.

name: james hammonds

twitter: @jameshammonds

(it’s been about a year since i tweeted…maybe i’ll pick it back up)

store: american rag cie, industrie denim

role: sr.buyer

hometown: huntsville, tx

current city: los angeles

drink: jameson rocks

vice: drawing dinosaurs

.

.

what is your favorite thing about the city you live in…

its easy. its sunny. always nice to come home to.

.

when you’re not in the shop where can we find you…

the darkroom. runyon canyon, palm springs. portland, paris, ny…who knows these days!

.

what are you listening to right now…

the air conditioning vent above my desk. in my head though, el michels affair is going to be playing all day.

.

who’s in your entourage…

i split it up between the madison girls and the pack of vicious young la transplants that i’m grooming to run shit here… i call them the a-team.

.

who are you following…

fresh jive, the arab parrot, rick rodney photo, hanni el khatib, unanswered prayers, grover plays.

.

how do you hear of new brands…

a lot of the times it’s just chatter during market weeks from colleagues i respect.

.

what keeps you inspired…

when i see guys we’ve supported from early on, when they were scraping by, turn the corner and become well known.

.

where do you see yourself in 5 years…

in the next year we’re slated to break ground on new stores in dallas and new york. if that doesn’t kill me i’ll probably still be here.

.

what makes your store unique?

we carry high end and low end, avant-garde and stussy. but it’s all wearable and resides within our california casual sophistication.

.

i think wings+horns is…

a well-curated collection that’s great for any guy.

.

who should wings+horns collaborate with next…

wings+horns x disney “ponyboy” collection of mickey mouse tiger fleece.

.

what’s next on your list of things to pick up for yourself this season…

n.hoolywood suit. stephen schneider double breasted jacket.

.

http://www.amrag.com| @americanrag | www.facebook.com/americanrag

.

.

we first introduced sneakers in fall/winter 2011, and have since extended the styles in updated colorways for our spring/summer 2012 collection. made in italy out of 100% calfskin leather, the sneakers feature leather laces, leather toe caps, a suede body, and side zipper detailing on the hi-tops.

.

shown in the above image are the black/black low-tops and navy/white hi-tops. also available in the current spring/summer season are pearl/white low tops, pearl/white hi-tops, and black/black hi-tops.

.

more images after the click.

.

.

. 

.

..

.

name: tyler thoreson

twitter: @tylerthoreson

store: park & bond

role: head of men’s editorial & creative

home town: st.paul, mn

current city: nyc and vicinity

drink: vodka martini before dinner

vice: scotch afterwards

.

..

what is your favorite thing about the city you live in…

the fact that so many people are originally from somewhere else. we moved here to be around other people who moved here for the same reason. that fosters some serious creative energy.

.

when you’re not in the office where can we find you…

standard grill for breakfast, keens for lunch, the john dory for happy hour, or dashing home in time to catch my kids before they go to bed.

.

what are you listening to right now…

john cale paris 1919, the xx, stone roses stone roses, and el camino by the black keys. i’ve probably listened to that record four times a week since november and i’m not even close to sick of it.

.

who’s in your entourage…

i find the concept of an entourage absurd, which is another way of saying i’m jealous that i don’t have one. the closest thing i have are my kids: lucia, 5 1/2; oscar, 4; and gunnar, 5 months.

.

who are you following…

my money is on lawrence schlossman. also, i am proud to serve as acting deacon of the most high church of euan rellie.

.

how do you hear of new brands…

jared flint. the man is so plugged in his hair stands up on end.

.

what keeps you inspired…

the amazingly creative, smart, and (relatively) sane men of menswear. also, my wife, allissa.

.

where do you see yourself in 5 years…

in a townhouse in brooklyn, surrounded by skateboards, artworks (both professional and amateur), basketballs, and donegal tweed sport coats.

.

what makes park & bond unique…

the voice of the site – which manifests itself both in the products we sell and the way we talk about them.

..

.

what’s next for park & bond…

a series of exclusive collabs launching this summer, including, hopefully one with you all.

.

i think wings+horns is…

the coolest name for a brand since mark mcnairy.

