rag & bone Interview

"We're both English," says rag & bone duo David Neville and Marcus Wainwright when asked what's the one thing they would like the public to know about them.

Seriously? In their defense, we'll chalk that initial response up to being pressed for time in light of New York Fashion Week, where the guys are presenting their Fall 2010 collection today.

"We take pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our garments," they continue, "so the production process is always under quite a bit of scrutiny."

Hold up. No celebrity name dropping? No mention of awards (which, we'll go ahead and point out: 2007 CFDA Swarovski Award for Menswear)? Nope and nope.

But talk is cheap. Take a look at any given rag & bone product and let it do all the talking. In fact, it is this very humble and disciplined approach to design that has contributed to the success of the company. In a time when new designers are popping up on every hipster street corner and coming (and going) faster than reality TV stars, it's refreshing to learn that the duo has put in the time required to build their brand.

About rag & bone
Sachin Bhola: Can you give us some background on the rag & bone label?
We founded rag & bone in 2002 because we felt there was a gap in the market for well-made, functional garments -- the kind of clothing our friends could wear. But as we had no formal fashion training, we decided to learn from the garment manufacturers themselves, starting with the perfect pair of jeans. We traveled to Kentucky where, at the time, a lot of the American denim factories were based, and [we] met a lot of craftsmen and women who had spent their years cutting, stitching and making jeans. From there we developed our collections, launching menswear in February 2005 and our women’s collection the following season.

Billy Reid Fall 2010

Congratulations to Billy Reid who was awarded Best New Menswear Designer 2010 by GQ. That night he also presented his Fall 2010 collection at Milk Studios during New York Fashion. I caught up with him during the after-party at the Hotel Gansevoort to talk to him about… OK, so the truth is I asked him these questions a few days later – it was really all fun and play that night. He’s a great guy to talk and, well, between his talent and his character, it’s clear why he’s a winner.

Billy Reid Fall 2010
Sachin Bhola: What was the inspiration behind the Fall 2010 collection?
Billy Reid: Classic American clothing, turn of the century field- and work-wear meets East Village folk.

Sachin: What one must-have item will instantly update a man’s wardrobe for Fall 2010?
Billy: A hand-tailored navy blazer. Get one that is made for you, or fits perfectly, not the one you wore in college -- or your dad's. It goes with everything.

Sachin: On the other hand, which item does a man not need another of in his wardrobe?
Billy: Ill-fitting clothing

Billy Reid Interview

"Southern-bred luxury" isn't a term you'd expect to hear in menswear. If this were a physics class, we'd make a case for the South and luxury having diamagnetic properties in relation to fashion's magnetic field. Intense.

And it takes an intense designer to bounce back from September 11, 2001, when William "Billy" Reid was forced to leave New York and return to his native Florence, Alabama. Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise, as the designer reconnected with his homegrown aesthetic and salvaged his momentum.

We wanted to know more. So AskMen.com caught up with Billy Reid at New York Fashion Week: Fall 2010 to check out his presentation at Milk Studios (not exactly a hop, skip and jump from the Mississippi line) and found ourselves partying the night away at the Hotel Gansevoort with Billy, toasting to (what else?) southern-bred luxury.

About Billy Reid
Sachin Bhola: Can you give us some background on the Billy Reid label?
Billy Reid: The collection is all about American clothing. It blends deep Southern roots with a downtown vibe, and I love to build pieces tough enough, and versatile enough, for both those worlds. It started in 2004 when friends approached me with an idea to open retail shops for the collection. The idea was that we would build an environment based on the interior influences and touches of our home here in Florence, Alabama. We would personalize every part of the retail experience. For me, it is about the things I do in life, and the clothes that I want to wear to support it.

Sachin: What’s the one thing you would like the public to know about Billy Reid that they are unaware of?
Billy: I would want them to know how much work and care we put into the collection. The quality and integrity of the effort is something we work so hard to present.

Men's Fashion Today
Sachin: What is the most important garment in a man's wardrobe; the one big-ticket fashion item that is worth its price tag?
Billy: Handmade boots and a handmade jacket or men's suit. You will have them forever if they're made well.

New York Fashion Week Fall 2010: Men's Trend Report

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Written for AskMen.com, click here for the full article (with images)
Written by Sachin Bhola

Remember when men ardently awaited New York Fashion Week -- a time when newsstands experienced the onslaught of guys fighting over the latest copy of a fashion magazine and who had spent the last week forecasting future trends rather than forecasting stock prices? Neither do we.

