corduroy magazine

Men's Fashion Week 08

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:45:00 -0400

We’ve been busy checking out the shows during men’s fashion week and we had to stop by our friend Andrew Buckler’s show last night at Pier 92. There was a definite buzz in the air as the British designer presented his collection and it was clear from the first model to come down the runway that Buckler is serious about making a run for the top of the menswear market. The clothes were laidback and comfortable; high-end streetwear with just a dash of prep school stuffiness for good measure. We have to point out the number of minority models used by Buckler — always a plus in our books! And there was also a great relaxed vibe to the whole show, though we’re sure Andrew was frantically plugging away behind the scenes!

In case you read about it on other sites, the stars of MTV’s “The Hills” were indeed “working” at the show. Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port were assisting the team at People’s Revolution, who helped produce the runway show. MTV cameras were everywhere. We think we also spotted Dominic, from Bravo’s “Make Me A Supermodel,” walking for Buckler. Still, no one in the crowd seemed to make a big fuss over these reality-TV regulars. I guess that’s New York for ya.

For our Toronto readers, make sure to stop by Buckler’s new store on Queen Street West. You can also find more information over at www.bucklershowroom.com

(capsule) is in town next week — the annual fashion...

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:53:32 -0400

(capsule) is in town next week — the annual fashion tradeshow put on by our friends at bpmw***. We got a chance to visit their showroom a few days ago and were impressed at the diverse lineup of clothing labels they represent: from old faves like Stussy and Penfield to new brands making waves like Public School.

In celebration of (capsule) the bpmw*** crew is showing local merchants some love. Some of our favorite spots are offering discounts and summer revelry in honor of mens market week. Check out the list:

Assembly (July 20th)
Kick off the week at Assembly’s Heavy Metal Barbecue. Need we say more? 6-10pm
174 Ludlow Street (between Houston and Stanton) 212.253.5393

Frank’s Chop Shop (July 21st and 22nd)
Shaves and haircuts at this downtown insiders spot are 15% off, just for you. By appointment.
19 Essex (between Hester and Canal.) 212.228.7442

mastihashop (July 21st and 22nd)
Shop to the tune of 15% discount on anything in the store while sipping on complimentary wine.
145 Orchard (between Stanton and Rivington) 212.253.0895

ReedSpace

Stop by this mecca of progressive street culture and receive 15% off your purchase.
151 Orchard (between Stanton and Rivington) 212.253.0588

Save Khaki (July 22nd)
Save Khaki celebrates the launch of S.K.U. (Save Khaki United) a line of pieces all manufactured in the US. 6 to 10pm
254 Broome (between Delancey and Grand) 212.614.7283

Still Life (July 21st and 22nd)
Pick up accessories that will have you Fall-ready and get 10% off regularly-priced items plus complimentary wine.
77 Orchard (between Grand and Broome) 212.575.9704

Valley (July 21st and 22nd)
Shop new and vintage cool-girl clothing and get 10% off non-sale items. Get groomed with a 15% discount on nail or waxing services.
48 Orchard (between Grand and Hester) 212.274.8985

This is definitely going to be one of the hottest shows this...

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:43:21 -0400

This is definitely going to be one of the hottest shows this summer. In other words, make sure you get your tickets. We’ll see you there.

Happy Canada Day! Even though Corduroy is based in New York, we...

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:27:01 -0400

Happy Canada Day! Even though Corduroy is based in New York, we have to give a shout-out to our home and native land — where Tim Horton’s trumps Starbucks, cheque is spelled with a ‘q’ and cheese curds and gravy on french fries is a delicious delicacy, not a weird mistake.

In honor of Canada’s 141st birthday, here are five of our favourite (spelled with a ‘U’) Canuck bands and artists, who prove that Canada has what it takes to rock - no buts aboot it.

1. Wolf Parade - this Montreal-based band’s latest album “At Mount Zoomer” dropped last month and it’s filled with driving, thumping rock songs that are begging to be blasted through extra-large speakers or — if we’re lucky — at arenas filled with sweaty fans singing along to every word. www.myspace.com/wolfparade

2. The Stills - We got an advance preview of the band’s new album, “Oceans Will Rise,” the other day and it’s been on repeat in our office ever since. Once again working with producer Gus van Go, The Stills’ new material is exactly what the title suggests: sweeping, anthemic songs about finding inspiration and wonder in the day-to-day activities of life.
www.thestills.net

3. Jully Black - the undisputed Queen of Canadian Soul and R&B, this songstress has been on the scene for years, as part of “The Circle” — a group of independent Canadian hip-hop singers and collaborators — but has come into her own with her latest CD, “Revival.” This is R&B at its best: honest, raw, emotional, musical and undoubtedly soulful. www.jullyblack.com

4. Dallas Green - we featured Green in the magazine earlier this year, and since then, he’s released his second full-length studio album under his “City and Colour” moniker. Entitled “Bring Me Your Love,” the album features beautifully sparse and haunting acoustic cuts that go as well with a glass of wine in a bar, as they do with a fireplace slowly crackling on a quiet night at home. www.myspace.com/dallasgreen

5. Stars - we just blogged about them a few weeks ago but we’re excited to announce that Stars is going on tour! They’ll be doing a number of dates this fall across North America, in support of their latest disc, “In Our Bedroom After the War.” Check out www.myspace.com/stars for complete dates.

Bella Pella

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:26:16 -0400

When we were in Montreal a few weeks ago, we stopped by a small...

