craftsmanship turned up to "11". This traditional manufacturing technique combined with lightweight, cushioned soles brings a shoe of this design and visual impact up to the minute in terms of comfort, durability and most importantly, wearability.  These shoes require no break-in and can also be resoled, bringing a truly bespoke relationship to the wearer.

Gift Ideas for Under $150

Xmas is nigh...here's our gift guide for treasures $150.00 or less...

Krona o Stjärna Winter Companion Handmade Wool Boot Liner

Believe us when we tell you this wool sock will keep you warm and dry almost indefinitely during your holiday and winter travels and adventures.  Handmade of Järbo Superwash™ wool in Södermanland, Sweden, you can wear them as part of your base layer or around the chalet aprés ski.  Available in Pepper or Oatmeal.  Limited quantities / Hand wash only.

$68.00


Smythson of Bond Street Mara iPhone 6 Case

Handcrafted in Italy from luxurious printed calf leather, this refined phone cover will keep your phone stylishly safe. Add personalization for a special touch.

  • Poinsettia red iPhone 6 cover in printed calf leather.
  • Fits iPhone 6 and 6s. 
  • Made in Italy.
  • Dimensions: W7 X H14cm / W2.75 x H5.5"
  • Product code: 1016614

$145.00


FRAME Publishers' The Other Office Book 2 - Creative Workplace Design

A global overview of prevailing trends in office design. This book is currently available to pre-order at a 20% discount in the lead-up to its release on 21 December!

The approaches of design studios to orchestrate spatial experiences in the creation of workplace environments vary greatly. A bright and playful interior that might be perfect for one company will not be the answer for another client’s needs. Though one thing seems clear: whether it’s for a tech firm, a financial consultancy or a production company, the requirement to provide spaces that promote productivity through connectivity is high on the agenda. The physical environments are not only spaces for working, they are very much tools of the organisations and form part of their overall identity. These firms often work in conjunction with the design studios to ensure the realised offices fit the needs of the workforce, embodying creative values in the process.

In The Other Office 2, a recurring theme in the 80 cutting-edge projects is the centralisation of communication hubs, with more focused working spaces placed at the periphery. Another high priority is ensuring staff are catered for in terms of health and social aspects – in particular emphasising the need for physical activity, thus providing bikes and scooters to get around the building, or adding a competitive edge to the feature staircase by including sensors to track the distance climbed per week of employees. The showcased interiors not only support innovation and creativity in the workforce, they also generate opportunities for collaboration and, at the same time, help to connect and build communities.  Head on over to FRAME to learn more.

$59.27/€55.20


Women's Birkenstock Arizona Sandal at James Perse Los Angeles

Classic Birkenstock sandal with two adjustable "Birko-Flor" straps and metal buckles. Synthetic "Birko-Flor" is leather-like with a fleecy underside. Original suede lined cork/latex contoured foot bed for comfort with EVA rubber shock-absorbent sole.

Additional Information:

• Acrylic/Polyamide "Birko-Flor" Upper, Synthetic sole.
• Leather bedliner, Natural cork footbed.
• Made in Germany.
• Narrow width, Whole sizes only.
• Recommended to order up if in-between sizes.

$75.00


Marshall Major II Headphones in Black at Frank & Oak

The latest addition to the Marshall lineup is the Major II headphones. The Major II comes with an updated look that includes a detachable double-ended coil cord with microphone and remote for calls and voice recording. The dual 3.5 mm headphone jacks allow you to choose which side you prefer to wear your cable on or to plug in and share your music. Its advanced sound features include customized drivers that help to deliver deeper bass and more extended detailed highs. Allowing for increased flexibility, the Major II adapts to your head shape for increased comfort during those long listening sessions. This smart pair truly gives way to a whole new level of listening.  Head over to Frank & Oak and pick up a pair.

$120.00


Aesop Andromeda Set at Needsupply

From Aesop, a tin gift set with a body care quartet to nurture your skin and your senses. Features Reverence Aromatique Hand Wash, Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm, Coriander Seed Body Cleanser and Rind Concentrate Body Balm. 

  • Gift set with face and body products
  • Tin box
  • Reverence Aromatique Hand Wash 500mL
  • Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm 75mL
  • Coriander Seed Body Cleanser 200mL
  • Rind Concentrate Body Balm 120mL

$110.00


Tegoto Nest: Inside the Earth at Paul Smith

Our partners at Paul Smith are offering this great little 'curiosity' this season.  Inside the earth nesting toy by Tegoto is a visual representation of the layers of the earth: atmosphere, surface, crust, mantle and core.

Made in Japan from varnished wood, this toy is presented in a grey gift-box.

£80.00 / $122.34


Krona o Stjärna Brand Beanie

Pictured: "Stockholm"

Winter's here, and our new beanie is a perfect fit.  These high-quality 60/40 Cotton blend beanies will protect your head stylishly with our insignia embroidered on the front.  How you wear it is up to you.  

$22.00

Smythson Bright Ideas Notebook

Ref. 283

Ref. 283

Krona o Stjärna are honored to have established an affiliate partnership with Smythson of Bond Street.

The Bright Ideas Wafer Notebook is an Orange pocket notebook in cross-grain lambskin. 96 leaves of gilt-edged, pale blue Featherweight paper. Made in England.

$60.00

Klein Tools 24" 5108.24 Deluxe Leather Bag

Klein Tools has been a stalwart in the professional tool business for almost 160 years.  Those who know the iconic canvas bags will want to upgrade to the full leather 24" Deluxe Bag.  This timeless piece of equipment is good to carry your gym stuff, makeup, chef's knives, camera lenses, drawings, maybe even your tin snips or monkey wrench.

Cat. No. 5108-24 (No. 5108-20 Pictured)

Price: $373.00

Product Features

  • Rugged tool bag made of extra-heavy leather.
  • Removable, padded shoulder strap.
  • Three-ply bottom with steel studs.
  • Retaining straps extend around bag for extra support.

Pitti Uomo 88 2015

Pitti Uomo kicks off this week with color and texture as the narrative for this summer.  Reintroduced patterns, weights and classic palettes rule the day at the what is arguably the most important platform for men's fashion and accessories. Held twice a year at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence, Italy, new and established design talents exhibit and launch new projects for international buyers to peruse and hopefully select for many of the world's leading retail companies. Pitti is the most widely known segment of the Pitti Immagine collection of fashion industry events.

Pitti Uomo 16-19 June, 2015

Visit: Fortezza da Basso, Viale Filippo Strozzi 1, 50129 Florence

Follow @Pitti_Immagine

Photos ©Enrico Labriola / Vanni Bassetti / AKA Studio Collective

The Month of March

A Recap of our discoveries in March.