Men don't relate to fashion with the same zeal as they do the Super Bowl, so attempting to glorify fashion week would be as convincing as Tiger Woods' statement tomorrow morning.

So, why should you care that, say, tweed is a major fabric for Fall 2010? Well, for starters, it's moisture resistant and durable -- something we look for in clothing. Check. A tweed blazer can easily be worn with gray flat-front trousers for the conservative; it can be fused with resin leather sleeves as seen on the jackets at Yigal Azrouel for a cool streetwear look; and it will be available at your local mass retailer next fall. Versatile, accessible and affordable? Check. We think these are pretty good reasons to care.

New York Fashion Week: Fall 2010 wraps up today and, after a week of countless shows, live tweeting, partying, and throw in a snow storm for good measure, AM is here to break down the trends you should look out for later this year.

New York Fashion Week Fall 2010

Flying into New York in the middle of a snow storm -- kind of intense. Ours was the only flight that was not canceled. Of course, being from Montreal, I figured a "snow storm" in New York would be a joke. Wrong. I didn't bring any appropriate winter shoes, slipped and fell on my ass and am (still) freezing... but the best part about this was that I was able to sound off on winter fashion for NY Mag -- check it out (I'm at the end):

Fashion Week Vs. The Blizzard - NYMag.com




Stay tuned for coverage on New York Fashion Week Fall 2010.

John Varvatos Interview

Guys really don’t like shopping, now do we? As kids, we deferred every dressing decision to our moms who, bless their hearts, would costume us in some dorky pair of corduroys and suspenders (apparently, Little Rascals chic was a big theme for Gap Kids back in the day). We would throw the most inflated tantrums just to avoid shopping.

Fast-forward a decade or two and the game really hasn’t changed much, has it? We let our girlfriends weigh in on our looks and finding the time to shop between overtime and, well, more overtime is as likely as the economy bouncing back in 2010.

The solution? The good ol’ internet. “Guys don’t like to shop or don’t have the time to shop. The not-having-time thing is big right now; people are busy and times are crazy,” says men’s fashion designer John Varvatos, whose online store launched in September. “I shop a lot online… and just the ease of it makes a lot more sense.” While e-commerce isn’t exactly new, his site is a good example of what guys are looking for online: It’s user-friendly, aesthetically appealing and, best of all, Varvatos’ elegant, urbane take on menswear makes us want to buy, say, a pair of grown-up corduroys and suspenders -- without leaving the comfort of our homes.

Michael Kors Interview

OK, you're probably sick of these fashion interviews, but I'm trying to catch up with my postings. So, expect a few more. Here's an interview I did with Michael Kors discussing his Fall/Winter 2009 collection:

Who is Michael Kors? He spearheads three different clothing lines that include menswear, accessories and fragrance; he was awarded Menswear Designer of the Year in 2003 by the CFDA; he creates modern, luxurious classics that actually translate into real peoples' wardrobes, which has become his signature. In short, he is the king of American sportswear. Clearly, we could learn a thing or two (or five) from this man.

AskMen.com caught up with Michael Kors to talk about fall 2009 fashion, shopping in today’s soft economy and what big-ticket item is actually worth its price tag.

Sachin Bhola: What advice do you have for men shopping in today’s economy?
Michael Kors: Learn to invest in the best quality you can afford and wear pieces in different ways. For example, if it’s a suit, can you wear it to work with lace-ups and a tie? Can you wear it with loafers and a polo shirt? Think about the piece and see if you can make it work in two different situations and go for it.

Sachin: What does luxury mean today, in the midst of a global economic crisis?
Michael: It can mean many things depending on the man. For me, true luxury can be caviar or a day with no meetings, no appointments and no schedule.

Sachin: What’s on your iPod playlist?
Michael: Adele, Madonna, Prince, Coldplay, and New Order.

There more. Check out the Michael Kors interview on AskMen.com.

Yigal Azrouel Interview

Here's an interview I did with Yigal Azrouel discussing his Fall/Winter 2009 collection:

Belted coats that cinch your waist, shrunken schoolboy suits, knee-high laced-up boots, and pants that fit more like a ballet legging than, well, pants -- after combing through the Fall ’09 shows, sometimes it seems like designers don’t have the slightest sartorial clue about what men will (actually) wear.

So, when a guy like Yigal Azrouel comes along whose pieces are as easy to understand as they are wearable, we like him. And when his answer to a commonly asked question about what his inspiration was is: “There isn’t a specific inspiration… It doesn’t have to be that serious; it’s a cool collection for a cool guy,” we like him even more.

