The Discerning Brute: fashion, food & etiquette for the ethically handsome man » cotton

Florence To’s Subversive Nature

joshuakatcher — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:30:03 +0000

Florence To works mainly with eco-friendly fabrics and believes that all forward-thinking fashion should be sustainable. Her research into human identity and psychosis heavily influences her work, and her dedication to upcycling fabrics gives this designer a competitive edge over her less concerned peers. None of her garments contain fur, leather, or wool and this menswear specifically is made from different, upcycled cottons, and is inspired by the idea of packaging. I'll definitely be keeping me eye on this smart and driven talent.

Polos, Smoothies & Animals Rights in Washington

joshuakatcher — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:32:07 +0000

• A polo is great because it's somewhere in between a dress-shirt and a tee-shirt. The sophistication of a collar and buttons combined with the comfort and casualness of a short-sleeve tee is perfect for backyard barbecues, outdoor lunch meetings, and Sunday brunches. Thrift stores are chock-full of polos, and here are some ethical polos to ponder in organic cotton, hemp, recycled poly and more:

• You don't need a blender to make a shake. Vega's new shake & go smoothie is great because there's no cleanup. Only 100 calories per serving with 2500 mg Omega-3-6-9, 11 g complete protein, and 1 billion probiotics cultures. Just add two heaping tablespoons to ½-1 cup water, shake and go! Formulated by Brendan Brazier, vegan, professional Ironman triathlete and bestselling author on performance nutrition

• The National Journal wrote a thorough and objective article about the state of the Animal Rights movement. According to them, the sophisticated movement is gaining momentum, sharpening it's tools, and ushering in some huge political and cultural changes - but not without a backlash from animal farmers and animal-industry-funded groups like the Center for Consumer Freedom. • Tail docking cattle is among the most disturbing practices MFA's undercover investigator captured on film during a recent investigation of New York's largest dairy operation. A worker uses a bladed clamp to slice off the ends of calves' tails, severing nerves, skin and vertebrae - all without the use of anesthesia. The calves' legs buckle from the pain, as they stagger and stumble to the ground. The worker then applies a smoking cautery device to the amputations. Find out how you can help.

Bamboo Suit, KEEP them, and Project X

joshuakatcher — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:00:49 +0000

• Major Etsy find! A 3 piece suit made from bamboo rayon? No way! Custom tailored to you! $675 • KEEP Shoes is having a great sale on Gilt Groupe. These funky cotton kicks are great for spring, and super affordable at 32$! As usual, you need an invite to join Gilt Groupe. • Remember the movie Project X from the 80's where Matthew Broderick tries to save some chimps from being radiated in cruel experiments? Well, now that NASA has decided to start radiating squirrel monkeys, we may need take Matthew's lead and tell NASA to stop! Can you believe that nasty experiments like this are still being conducted?

The studies conducted at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York will expose squirrel monkeys to repeated doses of radiation. Radiation experiments involving nonhuman primates commonly involve restraint and other cruel procedures. Monkeys, like other primates, are highly intelligent, have strong family bonds, demonstrate empathy, and, most importantly, suffer.

Genetic, physiological, and anatomical differences between humans and monkeys dramatically limit the conclusions that can be drawn from the planned studies. Ongoing studies, including those funded by NASA, already use nonanimal methods to determine the effects of low-dose radiation on human tissues. - PCRM

