Northwest

what is that even for?

Are we discussing original intended use? It's a motorcycle helmet. But the matte black version especially brings up thoughts of the urban response teams of the alphabet boys, such as SWAT.

On a related note, I will post some screen caps in here tomorrow of the military response units in Makoto Shinkai's "Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below." He's one of my new favorite animators and my current avatar is from that film.

It also comes in matte army green, matte brown, matte black, and reflective black. This scratches an itch...and the mask portion is detachable so you could pretend to be normal if you are into that/prefer unimpeded breathing.

My body is not ready for a cool ranch taco. Cool Ranch Doritos have always been the pinnacle of junk food chips for me.

Walking to work this morning:

Shure SRH840

Outlier black merino henley

American Apparel blue OCBD

Johnson's maroon made in scotland lambswool scarf

Haven x Reigning Champ grey heavyweight fleece MA-1

REI Backpack

Outlier grey climbers

Outlier superfine merino socks

Nike black leather air magma

This evening:

The blood of my former enemies.

I am 5'10", 140-145 pounds, otherwise known as skin and bones. Hopefully my reviews will be helpful for the other smaller guys out there.

Outlier Merino Henley: I went with a small, and it fits slim. This morning I used it as a base layer under an OCBD and then threw on a scarf and jacket when I had to walk to work unexpectedly. As a base layer, I love it. Incredibly soft, fits tight but allows movement, and keeps you warm. Buttons feel solid, sleeves run longer as does the body on me. This allows me to tuck it in for extra warmth, but it still looks great if I gather it at the bottom.

Outlier Slim Dungarees: Fit slimmer than I was expecting. I thought the climbers were tight at first, but my dungarees really hug my thighs to the point of showing undergarments. I did, however, get them in a size 28 instead of a size 29 because my climbers felt a little loose. I expect my thighs will break them in with time.

Haven x Reigning Champ Fleece MA-1: It's rare that something fits me spot on right out the box but this beauty has made me all sorts of happy. Fits slim but still allows layering underneath. The heavyweight fleece is nice and soft on the inside, but feels tough and durable on the outside. Zip-in zip-out vest keeps the core warm the black mil-spec zippers are a great detail, minimal branding is a plus, and its versatile. I don't feel out of place with an OCBD underneath, but it also works to throw on over a long sleeve t-shirt or my Outlier henley.

Make Sufu my only home

Next level tech urrything

Go back to school

no, no one makes dunks in the us. or jordans.

i know i can get the shit you listed... i own a ton of made in the us shit... but not nikes.

allen edmonds are cool, but you cant skate in em. same with red wings and alden.

anyways, im wearing made in the usa new balance right now.

That makes sense to me. Its just too bad that no one with a head on their shoulders seem to start up new casual shoe brands that produce within the USA. But, of course, the casual/lifestyle audience (sneakerheads) are notoriously fickle. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense from the business side of things that there are so few companies that produce casual shoes in the USA. They are never guaranteed a market, with a few exceptions. I think Jordan should have produced its retros in America (the silhouettes were already very popular; materials and construction made the original Jordan a classic), and I think NSW could definitely try go get in on a slice of the American produced pie.

Fuck. I got up on my ethically produced/company loyalty tip only to have an epiphany that shoe customers are the hardest customers to hold on to. Designing shoes is an awful business the more I think about it. Tinker Hatfield is the only shoe designer I can think of that is held in esteem, and certainly the only shoe designer whose name I know. Jordan should have produced its retros in America, and I think NSW could definitely try go get in on a slice of the American produced pie.

I myself purchase more shoes than I should, and do not buy loyally from any company. Since I have been a student, there have been no good options for casual shoes that would allow me to walk long distances comfortably, are made in America, and maintain aesthetic appeal.

When I said carbon copying I was referring to the cosplayers - they're really not trying anything new by just doing what he does. Saying his clothes suit the wealth and power of the album is pretty much moot considering that's the thrust of every mainstream hip hop album. Most non-mainstream too for that matter.

I do not buy this idea that people are paying for the 'design and engineering' of Givenchy. Bulldog t-shirt, bulldog sweatshirt, what'll they engineer next!? Frankly I don't think you do either. People buy Bugattis cause they're fast and expensive and everybody knows it. While yes fast is an engineering aspect, for Bugatti it's at the cost of having - supposedly- shitehouse handling. So really the engineering is for show isn't it?

Who's buying Givenchy due to a personal appeal to the design? Maybe like, only five people in the world would buy their clothes for the price without knowing the brand and the implications of wearing it. Last time I met a girl wearing Givenchy I pretened not to know it and went, "What's up with that t-shirt?" All she could say was, "Dude this is Givenchy it cost $xxx."

Well your clarifications definitely help a lot, and I understand why you are unhappy with cosplayers and those who choose to wear Givenchy much better. I am fully onboard with people actually knowing why they buy a product and dressing in a way that is an expression of self rather than armor between their honest personality and others. However, even though they are copying him it is something new for them personally to be wearing a skirt or something similar.

