Blog — Page 92 of 283

High Adventures in the Great Outdoors – Footwear

We covered how much boots and specifically Dr. Martens coined underground couture in the 1970s and throughout the 1980s. However, with the advent of hardcore and straight edge, punk got a long needed overhaul – down to below the heel.

While the youth crew movement limited itself to brands that made a commitment to animal free products like New Balance and an all-out athletic look with non-leather Air Jordans, other started wearing skate shoes or Chuck Taylors.

Minor Threat and the Dischord family always had a faible for breaking away from punk’s strict style codes and started wearing boat and tennis shoes in the sole department, a style of shoes that since the early 1980s has come a long way.

An example par excellence for a classic tennis shoe is the model that Davis Cup winner Adrian Quist created in 1939: Based on an idiosyncratic herringbone grip on a soft rubber sole, what was to become the immensely influential Volley shoe was born and has graced not only tennis courts ever since.

With a commitment to ethically sourced apparel and footwear, Volley has created its own lane and accomplished the art of maintaining the DNA of their brand yet incorporate subtle adjustments in a bid to create a stylish, contemporary portfolio of comfortable shoes.

What I like about Volley’s range is that they can be effortlessly and seamlessly combined with any wardrobe, be it formal or informal. Remastering e.g. models like their 1982 Volley High Leap in form of the Heritage model, pays homage to the styles of the 1980s while incorporating nuances that are at times reminiscent of contemporary sneakers like Yeezys while staying in classy territory.

Over the last couple of years, Volley has branched into creating more sturdy boots, like their Overgrip Leather as part of their premium Black Label capsule, which has been designed for rocky and concrete terrain.

Again, the DNA of Volley, i.e. the iconic herringbone outsole and rounded rubber toe cap are still there yet the boot is enhanced by Napa leather, a DAMPENERTECH10 shock absorbing footbed and a reinforced webbing heel tab, the sum of which not make it a boot with an edge but one of the most easy to wear and comfortable set of kicks.

Volley’s new "Ours" unisex apparel capsule is yet to bear fruits in differently styled garments, but if their first emission is anything to go by, they are on the right track. Right in time for the local Mardi Gras celebrations their relaxed fit 100% cotton loop back French Terry shirt with the trademark rainbow coloured blind heat embossed Volley logo, does not only feel great but serves as eye candy was well.

Cannot wait to see Volley explore venture further into creating different styles while with their quality approach. 

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High Adventures in the Great Outdoors

Rock and Roll and Sunglasses, Pared Eyewear

Putting on a set of sunglasses can transform your whole look or as good ole Mulholland Man put it ever so eloquently, “when I put my sunglasses on, I am Jack Nicholson, without them, I am fat and sixty.”

If you think about it, glasses have a long history within the confines of music, specifically rock’n roll. Buddy Holly’s trademark thick framed glasses were so iconic that German punk band Die Ärzte dedicated a song not to the man but the frames.

Roy Orbison is another godfather of rock and roll who singlehandedly made Ray Ban Wayfarers effortlessly cool and made them part of his trademark look.

Then there is the cock rock / hair metal era, where some of the main protagonists might not even have gotten recognized if it not have been for the shades that have become part of their costume – think memorable figures like Slash and the rest of Guns ‘n’ Roses.

The swingin’ sixties had its own trademark glasses and the etymology of the phrase “viewing the world through rose coloured glasses” might be traced back to Janis Joplin and John Lennon, the latter of which suffered from poor vision so it might have been less of an aesthetic choice.

Then there’s icon like Elvis Presley who had a distinctive appearance throughout all ups and down of their career yet still coined their own glasses genre simple by association.

I like different kinds of sunglasses and would like to think that there’s ones for every occasion. An interesting entity I have come across is Pared Eyewear, which is quite a telling name as their credo is not only to refine and put focus on subtlety but a play on “pair” as they are all about collaborations with other Australian designers, be it withing the confines of glasses  and fashion or areas as diverse as music, jewellery and art.

