BADTOFU » accessories

Mr. Badtofu beaded bracelet ⎡Mister x Badtofu collab ⎦

eric — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:02:46 +0000

As many people might have noticed, I’ve been doing photography lately for one of my favorite SF brands, Mister. Back around Black Friday, those of you that follow me on twitter learned about/picked up my collab beaded bracelets, for those of you that didn’t, welcome to the party. Working with Tom, we put together two exclusive colorways using natural stone and wood beads, the first is a matte onyx and graphite. The second colorway, is a blood red and wooden beaded bracelet. Both hand made, both in short supply, and both available for a limited time. Check out the pics, and pick up one for yourself, or two, or three as “gifts”. :)

Buy: Mr. Badtofu Matte Onyx or Mr. Badtofu Red/Wood

If you are having troubles figuring out the correct size to order, here are tips for sizing:

MEASURE YOUR WRIST AND ADD A 1/2″, THAT IS THE SIZE WE SUGGEST TO ORDER.
FOR EXAMPLE:

IF YOU MEASURE YOUR WRIST AND IT MEASURES AT 7″, THEN ORDER A 7 1/2″.
-OR-
IF YOU ARE IN BETWEEN SIZES, WE SUGGEST SIZING UP.
IF YOU MEASURE YOUR WRIST AND IT MEASURES AT 7 1/4″ AND AFTER YOU ADD THE 1/2″ – YOUR SIZE IS 7 3/4″. THEN ORDER AN 8″.

Chamula flexible bracelets

Chamula flexible bracelets

eric — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 02:48:20 +0000

A little while back, while doing my normal interweb rounds, I came across a great post by Johnny over at FREE/MAN, about the often over looked accessory, the bracelet. This minuscule accessory can often add just enough color to break up the most drab or monochromatic color combos. During the spring/summer, I usually don’t even leave the house without one on, and this season is shaping up to have plenty of options for any occasion/fit you can come up with. Pictured is one of my favorite new releases, currently available from the Brooklyn Circus. This is a flexible band bracelet, made by the company Chamula, totally by hand in Mexico. Constructed out of horsehair, with a native american design woven into it, it is by no means dry or scratchy like you might assume. The color contrast of the pattern makes these a beautiful accent piece, but you can also reverse the bend and rock it as a more subtle, solid colored bracelet. Either way a great piece to own.

Check this and the rest of the Brooklyn Circus’ spring accessory offerings out, also swing over to FREE/MAN and read the full write up on braclets by brands you may not be familiar with.

Style in simplicity: Timex Easy Reader

eric — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 06:24:52 +0000

For the past few years, Timex has done a spectacular job with re-releasing their updated version of the 1940s military/field watches. Teaming with J. Crew and other brands, they’ve been able to sell them at a price of about 150$ a pop. Some versions reflecting classic color combos, some come with a particular colorway/material band. For people, myself included, this was a bit of an expensive investment for such a small watch lacking any true updates in materials or construction.

The bands were the one thing about the watch that kept me coming back, hoping to catch one on sale. The concept of having a single watch that could be redressed to fit my needs would be a great piece to own. In passing I stumbled across a Timex Easy Reader watch, a nice simple piece with indiglo to boot! I loved the size of the face and minimalist look, but the leather-ish band was not working for me. At that instant I had a flash of genius, why couldn’t I mate the nylon watch bands with the Easy Reader watch body to make a much nicer, less expensive alternative to the military watch. A quick trip to J.Crew, few mins with a my watch band tool, and my creation was completed.

The chrome of the watch goes perfectly with the hardware of the nylon bands, as if it was created for this combination. I will mention one thing to those interested in giving the frankensteining a try, the watch straps from J.Crew are 19mm, but the spacing for the Easy reader bands is 20mm. So while their is a little side to side wiggle room, no one that sees the watch will really even notice it. There are a ton of places to get bands cheap, the ones online at the J.C site are constantly on sale. Searching “20mm Nato nylon band” also returns a lot of good results.

business cards

eric — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:57:13 +0000

One thing that I’ve somehow managed to put off for ages was, obtaining business cards for myself. I don’t know how many times I’ve had a random conversation that turned into, making a beneficial contact, and mentally cussed at not having a card to give the person. So finally took a hour or so and slapped something together that turned out pretty nice. I almost feel like a grown-up now, lol.