.

what’s on your list of things to pick up for yourself this season…

a pair of westpoint twill chinos from wings+horns, a linen pocket round from alexander olch, a tie from pierrepont hicks, a seersucker suit from paul smith, vintage iwc dress watch, loafers from mr.hare, and a pair of nick wooster x orlebar brown camo swim trunks, which are exclusive to park & bond.

…

..

http://www.parkandbond.com/ | @parkandbond | www.facebook.com/parkandbond

 

name: arthur chmielewski

twitter: arthurvuch

store: haven

role: co-owner/buyer

home town: edmonton, canada

current city: toronto, canada

drink: vodka soda

vice: booze

.

.

.

what is your favorite thing about the city you live in…

i don’t really live in any one city at the moment. i kinda travel between edmonton, vancouver, and now toronto where the 3 shops are located. edmonton is home and always will be. vancouver is laid back, has an amazing food selection, and is close to the beach and mountains. i want to end up in vancouver at the end of the day. toronto, i’m still getting used to. it’s new and exciting at the same time. i get to check out the city and meet new people.

.

when you’re not in the shop where can we find you…

at home. when i’m not working or traveling i try to get as much down time as possible.

.

what are you listening to right now…

i’m always listening to nujabes. the weeknd is on steady rotation as well. he keeps releasing mixtape after mixtape so there’s always something new.

.

who’s in your entourage…

the shop staff. we’re all a tight knit group of dudes. we work together, and we all hang with each other. we’re all family.

.

who are you following…

my friends and family. just started getting into twitter, trying to get the hang of it.

.

how do you hear of new brands…

traveling, referrals, shows, and of course, the net. sometimes i just stumble upon something that catches my eye.

.

what keeps you inspired…

traveling, no doubt.

.

where do you see yourself in 5 years…

hopefully the business is continuing to grow strong. not really sure, a lot changes in 5 years. 5 years ago we opened our first shop, now we’re going on our 3rd. who knows, we’re constantly trying to improve and refine the business.

.

what makes your store unique…

we carry lots of exclusive brands that you can only find at haven in canada or n.america. we try to carry only the very best stuff on the market. the atmosphere of the shops are all dope and different than what’s out there. other than that, all the staff are super cool dudes and we go above and beyond for all of our customers.

.

.

what’s next for your store…

our new website and the opening of the new toronto location. finally! i can’t wait to see the response.

.

i think wings+horns is…

the best canadian contemporary men’s brand on the market. perhaps n.america.

.

who should wings+horns collaborate with next…

haven!

.

what’s on your list of things to pick up for yourself this season…

the new navajo stuff from wings+horns is pretty awesome. as for other brands, i always end up ordering a piece or two from acronym for myself. there’s a ton of great stuff rolling through the shops this season, so it’s tough to choose.

.

.

http://www.havenshop.ca/ |  @havenshop | www.facebook.com/havenshop

.

.

name: rob lo

twitter: mr_rob_lo

store: roden gray

role: owner/creative director

hometown: hong kong

current city: vancouver

drink: vodka

vice: vodka

 .

.

.

what is your favorite thing about the city you live in…

the clean air, the friendly people, the convenience of driving anywhere at anytime, the great restaurants and the fresh produce that’s available almost anywhere. vancouver has a really great cosmopolitan feel to it.

.

when you’re not in the shop where can we find you…

at the wings+horns head office.

.

what are you listening to right now…

m.i.a.- “bad girls”.

.

who’s in your entourage…

i go out with the guys from the shop or the office occasionally.

.

who are you following…

nick wooster.

.

how do you hear of new brands…

after working in the industry for ten years you meet a good network of people who you can rely on for legit information about what’s coming up. building relationships with people whose taste you respect is one of the most valuable things you can do as a buyer.

.

what keeps you inspired…

the product, it’s what gets pretty much everyone into fashion retail. also, getting to be part of this industry with so many talented designers and businesspeople is a constant inspiration.

.

where do you see yourself in 5 years…

expanding the roden gray brand to possibly more stores. maybe work less! or more!

.

what makes your store unique…

the product mix is great, the space is beautiful, and the staff is excellent with product knowledge and world-class customer service.

