The Facing Page

Design, Culture and Style from Vancouver

Month: April, 2012

27 April 2012

Inverallen

by Connor Keller

The concept behind Inverallen is a big part of the charm behind their knit cardigans, sweaters, caps and scarves. Each piece is made in the home by a Scottish handknitter – and the cardigans require roughly 90 hours labour. These garments are then hand signed by the knitter; something I find to be a really nice added touch. The standout piece is, of course, the cardigan. Designed for fisherman in remote Scottish villages who tend to use one garment over and over and rely on it heavily, this is clearly a piece that is going to be warm, well crafted and above all, long lasting. They’re made of Scottish lambswool, a durable yet soft fabric which has been used for such sweaters since the humble origins of such pieces. It doesn’t hurt their appeal that they also look great, and they’ll help bring out your inner Scottish fisherman.

- CK

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26 April 2012

We Hear April 26 2012

by Connor Keller

At The Facing Page we take a great deal of pleasure from music in our day to day and with that in mind we are excited to introduce ‘We Hear’. We Hear will be a repeating feature on the site in which we will share a few tracks that have been at our playlists recently. We hope you’ll enjoy them as well. To kick off on a high note, we start with two bands playing Vancouver this week, namely Tanlines, a New York based indie/electronic group, and M83, a French act of a similar genre. Also featured is a band we’ve mentioned on here in the past, the Weeknd.

Tanlines – Real Life

M83 – Midnight City

The Weeknd – Loft Music

- CK

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23 April 2012

TooLs

by Connor Keller

TooLs, Real Stuff for Future Classics, is a great publication from Japan’s Huge Magazine which is sure to become a classic in its own right. TooLs pays homage to the Whole Earth Catalogue by cataloguing a number of items essential to our day to day lives that the editors believe will become classic pieces in the future. This includes items like a great coffee maker, a number of clothing pieces, exceptional boots and other items divided into four chapters: Shed and Shelter, Work To Do, Land Use and Feel At Home. Each piece has been selected carefully and must be well crafted, useful, well designed and fit into the editors careful creational scheme. Text describing each object is in Japanese and English, so there’s a bit for everyone to enjoy. TooLs is now in it’s second edition; the release was started in 2011 and updated in 2012. Inventory Stockroom in Vancouver still has a few of the 2011 in stock, the 2012 sold out quickly so if you can find a copy don’t sleep on it.

- CK

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22 April 2012

Tanner Goods Cardholder

by Addi Perkins

My esteemed colleague here at the Facing Page recently wrote about his love for the Truman Minimalist Wallet. It is a beautiful piece but I would like to make the case for an alternative wallet. For years I carried wallets with endless nooks and crannies in which I could tuck useless cards in the off-chance that they might come in handy in some unforeseen and highly improbably situation (if only I could prove that as I licensed pleasure craft operator I am due my free coffee after only 8 stamps and so forth). But all I got was a fat wallet and a sore back from being canted over to one side all the time. With this in mind, I finally downsized and upgraded to Tanner Goods‘ Cardholder. I’ve never regretted the decision.

Tanner Goods is a Portland, Oregon based atelier that makes a wide range of leather wallets, belts and other items. The cardholder is crafted from from bridle stitched Horween’s Chromexcel leather and as a result is amazingly durable. I selected the oxblood dye variant and it has worn in beautifully. The leather has become supple and rich and the patina has deepened. I also am a fan of the bill fold on the back of the wallet that allows for quick access to cash while keeping it safely held. I’ve carried this wallet in Canada, the US, Europe and the UK and the bill fold accommodates all sizes of currency. I’ve been so impressed with the build-quality and design of this piece that I’ve added a few other Tanner Goods’ items to my (incredibly long) wish-list: their standard belt in a dark Havana dye with a brass buckle (which would nicely compliment my much-loved Deadstock Swedish Army Belt) and the tan sunglass case, as my standard issue American Optics case is slowing dying. I’ll be sure to visit the Tanner Goods store when I’m next in Portland. But perhaps I’ll leave my wallet outside; it could be too dangerous to bring it in.

- AP

Images: tannergoods.com and Alexander Perkins

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21 April 2012

A.O.

by Connor Keller

While I’ve mentioned a number of great basic pieces on this site, in terms of t-shirts I’d have to say my all time favorite is the A.O. crewneck tee. A.O. is a tiny Swedish operation speciliazing in a limited selection of basic pieces like t-shirts, henleys and underwear. Sadly, I’ve only had the chance to try the t-shirt but I’d imagine the rest of the line carries the same high standard. This shirt ticks all the boxes for me, it has a great length, something that often is a problem for me with my taller than average build. Also, the neck isn’t too tight or constricting. The fit feels right from day one and wears in well and the arms are a good summery length. Some may complain about the arms being a bit short, but for me they’ve always felt just right. I can speak with great experience about the longevity of the shirts too, I’ve had one since 2009 and it’s still going strong while a number of equal costing options have fallen by the wayside. It’s a lighter cotton than some of the options from wings+horns or Reigning Champ so it may be favorable to be worn in warmer weather or as an undershirt. There is however one problem: I’ve yet to find anywhere in North America or Europe that carries them online. So if you manage to find an A.O. outlet, please let me know, until then the best option is emailing them directly from their site.

