Hi Y’all,

As promised I will be posting more Chinese New Year related stuff this and next week and we’re just getting started. New Lunar Year means a new beginning and  to celebrate this people often purchase new gear. I mentioned this in my past post so pardon the follow up but in celebration of this joyous and auspicious celebration we are throwing The Year Of Tiger Promotion. Welcome the new lunar year in style and make use of the 13% discount you can get by using coupon code NDH-CNY10 at the checkout. The coupon code is valid from 5th until 15th of February 2010.

Art by Simon Birch

Remember The Year Of The Golden Tiger is bound to be an auspicious one. I’m excited about this upcoming holiday season. Stay tuned for more, drop us your comments and questions. We love to hear from you. Gong Hei Fatt Choi, Gong Xi Fatt Cai, Happy Chinese New Year. I will say repeat these words again and again, but you have to start the wishes early enough. Cheers, I’m out…

Hi Y’all,

As you well know, the year of the Tiger is approaching and you can sense the prosperity of the new lunar year. We’ll be celebrating the lunar new year (in style) in Copenhagen, Denmark due to the CPH-Vision/ Terminal-2 fair, which we’ll be attending together with our friends from Momotaro Jeans. But I’m sure it’s going to be an auspicious CNY.

New Lunar Year is a new beginning which should be embraced in dressing yourself in fresh gear. For myself and the fam this means copping new gear for the new year. Of course Chinese New Year is much more than just Ang Paus and new gear. It’s a time of reunion. I will defo talk more about this closer to the CNY, but here’s a little something on the topic.

Nike Sportswear is commemorating the event by launching Cortez Classic inspired by the Year of the Tiger, tiger stripes and all. The details are pretty awesome, sil screened tiger stripes, highlighted horsehair and extra pair of laces by Starks. Oh, and the kicks will be launched as a limited edition (200 pairs) release on the 10th of February with a very nice thematic box. But those more interested of the shoe and not so much of the box, it will also be released with a normal shoe box on the 13th of February.

Pictures courtesy of sneakerfreaker.com

Nike Asia Pacific has also created the below video in celebration of the launch.

Another brand making moves in the sneaker scene in celebration of CNY is Converse. The brand has launched a series of the year of the tiger designs for the season. Converse has produced a Chinese New Year 2010 collection that features all of the lines under Converse flag. These include: Chuck Taylors, Jack Purcells, classic One Stars and a concealed Weapon. The designs feature plenty of red and gold colors in celebration of this prosperous season. The kicks will be available in the beginning of the new Lunar Year, but only in China. So give a call to your connections there and cop yourself a pair of fresh kicks in celebration of the year of the golden tiger. Pics below.

Pictures courtesy of sneakerfreaker.com

Finally I drop you a little hint on a future post I will be making on the topic of The Year Of the Tiger. I’m kind of excited about an upcoming expansion of The Year Of… brand. Some of you already know what I’m talking about here but just a teaser now. Will post more on the topic once the time is right.

That’s all for now but rest assured we will be welcoming The Year Of… the Tiger in style. Stay cool everyone but don’t get cold, the spring is on its way. I’m out, peace.

Hi Y’all,

The decade has changed and we’re living in the year 2010, but in February we’ll be stepping into another year, The Year Of… the Tiger. Needless to say I will be posting a Chinese New Year special next month, but before that I thought of dropping a little something for your viewing pleasure. A preview as one might call it.

We’re halfway through the zodiac and the toil and labor of The Year Of… the Ox is coming to an end and we will continue our journey with a prosperous year of the Tiger. Eye of the tiger anyone?

More updates coming up so stay tuned. “She said, life is a journey, I need mines just like my attorney…” That said, enjoy the journey to the fullest like every day’s your birthday… Peace, I’m out…

Hi Y’all,

The year sure started with a bang. New monster buildings in Dubai, snowstorms in Asia and the usual stuff. But we’re keeping our cool in heat or cold. In celebration of new year we’re bringing you fresh new gear from The Year Of… and Momotaro Jeans. First of The Year Of Dog – Lil’ Brooklyn design that was introduced some time back and also featured in the poll for my next denim project (which will be properly introduced this week).

The jeans are the premium Japanese denim the brand is known for but features rainbow selvedge instead of the typical gold and silver selvedge.

Just a little background (no pun intended) on the Little Brooklyn. The “design” as you might call it was inspired by a trip to Japan where designer Brad Digital came across a bronze statue of a dog. He was told by the locals that this dog is a memorial to a a specific dog named Hachiko. Hachiko belonged to a professor in a local university. The dog had followed the professor to the train station on his trips between home and university. One day the professor died but the dog still kept up the daily routine and patiently waited for his master’s return. Hachiko continued this routine for several years and during this time people who observed his routines took the dog home and provided him food and cover. (For the whole story, click the picture below)

That was the initial inspiration for the design, though Brad’s own dogs served as additional inspiration for the character. A large toy version of the Lil’ Brooklyn or the male version of Hello Kitty as he is also titled, was the centerpiece during Fashion Week where different artists designed their custom versions of the Lil’ Brooklyn some selling for up to $3000. Of course our attention is on the denim version of the design dating back to the dog year of 2006. I would call this timeless style as the details and the design itself still shine as if the design was just released yesterday.

Our other release is the Momotaro Jeans green selvedge chambray work shirt (MVS H042).

This work shirt is a rather unique example of great vintage work wear redesigned to meet the expectations of today’s public. A great follow up to my recent work wear edition if I might say so myself.

The shirt is similar high quality 5 oz selvedge chambray as the other Momotaro work wear shirts in our catalogue. This Monster Hunter -shirt comes in green color and works great no matter if you’re sitting in the office or working outside.

This ends this year’s first new product round up. We have something new coming up from Remy tomorrow and until then. Stay fresh, appreciate those around you stay true to what you believe in. I’m out, peace.

Hi Y’all,

Hope you have had a chance to give your vote on my next big denim project (see the poll on the right).

Four more nights till Christmas Eve. Splendid! Few more days of work followed by a long weekend full of seasonal celebrations. Christmas is a season of sharing and giving, but also like someone from my family mentioned about receiving. It’s true, as nice as it is to give presents it’s also nice to get a few surprise gifts.

Well if you are still in search of that perfect gift, we can truly help you out. You can give a person a gift that makes them go little something like this:

We are throwing a little Xmas promotion for all y’all, lasting from today until the 27th of December. Just use coupon code
NDH-XMS09 at the check out to get 15% off all your purchases.

On that note, I am pleased to let you know we just received a batch of very, very special jeans. Of which I will share a few lines as well as photos. But let me tell you, photos do not do these jeans justice. I have seen a number of very nice jeans in my life, but these are something else.

These jeans from The Year Of… Dog -line of jeans feature a deep indigo dye making them look almost black. The denim is that rigid heavy oz denim the brand is known for but instead of the traditional gold and silver selvedge associated with the brand, these jeans feature a “rainbow selevdge”. That is the line in the selvedge has number of colors giving it a pretty nice look. The brand started off with this particular type of selvedge and only the later designs from 2006 have that gold/ silver selvedge.

The embroidery is very detailed and simply amazing. I took a good while to check the jeans in detail and although every pair from the brand is special these are probably my personal favorites.

The self proclaimed New York answer to Hello Kitty from 2006 is also featured in the leather patch. Below are few different alternatives of the patches from the Dog Years.

The jeans will retail for 269 euros and will become available through our online store after Christmas but the pre-orders are being processed and if you want a pair just contact us for details.

That’s all I have for this sneak peek-update-promotion-holiday-edition. I will share a few more lines on Little Brooklyn upon the launch of the design on our site. But indeed that’s all for now. Remember to vote for my next project. Next year means a lot of things, including my new denim project so vote vote vote and make sure the design of your choice wins the honor of being the most worn pair of jeans in 2010 (at least for me myself and I).

Be easy and how did Frank Sinara put it, The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful since we have no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…

Hi Y’all,

As I hinted on my post yesterday, I am looking into starting my next denim project shortly and decided that it would be best to let you, our readers decide what type of project I’m going to undertake. I did do some preliminary ranking based on the type of jeans and the available size. But in the end you have the choice over what jeans I will put through wear and tear next year. On the right you can see the poll, so don’t hesitate to cast your vote.

Winter is an excellent time to start the project and the freezing cold weather has already got me plenty of ideas of what type of endurance test I could put the jeans through.

So without further due, below are the alternatives:

Momotaro Jeans – 0905SP – Going To War Label

The lines are already classic and this best seller from Japan is undoubtedly something I want to put to test. The Going to War Label (Or Going to Battle Label) is dyed only with darkest type of natural indigo. The jeans are sanforized 15.7oz rigid denim with good fit and after wearing them for a short time, they will soon feel like a second skin. I know folks who have taken up this particular project and I’m very keen to experience the jeans myself as well.

Momotaro Jeans – G003-MB – Copper Label

They say that natural cotton makes superior denim. Inspired by old Japanese denim, in Copper Label jeans Momotaro uses an indigo dyeing technique that reproduces deep blue color for the cotton. The jeans are sanforized, washed with Marine essence same as Seto-Sea’s water, which is rich with minerals. The blue color is kept more natural by using special cotton with long fibers that lets the jeans wear in unique and personal ways. Another great alternative. I am anxious to see the difference between the aging of the Vintage Label and the Copper Label.

The Year Of… – Lil’ Brooklyn

The Year Of… is for the individual who seeks to mark their moment in time with the latest in specialty denim that mirrors the exuberance of success. Our hope is for each pair to be worn with sincere appreciation of the skill and effort involved. Lil’ Brooklyn as the design is most commonly known represents the brand’s Year of the Dog era and is probably one of the most known designs not to mention rare, especially today.

The Year Of… – Nippon Ribbon

Another classic design from The Year Of… Nippon Ribbon jeans are regular fit, non-washed, five pocket jeans from the Year Of The Rat collection. The jeans come with a black button fly and a black ribbon embroidery sewn across the back of the jeans. I have yet to see a worn pair of these type of jeans and I am sure it would definitely make a great project.

Last but not least…

The choice to continue the on-going Vintage 0901 Project.

This alternative needs no introduction. The project has been on-going for a good while and the jeans have pretty much seen every element from sand to snow and from Dr. Pepper to washing machine. The jeans still keep evolving and the more I wear them, the more attached I feel towards them. So not a bad alternative either.

Those are our contestants and I look forward to seeing what jeans you will pick for my next project. But do choose well, as these jeans will be worn non-stop until further notice. The voting will continue until Christmas Eve (24.12.2009), when I will drop a post on the selected style. The on-going Vintage 0901 project will continue until New Year’s Eve.

A big thanks to everyone in advance for participation and have a great weekend ahead.

Good evening to y’all and y’all,

Today, probably inspired by the Astro Boy Manga I’ve been reading for the past few days I’m sharing a few lines on the future, more precisely the future of denim and fashion in general. The comic was certainly ahead of its time like many but it’s not just the comics that inspire me. I actually had a good chat about the world of denim, where the denim scene is at the moment and where it’s heading. The denim game is interesting in the way that it has pretty much stayed unchanged with of course changes in cuts and styles but in the end the pursuit of that perfect blue has remained the same.

Personally I do not believe in trends and fads. The fashion cycles are more or less a synonym for recycling. I mean I do not have to be Nostradamus to know that boot cut is making a come back, the flares are gonna get more than acceptable and black denim will get more “air time” in a season or two. The distressed denim will always be there as long as people keep wearing and tearing their denim. I have a pair of distressed 06 TYO’s and apparently last year they were the in thing. Cycles anyone?

But yeah, the fashion cycled make a great topic of conversation. I mean you look at what folks are wearing now and I can pretty much guarantee that you will see people in same indigo denim 10 years from now as you saw them 50 years ago. Hey, vintage is the in-thing right now. So perhaps the same vintage lines will be vintage in 20 years, umm or something like that, heh.

Just a while back I was chatting with people on a specific forum about the oldest jeans folks have. My oldest pair is probably 8 years old but unfortunately I cannot fit those jeans no more. The conversation however gave me an idea of taking a pair of nice VINTAGE denim jeans and storing them in a time capsule for the next 20 years just to make sure that few decades from now I would have the freshest pair of jeans around or at least make sure my kids have the freshest pair. Think about it, nice idea huh?

Brando and the gang were really ahead of their time huh?

Well, that’s my rant for now but what I’m saying is don’t believe the hype.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Keep your eyes open and stay fresh.

Hi Y’all,

Progress process always has some bumps on the road and we had to go through some growing pains with our recent server upgrade. As some of you might have noticed, we experienced some server hiccups which limited the usage of the site to some degree. So sorry for the inconvenience and sincere thanks for the support.

But everything is running smooth again, smoother than ever might I say (touch wood) so let’s get back to business. Those who happened to check the site yesterday morning, might have noticed my latest blog entry titled Where Vintage meets the Future, however the above mentioned hiccups sadly forced me to postpone the release of this post. Well, it’s good to take a fresh perspective to things and sometimes enjoy the fact that you get a chance to rewrite some stuff. You never know, it might turn out even better.

Vintage is the word of the day and you can’t help but to notice the number of brands releasing their vintage lines, and people going back to wearing the same styles that we last saw decades ago. Well the fashion cycles are short and well as the name says, move in cycles. But what I appreciate about the past is that at least back then, things were made to last and done with careful detail. Even the vintage clothing today just expresses the styles of the past but the production seldom involves the meticulous work that used to go into making a product. For instance my Nintendo (NES) 8-bit console from 1990, is still in running condition and provides countless nostalgic moments along with Super Mario Bros and Super Mario 3, to name a few. Then take the more recent consoles, I’ve already had 2 PS2s in the past 6 years and well the life cycle of a games console is pretty much the same as that of any electronic gadget, two years give or take.

Now I’m not saying that I don’t love the new games and gadgets. Hell, I change my phone at least once a year and couldn’t live without my smart phone and notebook. But I hope you get the point. I truly respect the brands that still go through the production processes of the past and produce truly tailor made products with the essence of artisan spirit. What these brands and artists working for the brands are doing is paying homage to the old ways, to the times when things were “better”.

We should appreciate and learn from the past but still look ahead into the future. Find a harmony between the old and the new and forget all about maximum efficiency with lowest cost. There is so much more to things around us than that. It’s very easy to forget to appreciate the art around us.

I could go on about the topic for ages but I think the core was expressed in the above paragraphs. Speaking of vintage meeting the future, we have exciting news. We’re bringing in a classic design from The Year Of…

Lil’ Brooklyn as the design is most commonly known represents the brand’s Year of the Dog era and is probably one of the most known designs not to mention rare, especially today.

The design will be available in sizes 32, 34, 36 and 38. We are taking in pre-orders until the end of the week and you can ensure a pair by contacting us at info(a)nordicdenimhouse.com. Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. We’re glad to help you out.

With that I leave you for now. But I will be back for more soon. A shout out to our very own remy_le_beau, who is out of the field for a moment. Get well soon homie. Prosperous end of the week to everyone and appreciate the art around you. I’m out, peace.

Hi Y’all,

Happy Halloween!

It’s again the time of the year when the freaks come out. Halloween, the classic holiday that has its roots in the Celtic harvest festivities and Christian All Saints Day falling around this time of the year. Finland is still only adopting this holiday as a great reason to throw a party. Still it is amusing to see kids going trick or treating in the neighborhood dressed as ghosts and vampires. Just few years back folks usually didn’t have candy or any treats for the kids and ended up getting tricked. Well today I would imagine folks are more prepared and won’t get their house egged, heh.

Halloween has also had its impact on fashion just like movies, literature and so many forms of culture. Every time I think of Halloween I think of a song from Geto Boys called Mind Playing Tricks On Me.

Not sure why, I guess it’s the bit in the song where Bushwick Bill rhymes, “this year Halloween fell on a weekend me and Geto Boys are trick-or-treating. Robbing little kids for bags, till an old man got behind our ass…”

Nevertheless it’s not just music but the season is rather popular launch time for scary movies. Fashion-wise, for the past few years symbols such as skulls have become rather popular and widely used as patterns or even brand logos. Yes, I know skulls are more tied to the Day of The Dead (El Día de los Muertos) where the skull or calavera is a traditional symbol for the holiday. But there are certain tie between these holidays, like the timing and the All Saints Day.

Of course Halloween symbols like Jack-o’-lantern are all over fashion pieces as well but I would still argue it’s more about the skulls.

Well, in celebration of this Holiday, we’re throwing off a Halloween promotion with all of The Year Of… products available at a special promotion price. The promotion will last until 17th of November.

We have more Halloween related blogging on its way, but this is all for now. I am off to trick-or-treating. Happy Halloween, peace.

Hi Y’all,

Fresh week, last of September 2009. The sun is still shining, and life’s good.

The journey continues and personally I have another reason for celebration. It happens to be my birthday, heh. It so happens that this year I celebrate another milestone on a Monday. Typical! Well I won’t let such details keep me down. I guess it’s just fitting for this particular year of the Ox.

Talking about years, this week I decided to kick-start another segment called brand profiles. Just providing insight into the brands close to us. That said, we’re going to start off with a brand that started their journey in 2002 and moving along the Chinese zodiac are now celebrating The Year Of the Ox…

Just a brief company background, also available on our site:

The Year Of… is a novelty brand in the truest sense. Each pair of jeans is one of only 144 globally all individually marked. The craftsmanship involved, like the reversed chain stitch, bluffed-on pockets and embroideries can only be achieved using highly skilled people, so tailors are hired to manufacture the jeans, and it is specifically one man to make one pair. The fabric used is high quality Japanese denim produced from organic cotton and features custom made selvedge only available to The Year Of…

The Year Of… is for the individual who seeks to mark their moment in time with the latest in specialty denim that mirrors the exuberance of success. Our hope is for each pair to be worn with sincere appreciation of the skill and effort involved.

The brand has built its success through exclusivity, limited edition pieces tailored using high quality materials and with careful attention to detail. Everyone knows that a fine product should come in a nice package, well The Year Of’s products come not only in a dedicated tote bag but also a tin like no other.

The tin is just the shell, but the where the products truly differ is the details. Details such as use of the metal threads, the signature gold and silver selvedge as well as detailed stitching and embroidery have raised the curiosity of those in the know around the world. The denim used is high quality organic cotton which adds to the wearing pleasure.

Pictures courtesy of The Year Of…

The brand has also gained stellar celebrity following, with artists like Ludacris and Young Jeezy wearing the brand. The brand has worked together in collaboration with numerous big names and brands, most recent of which is artist Simon Birch, who collaborated on several designs for the brand.

The brand is still going strong, retaining the exclusivity retailing at only selected retailers across the globe, of which NDH is happy to be one. The brand is really for those who believe in the truth of beauty. Innovations ahead of our time, timeless yet on point clothing like no other.  The pieces are often like works of art rather than just something you wear out of functional needs.

The journey continues and every step is like a new adventure. I try to make these brand profile updates something like a weekly thing from now on. But now, I will get ready to take some time off and perhaps even get a chance to celebrate my birthday, although it’s Monday.

Be easy y’all and enjoy the journey, I know we do…