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…

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 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…

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.

It’s been a great week and we’re enjoying our journey to the fullest. Weekend was once again too short but time flies when you’re having fun. Crayfish celebrations and summer time on the country side. It’s hard to beat that. The batteries are charging and we’re getting ready for another week with much to look forward to.

Keeping Y’all updated, one of the better things that caught my attention this week was The Year Of… -brand’s site.

The Year Of.. continues celebrating The Journey and the year of the Ox with their recently launched Ox -year update on their site. (Click the image to access the site)

The update stays true to the novelty brand’s groovy appearance and introduces classics with fresh stuff. Check out the site and stay tuned for more from the brand.

Shout out to The Year Of… and Tony Magnetic. Looking good…

A quick update…

We are seeing more developments on The Year Of… Ox -site.

I have to admit that I did not pay much attention to the background sounds in the past but they do have a soundtrack in the back already, after the waves that is.

Well I have said it before and I say it again, I do like the sneak preview thing they have going on with the site.

Will keep you posted on the updates and in the meanwhile check out some of the The Year Of… goods already available after the jump.

The Year Of…

The journey continues. Stay true everyone…