.

.

what’s next for your store…

we are in the process of renovating and expanding our lower-level shopping area. we’re also expanding our men’s tailoring and suiting department with a dedicated space and new brands like thom browne and mr.start from london.

.

i think wings+horns is…

one of the best clothing companies to come out of north america. for one, they are their own manufacturer in vancouver and that isn’t something that many brands are capable of. wings+horns is a very innovative company – every season there’s a surprise in how they use a signature fabric or put a twist to a classic piece without over-designing it.

.

who should wings+horns collaborate with next…

someone who has the same taste for design and quality.

.

what’s on your list of things to pick up for yourself this season…

german corded cloth rider’s jacket from wings+horns.

.

.

.

.

.

http://www.rodengray.com/ | @rodengray | http://www.facebook.com/rodengray

.

.

new for spring/summer 2012 is our 350 GSM Jersey Knit cuffed short. a midweight cotton jersey fabric also in a matching blazer and a three button shawl collar cardigan.

.

available in two colors, black and navy marled (pictured here). added details include a drawstring, patch pocket on the back right, and a reinforced seat to tie in the motorcycle inspiration of the collection to the garment.

.

more images after the click.

.

www.wingsandhorns.com/retailers | @wingsandhorns | www.facebook.com/wingsandhorns

.

name: jesar gabino

twitter: @jesargabino

store: nomad

role: buyer/creative director/ owner

hometown: winnipeg, MB

current city: toronto

drink: pineapple juice

vice: cigarettes

.

what is your favorite thing about the city you live in….

best about toronto? variety. people always talk about how canada is multicultural but toronto is really the place where this is most evident. i’ve been & lived in a few canadian cities & for the most part toronto really holds true to that. food, people, neighborhoods, culture, city vibe… it’s all a mixture of cultures. toronto always gets the bad rap of being “the center of the universe” in terms of how other canadians look at toronto but it has stepped up in terms of being that place for canada. our little shop is a microcosm of that, we get all types of guys shopping at nomad… young &old, grimy & clean cut & guys of all shapes & sizes.

.

when you’re not in the shop where can we find you…

i’m usually roaming taking in this fine city of ours or seated at one of our fine restaurants in the city. more likely than not i’m roaming for food to eat or make at home. i also love being at home. i’m lucky where my better half & i have a great place with a fantastic piece of backyard in the city that is off a private lane. feels like the country back there in the summer.

.

what are you listening to right now…

exactly right now? “saturday nite” off ghostface killah’s supreme clientele album. it’s playing in the shop from our reincarnated scarfaces playlist. shouts to PA for coining that one.

.

who’s in your entourage…

my better half MR… always at my side & in my heart; family in toronto & on the westcoast; nomad gang, 431 goons, RSB & the friend’s i’ve known for more than half my life that are still in my life…you know who you are…that right there is history & goes beyond history.

.

who are you following…

those who led before us. to know the future is to know the past. the operative word here is “led” - big difference.

.

how do you hear of new brands…

everyone & everything. there are so many ways to be inspired & influenced nowadays. the internet blows things up way too fast these days so you’ve got to be careful. but we try to look at everything without bias & arrive at our own decision about brands.

.

what keeps you inspired…

people who strive to inspire & be inspired. they are few & far between. also people who are willing to take risks. not like crazy ass people who are detrimental to themselves but smart, focused & calculated risk takers.

.

where do you see yourself in 5 years…

probably doing what i do now but better, stronger & faster. nomad has momentum right now & by the good graces of the universe we’ll continue to grow. also, on a beach but not on a beach.

.

what makes your store cool…

well, i don’t know if we’re cool but if people want to say that i won’t complain. really though…i think that we really strive to give guys what guys want. this was a concept that took us a while to really hone in on but we approach it that way now. obviously within the parameters of what we choose to co-sign though. the nomad guy is the fashion guy’s guy, if that makes sense. it makes sense to us. we’re all inspired by many different cultures, fashion-wise, ethnically, pop-culturally & background but the one thing that ties us all together is the era most of us grew up in. there were a lot of subcultures that flourished in the 70′s-90′s & most of us were kids during that time. a few of us got some years on us over here so we’ve seen a lot. we’ve been around the block so we’ve seen a lot come & go. that right there is priceless…it’s authenticity because we’ve lived that sh*t but we’re not confined by that. we also like to look to the future, which is part of our success as well…the vision. 7 years ago we were influenced from certain people & places & we knew that toronto would follow suit at some point so we just made sure we were there when the people were ready. we’ve managed to stick around because we’ve adapted to what the market is giving us.

