Plaidy: Alya Kazakevich
On Valentine’s Day, The New York Times featured a 28-year-old leather craftswoman named Alya Kazakevich whose Chinatown shop, a.b.k Custom Leather Craft, with its “…potted plants, old sewing machines, vitrines of vintage belt buckles, and cool Russian military coats, sailor shirts and blankets sent to her by her parents in Belarus” sounds like my own version of heaven.
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Gitman Vintage x Seavees Bleeding Madras Pop-Over Shirt
I first met Seavees’ Steven Tiller this summer. Over the course of our chat, he told me about his first job working at Harold’s while in high school. He talked about all the preppy brands they carried. He mentioned Gitman Bros., but his eyes lit up with the mention of bleeding madras, “the real stuff, the Indian stuff, that gets on your skin.”
Repaired: Alden Tassel Moccasin
In the summer of 2008, I found my favorite pair of shoes, a used pair of cognac-colored tassel moccasins from Alden, buried in a giant L.L. Bean duffel at the Brooklyn Flea. I purchased them from my man Tutek for $30.00. I wore the hell out of them. When I found two gaping hole in the soles this fall, rather than take them to my local cobbler, I recalled the lesson my father taught me when I was a little kid. His Allen Edmonds had just returned from their recrafting service. “See, Max? Good as new! Buy a nice-looking shoe from a company you trust, and you’ll never have to buy ‘em twice.” Last month, I sent my mocs back to Alden’s factory in Middleborough, Massachusetts for a full professional restoration. They arrived this week, and I am very pleased with the results.
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Babe
One of my closest friends, actor Alex Beh, has a new short which he’s directed and co-written. The film also stars Leven Rambin, most recently seen on Grey’s Anatomy.
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The Spades
This week in New York Magazine, writer Amy Larocca profiled one of my heroes, Andy Spade and his wife, Kate. It is a fantastic read if you’re at all interested in turning your passion into your career, and being wildly — well, the fourth place kind of wildly (more on that in a bit) — successful along the way.
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A Portrait of the American Craftsman
Mr. Jay Brown of Jay Brown Stagecoaches
The photo journal of Tadd Myers’ cross country tour of American factories, A Portrait of the American Craftsman, is featured in this month’s issue of Spirit, the in-flight magazine of Southwest Airlines.
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The Outdoors Club
With the help of Fjällräven’s Andrea Westerlind Context Clothing’s Ryan Huber assembled a few friends on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula over the Super Bowl weekend for a competition of different kind, an ice fishing competition.
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On the Road: Madison, Wisconsin
The people of Wisconsin live and die by this beautiful quote from English writer John Ruskin.
I pulled in to Madison on a snow-covered evening, late enough that the last of Context Clothing‘s customers was just bundling up before heading home with a new pair of Momotaro jeans, but co-owner Ryan Huber was kind enough to keep the shop open for yours truly.
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Laundry
Doing a bit of laundry at all plaidout. I wanted to send a short reminder that there are many ways to stay plaid: the really simple syndication of your choice; via e-mail; my inspiration board, well-plaid; tune into the director’s commentary on Twitter; or become a fan on facebook. Do you think there a better way to put more plaid in your life? I’ve toyed with the notion of incorporating my experience as a broadcast journalist. Is video the future of all plaidout? Please, share your ideas.