L.A.’s Crooks & Castles has partnered with SE Bikes on a custom-designed limited edition “PK Ripper” fixed gear bicycle. The aluminum frame is adorned with an attractive desert camo design in brown and tan, and accented with safety orange at the wheels and “P.K. Ripper” lettering on the down tube. Additionally, the saddle, handle bars, chain, cranks and tires are all painted white, while the grips, seat post and pedals are done up in contrasting black. An embossed Crooks “Elite Medusa” at the seat, as well as badging on the frame, finish the look. The bike, along with matching tee in black or white, is scheduled to release exclusively at Crooks & Castles’ Sunset store on November 21st. Click through for more looks.

Crooks & Castles
8570 Sunset Blvd. | Map
Suite # 6.1
West Hollywood, CA 90069
TEL #: 310-652-3005

Release Date: November 21st, 2011 (Monday)

L.A.-based Crooks & Castles have unveiled their Holiday 2011 lookbook. The tastefully appointed collection reveals a label that’s evolving from its history as a brand that never met an oversized, brightly hued graphic it didn’t like. The color palette is season-appropriate and features earth tones and neutral shades, while branding is tastefully executed and limited mostly to block lettering on hoodies and crewnecks. The standout items here are seen in the outerwear program, which include classically styled jackets in wool that could work in virtually any wardrobe. Look for the assortment to drop soon at Crooks & Castles stockists.

The gaming industry has become a sophisticated platform to showcase variety of games catering for a specialized interest groups. One stand out series representing the underworld gang lifestyle is the Saints Row and its third installment, entitled The Third, will be launched on November 15th. To complement with the release Complex got together with game publisher THQ and Crooks & Castles to bring you a complete wardrobe, as worn by the characters in the game. Included in the collection are a varsity jacket, hoodie, button down shirt, denim, t-shirts, hat and a wallet, all incorporating the famous Crooks insignias. Each item is already available at Karmaloop and Complex will be holding a sweepstakes of the whole line for one lucky fan, simply by entering on here.

It was said director Francis Ford Coppola provided 2 different hotel accommodations for the cast of The Outsiders, all in an effort to create an underlined animosity in the film, a fictionalized tale of rival teen gangs by author S. E. Hinton. For Fall 2011, Crooks & Castles will revisit those combative instincts once again. Aptly named “Rivals”, the season’s theme is a derivative of the acrimony between Socs and Greasers, the 2 adversaries from the novel. Its less about violence in the case of Crooks & Castles, however. Rather, its about the difference of mindsets, where ideas and opinions clash, often lead to surprising results as demonstrated in the collection’s mix of street, militarism, and biker aesthetics. The Crooks & Castles Fall 2011 Collection to be available in the coming weeks at select retailers worldwide.

Crooks & Castles and Deadline have collaborated on a highly anticipated t-shirt as a part of a larger Summer 2011 Collection. The t-shirt features the iconic Crooks & Castles Medusa graphic along with a “CROOKS” and “DEADLINE” callout on the front of the tee. The collaboration t-shirt will come in four colors including a White, Black, Red, and Grey colorway. The tee will be released on Saturday, May 14th at the Crooks & Castles shop in Los Angeles where food and drinks will be served.

Crooks & Castles
8570 Sunset Blvd. | Map
Suite # 6.1
West Hollywood, CA 90069
TEL #: 310-652-3005

Polished to a mirror finish, the Black Gloss Castellano Sunglasses from Crooks & Castles and Mosley Tribes fitted its namesake well – a nod to the calculated tactician Paul Castellano, head of Gambino crime family. Lacquered with multiple coating, the understated eyewear imply a feel of secrecy and danger. In the meantime, the brass copper accents underscored the luxury aspects of each Mosley Tribes. Poignant yet subtle, the Black Gloss Castellano Sunglasses is currently for sale at Crooks & Castles flagship store on Sunset Blvd. with a production run of only 100 pairs.