- CK

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20 April 2012

Make Smith Mexican Blanket Belt

by Connor Keller

As we turn from the greyness of winter to the light and colour of spring, most of us require for an extra shot of vibrancy to offset those dark shades that dominate our winter wardrobes. One such piece that combines vibrant colour with excellent functionality is the Mexican blanket belt from Make Smith. Make Smith is a Californian brand so the use of Mexican fabric is a fitting use some of their nearest neighbour’s heritage. The repurposed Mexican blanket is wrapped around beeswax treated cowhide leather, so not only will it look great now, it’ll last and continue to look great over time. Much like many of the garments the Facing Page chooses to write about, this ability of this piece to age gracefully is a key attribute. You’ll be able to dig this belt out every spring to give your outfit that little bit of Mexican flair. Head on over to Make Smith to find your size.

- CK

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19 April 2012

The Alibi Room

by Connor Keller

For both a great pint or a nice dinner out, a great option in Vancouver is the Alibi Room. Opened in 2006 with a mission of balancing an accessible menu and becoming one of the top craft beer destinations in Vancouver, the Alibi Room can declare “Mission Accomplished!”. Located in a heritage building along the railroad between Vancouver’s Gastown and Railtown districts the Alibi fits its surroundings perfectly. The restaurant is divided into two parts, an upstairs consisting of long tables and smaller nooks and a basement with a similar mix between large and small tables, but in a more casual atmosphere without table service. The staff can always be trusted with a recommendation for your soon to be new favourite beer and the menu is always changing so you’ll never be bored. The food, playing second fiddle to the beer through no fault of its own, is superior to that found in many of the surrounding restaurants. The pork belly sandwich, burger, and charcuterie plate have all been standouts in my visits here. The nightly specials are also worth checking out. I remember a particularly excellent roasted pork knuckle and dumpling. I keep hoping it will come back. If you’re ever in the Gastown area in need of a bite, a great pint or both, then get down to the Alibi Room. You and your friends won’t be disappointed. But go early or be prepared to wait; this is a popular spot.

The Alibi Room | alibiroom.ca | 157 Alexander Street

- CK | AP

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18 April 2012

Our Legacy

by Connor Keller

When it comes to simple elegant pieces like the grey crew sweatshirt, I’ve had a long standing love affair with Our Legacy. The Stockholm, Sweden based brand has been supplying the world with an ever expanding line of excellent pieces in a typically simple and excellently crafted Nordic style since 2005. Their collections have been growing in the past few seasons but their staples, on which the label was built, continue to be some of the best around. While I’ve yet to justify spending 80 dollars on their perfect t-shirt, I can vouch for it being one of the better t-shirts I’ve put on. The crew necks, as previously mentioned, are definitely some of the best around and their grey crew sweater is one of the most worn garments in my wardrobe. The weight of the sweater is suitable for a number of different conditions; never too warm or too thin. Some of the pieces in the expanded collection that I’ve been drawn towards recently include their everyman collection button downs, as well as the 1940s button down check shirt.  While Our Legacy items can be tricky to track down in North America, Four Horsemen in Victoria is a great stockist and the Our Legacy website is always a reliable source. With careful monitoring it also tends to be possible to pick up some of the pieces at very reasonable prices as their site tends to have great end of season sales.

- CK

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17 April 2012

Phillips Blue Buck

by Connor Keller

Thanks to the proliferation of microbreweries it has become easy to find a decent beer. However, finding a truly great one is still rare. For me, one of the top finds came from very close to home when I lived in Victoria, a couple blocks away from the Phillips brewery. They have a number of exceptional beers, particularly the IPAs, Dr. Funk and the Rifflandiabraus, but the one that has stood the test of time for me has been Blue Buck. A deep amber ale, the Blue Buck is neither too hoppy or too malty; it fits perfectly in the middle. It’s just on the lighter side of things, a crisp beer with a nice hoppy aroma. It works well in many situations; it is as good after a day of football (that’s soccer) in midsummer as it is coming off a rainy bike ride in midwinter.

- CK

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16 April 2012

Outlier 4Season OG Pant

by Connor Keller

For city biking there seem to be a couple of apparel options. The spandex route is effective, but isn’t exactly the most stylish of options and you’ll have definitely have to change at work. You can always bike around in your jeans, which pretty much guarantees an early blown out crotch and arriving with sweaty legs. Or, you could try out the new cycling pants from Outlier. A New York based company, they make some of the best possible bike to work cycle pants in the market today. Particularly favoured are the 4Season OG Pant, an all-round pant designed to work on and off the bike. This is the pant the brand has grown around, they’re breathable, stretchable, rain repellant, and sweat wicking. There is also the small matter of the NanoSphere treatment, which repels coffee, beer, or dirt, so your pants will always wind up looking good. They’re made using a doubleweave fabric for strength, which gives a tough and durable exterior with a soft interior. Of course, they’re also some of the better looking pants on the market. For anyone who is looking for a new pair of pants that they can ride to work in, head to the bar in, go for a hike in or have a coffee downtown in, I’d recommend these most highly.

- CK

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