Category: Fashion

  • What Are Today’s Winter Fashion Trends?

    A lot of people think that dressing to stay warm means that they have to jeopardise some of their style credentials. However, this is certainly not the case. In fact, layering is one of the most popular fashion arts at present and if anything winter months offers the most scope for fashionable ensembles. Keeping that in mind, this article will reveal some of the top trends in today’s fashion in order to give people ideas of trendy clothing for the coming months ahead.

    Image via Unsplash

    When it comes to picking a colour of clothing for the coming months the best option to go for is blue. Blue is great because it is a colour which is versatile and will go with an array of outfits. However, it has a vibrancy to it which means that it is not boring and the colour will add some energy into any outfit. Furthermore, blue is also great because there is a vast number of diverse shades of blue. This means that there is a shade to suit all skin tones and all hair colours. Therefore, everybody can rock this popular trend for the coming season.

    When it comes to picking a pattern for autumn/winter 2020 then it is all about going for tribal trends. Other the summer Aztec patterns and alike have been a highly popular option. However, this is a trend which is only set to grow in dominance over the coming months. Tribal trends will be great for winter in particular because they give off an air of warmth and comfort whilst still being extremely stylish. An individual can opt to incorporate a tribal patterned garment in a shade of blue if they are looking to go for style overload. 

    When considering what type of fabric to opt for during autumn and winter one should seriously consider the prospect of leather. The popularity of leather dwindled over the summer, which is not surprising as it is not a material which goes well with the heat. Nevertheless, it is coming back to the forefront of fashion over the winter period. The only component required to wear leather is confidence. Leather garments are bold and thus one needs to have self-confidence in order to pull the look off effectively. It is important to remember that going for leather does not mean that one has to stick to a black colour. There are some gorgeous leather pieces in store at present. It is not advisable to go for something too vibrant however, instead consider a deep and rich colour such as wine or burgundy. You can also add leather with Balenciaga bags, making a real style statement.

    And finally, when thinking about what style of dress or skirt to go for then dip hems are highly popular in today’s fashion. A dip hem or dress is great because it combines the perfect amount of girly and style. To go for an urban glam look team the dress or skirt with an elaborate snood.

    All in all, the trends for the coming months with regards to fashion are certainly exciting ones. The only thing to remember is to pick a trend which suits and feels comfortable.

  • 5 Male Fall Fashion Trends in 2021

    The fashion industry is a multi-million dollar global business, and it’s not a surprise that men’s fashion has evolved tremendously over the years. Men have always been one of the hardest customers for clothing stores to please. 

    However, men’s fashion has changed drastically over the years, with men now showing more interest in fashion trends and preferring to wear something different every day. So, let’s check out the current trends in men’s fashion for fall:

    Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash

    The Trendy Brogue

    In this age of fashion trends, shoes have become a necessity. From the olden days till now, shoes have been something that people need to complete their look. 

    Finding the perfect pair of shoes for fall can be difficult. However, if you’re looking for the next silk shoes for your outfits, you can try the trendy Mens Lace up Check Brogue. 

    Trench Coat

    Will Trench Coats ever go out of style? No. Never. Trench coats are an iconic part of men’s fashion. They’re the perfect coat for any season – they keep you warm in winter and comfortable in warmer months.

    Men’s trench coats come in various shapes and sizes, but one thing that they all have in common is their versatility. Trench coats don’t just work well with any clothing style, but they also serve multiple purposes – the most popular being the mix between a jacket or blazer and raincoat.

    The Perfect Suit

    We can see that this trend is limited to the workplace and creeping into workplaces like hospitals, law firms, maybe even a date. However, the suit isn’t just for the office. The perfect suit is making its way to the trendy scene, with various styles and concepts. 

    What does this tell us? Suits are now more popular than ever before, and with the versatility of the suit, it’s a fashion trend that is here to stay.

    Denim Jeans

    The fashion industry is always changing, and it’s a cycle that keeps coming around. The latest trend in men’s fashion is denim jeans. Men’s denim jeans are an easy way to add some flair to your style without spending too much time getting dressed up. 