As far as Kanye goes, I mentioned I was not terribly enthused with Watch the Throne because, like you said, it seems like all anyone in the mainstream eye can think about is power and money, and that gets old fast. I much preferred other albums because they were at least musically ambitious if not always lyrically. I actually just posted my top 50 albums in Superculture, and a lot of my favorites reside in the realm of hip-hop that strays from the beaten path. Artists Like Blu and Exile, the Roots, Blue Scholars, Aesop Rock, Brother Ali, Binary Star, etc.

With Givenchy, I get that it isn't appealing to you. Givenchy is garish, its expensive, I don't think production standards are through the roof; it is a multitude of things that make zero sense for someone like myself. However, I went and saw Danny Brown last night at the Neptune in Seattle, and he showed up in the Givenchy shark pullover, a Moncler beanie, what looked like a Rick Owens-esque top, jeans, and black shoes. And you know what? It made sense on him. Danny Brown is a crazy guy who makes fucked up but enjoyable music, and he is finally making hip-hop money. He has been making music for a long time, and now that he has reached a place where he is getting attention/cash flow, its nice to be able to show that off in some way. He was also touring with A$AP, so it only makes sense that some of the high-fashion look reinforced by their crew rubbed off on him.

Their current "signature pieces" or often seen pieces are certainly not something I am impressed by, but I have liked some of their collections in the past. Would I be likely to purchase from them? Certainly not. But can I see how someone might choose to do so if they had the money? Yes. To me tt only makes sense to wear Givenchy if you make Givenchy money.I wouldn't buy one Givenchy t-shirt because I think its so great.

Man, trying to make a list like this makes me realize just how little music I have listened to/how picky I am. At the end of 2012, here's a list.

Pine green is my color, so that jacket is now on the want list.

Cosign on the Honey Hole for a wonderful place to get a sandwich, if somewhat dimly lit. On the subject of BBQ slathered meat Bainbridge Island Barbeque is outstanding, and if you manage to eat your meal with room to spare get their deep fried s'more. My god. It is so good.

Pink Door is decent for Italian food and right down in Pike Place, which is always worth a visit. For a must visit site of Seattle, it manages to keep a relatively quick pace of pedestrian flow by offering ample walking space to get around people who are shopping. My personal checklist whenever I hop a bus downtown is to visit the Pike Place Creamery and get a bottle of their chocolate milk. Its a lovely dessert, especially on a hot summer day as a drinkable alternative to ice cream. Comes in a glass bottle that, when returned, earns you a hefty refund.

Red Light Vintage is a real clutter of a store on Broadway, but I have found pieces there that I liked. When I came back from college in Spokane I knew I would be heading back to winter storms, so I got a knee-length navy wool air force jacket that fit nicely. I have also happened upon YSL ties, Dior Ties, etc. Its all about knowing what to look for.

In a similar vein, Half Price Books on Capitol Hill has a great selection of movies and music if you like getting your stuff legally as well as on the cheap.

I've heard good things about Acme Barbershop, and plan on stopping in there for my next haircut.

Everett is highly underrated as a city, especially considering if you choose to travel to Seattle by train. You can hop off at Everett if you are hungry for Mexican especially. El Paraiso on Colby has friendly wait staff and I have always enjoyed my meals there. If you get there around lunch time, burgers at Z's are pretty good (also on Colby, near El Paraiso). Big part of going there is the fact that the owner is just so damn nice. If you go in with a bunch of friends you'll often end up with a free basket of fries, he cares if you are enjoying your meal, and has been there since forever. After eating you can walk down to the bluff that overlooks the bay and walk through the picturesque surrounding neighborhoods. Bus Route 510 from Everett to Seattle is less than 5 bucks and should get you there in about an hour depending on traffic.

Only because I like you guys. Its a high price point but I really want to get these for winter and the many rainy days ahead in Seattle. The black commando sole just makes me happy. Also, on Outlier socks, I got three pair to get the discount and I absolutely love them. They are warm and the stretch is in just the right places, but I will also report back after washing.

You can. Choose not to purchase goods made in unethical conditions. Nike will not learn its lesson until it feels it financially, and that will not happen if people continue to purchase their goods while believing that how their product is made is a sustainable business model. Each exploitation of countries that have lagged behind in modernization or have population problems can only last so long, and the presence of companies like Nike do not assist these countries in any great way.

It takes time and research to find companies that operate within ethical boundaries but such an environment creates similar products as well as jobs that allow people to support a family and have some left over if they live within their means. Better to create a product within your country's borders that is of a quality worth exporting. This method of production builds generational loyalties. Look at American Auto companies and the generations of ownership (especially in the Midwest), shoe companies like Allen Edmonds and Alden, and clothing/bag makers like Filson, Outlier, and Goruck.

Stockholm

Vienna

Oslo

London

Vancouver (really have no excuse. I should get on this one.)

