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

BAGABONES & April 77 Video

joshuakatcher — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:37:13 +0000

• As I mentioned yesterday, the April 77 online store has launched, and I love this editorial video, Black Hills, for SS11 featuring Jethro Cave and Sophie Willing. Everything at April 77 is vegan as of SS11. • Johnathan Nosan is a contortionist. But it's not only the form of his body that he can drastically change - he is also contorting industrial waste into some pretty awesome bags, and for only $35, that's a pretty amazing deal.

Earth Is Not Effed. Maybe.

joshuakatcher — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:05:46 +0000

Mother Earth is suicidal. I was asked to appear in a video for Earth Day and help talk her down. The funny folks at Grist, are responsible for this, so don't blame me.

DBTV: Tarkan Interview at NYC Fashion Week

TheDiscerningBrute — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:00:52 +0000

Tarkan might not yet be a household name in the United States, but with his forthcoming album - star studded with collaborations featuring some of the hottest US artists, it soon will be unforgettable. In Europe, Russia, and especially Turkey, the press has compared his effect to that of Elvis' on the US in the 1950s. Tarkan, famous for his spellbinding performances, is an award winning German-born, Turkish pop-singer known as the "prince of pop" by the media on the other side of the Atlantic. He has several multi-platinum selling records, with a total of over 15 million albums sold. Check out my interview with Tarkan at the Emilie Humanitary fundraiser at Fashion Week in NYC where we discuss his humanitarian, environmental, and animal causes in addition to music such as his fighting of a controversial dam in Turkey and his collaboration with PETA to help animals like strays in Turkey and those typically used in the fur industry. Tarkan was confronted by PETA in 2008 for wearing fur on the cover of his album. Once he learned of the plight of fur-bearing animals, he made an apology and has sworn it off. He also really enjoyed the Dr. Cow's vegan cheese I gave him, and I hope to get the opportunity to prepare him a full vegan meal soon!

Victoria Bartlett, VPL SS10

TheDiscerningBrute — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:00:26 +0000

It's Fashion week in NYC! Here is my interview with Victoria Bartlett about her show at the Chelsea Piers for Spring/Summer 2010. In regard to her sponsorship by the Humane Society of the United States, she had this to say:

"I've always been anti-fur - I love my pets...and I could never see them being worn. It's a very human time right now, and what's the sense in more carnage? There are other things in life to celebrate and design doesn't have to be draped with dead animals." - Voctoria Bartlett

Am I Dreaming? MTV Goes Veg!

TheDiscerningBrute — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:16:44 +0000

Am I dreaming, or is MTV actually broadcasting a pro-vegan campaign? The organization Compassion Over Killing's 2009 advertising campaign featuring two of their most powerful ads, "Exploring Your Food" and "A Side of Truth," hit the MTV airwaves on February 23. That was last night! Did anyone see them? I can imagine these will cause quite a stir amongst teens, who tend to be idealistic and stubborn. I went veg in high school after coming across slaughterhouse footage in a documentary - but now it's being handed right to them. I'm just amazed that MTV is OK with this, considering their sponsors. Watch the Ads here:

DBTV: Project Runway's TIM GUNN

TheDiscerningBrute — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:50:49 +0000

Fashion Week is upon us in New York City! I had a few moments to catch up with Tim Gunn at the Bryant Park Hotel for his conference with PETA on the fur industry. Tim is an outspoken advocate for animals used in the fashion industry, and calls for responsibility and accountability from every single person using or wearing the skin of an animal - whether it is fur, leather, or wool. In the sea of indifference to animals that is Fashion Week, it is amazing to have someone with such clout eloquently speaking the simple truth that fur no longer represents luxury - instead it is an outdated and egregious symbol of ignorance. Watch Tim's Video for PETA:

DBTV Valentine Special: TODD OLDHAM HEARTS YOU

TheDiscerningBrute — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:06:07 +0000

