FUCK THAT !!!

Is copying a form a flattery !?? really !!?.... fuck that !! i was ready to launch a new run of shirts for this summer, but frankly i'm pissed and it doesn't encourage me to produced the new designs i have in store . Many thx to the "designing" team at CUSHMAN or should i say DOUCHEMAN !? Japan for their lack of imagination. 

USN VIETNAM ERA DENIM JACKET... theater made

Nothing really spectacular today,just a simple everyday kinda jacket,perfect for that early spring weather here in

SF

In the spring of 1972, the North Vietnamese were stalling at the peace conferences in Paris so President Richard Nixon and his military advisors concocted Operation Linebacker 2, to force the North Vietnamese to capitulate. The operation was largely carried out by the US Air Force, and US NAVY aircraft. battleships would be deployed to provide counter battery fire against enemy targets along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and other important logistical areas. Haiphong was  the North Vietnamese main port along the Gulf of Tonkin,so it was heavily defended by coastal artillery,but also by a few surface combatants. The American naval ships that participated in Operation Linebacker 2 became known as the "Gulf of Tonkin Yacht Club."

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY...... THE ULTIMATE ENGINEERED BOOTS . gaucho style part 1

As a complement to my buddy 

FCC's post, i just wanted to share that little gem found here in the bay area: real gaucho boots .These beauties were found at the estate of a 20's local socialite, along with original dead stock gaucho pants that'll feature soon.

The latin lover character,or should i say stereotype , was in vogue in the early 20's, with actor such as Valentino the epitome of the genre that would provide employment for several emerging Latino and sometimes non-Latino actors, in decades to come.Valentino put it on the map with a movie called :"a sainted devil" where he portrays a tango dancing gaucho.Perhaps because it was considered a commercial flop,nothing really survived of that movie,but some production shots for us to enjoy ..... 

Back to the boots....Needless to say that,that kind of attention to details and level of craftsmanship, will be almost impossible to duplicate nowadays ,at least at an affordable price .Check the notched heel to accommodate the spurs,and X crossed stitching on the pleats....literally insane

PRE WW2 BASKETBALL SHOES HYDE & SONS

Early ww2 ad showing the actual model pictured under...

Beautiful patina on the still very supple horsehide ....

Hyde & sons company,was created by a Russian immigrant cobbler,who took up residence in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mr. Abraham Hyde began to produce there his own line of shoes in a tiny space in the back of a Cambridge laundromat.He was then making what he called "carpet slippers" basically shoes constructed from old and unused scraps of rugs.His first store, A.R. Hyde & Sons opened in 1910

For over 20 years Mr. Hyde continued to produce his signature carpet slippers,through his store. In 1932, Abraham Hyde produced a pair of ice skates which he announced was the beginning to an entire athletic shoe line. Eventually the lineup became bowling shoes, roller skates and baseball shoes by 1938.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Hyde ceased production of civilian shoes.As our soldiers were involved in the conflict, leather and other necessities were strictly rationed for the war effort. the market on sneakers took a downfall as a countless number of men went to the front line and a lot of women working in factories. Luckily Hyde & Sons was commissioned by the US army as were other brands ,to produce boots for soldiers for the US ARMY. For its wartime efforts, Hyde was the only shoe company to be awarded the Army-Navy Award for excellence in manufacturing. The company returned to civilian production in 1946, now concentrated on athletic footwear. In 1952, Hyde made its first acquisition, purchasing the "Athletic Shoe Company" and adding that company's Spot-Bilt line of team sports shoes. With the acquisition completed, Hyde changed its name to Hyde Athletic Industries, Inc.

Hyde renewed its government contract work in the early 1960s, when NASA awarded the company the contract to supply footwear for the first astronauts.when Apollo 11 touched down on the moon in 1969, Neil Armstrong and the rest of the first crew were wearing space boots designed and produced by A.R. Hyde & Sons.

When Saucony came up for sale in 1968 Abraham Hyde jumped on the chance to pick up the right to manufacture and distribute the shoes and moved all operations to his headquarters in Cambridge and started selling Saucony shoes through his store in Cambridge like he did when he started his company......

VINTAGE FRENCH AIR FORCE DODANE CHRONO TYPE 21

Got this beauty in the early 90's before the brand's bankruptcy. Glad i did as nowadays originals are so hard to find .i love it's simple design .

The Dodane company, was founded by Alphonse Dodane in 1857 in the city of Besançon France.Besides manufacturing watches for the French armed forces,the company has a rich history dating back to ww1 ,even making watches for the US Army and Signal Corps.
Dodane produced under their nameType 20 and Type 21 chronographs for the French jet pilots ,between 1950 and 1980. (A small series was issued to NATO in the 1970s.) Total production was around 5000 pieces. Dodane used different movements at different times. They started with their own movements and then switched to other brands.
All Dodane chronographs were contructed the same way ,with the same stainless steel housing,with screw-back. Generally the caseback was engraved with the Phoenix of the Besançon observatory.....

40'S GOLDEN BEAR SPORT JACKET ...

Just got this perfect example of a straight forward early 40's sport jacket .No fancy pockets here,just as simple as can be. The patina on this horsehide is amazing.Got this GOLDEN BEAR jacket from my good buddies at "STATIC VINTAGE" here in SF.Moto,Brian and Leanndra are without a doubt among the best at what they do.Whatever decade you're into,i bet you'll find something to your taste at STATIC as their vintage selection is perhaps the one of the most interesting and divers in the city.So when in SF, if you're looking for quality vintage ,pay these guys a visite ,or "like" their facebook page for news...

S.Slater started the GOLDEN BEAR brand in 1922 here in San Francisco where the factory was based .The 50's and 60's saw the brand reach a pick in productivity ,with varsity and flight jackets becoming very popular.It's to be noted ,that the brand was also responsable for some of the best motorcycle jackets manufactured for the SFPD and CHIPS . 

20'S INGERSOLL WIRST WATCH

Roger and Charles Ingersoll,started one of the oldest American watch company.In 1892, with help from Henry Ford, they developed an automated production for watches, producing pocket watches of course ,but also,some of the first wrist watches at the affordable prices of 1$ while maintaining the quality that they’re famous for. While that sounds ridiculously low during these days, one must understand that at that time it was worth a day’s wage. The “Dollar Watch” took off and approximately one million were produced. 

The famous “Dollar Watch” became known as the “Yankee” and its success sealed forever. The brothers had to increase their production by opening more plants. With the help of new technical advances in the field and refinement of the watches, they also produced the smallest pocket watch ever made. In 1919, the Ingersoll brothers developed the first watch with a ‘night design’ called the “Radiolite’ that had a luminous dial [seen in the dark],as pictured above. To this day Ingersoll Watches remain high on the list of collectors....