004 - Ideology Boutique

We ask the good people of Ideology Boutique for a moment of their time, to fill us in with the latest offering from this fine hidden little South Yorkshire bolthole,

Courtesy of Max Wadsworth, we thank you...

- Ideology been open since ??????

we opened our doors late 2008.

- How is business, in your experience since taking the plunge?????

Ok, its been tough at times though, especially in the first year. Starting with no customer base and having to build one up in a short time and in a hard time economically was never going to be easy. But i think we have weathered the storm now.

- Whats the ethos behind Ideology?????

To provide clean, classic clothing in exciting and exclusive labels. Stuff that doesn t directly fit into trends. Quality being paramount.

- How are you finding the current climate and direction in which your shop is going????

Due to the irregularity of business sometimes it does limit us in terms of trying new things out and taking risks. We have tight budgets and have to stick to them. However we are doing very well considering and by providing brands that arent available everywhere and are more niche allows us to have a more specific and loyal customer base.

- You are prob one of the most esoteric independent shops in sheffield, How do you determine your look????

We don't intend to be too different or alienate some people with the look or the way we go about our business. i just think most shops look the same and stock exactly the same brands. i want us to be part of something more substantial than your average menswear shop, have an ethos, have a core clientele that understand us and what we are doing. If people understand and like us then great. The thing i am proudest of really is that we have a customer base of all age groups from teens to guys in their 60's.

- The shop is minimal, whats the inspiration behind it, reminds me very much of how Albam started and Present/Trunk

Personal taste really. What i would like a shop to look like. Using traditional fixtures and fittings, mixing old and new. I love how shops used to look. The traditional outfitters and especially Old American Convenience stores. There is something more homely and warm about them. We have grown into our store. When we first started out it was a lot more minimal, mainly due to less brands and stock though. It is virtually how i want it to be now, just a few more tweaks here and there.

- Stocking some very nice brands of late and bringing them to Sheffield, what do you look for in a design or label????

i look for labels that are well made, classical and ultimately stylish. As well as that i always look to the routes and ethos behind a brand and whether they have the same beliefs that we do. Labels that are in it for the long haul and want to develop a reputation of quality and great looking clothing with tight distribution.

- Any recommendations for next season, whats next or you feel will be successful next season???

Its always hard to say. we try hard to stay away from predicting and using trends. I think people should buy what they want to buy , what there wardrobe is missing at that point.

Everyman should own a pair of well tailored shorts. Jerseys will be big sellers again i think, as well as chinos will continue to be the leg wear of choice in the spring/ summer.

- Whats your background before Ideology????

My brother co owned a store for a short while, i used to help with the buying, its where i got a taste for it. And

- Any personal favourite labels???

For me, it still has to be APC, i would happily have a wardrobe full. Just great simple well cut clothing. Understated. Great Denim.

Our legacy also. They use great fabrics. Their shirting is wonderful.

In terms of brands we dont stock i would say Albam is a favourite and also margaret howell.

- The shop has a great feel to it, any future plans, expand etc????

At the moment we just want to keep on doing what we are doing, get more people aware of us and come visit us. Moving now would be detrimental i think. But i cant rule out a move to a bigger space in the near future. If the right space comes along, you never know.

- What you wearing my son?????

APC new cure Jeans, Our legacy 1940's Check shirt, APC Worker boot from AW09 CollectIon and as always my detachable Nom De Guerre Parka from SS09.

- What is your passion aside from Ideology????

Football, Music and design. Having your own business is a nightmare for staying in touch with good music and discovering stuff.. never seem to have the time to scour gigs, record shops or the internet anymore. i feel well off the pace at the moment.

Football is another massive part of my life. My dad works in the game as a coach/manager. I played myself but due to injury had to stop playing a while ago. I still go to watch his games as well as the odd Wednesday game when i get a free weekend.

- Whats playing on your jukebox?????

Tame impala, an australian band. good stuff, psychedelic 60's vibes.

- Sum up Ideology for those that dont know in 3 words?????

Clean quality clothing.

Words by Thom @ Off_Hand...

Mucho

We are Back.......

We are back and things are looking a little different over this end, the blog is set for a revamp and our sister blog/fanzine/forum - Offhandclothing is on top form and causing a stir, with some good people onboard, As we both evolve it is my aim to tie in CasualCorp with Offhand and continue in our quest to deliver everything we know that does not stick with the norm,
Ideology have give us the questions back so i will get these up and running, Thank you for your patience my men.
There is lots to talk about and share in the coming months, so as they say, Its a new year, new start, lets get back on track with what we do and love best...

www.offhandclothing.com

Adidas London.....

