When I first got the catalog from this company I was not very impressed at all. The designs looked kinda weak. This is a prime example why we do not write reviews from Cads or photos. When I got my grab box in the mail (and we will talk about that in a second) I changed my tune. The photos and catalog prints do not show the real garment quality.

Ok so here we go. This first photo here is of the grab box that you get when you order the Mystery box that comes with 3 tees of their choice . I love this shit!!!!! These guys took the time to give me something for spending my hard erned money. The presentation of this box was fucking rad. From the box to the tissue paper, the stickers on the box and paper that comes inside. Its not like some of the shit i get in the mail that goes right to salvation army( and yes for all of you that have heard the rumor i did drop off a box Ice Cream clothing at the salvation army). This cool shit that FAQ took the time to put into this order made me get off my ass and pass it around to a few of my friends. Now that I have stroked these guys off enough with the box that my shirts came in, now we can get to the Tees them self. Most brands would just pick the shitty AAA tee to print their art work on. Now i am not going to name names on the brands that do this(Crooks and Castle, BBC, Ice cream) I am above that kind of shit talking.  These guys pick a very nice cut and sew  soft cotton tee, it’s worth the price they are asking for it. Price for the mystery box is 40.00 plus 5.00 for shipping for 3 tees not a bad price. Just a tee goes for 18.00 plus 5.00 for shipping still not a bad price. I really like the tees with bright colors being in NY the land of black and grey I Tend to move to the colors faster. The down fall of the brand is that I would like to know more about them. Why have the chosen to be minimalist? What is the reason to their art? I just want to know more about them who they are and what they are about. I like to spend money with people I know support my lifestyle, or a brand that I can relate to. But other then that i’m fucking down with FAQ clothing next time kids send us the paper peel tee . Great Job kitties keep it up now it’s time to add some cut and sew to your brand.  One last thing get the fuck out of the hipster game stores are over ordering that kinda crap.

Here is their info http://www.faq.bigcartel.com/

Get your ass to the site and pick up a tee you bitches.

craniumfitteds.com

Well here is another online cool guy streetwear shop. Like we need another place to sell crooks and castles. I wish I could say one thing nice about this shop, wait I think i can – they carry 9 Grand clothing.  Fist off they had nothing new to sell, second the way their shopping is set up really sucks. You would think with all the online stores out there they would have done a little shopping research. Rule Number one when opening an online store call the guys a Digital Marauders to get it done right.  Now are you a fitted hat shop? or a streetwear clothing store? If you are a fitted hat shop then take the time to search out some real underground lids don’t be lazy and just carry what every one else does. Please go back to the drawing board and start over.

Check it out www.retaildish.com

Durkl Clothing

The Line that could have been.

It has taken me a while to get the review up because I really wanted to take my time with this one. When they first sent me an email to review this line I was so excited to see what they would send me. The some great Jackets on their site and in the line sheet they sent me. Instead they send me the 3 most boring shirts from their line. But who am I to back out of a Review so I felt like I need to push on. Let me start off with the Quality of the Tee it self. I don’t think they cut their own tees so it kinda feels like a 6.2 oz Hanes tee once again nothing special. But on the up side the shirt it self took a beating. I think washed it about 8 times and it never got fuzzy or the color did not fade. This is just your general Tee. Now on to the Art. Lets start with the better of the 3 . The ENLIGHTEN royal blue 100% cotton I guess I am lost here I really don’t understand how this ties into their whole 80’s art hipster look. I felt like this one started out better then it finished.  The last Two design will be grouped together thats how bad they are.

STICKER LOGO white

The good life

The stickerlogo and the goodlife prints are some of the worst designs that I have ever seen come across my desk. I feel they took no time to run and think out some good quality work. These should have been cut out of the line up. There is so many 80’s style design that you could taken from to get some creative ideas. Or next time don’t send me your worst stuff.

Now with all that said lets get to some of the stuff that I feel makes this a line that could be a player in the fashion world. You already know that I hate most of their print work, but their cut and sew is off the charts. Drukl you should have sent me the cut and sew goods this what every one wants to see. Here are a few items that I love but can not recomend becuase I have not rocked it. But they look amazing.The gridlock jacket is one of the sickest jackets I have seen in  along time. Great fucking job to who ripped that one out.

Gridlock

Listen Gang Durkl could be a very sick line but it seems like the are two different people in one company. The cut and sew is off the charts but the printed tees are lacking a ton. You guys could be the next big thing if you bring the weak end of your line up to Par. But for sure this in one line I am going to keep my eye on. Great name, good idea,  keep it moving.

So i’ve been following this company for a long time. Basically since the beginning. The concept is pretty cool, a company from Brooklyn (the owners are not from NYC at all, just fyi) which prints the work of artists from North America and Europe on T-Shirts. That is pretty much the premise. This has never really been a streetwear company per se, and has not really done anything besides print T-Shirts. More on this later.

They just dropped their spring line, which is rather meek: 6 t-shirts. They do come in three color ways each but it’s still only 6 t-shirts, being dropped at almost the beginning of May, but let’s say it’s hard economic times and everyone has to cut back. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. What i do have to criticize is that after what i believe is 5 years of being in business (somewhere close to that), this company has released nothing but printed t-shirts (feels like Gildan 2000, i.e. they are NOT custom), with 1 hat in three different colors and a few hoodies (with the logo and a collab with Konkrete Jungle). Just last year they released 1 more hat, which i actually thought was dope, and i might have missed every single item they ever released by my point remains: after half a decade they are still only printing t-shirts of various artists’ design. Not one piece of cut-n-sew and no stitching whatsoever on the t-shirts, which most streetwear companies do (the stitching) or at least it has become a lot more common.

