Tuesday, October 11th, 2011
You would be surprised that a small corner shop sitting on the axis of Amsterdam’s stylish Herenstraat and the Herengracht (one of the city’s central canals), is actually the European flagship store for a Singaporean menswear bag label called Property Of….The store, only having been open for a year, acts as a space for the ten-year-old brand to explore outside its native Singapore, offering a unique retail experience in the form of complimentary espressos, cappuccinos and pastries for customers who stop by. Most Property Of… bags and products, which range from messenger bags to small wallets priced between €150-€250, are created with a combination of leather and waxed canvas, while a few smaller items come in denim and nylon. Hendrik Stroscher, the owner and manager of the company’s Amsterdam shop, notes that the design philosophy maintains that their bags exude a timeless feel combined with subtle branding as each bag contains a little understated “Property Of…” logo that cleverly leaves room to write your own name after it. Each bag also comes with a name, highlights include the “Alfred Book Bag” and “Tommy Work Bag” both displaying that classic quality while remaining functional, containing various small pockets and enough room for books and a laptop.
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Wednesday, September 21st, 2011
There are few materials in this world that encompass luxury, functionality and durability in the way that leather does. Our affinity for leather goods has deep-seated roots in the story of human evolution, survival and progress. It has remained a fixture of our material culture for thousands of years, keeping us warm, holding the things we value most, protecting our bodies and representing the crafts our lineage. We have learned to love all its smells, the way it feels and the elegance of its simplicity because it has come a long way with us through the annals of history.
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Wednesday, June 29th, 2011
The Block‘s friend and contributor Sarah Frances Kuhn also happens to be a totally rockin’ designer. The former Teen Vogue accessories editor (and current Block writer) recently released a series of amazing fabric-and-chain camera straps (reminiscent of classic Chanel bag chains) with NYC boutuqie/gallery End of Century and jewelry designer Cheek-ie.
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Location: Crosstown, Vancouver
Rexford Lavado is the designer of Broken English, a brand he founded in 2008 with partner Lindsay Rankin. A trained goldsmith, Lavado handcrafts each and every piece in his Crosstown studio, where he is accompanied by his dog Harlem. We spent an afternoon with the designer while he showed us around his workspace.
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Monday, November 29th, 2010
Brass Knuckles by Robert Lazzarini, 2010
Winter in Miami has everything: sun, surf, and Art Basel Miami Beach. With temperatures dropping across the rest of North America, nothing rubs it in like a fabulous multi-discipline art show rammed with celebs, art collectors, and beautiful people.
First stop: OHWOW.
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Cubebot by David Weeks
Our apartments would be a total yawnfest if it wasn’t for New York-based design shop Areaware, and we’re pretty excited that our favourite source of objets d’art is celebrating its five-year birthday during the celebrations for New York Design Week.
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Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
Space, the final frontier. Okay, maybe not the final frontier, but this travelling exhibition is pretty galactic. Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future is currently on display at The Museum of the City of New York. The retrospect not only features photographs of Saarinen’s most famous architectures, but still models, films, and furniture designs, like the “tulip” chair – yes, the same white modern chairs featured on the Enterprise in the 1960s Star Trek series – will also be on display.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
There are times when an iPod simply won’t do. Don’t get us wrong, thousands of songs accessible at the spin of a neon nano wheel is rad, but there is something to be said for listening to music with an album in hand. Insound (an online resource for independent music) and Mike Perry (a Brooklyn-based graphic artist) would share this sentiment. Perry prefers hand drawings to computer programs and Insound favours vinyl records over MP3s; both have a soft spot for the organic.
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009
Don’t dare compare one of these Diesel lamps with any ol’ lamp you find at a flea market. Successful Living, a line of furniture created by Diesel – spearheaded by Diesel’s Creative Director, Wilbert Das – has collaborated with Foscarini to create a series of lamps to illuminate homes in all styles.
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Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
Brainchild of Swedish clothing line Elvine and the designers at Next Century Modern, Creators Inn accommodates visiting artists gratis – so long as they contribute to the creative welfare of the city.
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THE BLOCK MIXTAPE
by Young Empires
Mixtape: Young Empires
Toronto's Young Empires send us straight to the dancefloor with this mixtape for The Block.
www.myspace.com/youngempires
01. Sabali (Vitalic Remix) - Amadou & Miriam
02. Lies (Herve Remix) - Fenech-Soler
03. Hour of the Wolf (Lifelike Remix) - Adam Kesher
04. Dance the Way I Feel (Armand Van Helden Remix) - Ou Est Le Swimming Pool
05. Snake Charmer - Bag Raiders
06. Wait & See - Holy Ghost!
07. All Night (Azari & III Remix) - Voltage
08. You Know I Know It - Tensnake
09. La Mezcla - Michel Cleis
10. Rain of Gold (French Horn Rebellion Remix) - Young Empires
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