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:40:00 -0400

When we were in Montreal a few weeks ago, we stopped by a small skincare store called Bella Pella. We’ve heard our Canadian friends rave about the store’s line of products for years and we wanted to see what all the buzz was about.

We were immediately struck by the clean design of the packaging but we’re equally impressed with the company’s environmental policy. Bella Pella uses pure, natural ingredients like goat’s milk, mango, and olive oil with minimal preservatives. The use of recyclable materials, with no excess packaging, is also part of the company’s core values — perfect for today’s eco-minded consumer.

Bella Pella isn’t one of those mass-marketed chains that suck you in with big ad campaigns and hype. Instead, the founders have slowly built up their brand by focusing on putting out a quality product, while generating word of mouth support. Sometimes, those really are the best companies to support.

Thanks to Stefan at Bella Pella for taking care of us while we were in Montreal! And for more information, check out www.bellapella.com

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Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:30:00 -0400

New Aimee Mann!

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:42:55 -0400

Singer Aimee Mann is back with a new album, curiously titled...

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:41:00 -0400

Singer Aimee Mann is back with a new album, curiously titled “@#%&! Smilers”

New single “Freeway” is another classic Aimee tune that reads and sounds like a melancholic fairytale. Check out the video and then see if you can do better. Video tape yourself singing “Freeway” and upload it to youtube at youtube.com/group/aimeemanncontest. The winner will get a chance to sing with Aimee at an upcoming show. Check out aimeemann.com for details.

Lexus Hybrid Living Suite

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:33:31 -0400

Recently we were invited by the good folks at Lexus to preview a...

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:33:00 -0400

Recently we were invited by the good folks at Lexus to preview a new eco-luxury suite at the Fairmont Washington DC. With all the talk of “going green” nowadays, the hotel has found a way to appeal to the environmentally-conscious traveler while maintaining a high level of taste and design. The hybrid-living suite was designed by famed eco interior design Kelly LaPlante and promotes sustainability by minimizing the use of natural resources. Linens and coverings are made from organic materials, while select pieces of furniture are sourced from local antique dealers and re-upholstered with a modern flair. All the fixtures in the room utilize compact florescent lightbulbs, which not only last longer, but use less energy in the process.

All natural, biodegradable products were found in the bathroom, while we’re told the mini-bar was stocked with biodynamic wines and organic cheeses (we resisted the urge to crack it open!)

People always seem to think that being “environmentally friendly” means living a bare bones life with few perks and indulgences. But going green doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort or style. Lexus and Fairmont are really making the case for “eco-luxury” and we’ve got say, this is something we can really see people getting behind.

While on our trip, we got to test drive a Lexus LS 600h L...

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:32:00 -0400

While on our trip, we got to test drive a Lexus LS 600h L — a low-emission luxury car that was surprisingly fast and fun to drive (not to mention stylish). Too bad we only had it for a day. We were ready to drive it back to New York!

Some of the friends and colleagues we met at the hotel

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:31:00 -0400

Some of the friends and colleagues we met at the hotel

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Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:30:43 -0400

Eco-luxury dining at a local hotspot

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:29:00 -0400

Eco-luxury dining at a local hotspot

Thanks again to Inform Ventures and Lexus for inviting us to be a part of such a great event! For...

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:26:00 -0400

Thanks again to Inform Ventures and Lexus for inviting us to be a part of such a great event!

For more information about the Hybrid Living Suites, you can visit the Fairmont Hotel website at www.fairmont.com

Profile: TRACT Design

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:59:41 -0400

We received a package in the mail a few weeks ago from a...

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:59:00 -0400

We received a package in the mail a few weeks ago from a Montreal-based design firm called TRACT and we immediately fell in love with their products. Founded by Dominique Bouchard, the firm specializes in inventive and original products made entirely out of sustainably-forested paper.

What started as a hobby, has become a way for Bouchard to express herself creatively by tapping into her inner child and creating something that she says, “reinvents the everyday.” From a place mat that can be folded into an origami crane, to a freestanding collapsable vase, TRACT melds functionality with design to re-cast familiar products in a new and exciting light.

We got a chance to visit TRACT’s Montreal office to check out some of their latest creations and to chat with Dominique about her design philosophy.

Corduroy: Tell us how you started TRACT.

Dominique: I started making things just for fun, really just for pleasure, but also to explore new techniques with total freedom. I began making these products as gifts for my clients. They thought they were genius! They told us we needed to sell them, and that’s how TRACT was born.

Everything you make looks so expensive and chic, and yet it’s made entirely out of paper?

I told myself from the beginning that with these projects, I am only going to work with paper. Paper is the most controlled of all materials. It’s recyclable; we know what goes into it. With the advent of certain technologies, paper has taken a backseat, so I wanted to revisit it. Plus, it’s a material I know well.

There is such a visual quality in your products but you say you have trouble classifying the work as “art” in the traditional sense. Can you explain?

I studied graphic design in university and I think of it as applied arts; practical arts. We want to make things that are practical, whereas true art is more personal.

Are you ever afraid that people will miss the point?

If they don’t see the origami, it doesn’t matter. For me it was just a texture like any other, and we give it meaning. We just wanted to create something playful and functional. If people use it and enjoy it, then we’re happy.

For more information, visit the TRACT website at http://www.contractuelle.ca/tract/e/index_e.html

(with Daniel Barna)

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Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:51:14 -0400

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Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:48:00 -0400