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

Kenai Flannel & Georges Laraque’s New Image

joshuakatcher — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 16:45:39 +0000

• This "Kenai" flannel hooded jacket in organic cotton is half-off from Loomstate! A lightweight flannel zip-up jacket with a foldaway hood hidden in the zipped stadium rib collar. Body is lined in organic cotton flannel. Features an interior chest pocket and two snap closure waist pockets. • Georges Laraque's days of checking people on the ice are over as of last year, but he's been busy getting people to check themselves before they wreck themselves with his vegan restaurants in Canada - Crudessence, with four locations in Montreal. Political office may also be in his future as Canada's Green Party chose him to be their new deputy leader for showcasing such passion and eloquence concerning ethical and environmental issues. A recent article in Canada's National Post says:

On the surface, the causes and activities Mr. Laraque, 34, has embraced seem worlds away from his life as a professional athlete. But the way he sees it, they are in keeping with the defiant approach to life he has taken since he was a child. “If you tell me I’m not going to make it, I’m going to make it,” he said in an interview at his restaurant, Crudessence. It is an approach shaped by his experience of racism at a young age.

A Fetching Friday

TheDiscerningBrute — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:57:56 +0000

SOFAUX Fashion Factory makes awesome, hand-printed, hand-dyed, organic cotton shirts. Made in Seattle. Get them at BlackBird for about $58

Also check out more organic finds from our favorite lines:

Gilded Age is famous for well-made, classic garments using the oldest looms remaining, and centuries-tested methods of dying and construction. This "Sullivan" organic cotton chambray shirt & "Clarke" organic cotton seersucker shirt are quite fetching. We love these organic "RIP" and "Sir Edmund" tees from Vuori AW09. Founder, Joe Kdia and Chad Alasantro, use waterbased inks, organic cotton, and well-designed homages to eco warriors. Check out the rest HERE. Wings & Horns & Lars Andersson organic tank tops are perfect for summer, and to show off some ink! Sameunerneath's organic cotton blazer is back! This is a rare item in the world of menswear. Cover your head! Patagonia makes a nice organic cotton cadet cap in black, brown, and green. Also check out their 100% recycled poly rainshell!

Pointers, Alters and Sustainers

TheDiscerningBrute — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:26:50 +0000

The Black Carnaby from Vegetarian Shoes UK looks like any pointy oxford you'd see on the runway. The difference is that this shoe is made from eco and animal-friendly vegetan, as opposed to someone's toxically-preserved skin. One of our favorite shops, Alter, is having a big sale on everything fall 08. There are tons of animal-friendly options, and everything is up to 70% off! For example, this Spiewalk Cotton-Moleskin jacket with Thinsulate lining is only $155, and will keep you warm for the next four months! Another great place to stop by is the new and imporved Sustainable NYC shop. They've got a cafe, now - with lots of veg options (not sure why everything isn't vegan). Also make sure to check out their online store.

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:

___________________

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:

___________________

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:

___________________

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:

___________________

Goes Great with:

___________________

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!

Vegan Bomber Jacket & Tope Wallets

TheDiscerningBrute — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:33:25 +0000

1. Cheap Monday, whose jeans are as inexpensive as they are tight - have made a pretty incredible vegan pilot jacket. PVC-coated polyester with a removable faux-shearling fleece collar. The pilot/bomber is a classic jacket that has rib knit cuffs and hem; 2 snap pockets at the front; and a single pocket inside. While this jacket is technically vegan, the dangers of PVC plastics are one reason to not partake. Alas, is PVC really cruelty-free if it ends up poisoning a bunch of living things? It is certainly better than the environmental devastation associated with leather production: clearing land, raising, feeding, watering and transporting the cattle, then slaughter and tanning using compounds like chromium. As for labor, this is from Cheap Monday: (Read their entire code of conduct here. Code of Conduct)

We believe that it is important to take responsibility when it comes to working conditions, from both ethical and social aspects as well as issues regarding production and the environment.

Couldn't they have made this in tope (see below) or waxed canvas? sigh...

2. DB Clay's Version 3 wallets are dope (and tope!) Have you heard of Tope?

"Tope is a synthetic fabric similar (in texture) to a vinyl canvas. However, Tope does not contain certain hazardous chemicals typically found in most vinyl-based products. In particular, Tope contains NO PVC, Tope is made from non-toxic raw materials (it causes no dioxin, heavy metal or phthalate pollution), Tope decomposes when buried, Tope is chlorine chemicals free and Tope is fabricated through a pollutant free process. Additionally, we have engineered a tremendously technical printing process whereby we print high resolution and full photographic images using environmentally friendly inks. To top it off, Tope is also vegan and animal free."

If you need a custom made, one-of-a-kind, tope "Puzzle Wallet" from db clay click here. They make a great gift, and a great collector's item: