Happy May Day!

That’s the message of the day. People have been partying like it’s 1999 since last night and Saturday’s spent eating, drinking and socializing. Needless to say it’s a popular day to have a brunch, throw a BBQ party and just have fun.

The popular drink for the day is either champagne or the sparkling wine, but if you want to upgrade, you can also have a Sake party and perhaps try out some The Year Of… x Taiko Sake.

No matter what’s your beverage, remember to have (responsible) fun and enjoy the weekend to the fullest. Just be easy and Shake…

It’s a lovely (but rainy) day and we’re all geared up for the end of the week.

MayDay/ Wappu is just behind the corner and people are already coming up with excuses to stay home tomorrow. Probably the drinking and partying starts around noon tomorrow, even in the office environments. But have no fear, we’re around Wappu or no Wappu.

If you have not visited theyearof.net for a minute you might want to do so. The site has been updated to fit The Year Of the Tiger. Below just few pics of the intro, for the whole clip you can visit www.theyearof.net/tiger/.

Since it is the year of the golden tiger, it is but fair that the brand is doing something for these glorious animals. As discussed in my previous post, the brand is expanding to new arenas while paying homage to things valuable in life, such as life itself. The message from the brand is that, “we must create awareness and stop the futile extermination (of the tigers), for in that wisdom we shall see the need to save our planet and ourselves.” (The Year Of…)

The site is also linking to Sumatran Tiger Trust with a message, adopt a wild tiger. The brand is indeed growing to new fronts. I already shared the news and information on the limited edition The Year Of… x Taiko Sake and the brand is also bringing out a range of The Year Of… Tiger Bags in different forms and colors. The message in the bags follows the above stated quote, save a bag / save a tiger / save us!

That said, take a look at the reinvented site of The Year Of… brand and if you’re interested to hear more about the bags drop us a note at info(a)nordicdenimhouse.com.

Life’s beautiful, so appreciate it, even when it rains. I’m out y’all, peace.

It’s the 200th post. Didn’t we just publish the 100th one? Well We’re at least sticking to our word and publishing more and more posts to rock your world. Well, it could be that the posts are not “that” good, but we’re hoping they’re at least somewhere close to this. Unfortunately I was not able to post my 200th edition yesterday as the day and night went by in a flash representing on corporate events. But it’s all good. Today’s as good day as any.

So what will this 200th post be all about? Well I’ve decided that it will be about evolution. Where as we will not go into details of how did a we develop from apes to our current human state I will talk a bit about evolution of brands. I could possibly share more than two lines about evolution of jeans as well, but I guess I will leave that to the next project update.

Evolution is a key to survival, that’s evident. It applies to people, organizations and brands alike. If people are not able to evolve (develop themselves) there is a huge risk of stagnating and after a while realizing that one’s life is really not what one expected. This can happen with a job one’s held for many years or even a house or country one has lived in his/her whole life. At some point you just get that feeling that the walls are closing in on you. The same applies to organizations. It’s very easy to defend the established position at the expense of innovation and creativity. Evolution in an organization can materialize in moving across the safe and sound borders of everyday business or taking chances to bring the business to the next level. Just to remain few examples. The markets develop and move along whether you liked it or not, the key is whether you’re just moving along or taking chances to be the one exploring all fronts? Easier said than done.

What about brands, brands need to grow along with the organization behind it. But with Evolution there is always temptation to take the easy way out doing which can have rather horrendous results. One of my favorite examples of a evolution taking steps backwards is the case of a denim brand which I won’t name. What started as a denim brand famous for innovation, quality and artisan spirit has now become something of a warning example of what can happen if you rely on a brand name alone and forget what that brand was all about. The Japanese denim innovator gained huge popularity among celebrities and common folk alike. Following the success, the brand expanded their market offering lower end products to meet the growing demand. What started as a jeans produced in Japan suddenly became denim produced in one place, washed in second country, sewn in third country, marketed by fourth and sold in fifth. Suddenly the core audience, those who appreciate the quality and craftsmanship were turned off by the brand’s mass market approach and poor quality. Small part of the brand remains true to what they started as but it will be difficult to gain back the support of the general public following the spiral downwards.

There are many such brands out there. The point is that there are steps the brand or the organization behind it can take to bring the brand to new fronts without forgetting what the brand has been all about. Expansion of product categories in the same segment offering the promoting the brand to new consumers in new markets etc. However, it is very easy to sell one’s soul to the corporate devil in hopes of faster growth and bigger turnover. But it’s what business is all about right? Or is it? Now I’ve had several discussions about this topic with a number of people from Corporate suits to Academics but I refuse to believe it’s all just about the power of dollar. What about customer satisfaction, good service, networking, built relationships in and outside business, loved products and brand that makes a mark in history. What about all of these things, surely these are not just pawns that serve the higher purpose of increasing revenue? Is this what evolution is all about? Selling your soul to stay on top?

A little case example at this point. Our beloved The Year Of… brand has retained its niche/novelty approach ever since the dog years first caught the eye of the public. What started as a high-end denim brand has become much more than just that. Moving from denim to apparel, from apparel to accessories and now Sake.

The brand has retained its fan-base by doing what they have done since day one and doing it well. Limited edition goods for those in the know. Products with stories behind them. In addition to the Sake The Year Of the Tiger has resulted in rare collaborations with artist Simon Birch and a range of bags for the Summer 2010.

It’s not the first time the artist is using the denim as a canvas but below is an example of how a pair of jeans can become a part of an art exhibition. The Year Of… x Simon Birch.

Pictures courtesy of Tony Magnetic.

One thing that has remained the same since the beginning, is the exclusivity.

This is just an example and there are many more examples of brands that show growth while retaining what’s important and what defines the brand. Staying true to the artisan spirit, different approach and unbound creativity, I would like to think these are the elements that define us and the brands that we carry. Although our business is growing and experiencing changes within and in its modus operandi we still retain the mentality we started with. Sharing the fun and enthusiasm in high quality apparel with everyone interested. It’s a journey that we’re just learning to navigate on and 200 I hope that 200 posts later the we’ve evolved into an even better direction and one thing remains, with your help we can.

One love y’all, I’m out…

About a year ago I wrote a little post on Superhero Kicks. That one was about Wolverine and Sabertooth Nikes launched around that time. The hype behind X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie helped push the kicks and now as we are getting really close to the new Iron Man movie, there is some interesting buzz about Nike launching a pair of Nike SB Dunk Hi Iron Man kicks.

Pictures courtesy of n-sb.org.

The kicks feature the all so familiar color code of the Iron Man armor with red and black upper and yellow toning on the swoosh and soles. The design has yet to reach the shelves but is rumored to do so shortly.

However this would not be the first pair of Iron Man kicks that never reached the store shelves. A year ago pictures of Iron Man SB Low hit the net and caused some buzz which eventually died out as the shoes never got released. This is how the kicks looked like, and I can say I like.

Perhaps the shoes were just a sneak preview of things to come. The time is perfect for the launch of the shoes. If you’re a die hard Iron Man fan and want to dress up to the occasion once the movie hits the cinemas. You can also check out The Year Of… Iron Man Jeans featuring art work by Simon Birch. The repeat stencil pattern on the jeans is inspired by Simon Birch’s favorite comic book hero, Iron Man.

I’m in a really “comical” mode lately. I guess I’m already hyped up about the Iron Man 2 as well as movies like Kick-Ass and Expendables.

Below is a little clip from the movie inclusive of Iron Man making a nice entrance to the Stark Expo 2010.

Check out the updated About Us section on our website. Know who’s who at Nordic Denim House. But that’s all for now. We’ll be back with more later so stay tuned. I’m out. Live long and prosper…

I’d like to start today’s edition by saying Happy Birthday Nordic Denim House Blog. Gong Hei, Gong Hei!

It was one year ago that I published this little post:

Gong Hei… Gong Hei…

You need to have a lion dance when you start something grand or celebrate something… grand…

It’s a beginning of a journey for us at the Nordic Denim House. Let it be a prosperous one.

Regards,

Tony Stark

We’ve come a long way since the I wrote this post. The blog has grown with number of hopefully interesting articles. We’ve gotten a new writer. Shout out to remy_le_beau and we’re always happy to add more writers on our blog. So if you’re interested, drop us an email at info(a)nordicdenimhouse.com.

Ever since the beginning of our blogging journey I took it as our goal to write about topics close to our heart, not just denim but kicks, fashion, music and more. For me blogging is also a form of therapy. I don’t need to force myself to write stuff, I write when there is something to write about. And there usually is.

Our journey is pretty much as old as our blog, although the first steps were taken already way before this. The last year could be summarized with one word, fun. Although there have been ups and downs on the way it has been a great year. It’s not the denim, it’s not the business but the people we’ve gotten to know to. The people who have supported our novelty project from the start to where we are now. We are not going anywhere, we’re here to stay. One way or another. Evolution is the key to survival and it is a journey we’re on. A journey with a new plot twist behind every corner.

So with another lion dance picture courtesy of The Year Of… I step away from the notebook and enjoy some family time. Thanks for the first year everyone. Let’s have many more to come…

Yours truly,
Tony_Stark

I just bumped into the fresh video for Our Dreams from Method Man, Ghostface and Raekwon’s collaborative album Wu-Massacre dropping on March 30th. Interesting enough Mr. Method Man himself is visiting Helsinki this upcoming weekend for a performance, hopefully I can find time to visit the concert. It’s been like a year since the last time I attended a rap concert. That one was by Too Short, and it was a good show. Being that I am quite a fan of the Wu I’m really looking forward to the album.

Today’s just one of those days. You know, days when you feel like you could use another 12 hours. There is not much more I can say about the day except that at the end of the day like this one could really use a sip of good Sake (The Year Of… Sake perhaps). According to studies made in Japan, “Sake has demonstrated health and beauty benefits. Studies show that sake helps prevent cancer and even promotes good cholesterol. By generating heat sake aids in blood flow and thus helps circulate blood better. This relieves tension and stiffness in muscles associated with stress.” (The Year Of…)

It’s all good. Life’s a journey, a great journey for that matter so remember to enjoy every step of it. I’m out, peace.

One thing’s for sure, I am not feeling all too well. Remember when I mentioned that I felt much better already after some rest, well that was what we could refer to as calm before the storm. Damn, that’s all I can say. Three days of seasonal flu ain’t too precious. I’m down with a flu but definitely not down with the flu.

My biggest achievement in the past few days has been the finished Born Rich TVB series marathon at casa de Tony_Stark. Lucky I have had my lovely wife to accompany yours truly. The series was not half bad and I don’t even remember when was the last time I was watching Hong Kong drama series, haha. I guess last time was back in Singapore or Malaysia over a year ago.

Well enough of complains, back to business. Before my unfortunate encounter with the seasonal flu, we picked up few newcomers from our friends at KIKS TYO. I mentioned the name Yuki Hoashi just few days back and here she is in all her glory. The new limited edition Baby J’s and Terminator Tees featuring the lovely Ms. Hoashi. The tees are now available and if you want to ensure a piece just contact us and we’ll put one aside for you.

Lastly something new for the Spring Season. A 3/4 denim shirt. All you can get from the shirt at this point is a sneaky sneak peek. More will follow shortly.

As mentioned in the past, The Year Of… brand has expanded its market to the liqueur scene releasing an exclusive Sake limited to 120 bottles.  According to The Year Of… “this Daiginjo, was brewed by the superb water from the famous Ibuki Mountain, in Japan. The family responsible for this delicacy has brewed sake since 1672.” Now’s that a long time. The cost per bottle is 155 USD and the bottle and packaging feature art by renowned artist Simon Birch and in a style true to the brand mixes the best ingredients and artisan spirit all packed to a nice bottle. There are 20 super limited bottles that include the gold flake version of the sake. So if you’re lucky it could be yours. It is the year of the golden tiger after all. The little birdies chirped that there are still few bottles left so if you’re a friend of sake or the brands, or just enjoy the finer things in life you can contact us or theyearof.net for details.

I would believe this is not the last you will be hearing about this sake. Naturally we will keep you posted.

Then to the sneak(er) preview mentioned on the headline. My pursuit of awesome kicks for the summer is still going on, but although I might have not found my sneakers just yet, that doesn’t mean I could not help you in your pursuit (should you be thinking of a pair of kicks for the summer).

I present to you: The Year Of… x K-Swiss Sneakers.

The Year Of… brand is known for their collaborations and this one is somewhat a classic. The shoes are as rare as it gets with a limited number released for the Hong Kong market. Needless to say just like the sake, these are made with precision and feature signature TYO details such as gold foil vine design on the side and “burned” The Year Of… stamp on the back. I would cop myself a pair of these in an instant but being the bog foot I am I can only have myself a pair as a collector’s piece. But then again my size 14 US feet are notoriously picky when it comes to shoes. The available sizes range from 40 to 44 (European sizes) at the moment.

That said , the shoes are available in selected sizes but feel free to contact us for details on the available sizes and pricing of the shoes.

That’s all for now. I’m off to continue my healing process to get myself back in action by Monday. Be easy everyone and have a great weekend.

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…

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.

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…