I feel it is my duty to inform the goodfolk of Casualcorp about the frenzy of reissues regarding the city series, Adidas London. To date there has been a run of 4 new colourways, each mimicking in my opinion original deadstock Malmo, Bern, Brussel and Amsterdam. Why do you ask have Adidas decided to revisit their archives in such a way and reissue what we know as the truely inspirational C/W of poppy/black. A classic trainer in its own right that sat nice alongside the Dublin & Stockholm 08 reissues. This a late heads up for those that may just manage to grab a pair in the not so exclusive colours. I have to say they are not a patch on the Og and no reissue ever will be, so why has such an iconic trainer manifested itself into some marketing ploy, trainer store Size released an exclusive limited 1/500 London earlier this year and have continued with various others that I will not name, The fuse was lit, along came the Consortium with Crooked Tongues, a leather reverse colour unit, which proved highly successful, I and many others have found it hard to grasp the thinking behind these issues using colours of iconic original vintage trainers.
But there are more to come next year...
Have Adidas ran out of names for their new school shoes?, has marketing lost its edge or is it just fashion dictating how brands now operate, Dont get me wrong I love the city shape, its a classic, always will be, Long gone is the shape you see above, the London runner, One thing for sure, they have caused quite a stir on internet forums/communities, dressers alike who would not even remember the Og poppy colour and gorgeous gum sole have been given the opportunity to own something which I believe should never have been touched, It may feel more like a rant than a review, I could harp on about how Adidas have dismissed Malmo etc, but this aint true, do they really care about us, the collector who owns Brussel & Bern Og, shaving our investment or is it just a lazy promotion towards the Olympics, Make your own mind up, these are not limited and if you are not aware of the Og C/W then you should be impressed with them, unfortunately I already own all of the above so my view is somewhat biased,
One thing is for sure, you can expect to see more Og Adidas trainers reissued over the next few years, Its what the buisiness thrives on. I will end on a high note and a bit of advice for those that seek, If you are to buy any colour then go for the brown C/W or wait till next spring for the burnt orange to be released.
We have no control any more, where do we go to source those trainers that elude us?

Adidas have played a blinder and the trainer will do well, Its just a shame it had to happen to such a nice trainer, but the colours just wouldnt look right any other way.

MONITALY.......

Now if your like me, you will always have one eye surpassing everybody else's vision in looking for something unique and inspiring from todays saturated brands. It has become incredibly difficult to source new and undiscovered labels since the birth of our interweb and cyber knowledge which is shared out there.
Take no notice of what you read or feel inclined to follow, one thing i have slowly learned from fashion is its a chance to express your individuality, your attire can speak a thousand words, I know many a woman who can weigh a guy up just by looking at what watch he may wear, little do they know the expensive ones are all knock off from a previous ramraid the night before. Enough of the rabble, Gents I want to bring to your attention a brand which has had my mouth salivating for a little time now, Yes all the usual suspects are on this and I expect some stunning garments from MONITALY,
Any brand with a underlining slogan which reads " Every stitch has a soul " is sure to entice even the most esoteric of dressers. I first caught glimpse of their eye for detail in the SS season, a shirt caught my eye, there was something different, It told a story to me, and that is the essence of MONITALY. It is part of Meg Company which heralds a mighty fine shoe extroadinaire (not revealing) if you dont know then butt out ;). The name derives from a fine gents daughters name Monica and the word military and Italy obviously, I must have give the game away by now, Their fall mountain wear this season is stunning, Intense colours yet subtle subdued by their style with the Army Duck Mountain Parka, pic above, This is a brand which has functionality, style and durability down to a tee, no more expensive then most competitors, you know you will be in inspired to continue collecting their work. Its like art, when you find something which not only fits but feels so right and turns heads you seek more of the same, It would be very unwise not to, Monitaly is humble, they dont need to shout, The ethos is simple they let the pictures and marketing do the talking, This is such a beautiful product which has developed more recognised brands in the past, built on a solid foundation which can only be admired, go check out for yourself the lookbook and come back and tell me your not impressed, It wont happen, Admittingly MONITALY is not for everybody, they can and will continue to be bold and inspiring, which does scare some people, but will they change??? NO, they will adapt and evolve. You may feel that I have been a little evasive with this little gem, but I can assure you that I would rather you made up your own mind about what Mr YM has to offer.

Fanzine.................

