Although you may not know much about American design duo Gluekit, you’ve likely seen their award-winning work in New York Magazine, GQ, Nylon, and The New York Times. Since 2002 husband/wife team Christopher Sleboda and Kathleen Sleboda have collaborated to make simple two- and three-dimensional designs, airbrush-y retro illustrations, experimental photo collages, typography, and product lines. Then there’s Part of It, Gluekit’s online boutique that works with artists to create cool T-shirts and totes for various charitable causes. Yeah, they’re busy—and clearly in demand.
Add a current exhibition/pop-up in L.A. to the list. "Long Play," which runs through April 13 at the Scion AV Installation gallery, “confronts the evolving role played by various objects. Modernism and the ethos of the youth crew-era pair off with clichès and classical Greek expressions.” Hmm, we’re not sure what that means, but Gluekit’s new limited-edition products and work will be for sale—skateboards, home décor, and bedding.
It was a mob of manicured beards, Fair Isle sweaters, and leather boots at the recent Pop Up Flea V at NYC’s ROOT (Drive-in) in Chelsea. Hosted by A Continuous Lean’s Michael Williams and Randy Goldberg of Urban Daddy, the 3-day menswear event was the mecca for urban dudes who embrace a decidedly rustic wardrobe. Has the heritage trend given guys the liberty to upgrade their look in a down-to-earth way? We’ll let you decide. So, go ahead and pitch a tent. Here are a few highlights:
- Man of the World: The fancy lifestyle mag’s booth sported a shiny black MG, fixies, and smaller goods like axes by Best Made Co. and Walnut Studios’ Leather Bicycle Can Cages, perfect for your PBR.
- Gerber: No, not baby food… knives. A shit ton of knives displayed beneath a tent adorned by a huge boar head. And other potentially lethal goodies like hatchets. Winner: most creative booth.
- Ursa Major: Sustainable skincare products made from natural ingredients that smell fantastic. Products like “Stellar Shave Cream” and “Fortifying Face Balm” kind of smell like... well, the woods. Not sweaty lumberjack woods, more rugged outdoorsman woods.
- Billykirk: The leatherwork designs of brothers Chris and Kirk Bray is handcrafted by a group of Amish leather workers in Pennsylvania. Impeccably made satchels, belts, and more. Also? They’ve collaborated with J.Crew so you know their work is perfect. Because J.Crew just seems…perfect.
- Levi’s Vintage Clothing: I know, it feels all branding voodoo with the addition of “Vintage Clothing”, but Levi’s pulled off some serious bad-ass magic with a large gallery exhibit of self-taught Brooklyn photographer Danny Lyon’s “The Bikeriders” featuring hand-painted leather moto jackets, books, pics, and archives. Photojournalism at its best. It was brilliant.