Journal

Jose Miguel de Abreu, Co-Founder of La Paz Clothing, always greets us with a smile and a big hug. He is one of the most warm and sincere people we have met through our travels for HNDSM. We did a short interview with him in January during Paris Fashion Week.

Shopping at Lost & Found in Toronto is a uniquely personal experience. Visits to the store may include in depth chats about life, the future of fashion, why Japan is so special or construction details on a pair of Engineered Garments coveralls. It is likely that you will get the chance to speak with Chrys (buying director), Jonathan (co-founder), or Justin (co-founder) while browsing their selection of Norse, Bather, Nike, The Real McCoy’s and HNDSM. 

Guest post by Jamila Jamani and Nijhad Jamal

I started my love affair with London at the age of 12. I was lucky to come back annually to visit and then eventually to study, to work and now to live here with my life sidekick. Here are some of our favourite places - some old gems and some new surprises.  

Frederick Bouchardy is the founder of Joya Studio, the Brooklyn based fragrance and design studio, established in 2006. I got a chance to chat with the native New Yorker one rainy afternoon in December. We sat together in the lab at Joya; a cosy, dimly lit room surrounded by a library of scent references and inspiring objects.

I was interested to hear about Frederick's early years and the experience of growing up in New York City.

 

At HNDSM, we have been incredibly lucky to work with exceptional people that are experts in their respective fields. When we are at the drawing board, deciding what we want to release throughout the year, it isn't always a guarantee that we will find the right partner or be able to create the best version of the products we've imagined. Working with Joya Studio, from the very first visit, has been a great pleasure and an exercise in excellence. 

I had a conversation with the founder, Frederick Bouchardy for Peer Portraits and he said it best. "There are lots of people that can kind of do what we do, parts of what we do. Of course, we are in New York and we are using the best materials we can access. We have noteworthy projects and big clients and that means we can access pretty much anything that we want. That is something quite cool that we are able to pass on to some of our more niche clients. It is beyond added value. It’s one of our core tenants; the value that we provide to each client. That attention to detail, original formulations and just the idea that, and this doesn’t and shouldn’t have to matter to everyone, but the idea that you can come and be here and be a part of it. You know, it necessarily costs more to make something in New York where the facilities and insurance and the labour costs are higher than anywhere else in the entire world. But this is where we are and where we are all from. This is what inspires us and we kind of state our claim. There is not a lot of manufacturing that still goes on in New York even though there is a lot of talk about it. That is something that’s quite cool that we are very proud of."

Enjoy some behind the scenes imagery from the production day of our beautiful candles!

We know there is still quite a bit left to uncover from 2019 but here are a few of our picks based on the fraction that we were able to enjoy. Please send us your favorites!

While there is always something new to do in New York, we are creatures of habit. We are loyal to a handful of spots and we wanted to share our favorite things to do in the city we call home.

Christian Rice was one of the founding members of HNDSM. His aesthetic influence was foundational for the brand and can be seen today in much of our DNA. He is now the Art Director of Adsum, a brand we have abundant admiration for. Recently, Christian and AJ caught up over lunch at Maman in Green Point, Brooklyn. 

Henri Myers is the New York based founder of the socially responsible, multi-brand store Maison 10, alongside Tom Blackie and Carsten Klein. We are always welcomed into the shop with a warm smile and a chance to browse the selection of art and accessories that change over every ten weeks. Henri and I chatted for a few minutes as the team prepared for their new cycle.

Keith Abrams is the Brooklyn based Director of Brand Partnerships at Kamp Grizzly and a friend of HNDSM. Known as ‘The Mayor of Brooklyn’, Keith has firmly embedded himself into New York’s fashion and media landscape over the last 15 years. We grabbed a coffee in Greenpoint and I learned that his time in New York started in 2004 after moving from Portland, Oregon.

Clarke Picklyk is a Toronto-based model and horticulturist. We spent an unusually warm day together in late September, shooting HNDSM’s latest lookbook. After the shoot wrapped, we caught a glimpse into the world of this wanderlust, tea-loving girl.

Over time, with busy lives getting busier and technology changing how we interact with one another, we at HNDSM crave connection, collaboration and community. This desire led us to create a new photography and interview series called Peer Portraits.