John Varvatos Spectator Combat boot

John Varvatos Spectator combat boot

Dark ghurka leather. Tonal topstitching. Goldtone hardware. Lace-up shaft. Beige mesh detail on side. Lugged sole. Stacked heel. Made in Italy.

Available at Neiman Marcus

Billy Reid

Billy Reid

William "Billy" Reid grew up in Amite, Louisiana which is just south of the Mississippi line. During this period his mother operated a women’s clothing boutique from his grandmother’s home. He spent his boyhood mostly out of doors while in the company of his father and friends in the Southeast Louisiana wetlands.

He attended Southeastern Louisiana University and later the Art Institute of Dallas where he studied fashion design and merchandising. While there he initiated a career at Saks Fifth Avenue where he was mentored by tailored clothing veterans. From there, Billy had a 6 year stint at Reebok International where he traveled worldwide developing the early stages of the Greg Norman collection. In 1995, he founded his own fashion design and marketing company and worked with a diverse group of clients including Fruit of the Loom, Neiman Marcus, Reebok and Takashimaya.

Billy Reid launched his first collection in spring of 1998. Industry took note of his low-fi Southern-bred luxury as defining the collection's difference. In 2001, Billy received the prestigious CFDA Perry Ellis award. With momentum in his favor, expectations were optimistic; however, the tragedies on 9/11 would bring upon a very harsh reality that would force him to shutter his business in spring of 2002, resulting in leaving New York to settle back South in Florence, Alabama attempting to regroup.

After struggling to bring back his collection, a group of friends approached Billy in 2004 with the idea to consider a new business model. Essentially, the idea was to build shops for the collection that would reflect his personality and his aesthetic. Steeped with antiques, family heirlooms and reclaimed architectural materials, the shops take on a very personal, warm and hospitable environment.

Billy Reid, Inc. headquarters in Historic Downtown Florence, Alabama in a turn of the century book store where the downstairs is converted into his flagship shop and the upstairs serves as the design studio overlooking Main Street.

In fall of 2008, a flagship shop on Bond Street in New York City opened to great reviews and was voted Best Men's Store by New York Magazine. Additional shops include Nashville, Charleston, Dallas, Charlotte and Houston.

By John T. Edge

Shemagh

Shemagh

The keffiyeh (Arabic: كوفية‎, kūfiyyah, plural كوفيات, kūfiyyāt)), also known as a (ya)shmagh (from Turkish: yaşmak "tied thing"), ghutrah (غترة), ḥaṭṭah (حطّة), mashadah(مشدة) or shemagh is a traditional headdress typically worn by Arab men made of a square of cloth (“scarf”), usually cotton, folded and wrapped in various styles around the head. It is commonly found in arid climate areas to provide protection from direct sun exposure, as well as for occasional use in protecting the mouth and eyes from blown dust and sand. Its distinctive woven check pattern originated in an ancient Mesopotamian representation of either fishing nets or ears of grain.

Edun

EDUN

EDUN's mission is to create beautiful clothing while fostering sustainable employment in developing economies, particulary in sub-Saharan Africa. We work on a micro-level to help build the skill sets of factories where the clothes are produced. EDUN is currently produced in India, Peru, Tunisia, Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho, Tanzania, Mauritius and Madagascar.

In addition, EDUN acts as a voice encouraging the fashion community to do business in Africa and thereby help bring the continent out of extreme poverty. In 1980, Africa had 6% share of the world trade. By 2002, this had dropped to just 2% despite Africa having 12% of the world’s population. If Africa could regain just an additional 1% share of global trade, it would earn $70 billion more in exports each year. This is several times more than what the region currently receives in international assistance.

While EDUN's primary focus is trade, we are also working towards using more organic materials in the collection. Organic cotton is not only a responsible environmental solution, but also provides healthier working conditions and is a valuable market opportunity for farmers in Africa.

Nixon

Nixon

Nestled comfortably out of the way up against the pacific ocean in southern California, and tucked neatly next to the best surf in Europe, you'll find Nixon people doing what we do. What started as a frustration at a lack of quality watches that simultaneously do the talking for you and deliver what you need in various high stress work and play environments has grown into a network of athletes, rock stars, retailers, and dedicated loyalists that bring Nixon products to market.