New Arrivals: Naked & Famous

New at the Gallery on First Street, from Naked & Famous, the "Thick Belt", made from 5-8mm thick Canadian leather, is handsome and stable. Very stable. Like all N&F products, these belts are made to be worn without caution. While the black leather will nick and fade beautifully, the natural coloured leather will darken, with wear, to a rich cognac. N&F denim and the Thick Belt; a match made in Montreal.  

The Cheaper Show Vancouver

The Cheaper Show 2010 from The Cheaper Show on Vimeo.

Watch this video. It conveys everything you need to know about the always fantastic Cheaper Show in Vancouver. This year, a couple of our favourite Calgary-based artists, Becky McMaster and Erik Olsen have been selected to take part. Come June 25, with any luck, we'll have a correspondent on-site. Check back for more.

New Arrivals: Inventory #4

We're very pleased to be carrying Inventory Magazine. Issue #4 looks beautiful, and supplies are limited.
Please act accordingly.

Colours: Burgundy + Blue...

Burgundy. A fall colour? Most likely. A sophisticated colour? Definitely. Is spring sophisticated? I think so. Just pair with navy, as seen above, forest green, tan, or even burnt orange. Burgundy will always give an outfit that "can't put your finger on it" niceness.

vintage sailor jacket (navy): marshall artist

cardigan (burgundy): marshall artist

shirt (lt blue): naked & famous

tie (grey): naked & famous

Rainy Day, Push Play.

COMING SOON: Amongst Friends S/S 11

Spring's Gentler Side

Yesterday, Spring - the season which we Calgarians long for, but barely experience - came along and generously poured bright, dry warmth over our heads. To celebrate Easter Sunday's meteorological charity, my girlfriend and I went wandering around riverbanks, gravel pits, historic railway sites, and the zoo, where deer and turkey now share an enclosure. There was even a shirtless bike rider testing ice density at the river's edge. Bad idea. 

New Arrivals: Marshall Artist S/S 11

vintage sailor jacket nvy

100% cotton

yarn dyed zip hood nvy

100% cotton

yarn dyed zip hood red

100% cotton

finely tailored shirt w/knit sleeve dk blue/nvy

100%cotton

sailing t-shirt red/white

100% cotton

jersey t-shirt dk blue

100% cotton

short-sleeve gingham red

100% cotton

sailing t-shirt blue/red

100% cotton

For over ten years, UK label Marshall Artist has been hard at work, making unique (honestly), quality menswear. Owners of their own factory in Vietnam, Marshall Artist also produces, with 100% control, garments for some of the world's most respected brands. Above is a sampling of MA's new S/S 11, available now at the Gallery on First Street.   

Spring Field Jacket

Here's a nice example of a Spring-appropriate field jacket. Throw it over whatever. High or low, it looks good with just about anything.

Jacket: Qhuit
DB Cardigan: Qhuit
Shirt: Naked & Famous
Tie: Naked & Famous

New Arrivals: Naked & Famous

Come in. Check it out.

New and Improved: Roland Stereo Micro Monitor MA-8

Before our good friend Reid dropped off these beauts, the sound rash born of next door's
champagne bass and our gutless idoc, made for confusing vibes. Now, thanks to the Rolands, we've got an exclusive sound.

Note: These beloved speakers travelled all the way from Japan, where they were purchased, then used to DJ Tokyo sidewalks by their proud owner, Reid. Thanks again, Reid.

Also, just to clarify, our neighbours are great, and so is some of their music.

Tech Specs:

The MA-8 Stereo Micro Monitor is a dedicated stereo speaker system designed especially for computer applications. Its CD-quality audio and platinum color make the MA-8 a perfect match for both computer and peripherals.

10cm woofer and 4.7cm tweeter speakers with 8W + 8W high-quality amplifiers
Two stereo line inputs plus a mic input
Individual Bass/Treble controls
Headphone jack
Magnetically shielded for placement near computer monitor
Compact design and platinum color match computer peripherals

COMING SOON:

Inspiration: U.K. Cool

Inspiration: Japanese Design Annual 1985

Boutique Joy, Kawaguchi, 1984

photo: Takeshi Nakasa

Issey Miyake Men Shop, Shinjuku, Tokyo 1984

photo: Hiroyuki Hirai

Basco Shop, Shibuya, Tokyo 1983

photo: Yoshio Shiratori

Basco Shop, Shibuya, Tokyo 1983

photo: Yoshio Shiratori

Okakei Tokyo Br. , Nihonbashi-ningyocho, Tokyo

photo: Osamu Murai

Taken from the "Annual of Display & Commercial Space Designs in Japan 1985", the above photos are most interesting, in that they were shot between 1983-1984. Looking at these spaces, it's hard to imagine that they were conceived of nearly 30 years ago. Unbelievable. 

How might studying images like these influence a new build-out? I guess we'll just have to wait and see..

Penfield S/S 10

waxed poly/cotton field jacket 

cotton short-sleeve gingham 

cotton polo

shawl collar cotton sweater w/ toggle

Established in Massachusetts in 1975, Penfield is a name synonymous with functionality. Designed to perform in every season, Penfield garments are a great option for stylish, hard-wearing clothes that leave the wearer to "get on with it". Visit the Gallery on First Street to see these, plus other pieces from Penfield's S/S 11 collection.

Brandon Svarc 10 Essentials: GQ.com

Brandon Svarc, owner of Naked & Famous, has been featured once again in GQ Magazine for their "10 Essentials" article. Take a look and see what makes this nerdy denim guru tick. Our favorite out of the 10? The Kai Fabric Scissors, which can cut through 32-ounce denim no problem.

Read the full article by GQ:

10 Essentials: Brandon Svarc 10 Essentials: GQ.com

Coming Soon: Naked & Famous S/S 11

black canvas duffle w/ bovine 10oz leather

made in canada

handmade leather wallets

made in canada

100% cotton "weird guy" grey selvage denim + 100% cotton "weird guy" deep indigo selvage denim

made in canada

7mm thick, natural bovine leather belt

made in canada

The story behind Montreal's Naked & Famous is an interesting one. While the jeans are made in Canada, the fabrics come from Japan - arguably the global leader in quality denim production. Also, rather than washing their denim, a process that pushes up costs, and uses a lot of energy, Naked & Famous denim is raw and ready to break in.

For more, click here

A.P.C. Denim

New at the Gallery on First Street, from Paris, we're pleased to be stocking A.P.C. Denim - the original "tailored" raw, selvage jean. Current selection limited, however, more sizes and styles are on the way.

We're Back on First

After what proved a successful temporary pop-up shop, The Gallery's back @ 1312 First Street SW, and we couldn't be happier. To reflect the ongoing development in our neighbourhood, The Gallery on First Street will stock a range of products, ever-evolving to suit our clients' needs. Be sure to check back for shop-news, plus whatever else we're jazzed about.