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Levis x Filson Denim/Twill Tote

eric — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 01:56:15 +0000

Not everyday is a briefcase day, some days are a lot less serious, and I just need to be able to carry shit from point A to point B. I’ve been accomplishing this daily task, with the help of a rather nice BAPE tote I picked up. And while I don’t question the construction the bag, as I began to use it over an extended period, my trust in its ability to withstand my hectic daily transportation came into question. As luck would have it, my necessity coincided with the release of the new Levi’s x Filson collection. Both brands I have an enormas amount of love for and know the level of quality to expect.

I managed to get myself to the Levi’s flagship in downtown SF just in time to pick up one of the last of the denim/twill versions in stock. The strictly denim version of the tote would have done the job just fine for me, but the twill/denim combination makes this tote tank-like. In addition, the fact that it mirrors my Filson briefcase made the decision rather simple. Like the briefcase, its constructed with rugged twill, with bridal leather handles, while the inner portions are Levi’s quality rigid denim. It even comes with a small field notes moleskine, that uses the first few pages to cover the collaboration, with the remaining pages being standard grid paper. Four pockets line the outside, with plenty of space on the inside. I can throw a hoodie, my laptop, and one of those 200lb Free & Easy magazines in my bag without even a concern.

So far the Levi’s x Filson collab seems to be a huge success, as majority of the line is sold out in stores, as well as online. So if you’re interested in the twill/denim or the strictly denim versions of the tote, I would kinda move fast over the your local Levi’s shop, or pick one up online. I can assure you, you will be very pleased with either.

Style in simplicity: Skagen watches

eric — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:00:42 +0000

Watches are made to be functional, accurate, and in some cases, serve as an interesting conversation piece. They should flow well with your outfit, and never look like the star of the show. Not many brands can say they’ve figured out this formula while staying in an obtainable the price range. With pieces that look like they have their own gravity and orbiting satellite, your average consumer would consider these, big name, “super watches” to be some sort of frivolous purchase, and move on to something more realistic. The husband and wife run, Skagen, have figured out how to make affordable timepieces, that have a simplistic aesthetic, while displaying quality craftsmanship and attention to detail. Constructed using materials such as carbon fiber, steel and titanium, these watches are also some of the lightest I’ve come across, yet seem to easily put up with day-to-day abuse. Currently I have three of my own, and with a sub 200$ price tag for most of their watch line, you really are getting a hell of a deal.

Tanner Goods Lanyard

eric — Mon, 10 May 2010 22:20:42 +0000

Every morning, as I walk to the door of my apartment, the first couple words I always mutter are; “keys, wallet, phone”. These are the most important things I need to leave out in the morning with, but of the three, keys have the greatest weight of importance. Keys control your life, they open your door to work, they start your car, they unlock that drawer of stuff you don’t want your co-workers stealing, and the open the door to the apartment where you left your wallet and phone. That being said, having a solid accessory to retain all the possible keys I could need for the day is a must.

Over the years I’ve managed to rely on a single, purple carabiner that I’ve managed to beat the hell out of. I’ve somehow scratched off most of the anodized purple making it look more like I’ve been using it to carve stone instead of just carrying some keys, so I figured it was time for an upgrade. Looking for something a little mature, and handle the abuse at the same time, I invested in a Tanner Goods Lanyard, and I can say it was worth every cent. The piece is constructed by hand from vegetable dyed bridal leather, with a single snap and nickel plated clasp, giving me the feeling that my keys are more likely to break then this lanyard. If you are seriously in the market, or just have have 32$ burning a hole in your wallet, I would highly advise you pick one up.

Filson Original Briefcase

eric — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 00:22:15 +0000

As a child, the simple idea that items such as shoes, jeans, and even toys, are meant to last, is a concept I think our little minds fail to grasp. Maybe its because we have the attention span of a gnat, or maybe its all the sugar, I don’t know. But as we begin to grow, we quickly begin to grow out the items that once fit, and toss then aside like rags, it sorta sets this throw-away mentality in children. The idea that once something has become worn, has been around for a long period of time, gets tagged as something that needs to be replaced. Sadly, most of the retail industry thrives on this state of mind, and they make their products accordingly. Constructed to last just long enough for your credit card to clear. I’ve fallen prey to this bait and switch many times, and have finally arrived at the point in my life were products that I buy should be more like a long term investment then something to get the job done for now.