.

what’s next for your store…

getting through this season…hahaha. we got some things lined up…a couple special projects coming down the pipeline. we’re in the midst of doing a small renovation in the shop. we just closed our original location at 431 richmond because the building got sold so our queen street location is the spot now. we’re freshening things up for spring/summer 2012. on the last buying trip to ny we went to the thomas hooper show the origins of solitude at the nepenthes store. we ended up buying 3 pieces from the show so we’re excited to install those in the shop as well. look the dude up…

.

i think wings +horns is…

rad, period. it’s one of the first companies to really put it down in terms of quality, design, being canadian and so many other reasons. it’s still very new to some people but since we’ve been one of the pioneer wings+horns retailers, we’ve seen it grow. that’s been really awesome to watch & craig a. has really stuck to his guns in terms of brand & philosophy. the following for it in toronto is tremendous.

.

who should wings+horns collaborate with next…

nomad. was that too blunt hahaha… let’s make it happen guys.

.

what’s on your list of things to pick up for yourself this season…

from w+h … the anorak jacket. i thnk nomad might be one of the only places that will be carrying it. can you guys confirm that? other than that…a roundtrip ticket to costa rica & a surfboard.

.

.

http://www.nomadshop.net/ | @nomadtoronto | www.facebook.com/nomadtoronto

.

this season’s collection takes inspiration from the nomadic traveler, with motorcycle elements and navajo print patterns found incorporated in the designs. here we feature our navajo shorts – a chino cut with bone button closure. available in grey and navy, the navajo jacquard fabric is just enough detail to turn a classic fitting short into something unique for spring/summer. paired with our short-sleeve button down japanese slub oxford, it creates a clean, wearable, and easily put together look. a cotton, linen, ramie blend from japan, the button down comes in blue, ivory, and navy, and is our pick for a spring oxford that is the perfect weight for the much anticipated hotter weather.

.

.

visit our website for a list of retailers now carrying the s/s 2012 collection | www.wingsandhorns.com/retailers

.

.

more images after the click.

company: cyc design corporation (specifically for the wings+horns brand)

location: vancouver, british columbia

position: design intern (unpaid)

duration: minimum 3 month committment, and must be available 3+ days a week

description

cyc design corporation is looking for an intern to assist the design and production team responsible for wings+horns. looking for a design intern that is able to commit 3 or more days a week, for at least 3 months. this position is a great opportunity for those looking to learn more about the fashion industry and the stages of development to create a men’s collection. the intern will be working closely with the designer during the duration of the internship. only serious applications will be considered.

candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

requirements

candidates must be receiving or have received a degree in fashion design.

proficient in excel and microsoft word.

able to do technical drawings on Adobe Illustrator.

willingness to assist in all steps of the design process.

must have great organization and communication skills and be able to work independently.

a creative person able to contribute opinions and ideas regarding production, design, and development.

being able to multitask is a must.

duties

technical drawings.

preparing sewing packages.

shrink tests.

organizing trim and fabric swatches.

sourcing new materials and trims.

assisting the designer with projects as they arise.

apply via email

info@wingsandhorns.com

in the subject line please put “wings+horns design intern position – NAME”

submission details

qualified candidates should send in their resume, cover letter, and design portfolio (link or PDF samples) to the above email address.

during our fw 2012 exhibition in nyc, we managed to find time to stop by and check out PROJECT No. 8. the store is well curated, nicely merchandised and definitely worth a visit. the mens store is located at 38 orchard street in chinatown, bordering little italy. there’s also a PROJECT No. 8 travel store located in the ace hotel on 29^th and broadway. http://projectno8.com