Pared releases two collections , which are highly anticipated down under as their trademark style based on clean lines with signature details has established itself on the firmament of connoisseurs.

Now, travelling a lot when pandemics permit, I have owned a large variety of glasses, bought on different continents and no matter how much I love some of them, most eventually broke as they looked cool but were essentially of the flimsy kind. Needless to say, I have come to appreciate a brad where the eyewear components are chosen with a long life span in mind.

Enter Pared Eyewear, which was recommend to me by a lady friend as she loves their creations so much that she has taken to have their sunglasses frames scripted for her optical lenses.

What I like about Pared’s frames is that they are handmade and use high quality 6mm acetates, sourced from long established suppliers. The advantages of using acetates are obvious as they are not only lightweight, hypo allergenic and flexible but also allow to be infused with vibrant pigments to enhance their looks.

Given that the lenses are both solid, gradient, shatterproof and scratch-resistant and  deliver in sun protection department with both UVA and UVB protection as it is much needed on terra australis, I have started to wear them for long runs and find them more comfortable and much cooler looking than “sporty” ones.

The fact that Pared’s unisex range offer a glamourous edge that most cookie-cutter formula frames lack, adds a dimension of fun, which can be  become a tad annoying when your partner starts enjoying your pairs more than her own.

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High Adventures in the Great Outdoors

Swiss Wave and Calida

Gottfried Keller, precision watch manufacturing, the Alps, Max Frisch, fondue, versatile wee red knives, solid milk chocolate, more than seven thousand lakes, Jean-Jacques-Rousseau, multi-culturalism, Roger Federer and Gruyère cheese – stereotypes and clichés aside, I have always found it difficult to not like Switzerland.

Musically, I have always harboured a fondness for Swiss bands like Yello, Kleenex Nasal Boys and TNT, and my first excursion to Switzerland culminated in a stay at the Off the Disk Records HQ where my horizons were expanded to appreciate genre-coining pioneering outfits like Fear of God and Celtic Frost.

Fashion-wise, Switzerland has always been an insider tip for aficionados of sporty and contemporary couture, which should not come as a surprise given its location next to France and Italy. The fact that the fair trade industry is well entrenched in Switzerland only contributes to the appeal and adds another facet to a distinguishable, distinct identity that Switzerland embodies the fashion world.

For the last seventy-five years, Swiss brand Calida has been a champion of sustainability, long-lasting quality and contemporary design when it comes to lounger and undergarments. While their craftmanship and attention to detail has created a league of itself, I have developed an appreciation for Calida over the last couple of years because of their use of innovative materials, commitment to sustainability and their belief in the importance of transparency.

Case in point, Calida was the first underwear brand that championed Made in Green by Oeko-Tex, which ensures that the labelled products are devoid of harmful substances, adhere to safe and socially responsible production principles, which do not harm the environment.

Calida’s 100% Nature collection pushed the envelope even further by producing the first completely compostable products made exclusively from cellulose material, which are not only being manufactured in a closed, energy-efficient cycle and sourced from sustainably managed forests but are being produced using locally sourced carbon-neutral biogas. 

In other words, if you want to discard your Calida gear, you can just put it on your garden compost, where it will decompose into biological nutrients to essentially create new raw materials.

A favourite of Calida’s offerings includes the Spacer Lounge sweater, which I love wearing on long-distance travel given its HeiQ Fresh technology, which ensures breathability and odour control.

The fact that almost every item of Calida’s collections can be combined which each other, make it not only a dream for people who love getting dressed in the dark but creates an overarching cohesion and provides coordination possibilities that other brands lack.

Given the longevity of Calida’s gear, the commitment to sustainability and the aesthetically pleasing designs, it is commendable brand that justifies the investment as one easily see and feel what you pay for.