As you may be aware if you follow Casualcorp and Offhand you may have noticed a nice little adventure unfolding. Offhand is currently working on a nice little unique bespoke magazine which will be available for all at independent retailers and other sources, big plans are been drawn up and all the hard work is now paying off.
Our aim, as always is to assemble a great team of writers who will committ their life to something againest the grain and special, Think of a rather informative and regular insight into the world as we see fit. There will be gifts, offers and valuable info of all your respective needs, The Offhand team are beavering away on developing a forum to run alongside the fanzine and create a community to meet our obsessive behaviour. The appetite is wet, fuse paper lit, its now time to get together and make a difference and stand out. We have many other great ideas which i will keep close to me old chest for the time being. All I can say is things are looking bright, I would also like to thank those who have helped and would offer anybody the opportunity to join our team if you feel you can bring something dynamic to the fold. Whether it be design, publishing or just your point of view, we would love to hear from you, Our first draft is nearing completion and may well be in circulation come November barring hiccups ofcourse.

Nigel Cabourn

If your looking at purchasing a piece of clothing from the entity that is Mr Nigel Cabourn then prepared to be amazed at his genius and innovative approach from fabric development to sheer functional style. Long gone are the days when NC himself churned out the utilty range stocked in high st store Debenhams, Nigel Cabourn has worked in fashion for over 40 years, a man not influenced by trends but a desire for vintage functional clothing with simplicity, yet unique. He draws his inspiration from the early military era which forms part of the elements from previous collections. There is a lovely poetic story about Nigel and his workmanship, his team of style purveyors work at the bottom off his garden in a conveted garden house overlooking a cricket pitch, which is the envy of everybody that visits. what a glorious way to work especially in the sunshine.


Now known as an outerwear specialist Nigel Cabourn uses the best in functional materials, he collected vintage clothing for 30 years and amassed over 400 pieces. @ Casualcorp that is some dedication. He is inspired by workwear and the british military which delivers a story and a sense of history. He does not respond to any particular trend, A fine example of this is last seasons wonderful garment, The Rangoon jacket which used a Beeswax fabric, It is one jacket I am in awe of, and once you sample something from his collection you may never turn back. then to the delight of the people who follow Nigel Cabourn released a winter version cameraman jacket using heritage fabrics, a mixture of Harris Tweed and Mackintosh, does it get much better than that. there is something very special about Nigel Cabourn's work and products, He designs under 3 quises : heritage, mainline and authentic. His vintage collection rivals any designer and are on show on his website, A select item is the denim naval smock (below), You feel this essense follow through into todays collection.

Favourite pieces for casualcorp are the Tenzing Blazer and the cameraman jacket, both AW & SS version, the Antartic parka surpasses anything released this season, although holding a hefty price tag, you know if dare take the plunge you are buying not only a quality garment but a piece of history.

Nigel Cabourn has collaborated with some of the worlds finest clothing establishments including Yukuten, it was said that when they met, there was such an energy between the 2 designers, it was as if they had known each other as from a past life, Another great strategic move was the collab with ARN Mercantile, they shared the same passion for british workwear and used only british fabrics and stuck to british production, Cabourn has a flagship store in the far east and is known worldwide, Stockists have always seen the potential of such a well educated designer and now atlast for us all, many high end stores are bringing in his work for us all to spend our hard earned. Another great thing about his gear is that it is highly limited, Keep your ear to the ground for something special in the pipeline.

003 - Henri Beene...

Tucked away in a small fishing town is perhaps one of the most comprehensive list of brands on offer by retailer Henri Beene, Grimsby Town's offering for the smarter gentleman has a lovely simply effective website which hosts the latest season's clothing from likes of Stone Island, Belstaff, 6876, Universal Works, Boss and on and on, Bit surprised why they never bothered stocking Guy Cotten lol, so perfectly located for its function, I have not had the pleasure of dropping by the shop in person but have never had any problems ordering and always have one eye on their end of season sales. All in all HB offers everything from Adidas to Hugo Boss green label, Their healthy appetite for supporting brands with heritage and innovation comes across well, with Cp Company release of their Metro and Barbour Beacon Heritage Brand,
A standout piece from the Barbour range has to be their Heritage Sporting Quilted jacket in olive, a look which delivers panache and individuality.
Many dressers, casuals alike are aware of what Henri delivers, Its nice to see a stockist with such a diverse array of clothing offers brands synonymous, like New Balance and Loake shoes, I would expect a hefty spending spree if making the effort to visit Grimsby and enter the Beene realms, and would not be disapointed with whats on offer, failing that a walk on the pier, staring across the Humber at my hometown with fish and chips in hand might just make up for what change you have left.
Go seek our link on the right,

Time Marches On Neverending.....