    They are perfect for when you need something more casual but still want a bit of a dressier feel in your ensemble. You can wear denim jeans with a suit, blazer, or even with the following trend.

    Polo Knitted Trends

    The Polo Knitted Jumper is a fashion trend that is available in different colours. Although it can be used for all seasons, it can especially be worn during spring and summer because of its light material. It’s a fashion trend that is popular once again, right on time for fall.  

    It also has a polo collar, which gives the jumper a masculine touch. Knitted wear has seen an amazing boom in men’s fashion, which has been interesting to watch. From the cashmere sweater to the knitted pullover, men’s fashion is pulling one surprising trend, one after another.

    It makes you excited to see what 2022 has to offer. 

     

  • Hemen Biarritz

    Hemen Biarritz

    Hemen is a men’s underwear label recently founded in Biarritz, France by the owners of creative and apparel design studio MakeMy Studio and two-wheeler culture specialist Bixente. Inspired by the Basque Country and its traditions, Hemen propose high-quality garments for the men of today, living in harmony with their time and caring about their comfort.

    To find more about Hemen, we had a chat with one of its founders, Marie Guyot, and we visited their studio space in Biarritz. You can read the interview below.

    Photos by Benjamin Jeanjean

    www.hemen-biarritz.com

    You have experience working in apparel design and art direction with your agency MakeMy Studio. What made you start your own clothing label and why did you decide to focus on men’s underwear?

    In the beginning, MakeMy Studio was approached by Bixente, the owner of a custom garage here in Biarritz, to work on the Hemen project.

    Bixente had the idea: a men’s underwear label inspired by the Basque Country called Hemen. MakeMy Studio turned the idea into a concept. We created the logo, the branding, the design and we looked after the art direction and sourcing.  We decided not only to collaborate in the project but become a partner.

    Tell us a little more about the design and manufacture process of your garments.

    We design everything ourself here in Biarritz. Understated but not basic, our range of undergarment is intended to be both unique and for everyone. Our signature, sophisticated and discrete, is a linen yoke overstitched with a red thread.

    Underwear are the garments that are most subjected to body movements. To avoid deformation, we only use cotton knitted from long fibers. This feature guarantees the delicacy and extensibility of the product. For our boxer-short model, the Albar, the mesh is also mixed with 4% elastane for even more resiliency.

    Our designs only use flatlock seams. They are particularly suited for extensible fabrics, and, when done with special care, they also have the property to reduce friction. Finally, our products are devised according to the male morphology to ensure absolute comfort.

    Deeply concerned about our impact on the environment, and motivated by a civic approach, we produce jersey underwear made from GOTS-certified organic cotton (Global Organic Textil Standard).

    The intensive farming of cotton is one of the most polluting on the planet. Organic cotton, on the other hand, is grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides, and the dye is done without using heavy metals or other harmful substances. This growing method avoids a number of intoxications recorded in developing producing countries. It is approximately 20% more expensive, the yield return being less efficient, but the harvested fiber is smoother, softer, and therefore more pleasurable to wear.

    The textile production is made in the region of Porto, in Portugal, a country we are fond of for its savoir-vivre, and do support for its textile savoir-faire. Indeed, Portugal figures among the most highly rated production sites for designers with high quality standards, especially concerning jersey work. This location is a strategic choice as well, with regard to reactivity and flexibility, but also to environmental impact, considering the human size of the factories and geographic proximity.

    Hemen is inspired by the Basque Country and its traditions. We’d like to know a little more about this, how does a tradition influence a clothing collection?

    The Basques believe that in olden days, during transhumance, the shepherds wives used to give their husbands an undergarment that was endowed with the power to protect them from the harshness of nature’s elements.

    Hemen, which means “here” in the Basque language, wanting to perpetuate this tradition, managed to revive the genuine savoir-faire and high-quality textiles that built the reputation of this legendary present.

    We design underwear with personality for the men of today, living in harmony with their time and caring about their comfort – male underwear with an attitude.

    Bixente, our partner, is a local native figure here. He has been a collector and a two-wheeler culture specialist for more than 20 years. As a vintage expert, he always find the ideas in the hidden treasures he finds.