• Turk + Taylor, AW2010. One of our favorite organic lines, Turk + Taylor, showed their AW 2010 collection at the NOW showcase in New York. Here's some images from their upcoming look-book. Stay tuned! More to come. (And check their rad vegan model, Jayce!) • Rock it Out: A Night to Benefit New York's Farm Animal Sanctuaries Reidy Hall @ All Souls Church New York, NY Saturday, March 06, 2010 - 7:00 PM www.allsoulsnyc.org Come out to support and celebrate two of New York's Farm Animal Sanctuaries - The Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary in Woodstock, NY (www.woodstockfas.org) and Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY (www.farmsanctuary.org)! Live performances by: Jay Stolar of Julius C, Cristin Milioti, Kaylin Lee Clinton, Whitney Wolf , Melissa Lusk and Matt Roi Berger, Grace McLean, Shaina Taub, Lindsay Wolf and Neimah Djourabchi With special guest Jenny Brown, co-founder of Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary! Also enjoy wine, hors d'oeuvres, a chance to win one of our many raffle prizes, as well as homemade baked goods from our in-house bake sale! $10 pre-sale $15 at the door (cash only) Pre-sale tickets can be purchased at: https://www.mycommunitytickets.com/event_info.asp?eventid=26496 • Check this Paul Smith organic cotton hoody in gray or purple! • Need a kickstart? Get Ready to Kickstart Your Health on March 1! Based on research by Neal Barnard, M.D., one of America’s leading health advocates, this program is designed for anyone who wants to explore and experience the health benefits of a vegan diet. Low-fat vegan—plant-based—diets are the easiest way to trim excess weight, prevent diabetes, cut cholesterol, lower blood pressure, prevent and reverse heart disease, and reduce cancer risk. They even trim our carbon footprint.

The Normal Guy, Bamboo Sportcoat & Recycled Socks

joshuakatcher — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:58:10 +0000

I've been following and documenting a pretty surprising story that is unfolding as we speak. Terrence, a real man's man who was a high-school football star, scoffed at vegans, worshiped Filet Mignon and scotch, and threw caution to the wind concerning his love of pleasure through food and drink, switched to a 100% vegan diet on November 1st on a quest to reclaim his health and return to his high-school-hay-day weight of 225lbs. I travel with him to Dr. Joel Fuhrman's office once a month and document him as he has his vitals and blood work analyzed. From Terrence's blog: "On November 1, 2009 I started this 6 month vegan quest because I had no choice. Moderation was a failure, actually, moderation to me was an anathema. If I was going to lower my cholesterol which was at levels that made the Devil salivate, and if was going to reach back to a time when I was my healthiest, a time when the Berlin Wall still divided East and West, I was going to have to push all my chips to the center of the table and go all in. Not moderation, not portion control, not more exercise - I was going 100% vegan, work-out every other day, and belly up to my favorite taverns and order a seltzer water."

Did I get used to it? Of course. But the real change is that I actually ENJOY it!

From unexpected vegan gourmet meals at the legendary (and not for being vegan-friendly ) "21 Club" to his social struggles with the stigma, to the triumphs of losing weight and cholesterol, to cooking for skeptics and sharing the grill while tailgating, and with the help and guidance of Heather Mills and her product line VBites, Terrence's is a compelling tale thus far of a normal guy who went vegan - and is still a normal guy. And it's only halfway over.

My 6'4" frame carried around 302 lbs on November 1st. Today, I am 265 lbs. Exactly half way there both in time and weight loss. My cholesterol dropped 100 points down into a safe and healthy range. All this without medication. I take Vitamin D and a multi-vitamin every day. That's it.

You can follow his inspiring story, too, at http://myveganquest.blogspot.com/ It's more than my rent, but check this Armani Collezioni Pickstitched Two Button Sportcoat in Bamboo Rayon. $855 at Nordstrom.com Now, these are affordable. Nordstrom's 1901 Recycled Cotton Blend Crew Socks. $7.50 at Nordstrom.com in argyle and stripes

TURK & TAYLOR: 50% Off Everything!

joshuakatcher — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:51:22 +0000

One of our fav organic lines is having a crazy sale. Everything is 50% off online, and only 3$ flat rate for domestic shipping! ENTER DISCOUNT CODE TURKCRAZY50 AT CHECKOUT!

Tough Stuff: April77′s Badass Jackets

joshuakatcher — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:45:47 +0000

Yeah, it's true that real leather bites the big one. Chromium-pollution is so 90s. Thankfully, our friends over at GlassBoutique in the UK sent us some gorgeous images from April77's take on a couple of classic rebel jackets, like the biker and the bomber. Lighter and more fitted, these waxed-cotton collectibles could be a devilishly-handsome addition to your permanent wardrobe. Here's the Decontrol Jacket with a smart, red-plaid lining. Here's the Heat II Bomber, featuring black tartan lining, shoulder epilettes and chunky silver zips.