Don't be jealous! Ever since I watched a green-haired Todd Oldham on "House of Style" back in the nineties, I knew that I had to get crafty with him one day. So, with Valentine's Day around the corner, Todd and I got together at his downtown NYC studio to show you how to make some heart-shaped gifts that come from the heart. We both agree that this holiday is all about affordable, DIY craftiness. From his features in ReadyMade & Dwell, to crafting Amy Sedaris' interactive vaginal diagram on the Chelsea Lately Show, and with a line of vases for FTD, a classic menswear-inspired carpet collection, and design book series called Place Space, Todd is a royal of the creative world. To top that, he is a photographer, filmmaker, interior designer, fashion designer, and can see through walls ...well, maybe not the last part. Mr. Oldham is no stranger to being ethically handsome, either. A vegetarian and environmentalist, he has worked with Peta on undercover investigations, encouraged the sales of plantable oak trees through FTD, and even raised money for the NRDC. He continues to find innovative ways to use eco-friendly, recyclable, and animal-friendly materials (from soy based inks, to un-coated, recycled cardboard) in his products, and one thing we agree on is that having mainstream skills along with aspirations for environmentalism, animal rights, and social justice, is a recipe for making change from the inside.

Chocolate Heart Cake

WHAT YOU'LL NEED: • Two 9" heart-shaped baking pan • 3 cups organic all-purpose flour • 2 cups organic, unrefined sugar • 1.5 cups organic cocoa • 2 tsp aluminum-free Baking Powder • 1.5 tsp Baking Soda • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/4 cup organic coconut oil • 1/4 cup organic canola oil • 1/4 cup non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening • 1/2 cup prepared egg-replacer (Energie or Brand) • 1 Tbs vanilla • 2 cups almond milk (or other non-dairy milk) • 2 cups cold coffee • 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips Icing • 1/2 cup non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening • 1/4 cup coconut oil (not melted) • 1/4 cup Earth Balance (or other non-hydrogenated margarine) • 4 cups organic powdered sugar • 2 teaspoons vanilla • 1/4 cup soy creamer (for pink, add 1/8 cup beet juice or 3 drops of red veg-based food coloring) Marzipan • 1 cup marzipan • Natural veg-based food coloring • Small cookie cutters CAKE DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 375º, and coat your pan with non-stick cooking spray or canola oil. 2. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl: Flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, & salt. 3. In a separate bowl (or using a mixer) beat the coconut oil, canola oil, shortening, egg replacer, and vanilla until fluffy. 4. Pour the coffee and almond milk onto the dry mix, then add the whipped oil and egg-replacer, and stir in the chocolate chips until the mixture is smooth. 5. Bake for about 30 minutes (or until edges pull away from sides of pan). FROSTING DIRECTIONS 1. Beat the shortening, coconut oil, and margarine until smooth. 2. slowly add powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time. 3. Finally, add vanilla and soy-creamer and beat for about 5 minutes until fluffy. *Once cakes have cooled, take out of pan. If storing prior to decoration, line pan with wax-paper, then put cakes back in tins. SEE VIDEO FOR DECORATING INSTRUCTIONS!

Heart of Flowers

WHAT YOU'LL NEED: • 20 carnations • heart-shaped pan (at least 2" deep) • 2 - 4 bricks of floral foam • water • scissors DIRECTIONS See Video (above)

GALActic

TheDiscerningBrute — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:11:24 +0000

The Farm Sanctuary Gala was amazing! Being with so many compassionate, wonderful people in one room was inspiring. I met my president, Dennis Kucinich, got felt up by Skinny Bitch: Rory Freedman, and ate amazing pastries from Vegan Treats!

Top Down: Joshua Katcher, Dennis Kucinich, Rory Freedman, vegan treats cakes, Kevin Nealon, Melissa Fornabaio, Lisa Edelstein Russell Simmons, Chloe Jo Berman (Girlie Girl Army), Jeremy Davis

I had the pleasure of producing a video for the Gala:

Thanks to Kaight Shop for my hot organic blazer and organic green shirt by Turk & Taylor! I also wore an organic tie by John Patrick Organic, thrift pants, and NOVOCAS Dennis Brown shoes. If you haven't been to Kaight in the LES, definitely check it out. There is a nice sized organic menswear section!