BLOG

Brand Profile: Benjamin Bixby

No disrespect to trends that are dominating the current atmosphere, but its the timeless look of the past that’ll always be synonymous with class. Fully equipped with lambskin newsboy caps, cashmere bow ties, and corduroy sports jackets, the Benjamin Bixby clothing line truly represents gentlemen qualities that’ll even make OG fashionista Beau Brummell proud.

A brainchild of Andre 3000, Benjamin Bixby will make its fall debut this year at Barneys. The classic collection, inspired by sports uniforms from the earlier decades and old-school brands like Turnbull & Asser, consists of seventy pieces designed by Andre Benjamin himself. According to Andre, Benjamin Bixby “is a character who has a closet full of experiences and clothes, and he’s been around the world.” Sounds like a clear representation of his own steez. Check out some more pieces from the new line below…

Brand Profile: UNIS

We bet that male “cool-guy” designers have their tight slacks in a bunch due to the fact that a woman is churning out some of the most solid casual threads in town. Eunice Lee the design hands behind NYC-based UNIS offers clothing that’s appropriate for when you’re hitting up venues that are too cleaned-up for an UNDFTD tee, but too laid back for a three-piece suit.

The brand’s Fall ’08 line offers everything from plaid shirts and rigid denim to peacoats and gray slacks at prices that clock in under what high-fashion labels are doing on 5th Ave. If the Complex co-sign wasn’t enough to make a believer out of you, Lee recently got accepted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s new designer initiative, a group that’s reserved to the most forward-thinking fashion heavyweights. Scope out more standout pieces from this season’s collection below…

Dave’s Quality Meat Drops Choice Cuts for Fall

DQM Waxed Cotton Hooded Bomber Jacket

Everyone’s favorite downtown sneaker shop Dave’s Quality Meats is dropping some serious heat with their fall line. Along with their recent DQM Nike Sportswear Dunk Hi Premium release (Click here to watch it on the Complex Shopping Network), they’ve recently unleashed some high-quality grown-man flannels, New Eras, hoodies and jackets.

One thing we’re definitely feeling this season is waxed cotton (you’ll see why in our upcoming December/January issue), a functional yet stylish waterproof fabric that should be worked into your winter wardrobe. DQM’s Waxed Cotton Hooded Bomber (pictured above) features material produced by The British Millerain, a fabric company that’s been around since 1880. Buy it now at Dave’s East Village shop. Check out a couple of our favorite hats from their fall release below…

Brand Profile: Neighborhood

We’ve already hipped you to its flagship store and some if its sneaker collabos—now it’s time to give Japanese line Neighborhood the full brand profile treatment.

Launched by Shinsuke Takizawa in Harajuku in 1994, Neighborhood embodies its creator’s passion for biker culture and style. The line is renowned for its distressed denim and leather motorcycle jackets, as well as other subtly-detailed pieces that follow the biker/military/outdoors motif. Neighborhood’s recent collabos with the likes of Stussy and A Bathing Ape have put it on the U.S. streetwear radar, but it’s still hard to find—it’s sold at five U.S. boutiques (including Union NY, Union LA and Relic in Boston) and online at its own shop and other retailers.

Neighborhood’s autumn/winter collection is titled “Dirty Harry”, but the steez is more biker badass than renegade cop, with mechanic-inspired shirts, flannels, paint-splattered denim, and slick bubble jackets. See a sampling below…

Brand Profile: Ransom

Don’t look now but cold weather is coming, which means it’s time to re-up on your fall wardrobe. And when it comes to weatherproof gear, where else to look but Canada? Ransom, started in 2005 by Canadian streetwear leader Matt George, is one-third of the United Front umbrella that includes Goodfoot and Nomad.

This is Ransom’s third season, and the line continues to deliver clean, functional, utilitarian pieces that fully rep the Canadian climate and lifestyle. It’s a style-forward update on classic workwear pieces—basically, clothes that will hold you down for many cold seasons to come. And the best part is that the collection won’t kill your wallet. For the moment, Ransom is only available at its stores in Toronto and Vancouver, where you can also cop gear from other high-quality, no-frills brands like Levi’s, Red Wing, Post O’Alls, and Carhartt. Sounds like a worthwhile up-North trip to us, people.

An exclusive look at Ransom’s Fall 2008 collection is below…

Brand Profile: Brema

Although slightly under the radar, this Italian sportswear company was founded in 1969 as a forward-thinking motorcycle brand and since has evolved into a complete label. Known for their silky nylon jackets the line should be your go-to if you’re looking to refresh your leather jacket game.

Not only does Spike Lee rock the brand’s gear regularly out in the streets of NYC, he also incorporated some key jackets into his forthcoming film Miracle at St. Anna. Although U.S distribution for the company is scarce, you can hit up brema-1969.com to purchase pieces with no hassle. Check out some standout gear after the jump.

10.Deep Goes Political For Fall

Election fever has everyone’s mind preoccupied with Palin-gate and convention speeches, so it’s not surprising that even streetwear is going political.10.Deep ’s fall drop is inspired by the New World Order, the all-encompassing conspiracy theory that mentions everyone from the Bush family, the Du Ponts, Saudi leaders, and Freemasons in a master plan to dominate the world. Deep stuff (get it?).

The lookbook was shot in Brooklyn’s Masonic Temple (Freemason headquarters), which provided a nice background for the classic flannels, subversive flipped-flag graphics, and dark denim. The colors are spot-on (primary and patriotic) and the satin bomber is a must-be-copped piece. Check out our selects from their first fall drop, along with some exclusive outtakes from their photoshoot, below…

Brand Profile: Warriors of Radness

From left to right: Chad Marshall, random Japanese gangster, Trace Marshall

Depending on who you are, Warriors of Radness is either the worst name for a brand, or the best you’ve ever heard. Either way, you won’t forget this surfer-inspired Southern Cali T-shirt line that has dope graphics and a legit pedigree.

The Brothers Marshall (aka Chad and Trace Marshall) are two crazy surfers from Malibu who officially rep WOR. The brand was actually started by Rick Klotz, the outspoken founder of Freshjive, who recently garnered some attention with a controversial T-shirt showing Palestinian child soldiers. Hit up Reserve LA to cop WOR gear like the T-shirts shown below…

Raf Simons & Eastpak Strap Up More Backpacks

If you haven’t rocked a backpack since that Black Moon concert in ‘93, now’s the time to re-up. Designer-of-the-moment Raf Simons has teamed up with Eastpak for a third time, and to no one’s surprise, he’s continuing to make the common-man backpack company cooler.

The double-label Spring 2009 collection (shown above) features canvas and denim bags with silver leather and mesh details. The price range will be from $200 to $500 at Barney’s New York next year. If you can’t wait that long, check out some of Raf and Eastpak’s Fall 2008 collection (which drops this September) below…

Brand Profile: CTRL Clothing Co.

Started by two friends in Finland a decade ago, CTRL Clothing is a vaguely street-wearish brand that does crazy prints and colors in a surprisingly fresh, un-fruitloops way. The line has its roots as a skateboard brand and it’s clear that it hasn’t strayed away from the counterculture. (Check out the NSFW “About” section on their website to get a little taste of their sense of humor.)

The diverse company makes everything from T-shirts (some with clever internet references), patterned hoodies, New Eras, hot girls clothes, skateboard decks and CTRL brand wheels. They even have Healing Stones and an Escort Service listed on their website categories but (unfortunately) at press time they had no products available. Their Fall 2008 line is an unlikely pairing of African-inspired graphic prints and camouflage. See more pics from the lookbook below.