Crooks & Castles
8570 Sunset Blvd. | Map
Suite # 6.1
West Hollywood, CA 90069
TEL #: 310-652-3005

A hint of Americana, plus a bit classic European tailoring, but make no mistake about it, Crooks & Castles Spring 2011 Collection is still mostly oriented towards its urban roots. Introducing C&C: Classic/Heritage, the Los Angeles-base label’s first collection for the new year. Aside from the association of criminality on its graphic tees, Crooks & Castles revamped its cut & sew line towards refinement instead with printed details on knits and added elements to button down shirts.  Though its never too far from its street cred origin with designs like those found on the rip-stop jungle camo blazer.  Crooks & Castles Spring 2011 Collection will be available at its flagship locations in Los Angeles and Hawaii this Saturday, January 15th, with a special launch party to take place at the Los Angeles store.

Release Date: January 15th (Saturday)

After a well-received debut back in August, Crooks & Castles just launched its follow-up collection. The timing couldn’t be more perfect as Christmas is just days, make that hours, away. As with its first foray into the footwear market 4 months ago, the Holiday 2010 Collection still operated under the same design theme of simplicity. Along with canvas, the product line also includes a wide assortment of leathers, from perforated to suede, in 3 sillhouettes – the Backstab, the Taylor, and the Anchor. All available now at Paul Rodriguez’s Primitive at Encino.

Primitive
17060 Ventura Blvd | Map
Encino, CA 91316
TEL #: 818-479-7171

Crossing the threshold between the familiar and the unfamiliar, LA-base label Crooks & Castles tussled together in the classic Peacoat and Quilted Jacket for its Holiday 2010 Collection. The resulted outcome might just be a future “classic” itself. Double breasted like its seafaring counterpart yet, its cut to specification much like its quilted cousin on the highlands of Scotland, the Quilted Peacoat Jacket is suited to either urban playground or a rural weekend getaway. Now available at Reed Space and its official online store.

Reed Space
151 Orchard Street | Map
New York, NY 10002

A streetwear heavyweight and a skate label are collaborating on a denim project….sound familiar? Yesterday we covered the The Hundreds x Primitive denim project; today, it’s Crooks & Castles teaming up with KR3W on a denim project, which also includes two graphic shirts and two chambray snap-back Starter hats. Where the TH x Primitive denim has a very washed, California feel, denim here is raw selvedge, in indigo or black. Say what you will about streetwear or skate labels making the symbolic jump over to selvedge (Hello, Superfuture!) – one has to start somewhere, and even if the denim doesn’t come from Aoyama (it might; neither Crooks nor KR3W is specifying), it’s a starting point. Wherever the denim was woven, it’s a classic red-line selvedge with a slubby look, and the jeans have a button fly with custom Crooks x KR3W hardware. Overall, both brands came out ahead here, and for fans of either, it’s a solid collection. Even if you’re not feeling the jeans, the chambray snap back is pretty un-mess-up-able. via Crooks & Castles.

A question we hear quite often recently is the relevancy of street wears.  Is there a need still of edgy graphics and controversial statements? (our answer is “yes, there is”) or do labels have to branch out to the world of progressive fashion?  (our answer is “maybe but not necessary).  The Los Angeles-base Crooks & Castles straddled both realms perfectly.  In the past few seasons, the label’s cut and sewn collection have been a reflection of the more “formal” and “mature” silhouettes.  However, it is able to alternate that with a series of graphic tee and this varsity jacket that embodied the label street wear root, from the Medusa head to the Air Gun graphics.  In black Melton Wool with white leather sleeves, the 2011 Varsity Jacket from Crooks & Castles is now available at retailer EASTWEST and other C&C dealers.

Here is a morsel of goodies from the gentlemen of Crooks & Castles. In this Holiday 2010 delights, there is a more engaging focus on not just simple cut & sew, but the overall concept of winter gear.  A bit out of place for a Los Angeles-base label at first, till you understand the concept that “crooks” and “castles” are dotted across world, in major cities and rural townships.  The inequality and the struggle to make it, either in legit form or illicit matter, are shared among all.  So keep yourself warm against that unforgiving winter chill, the Crooks & Castles Holiday 2010 Collection is now available at all C&C dealers and its flagship stores.

Crooks & Castles
8570 Sunset Blvd. | Map
Suite # 6.1
West Hollywood, CA 90069
TEL #: 310-652-3005