For those that know the song then splendid, Soulful US house at its best, from the debauchary days of Mirfield Hard Times way back, we can almost certainly say the years and the days are passing us by at an alarming rate, no sooner is one project off the ground, others faulter, while more flourish, This year has been in a way novel to say the least, I could quite easily squeeze out a biography consisting of this years antics which would rival any Dan dont know his surname novelist (great start eh).
Anyway back to what matters, Clobber, my palms are sweating already, fresh from a week away @ Centerparcs, rubbing shoulders with fit healthy and damn right obsessed I scour what is on offer this AW10 season, Everybody seems to following their own styles again, nobody stepping out of the comfort zone, Universal Works have some natty gillet style warmers which are definately essential for the dressers. I have already snapped up Albam's latest offering, the Trail Parka in Burnt Orange, made from Filson's materials, tis a stunner, I cant go without a few bits from SPW so awaiting payment from my sources I thought I would treat myself to the Waxed Ice Bomber, and Im sure another 3/4 pieces of their stuff will pass through my revolving wardrobe this winter.
I am always sourcing new labels and come across a nice little french number, Ere's, seem to have a perfect blend of subtle colours with se ne quais styling. More about them later, As our once individual little boltholes of casual attire expand, (you know who you are) and join the masses it is becoming more and more difficult to stand out with all the cool kats using casual clothing as a fashion, Wow how strange that an era spanning more than 20 years has now become a period in fashion, Come off it, This is now why we are seeing the likes of most independent retailers stock almost identical gear, we are available to the masses, what I and most was brought up around and lived, others are able to replicate.
Its not all negative, Offhand is putting some new ideas forward and my cellar is restocked with plenty of vintage Adidas, Ma strum looks promising again and i have one of their 100 only collab jackets which comes complete with a genuine piece from Massimo Osti Archive and my name printed in jacket.
Winter may be upon us folk, dont go rushing to put the old vintage racer back just yet, there's plenty of miles left until dusk, Just remember to choose wisely if you want to stand shoulders above the rest, A little tip, dont try ;)

Offhand......

Offhand was born between two folk who share the same passion and aim to deliver a new concept in high end vintage/casual clothing. We have a lovely little loft space which will be our base and have got some great labels lined up. This will be the hub for quality second hand Italian sportswear and independent labels. Another service we provide is for people to bring in their clothing and be able to sell through us.

We are just in the process of renovating our exhibition space and have plenty of interest. Times are changing, vintage clothing is big buisness, and unfortuntaely casual era is no longer what it once was, what now has become a fashion. We aim to supply good quality SPW, and deadstock Adidas trainers alongside all othe labels you will come across on Casualcorp.

We have Mentitalia Ultra's onboard and will be sourcing one off labels whom share our same ethos. We have just listed a few vintage Berghaus for sale and there will be more to come.

Check us out : Off-hand-clothing.blogspot.com

I will still be spending plenty of time researching and bringing you guys whats hot and whats not in todays fickle fashion world, keeping it casual ofcourse.

BBBerghaus...

What have I gone mad, No gang I havent and I doubt you have either if you can tell a tale or two from way back. Because it will almost certainly have the mention of a Berghaus in there. I grew up with Berghaus, it was my staple piece. A lovely red gore-tex number, plain as day parka style. I swaggered around the mean streets of Hull learning life the hard way and one thing I know is that Berghaus gave me status, credibility. It was hard back then as a young napper trying to look cool among the more mature heads, sporting Chipie and Chevignon & Best Company, everybody was in competition and was well aware of who wore what. I wore Berghaus for years, infact still do, only now I have learned to appreciate their vintage stuff and source those rare pole caps and ice cap jackets, the epitamy of warmth.



Berghaus was formed in 1966, a great year, 2 british climbers embarked on what they must never have envisaged. Peter Lockey and Gordon Davison opened a small mountain performance store using their knowledge. By 1977 the legendary fabric Gore-tex was born and is still used today by many top labels. Again they followed suit with yet another innovative design the gaiter, which is still today regarded as the most innovative outdoor product. Berghaus grew rapidly as a strong label amongest the mountaineering elite and released their flagship product, the Trango, which incidently has been reissued AW09. It has now been recognised by the Queens awards and has dominated the world. There is now a beatiful flagship store @ Metrocentre, go seek and remember its British.....................