Devotees of vintage Americana rags and work wears have one more place to shop this holiday season at the just opened RUGGED FACTORY. An physical extension of its periodical form, the new concept store is curated by the renowned Japanese magazine Free & Easy and operated by WORLD, the large Japanese fashion distributor. Fashioned itself after an old American general store, RUGGED FACTORY actualized the looks found within pages of Free & Easy with near perfect vintage replications. Divided into categories such as Army-Navy, Denim, Campus Life, Tweed & Leather, and Woodland Country, its almost a guarantee any aficionado would find something they like in the store. Unfortunately, the sole store in in Tokyo though there are plans for possible expansion in the near future.

Free & Easy Magazine – RUGGED FACTORY Concept Store
6-17-11 Jingumae | Map
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Japan

After its stops in Shanghai and Hong Kong, the CLOT x Disney retail concept known as Man Is In The Forest will be making its landfall in Taipei City tomorrow. Derived from a pivotal moment in Disney‘s animated classic Bambi, Man Is In The Forest is a distinctive take by CLOT‘s Edison Chen, Kevin Poon, along with Disney’s Ben Yue, of the intuitive relationship we have with Disney animations. A fact especially discernible within the many other creative types involved in this project, including X-Large, MEDICOM TOY, SSUR, PAM, Bounty Hunter, Vanquish, 84/74 Lab, and more… The temporary store front will be offering limited edition items from the said group of designers, plus others, at the trendy Xinyi District of Taipei City with Edison Chen presiding over the grand opening event. In the meantime, here is a glimpse of the retail space in the midst of preparation for the opening.

CLOT x Disney – Man Is In The Forest – Taipei
4F-10, No.12, Songshou Road | Map
Xinyi District, Taipei City Taiwan

Through much of last week, New York-base clothing label Acapulco Gold provided glimpse of its upcoming Fall 2011 Collection. In what is almost an Acapulco Gold signature, there is that bit of hidden dissemination of angst in each of the design. Such non-conformity like a quiet conflict against “the system”, yet its so subtle most will not see it. All reasons explain the success of Acapulco Gold. Sadly, this collection will see the last of Angry ‘Lo Bear, the AG official mascot, that is till next spring when the bear comes out of hibernation. AG’s design team also hinted more to come once the Fall 2011 Collection is available, officially, something that is about to take place in the coming days.

Creative extraordinaire REGGIEKNOW will introduce his brand of rehash creation once again in the short film “Mousetrap”. Together with Chris Gibbs of UNION Los Angeles, “Mousetrap” is a pairing of unlikely and unrelated eras, themes, and genres. Part video lookbook mixed with a 2011 love story plot line in a 1986 style, the film furthers the layers of intrigues with its semi-Blaxploitation visual cues. One other titillating aspect, the Carte Blanche agency produced film was done with Cantonese voice-over and English subtitles.

This being a lookbook video, the sequence is dotted with visual cues of Junya Watanabe COMME des GARCONS MAN, visvim, FILA, OriginalFake, CLOT, White Mountaineering, and other labels offered by UNION Los Angeles. A cornucopia of concepts, it might take viewer a moment to adjust at first though its a visual feast never the less.

UNION LA
110 South La Brea Avenue | Map
Los Angeles, CA 90036
TEL #: 323-549-6950

L.A.’s UNDFTD has unveiled images from its second delivery for Fall 2011, and once again the brand has compiled a solid sports-inspired collection. Standouts include a V-neck sweater and a pair of rigid denim jeans, while the rest of the lineup is filled with sportswear essentials made up of crewnecks, hoodies, sweatpants and graphic tees. Colors are subdued and limited to neutral grey and black tones, or dark hues like navy and hunter green. Click through to check out more looks, and expect the collection to hit UNDFTD chapter stores and online on September 30th.