    Besides, the Basque Country is such a strong region regarding crafts, culture and natural elements – mountain, ocean, rain, sun, snow… – that we have a limitless source of inspiration.

    What are the future plans for Hemen?

    A lot to do! Widen the range with new styles and new colours. A couple of cool collaborations in the pipeline and develop our visibility in the cool boutiques and concept stores in the EU.

    There’s so many things going on in Biarritz at the moment. Tell us about some interesting projects we shouldn’t miss on a visit to the city.

    Biarritz has always been a very attractive place for creative minds and people are pretty daring in launching projects here.

    Our friends from Cetus are doing great stuff and we have just launched our new project: Atalaye – Bain de Biarritz, a high-end swimshort brand for men.

  • Insecta Shoes

    Insecta Shoes

    Pamela Magpali and Barbara Mattivy are the founders of Insecta Shoes, a Brazilian shoe label transforming fabrics and prints from vintage clothing into vegan footwear.

    Insecta Shoes‘ Oxford shoes and Chelsea boots are made in Brazil, handcrafted in limited numbers and every single model is unique.

    To find out more about this innovative enterprise, we asked its founders about their background, the manufacturing process and the future of Insecta Shoes.

    Photos by Miguel Soll

    What made you start your own shoe label? What was your background before Insecta?

    I worked in fashion and digital marketing for years, and also ran an online vintage store. Pamela is a shoe designer and she had her own shoe label for one year. One day we met and we both loved each other products, so we talked about creating a collaboration between both brands. I had some really over sized vintage shorts and blazers that had amazing prints but I never had the time to adjust the sizes, so she suggested we could make shoes out of these clothes. I absolutely loved the idea, and that is how our 1st collaboration was born. Everything sold very well, and we did a second one, that was even a bigger hit.

    I was moving to Canada and needed someone to help me manage my business in Brazil, so we partnered and created Insecta Shoes. We launched in January 2014 and everything is going super well. We’re growing organically but pretty fast, which is great but scary at the same time.

    We’re interested in knowing a little more about the process you follow to design and manufacture your shoes. could you tell us about it?

    Sure! The video below illustrates how everything is done. First, we design the shoe and create a real sample from it. We test it, tweak and adjust, and them approve it. This is what Pamela does while I’m sourcing and hand picking all the clothes from vintage suppliers. Then we deconstruct the clothes by hand and back them with a thicker fabric. All the raw materials go to our little atelier and they produce the shoes according to our combination of design, prints and colors of soles and lining.

    Insecta Shoes by Volt Project from Insecta Shoes on Vimeo.

    How do you source the clothes you use to manufacture your shoes? 

    They’re all handpicked at vintage suppliers or vintage/thrift stores in North America. It’s cool because sometimes we find really great prints in clothes that have a terrible fitting and probably no one else would wear them – we give a new use for that piece of clothing. We love this part of the production process because we have so much fun hunting for prints, it’s also very nostalgic. Once we found a cook/chef pair of trousers with an amazing vegetables print, we went nuts! Eggplants, cabbage, tomatoes, all over!

    All your shoes are unique. Have you worked with a print/fabric that you wish you could have used for more shoes?

    Yes, definitely! It’s a pro and a con to have such exclusive shoes. There are fabrics that we were able to produce 3 pairs with and that’s it. We wish we had the best ones for each of us and for our customers, but it’s impossible. But the great part of it it’s that no one else in the world will have the same shoes as you, not even the slightest chance for this to happen!

    Have you thought about expanding Insecta shoes to other type of products?

    Yes, absolutely. We have tons of ideas coming up in the next months, for the shoes and for other products. We can’t tell much right now, but there are amazing things on the way 😉

  • Start-up: Zerezes

    Start-up: Zerezes

    Zerezes is a Brazilian design collective formed by four young designers, developing products with low environmental impact and bringing new meaning to what is no longer useful.

    For their first project, Zerezes have launched an eyewear collection, made completely of recycled wood.

    There’s been quiet a few different companies and studios trying to tap into the sustainable design market, but we feel Zerezes stand out with their original concept and simple aesthetics.

    www.zerezes.com.br