Station Museum of Contemporary Art

Hermann Nitsch and more

I first came across The Station Museum of Contemporary Art due to my interest in Hermann Nitsch as the Texan exhibition forum, which usually has its focus on fine arts that reflect the cultural diversity of Houston’s communities, hosted an extensive exhibition dedicated to the paintings of the controversial, big man – as the first museum in the new world.

In this day and age, Hermann Nitsch’s oeuvre is much more than an attempt at controversy as at its very core, it unveils the on-going war and brutality we are exposed to on a daily basis in a bid to transcend it spiritually and arrive at a deep appreciation for the beauty and preciousness of life.

Being probably the most prominent representative of the Vienna-Actionists with his focus firmly set on body art, blood sacrifice and  religious ritual, it was fantastic to be able to experience the exhibition, Nitsch’s free form Orgies Mysteries Theater, through Station Museum’s excellent accompanying catalogue.

Having experienced quite a few of Nitsch’s actions in the flesh, this is definitely one of the more interesting publications as it astutely depicts and gives an accurate impression of the how Nitsch channels his message with explosive intensity, with a cleansing catharsis being the desired outcome.

Nitsch’s luminous and monochromatic paintings are the epitome of sensual immediacy and erotic spirituality and in the way they were exhibited at Station Museum, a connection could be made from his painting to his theatre.

Upholding the rights of freedom of speech and freedom of expression being some of the central tenets of Station Museum along with its commitment to being an activist institution supporting civil society issues as well as artists who engage in socially and politically relevant expressions, Station’s collaboration with the Spanish artistic collective DEMOCRACIA should not come as a surprise. It is just one of many examples of Station Museum providing a platform to artists that actively question our society’s morality and ethics. Exclusive merch from the collaboration is still available from Station Museum’s online shop/.

With a deep sense for art being much more than a creative outlet but a resource that broadens every aspect of public awareness, Station Museum has made it to the must-visit places once international travel is possible again.

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images from organization website

Water of Life – Banks and Solander

While my DNA has me more geared towards whisk(e)y, my better half is all about gin, which enables me to sample new variants from around this earthround on a regular basis. What I really like is when gins are enhanced by local botanicals, which often add an idiosyncratic flavour profile that makes them distinct from other expressions.

In terms of gin, Australians are blessed with innovative distilleries mushrooming all over terra australis and the wealth of botanicals that can be tapped into in different locations. There is literally a new variant out on a weekly basis, plus limited seasonal and barrel-aged examples.

At that recent Christmas incarnation of the extravaganza that is the Gin Palooza festival, I came across distillers I had never heard of before and its location in close proximity of my digs intrigued me. Turned out that what I got to sample that day merited a dedicated instalment of our series.

Banks and Solander’s micro distillery is located at New South Wales’ Botany Bay, a history rich part of Sydney with an array of traditional and native Australian botanicals on offer.

Claiming that Banks and Solander’s expressions are artisanal in nature would be an understatement par excellence as their core expression is a tour de force in complex full-bodiness based on careful curation of ingredients and quality assurance of each step of the production.

Inspired by how Tasmanian distillers channel their alchemy, the husband and wife team started to build their own distillery from scratch to take things to the next level.

Their Signature Gin is a wonderfully citrus-forward  drop with floral highlights,

nuanced by the most subtle hints of chocolate and culminate in a tingle courtesy of Tasmanian pepper berry and a hint of lemon myrtle.

While this is ideal for summer, their limited edition Endeavour Gin caters to the colder months of the year, with its melange of spices, orange marmalade and oak caramel, resting on a foundation of citrus.

Interestingly, Banks and Solander have recently created their own Limoncello, which traditionally is a classic after dinner digestive based on macerating lemon zest in grappa. Needless to say, Banks and Solander refined the traditional Italian recipe by adding local Australian botanicals to create their own naturally vibrant limoncello that will work beautifully in cocktails and punches.

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