Release Date: September 30th, 2011 (Friday)

The name SK8THING may conjure up different thoughts, however this enigmatic yet rather mysterious Japanese designer is starting a new brand, c.e with his friends Toby Feltwell and Hishi. These three designers were the key element to the Billionaire Boys Club team and of course SK8THING is one of the original members of the BAPE empire. Inspired by the novel Ubik by Philip K Dick, this brand intends to bring back streetwear and implementing science fiction taste into the mix. Debut Spring/Summer 2012 collection includes staple graphic t-shirts, denim and hoodies as well as shirts and outerwear. Expect to see these pieces in Colette and other select stores worldwide next year. via: Fashionsnap

A man of contradiction, at least from his talents, Londoner Jules Gayton is an avid skateboarder, a DJ, and artist, who was able to secure a spot at Pepperdine University and Parsons School of Design when he landed state-side back during the 1980s. In the heady Generation X scenes, Gayton became the resident DJ at some of New York City’s most swanky nightclubs, from Tunnel, Cheetah, to Limelight. It was then a chance meeting with Shawn Stussy that inaugurated Gayton as the original Stussy New York tribe member. A staple within all the Stussy World Tribe events in New York and Tokyo, Gayton decided to decamp in Hawaii 10 years ago for another new venture – LEILOW HAWAII in 2003, followed by Stussy Honolulu in 2004. In launching the new Fall 2011 Collection, Stussy Deluxe enlisted Gayton to be its unofficial spokesperson once again. Meanwhile, check out Jules new mix for Stussy after the click. The new Stussy Deluxe collection is available for purchase directly online or at your nearby Stussy Chapter stores.

Triple FAT Goose‘s comforter-like warmth and austerely functional styling made it an instant favorite when it appeared onto the scene in 1987. This was especially apparent in the then fledgling hip-hop industry, where the goose down filled outerwear were more prevalent than entourages and suped-up cars. But like any fad or hype, the reign of the oversized puffer coats quickly ended. Then in 2008, the label launched its first collection after a 15 years hiatus. Though it retained the name, much of its former ambience was gone. Another unusual direction was the focus on not just outerwear but a complete collection. So instead of designs for the colder winter season, the new Triple FAT Goose will be stocked for all of the four seasons, like Fall 2011. Evidences of this new take are everywhere, from French Terry shirtings, cotton hoodies, to denim, even the occasional Triple FAT Goose outerwear. Indeed, this isn’t the Triple FAT Goose of the old but Triple FAT Goose of the now. All available now exclusively through the Triple FAT Goose online store.

For the duration of this week, apparel label Acapulco Gold will preview its Fall 2011 Collection. Similar to all other seasons in the past, the upcoming collection will be another addition to look forward to. Top sellers such as fleece sweatshirts and fitted caps will return again.  Plus, a range of plaid flannel shirts, each with an unique pattern devised by AG. One other staple is its selvedge denim, this time with camouflage belt loops to spice up the visual perception just a bit. Expect more previews to come within the week.

With a steady hand and ample amount of paint, skater and artist Mark “The Gonz” Gonzales went on to decorate the interior of Supreme London, the first and only retail excursion in Europe for the New York City icon. Documented on a short video thanks to photographer Ari Marcopoulos, Gonz paced himself through various murals and sculptures through out the retail space’s lower level. But to fully appreciate might need a quick trip to the London store front this Thursday when it opens for business.

Supreme London
2/3 Peter Street | Map
London W1F 0AA England

Opening Date: September 22nd, 2011 (Thursday)

DENiZEN from Levi’s is a new global initiative by Levi Strauss & Co. to engage a new generation of denim buyers. A design focus largely based on an all-inclusive approach, the products from dENiZEN are both quality driven and attainable for any customers in any markets. The underpinning of this collection also establish a D.I.Y. proposition to its collection launch campaign, with concept submissions from creative types from Russia, Germany, Japan, and more… See some of the entries thus far in the videos after the click.

This coming Thursday, September 22nd, will mark a new chapter in retailer/brand Supreme‘s history as the New York City icon opens its first storefront in Europe. To have the complete assortment of “wishes and wants” as with its retail locations in the U.S. and Japan, Supreme London will also feature a new in-store art installation by Mark “Gonz” González. Spread across a 2-floor layout with majority of the sales floor on a basement level, the new space is just block away from transit hub Piccadilly Circus, retailers BAPE London, HIDEOUT, and around the corner from bike shop Tokyo Fixed. With already so much publicity surrounding the store’s opening, don’t surprise if there is a line-up in front this Thursday morning.

Supreme London
2/3 Peter Street | Map
London W1F 0AA England

Opening Date: September 22nd, 2011 (Thursday)