This is a bit disappointing i believe. I think after all this time there has to be some progression as to not be pigeon holed, yet i think that ship has sailed.

So now let’s check out this “Spring Line”. There are two shirts that struck my eye. One right away, the other after looking at it a few times. The first one is the Keymaster:

They have had the artist SUPERBLAST do various designs for them in the past and i personally think he’s fantastic, and even if i didn’t love everything he did for them, i still think his designs have ranked amongst the best ones for Methods. I like the interesting, distinctive style, the clean approach and the almost tribal feel of his work. Which leaves one asking: “is this really a Methods shirt, or a Superblast shirt ?” My point is that Methods has trouble defining their stuff as distinctly Methods Signature. Even if you release a different line every season, at least create cohesion within that line, but they say they come up with a theme (last season “Dreams and Nightmares”, this season “Pressure”), yet the designs are so greatly different from each other.

The 2nd shirt i liked is called Under Pressure:

Ok i have to stop for a second, because Methods has been doing this for a while: printing what looks like comic book sketches  / designs on T-shirts. I have never liked this approach and it has become a staple for them. The designs look like heat transfers, unfinished, just something printed on a shirt without thinking about the shirt itself as a medium. Maybe i’m being unclear, but i just don’t think it works. Check out these designs:

The designs look like anything that could be done by ecko or tribal or even something more generic. There is no flavor to them, they’re just colorful and / or b&w sketches. I just don’t think they work, and in comparison to the keymaster design up above, they are so starkly different, no relation whatsoever. The only exception is the Under Pressure shirt, where i think that this approach works, where the design makes sense in a sketched fashion in my opinion.  And what is up with the consistent back prints ? In general methods just prints everything center chest and center upper back. No variety whatsoever.

Now last but not least, two things. One the worst design out of those six (in such a limited run, all shirts should be above average in my opinion but i know we all have different taste), is the Rescue1:

I don’t think i have to add anything to this. it’s just a terrible design and a bad look. i do not see anybody rocking this, not even for brand loyalty. I have to admit i do like the idea behind it, making a design out of a swiss alp rescue team logo, that’s kinda cool, and i think maybe as a dope jacket or nice sweatshirt, this could have been pulled off nicely with some patches and nice stitch work….but this print is just awful.

Second, here is the one item they have put out (last year) that has nice stitching, a dope idea (making the logo into revolvers) and trying to create something cohesive in relation to the garment. It’s unique (not the gun but the way it was incorporated) and does not necessarily need any other garment to match up with within the line but stands out on it’s own:

Just wanted to end on a positive note with my critique.

In my prediction, this company will remain a t-shirt printing company, with very litte custom stuff, and lines that may have a theme but will always be them printing random artists’ stuff, which, if the artist decided to print it themselves, could easily do so, but why, when they can just use Methods as a promotional vehicle. It has not evolved in 5 years, why should the next 5 (if that) be that much different.

I will not get into details on the pointless events (in my opinion) that they attach themselves to (all within NYC and often with musical styles and artists that are very underground, but that is not how you grow, you’re only burying yourself in the underground), you can just follow it all on:

www.methodsnyc.com

and form your own opinion. I wish them all the best as we do with most companies, but i don’t see them ever being a big label, mostly due to obstacles and walls they put up themselves.

100 styles and running shoes

http://www.100styles.com/

I was sent a pair of Colstons and at first site I was in love with them. I have always been a fan of the slip on and for those of you that know me know that  I rock my vans even in the snow. I have always had a problem with Vans, for one they have no padding in them. For those of you that rock the classic slip know that if you try to walk in them for moe then an hour your feet are barking. That’s what caught my eye about the Colstons, they had every thing that I loved about my classic slip on Vans but with a little bit more PADDING. I have also never been a fan of leather shoes, I never liked how stiff they felt but these Colston and a nice soft leather to them. There was no breaking in time on these, they felt great from the first day.No doubt I have hung up my Vans for the next level of slip on shoes. If you have a shop you need to stock 100 style and if you are in to shoes you can miss out on these gems. Cut the hype these are just real shoes. Much love for a good job on the design.

Here is the info:

Upper – Premium Full Grain Leather

Lining – Premium Leather

Base – rubber

Style Number – COBLK08

Colors – Black and White or Tan and white.

Sizes – (U.S.) 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 13

47 Orchard St. New York, NY 10002

212.334.8144

Open Daily 12-7pm

I really wanted to like this shop I even went back 4 different times, but in the end I can not give them a good review. The shop is very bare at first I thought that they were going out of Biz but it seemed that each time I came in there was a differnt 8 shirts of the rack. I posted this photo because this is what I thought that I was going to find. No joke this was not it. I do have to give them credit for pricing their shoes very fair. So if you are looking for some ok looking shoes at a really good price then this is your stop. They carry the same stuff that David Z would but I say support the small local shop. Now to the last bad remark then I will stop. Each time I walked in there was that to cool for school GUY standing behind the counter not even giving me the time of day. HELLO I came here to spend money!!!! 4 times is enough for me there are a ton of other stores I can spend my money in. Front street is out.

Stumble It!