Toronto

Santiago

Rio de Janeiro

Tokyo

Kyoto

Madrid

Paris

Casablanca (Moroccan food is the bomb)

Bruges

Moscow

Seoul

Manila

Mexico City

San Jose (re-visit, Costa Rica is astoundingly beautiful)

Chicago

Take back my initial thoughts about the Outlier pack. Now that I own it and have used it I find It's actually pretty darn comfortable as long as you stack your goods properly and I opted to slide in a very thin foam insert I gutted from an old Fjallraven backpack. Wore it during a ~4 hour hike and held up fine. Even went into some water with it.

I thought the shoulder straps would end up being uncomfortable, but they're slightly padded and it was fine. Good stuff.

Just so you know I am mighty jealous of that pack. I would put it up against any other backpack when it comes to an aestheic fit for urban techwear. Comfort-wise, I am glad to hear that problems can be remedied with a little creativity. If anyone is ever silly enough to sell one I have to get it.

In response to Aleph Null and Spudeey, it depends on what you mean by your tech prefix. The techwear that is often featured in this thread comes at a premium because of the detailing and advanced fabrics used. It is possible to get a shell for $150-200, but rarely will you find that this shell is free of external branding, features additional pockets, has webbing attached, or is made out of advanced fabrics. The lower price point reflects the amount of labor and quality of materials. That said, aesthetically pleasing shells still exist in this range, even if they are not gore-tex.

The Patagonia Rain Shadow (189.00) has a nice two-tone grey color scheme or comes in all black, Mountain Hardware Versteeg (160.00) is reviewed as form fitting and I've had good experiences with their jackets, but try to find somewhere to try jackets on in person. Jackets especially will often be cut full for hikers/skiers who want movement and don't care if the price they pay is the aesthetics of the jacket.

My current Gore-Tex jacket I managed to buy for 15 bucks while working for a thrift store during the summer. Take that into consideration when you go looking for a jacket. Purchasing clothes that are passable and will last you until you can purchase your ideal pieces has been a lovely strategy for me so far.

Haven x Reigning Champ. Just ordered one in grey. MA-1 is just a great silhouette, and I think the sasquatchfabrix is my favorite. Anime reminiscent graphics tend to get a cosign from me.

Merry Christmas all you third-arming, jacket slinging, water repelling, urban special op agents.

I think that scrapping the flame motif would have helped the collection. The pieces which it is featured on would have been better off without it.

does outlier stuff go on sale?

As long as you are on the lookout, they post sales through their twitter, and Sufu members are often kind enough to post the codes in the threads dedicated to sales/sale codes.

In other news, after 66 pages of urban techwear I am happy as a clam. So much learned about materials, many brands to explore, and so many pieces I am interested in.

The whole movie is style gold.

Aaaand it's gonna be outbound. Too small in the chest. I've put a sales post up in the Supermarket, if anyone's looking for one of these.

Mannnnnnnnn. And its such a great looking blazer too.

He's pushing conventional clothing boundaries, if you prefer that wording. Shoes, pants, shirts, and jackets are the basic building blocks of the everyday male and usually kilts or long tees meant for layering would not enter their consciousness. From experiences working retail, those who are fashion aware like SuFu denizens are a minority, not a majority.

Okonomi, for Watch the Throne (even if you did not enjoy the majority of the album, as I found I did) the choice of clothing suited the tour. The thrust of the album was wealth and power, so his goal would logically be to find a look that was "richer and more next level." It fits with the imagery of Egyptian mythology as well, which pops up in the lyrics on WTT and of course the Eye of Horus on the air Yeezy's, some of Kanye's jewelry, etc.

I am curious whether "carbon copying" consists of wearing Givenchy for WTT or...? In the post it comes across as wearing a designer is carbon copying them but such an idea is odd. I don't see people on WAYWT being called copycats for wearing clothes.

And lets address Givenchy as a trashy brand with ugly clothes. It seems like a design-based rebuttal, which I respect, but with high-fashion brands a great deal of hate is often thrown around based on price point. Clothing is a multi-tiered industry where at some point you are no longer paying for materials but rather for design. But other industries work the exact same way. When you pay more and more for a car, for example, you start out paying for materials but eventually pay for design and engineering. We could say that people who drive Bugatti's are driving ugly cars sold to them by trashy brands, but what appeals to people in design is quite personal.

Its nice to know that he (Kanye) cares about style and silhouettes enough to experiment with it until he gets it just right. And hey, as silly as Kanye cosplayers may look, he has at least inspired them to try something new by using his influence to drive fashion into the consciousness of his fans. I am happy to see people choosing to become knowledgeable about clothing in the same way that people have been knowledgeable about music and movies. Fashion is an especially interesting form of entertainment because it visually communicates the personality of a person in the present where music and movies provide an idea of a person or group at a particular point in a time already past.

Acronym's product descriptions make anything more enticing. "Attention: use of Magnetic Dock Adapters in combination with iPhone may result in device failure and spontaneous generation of virulent highly-contagious self-aware computer viruses." It really is the little things that make a brand memorable sometimes.

Thanks for the additional info Misanthropod, as I think you described its ideal location of use perfectly. As a layering piece for travel, it would be outstanding.