Wax Weather

TheDiscerningBrute — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 04:00:11 +0000

Waxed canvas could be my favorite new fabric. It's waterproof, wind resistant, supple, and shares many characteristics with leather (minus the whole killing-of-animals part). Autumn is known for crisp air, rain, and chilly breezes. My advice for fall is waxed cotton all the way from boots to hats. Stay dry, warm, and light! The good thing about these jackets is that they'll last you forever, and since they're classics, they never go out of style.

Barbour

Barbour makes several styles of really nice waxed jackets and hats. I recently got to view four different jackets, and I was told that all their labor is done in Europe (no sweatshops) and their waxes are totally animal-friendly. The Flyer, below, is my favorite for this fall. It's lightweight, insulated, and has nice detailing. The jacket has a 100% cotton Barbour tartan lining with 30 gauge wadding for extra warmth. Two way front zip under a studded front, cord inner collar with buckle front tap, knitted rib hem and cuffs. Retail $375

Goes Great with:

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If you are looking for a more edgy jacket, the International Trials Short Jacket, below, is a slimmer, shorter length version of Barbour's iconic motorcycle design. I suggest wearing this style over a slender suit, open with the belt buckled. This jacket is in Barbour's medium-weight 6 oz. Sylkoil wax with a 100% cotton Barbour tartan lining. Two-way front zip under a studded storm fly front with set-in sleeves and ventilation eyelets. PU Coated polyamide inner drip strip for extra weather protection, corduroy collar and cuffs, and multiple pockets. Retail $379 Goes Great with:

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Finally, if you're looking for a longer coat, the Cowen Commando is one of Barbour's most famous styles. this modern wax jacket was designed from a historic British army pattern, with a Union Jack badge to prove it. Barbour's heavyweight 8 oz. Weathered wax with tartan lining. The jacket also features reinforced shoulder panels, a drawcord waist with adjustable toggles and multiple pockets. Retail $419.Goes Great with:

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Belstaff

Belstaff's waxed cotton is more expensive than Barbour (averaging around $530). They are gorgeous and leather-free, but they do incorporate Teflon in their canvass, which is toxic, and made by DuPont, a known vivisector and environmental polluter. Therefore I cannot recommend these jackets, and I suggest writing a kind letter to DuPont expressing your disdain for outdated and cruel animal testing, and CC Belstaff! ___________________

David Morgan

For a more affordable autumn jacket, David Morgan offers a oil-finish, waxed cotton jacket called the Shelter Cloth Jacket (retail $160). It has a marbleized color, utility pocket, and moleskin collar (don't worry, moleskin is actually cotton). David Morgan also offers a pretty bad-ass trench coat called The Duster (retail $285).Goes Great with:

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Goes Great with:

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Wax It Yourself

Do you own a pair of canvas boots or sneaks, a jean jacket, or even a cotton hat? If you want to waterproof it, and give it a chic, slick appearance, you can buy wax and DIY!

Skater Hippies

TheDiscerningBrute — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:19:22 +0000

Don't forget the boards for spring! I couldn't find any skateboards made from recycled materials (if anyone knows of anything, please pass the info along) but, check these 'sustainable' boards from Comet Skateboards. Comet Skateboards uses poplar and hickory from sustainable forests for a board's core, topped with bamboo or maple veneer and coated with water-based paints. They're also working to help develop 'green' epoxies, reinforcements and coatings. The boards are designed and manufactured in the world's only solar-powered skateboard factory, which is located in downtown San Francisco. The company is committed to manufacturing locally (still made here!) and sources supplies locally whenever possible. Packaging your package in organic hemp/cotton boxers are not the only amazing thing you can do thanks to Satori Movement. You can also have organic tees, hemp denim, tanks, totes and hoodies that don't look like potato sacks (beware of their hippy-sandals, though!). *Don't forget to get the vegan bumps & bruises, and cut & scrape vegan hemp herbal balms before you hit the half-pipe. *You can purchase any of the skater-inspired, eco-geeko gear at CultureSkate.com. Culture Skate is a great source for skater-dudes who want to keep their eco-footprint small enough to still do a kick-flip.