My first venture into responsible purchasing, was for and item that I’ve needed for a good period of time, a briefcase. As an adult, I thought that when I went to interviews or to meet clients I should look the part. And while there are plenty of brilliant looking backpacks, they don’t fit the professional ascetic I’d like to portray. That being said, I began the task of hunting for the briefcase to fit my needs. The selection process was pretty strict:

needed to be constructed of quality material that can stand up to the elements and wear
made by a company with a track record of quality, long lasting products
have shoulder and hand straps that could put up with varied amounts of weight and not damage the bag or break
and finally will look great, if not better, years down the road.

After a couple weeks of research, the company at the top of my list was Filson, with the Original Briefcase in tan.

I managed to pick up one locally at one of my favorite shops, Unionmade. The awesome part about their Filson section is, they have one wall lined with the brand new version of each bag, and lining the opposite wall, the aged versions of each. After eyeing what my bag wound look like in a year’s time, I can’t wait for mine to start getting beat up and worn in.

The bag itself is like a tank in hand. Constructed from industrial weight cotton, you’d think this thing could stop a bullet. All of the straps, handles, and the lip joining the zipper to the bag itself, are made from high quality bridal leather. Overall the bag looks and feels spectacular, and probably one of the smartest investments I’ve made in some time. If you’re interested in picking up one for yourself, or just checking out the huge range of goods Filson has to offer, just head over to Filson.com

Levis x Filson Denim/Twill Tote

The lost art of socks

eric — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:54:16 +0000

When people consider various options to spice or color up an outfit the solution is usually pretty straight forward. Most go with a bold tie/bow tie, a bright pocket square for a suit or blazer, or a crazy pattern/colored shirt, with a more subtle cardigan or crewneck layered over top. While these are all excellent options, there is a simple solution that most seem to ignore these days: a nice pair of socks.

I’m not talking about your dad’s old, black church socks that stretch to his throat and damn near look like stockings. I’m talking about socks of different colors and patterns. Houndstooth, argyle, plaids, polka dots, stripes, greens, blues, pinks, neons — the options these days are almost endless. I consider socks to be the only piece of a fit that allows you to get away with almost anything. The symmetry of socks is what allows them to work in most situations, regardless of their color or pattern.

If you think about it, they are really an overlooked article of clothing that tends to get noticed more than people realize: You enter a room, and usually the first glances are at your face, then your feet (or maybe that’s just me). When you take a seat, there’s more than likely going to be a sock sneak peek. And once you cross your legs, it’s suddenly The Sock and Shoe Show. And nothing kills a well-put-together fit than the appearance of ribbed, white, crew cut socks. Hell, I’ve been given higher praise for a pair of socks then for the 300$ pair of Common Project sneakers I wore over them. You never know what kind of conversation you might strike up over your socks.

There are many great brands out there, but my go-to socks are by the Swedish designers Viktor Tell and Mikael Soderlindh. They created the colorful line known as Happy Socks. I’m sure by now you have seen a pair or two in smaller clothing stores since they are spreading like wildfire. Each season they drop an amazing array of patterns and colors. So many, in fact, that I dare you not to find at least ONE pair you like. Another of my favorites sock lines is by American Rag. While they don’t have the crazy patterns and combinations of Happy Socks, they have a nice color range that goes outside of the norm. There are tons of other great places to find socks, so don’t limit your search.

Now while I might be singing the praises of trying out bold sock options, there are also some caveats. Its best to keep seasonal patterns in their season. By this I mean argyles are probably better saved for fall/winter/early spring. Also, while a pink sock with a nice dark suit might have people thinking you’re some kinda bad-ass, an aqua and purple striped sock might have people thinking you’ve lost your goddamn mind. So find socks that complement your personality, your outfit, or just a pair that you just fucking love, and show people you have great sock game.

Roberu leather camera goods

eric — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:28:35 +0000

For most of use, when we go searching for items such as carrying cases, straps and various items for our cameras, we are bombarded with the same lame, nylon, cheap shit that you can probably find in Walmart or your local Shell Gas station. Having spent so much on a camera, I for one, would be more then willing to shell out a couple more bills for quality accessories. While this market is ever growing, it is still a small one, but Leather Factory Roberu is putting its best efforts into catering to camera owners such as myself. For their Winter 09 line of camera goods, they have created several items using using natural materials, such as dyed leather and silk, giving each item an authentic look and feel and probably turning a few heads in the process. Roberu’s full winter line of carrying cases, camera straps and holder for the small form factor camera, are currently available at their online store and other select retailers.