Sachin Bhola: Fashion Editor

Please note that my blog has moved. Check out the upgrade at: http://www.sachinbhola.com/blog - Sachin Bhola

Oops…

It has been 5 months since my last blog entry. Papua New Guinea! When I first started this blog, I remember reading a “How To: Start Your Own Blog,” and step 46 (yes, there were 51 steps in all) acknowledged that it was more likely than not to fall off your blogging horse. So, my bad. It happens.

(And it will totally happen again)

However, it has been with good reason why I’ve been unable to keep up with daily blog entries. Earlier this year, Sachin Bhola (that’s me) became fashion editor at AskMen.com. It’s definitely given me a lot to write about. More to come on that -- if you can wait another 5 months.

Coco Rocha: Model Moment

April 16, 2009 – Coco Rocha, the Canadian supermodel with her unforgettable name, made an appearance at Toronto Fashion Week this past March. She attended the highly anticipated Project Runway Canada finale, seated alongside legendary supermodel Iman (host of the series). She surprised us all with her new hair color, red, which she said was a refreshing change.

Her chameleon traits have served her well in an industry fueled with built-in obsolescence, but Coco Rocha’s level-headedness explains her longevity. Discovered at the age of 14 at an Irish dance competition, she has managed to maintain a life outside of the fashion world - at times blurring the lines between the two. A memorable moment in her career, and in fashion, was the Celtic jig she performed at the Jean Paul Gaultier Fall/Winter 2007 show. With her international success, it is nice to see her continue to return to her native country and help elevate Canada’s fashion profile.

Other notable model appearances at Toronto Fashion Week included Iman, Irina Lazareanu, Taryn Davidson, and Amanda Laine.

Picture: Coco Rocha and Sachin Bhola

Domenico Vacca Interview

April 16, 2009 – Known for his traditional Neapolitan tailoring, designer Domenico Vacca introduced sartorial style to America in 2002. Since then, people can’t seem to get enough of him: Major Hollywood film and television productions, including the cast of Entourage, Lipstick Jungle and actors like Denzel Washington have turned to him for his unapologetically Italian aesthetic. AskMen.com sat down for the Domenico Vacca interview to discuss his Fall 2009 collection presented at New York Fashion Week, current trends in menswear and more.

Written By: Sachin Bhola

http://bit.ly/1qrZrR

Photo Credit: Zimbio.com

Iman: Scene At Toronto Fashion Week

March 22, 2009 – For some, the celebrity attendees at a fashion show are more noteworthy than what comes down the runway. At the 17th edition of Toronto Fashion Week, we saw top Canadian model Irina Lazareanu open and close the Joe Fresh show, Kresha Turner walking in The Heart Truth show and MTV’s Dan Levy & Jessi Cruickshank were at the Bustle after party, to name a few.

Perhaps the biggest headliner (for me anyways) was legendary model Iman. Now in its second season, Project Runway Canada brought on the supermodel to host the show. The finalists presented their collections on Thursday March 19, 2009, and because this is scheduled to air at a later date, the tents were highly secured. For real. Even with my staff pass - the golden ticket into the VIP areas, hair & makeup, seats at shows, etc. – I couldn’t get in. Fortunately, we were producing the very next show scheduled in the tents after Project Runway Canada, and, while backstage, I had the opportunity of meeting Iman. My two cents: She is an undeniable beauty in person and her presence is awe-inspiring.

Thank you Warren for taking this picture!
Picture: Iman and Sachin Bhola

Top 10: Hype-Worthy 2009 Models

March 7, 2009 – Sasha, Raquel, Lakshmi – sound familiar? While the supermodel ear is officially over, when even the least fashion savvy could recite household names like Naomi, Christie or Cindy, the new crop of girls are stars in their own right. Which fashion models will be destined to dominate headlines this year? Check out the Top 10: Hype-Worthy 2009 Models presented by AskMen.com and written by Sachin Bhola (yours truly!).

And then there were 10...

http://bit.ly/TtWko

Renee Thompson: Model Moment (PART 1)

Ever wondered what life was like for a model – a model of color? What if your race was démodé? Today’s minority models are drowning in the flood of Eastern Europeans monopolizing the industry. Amidst the chaos backstage at Montreal Fashion Week (Spring/Summer 09), I found a quiet corner to chat with Renee Thompson, whose thoughts on today’s hottest topic in the industry and tells-it-how-it-is attitude were as captivating as her look.

By Sachin Bhola
Photo: Courtesy of Nam Models

SACHIN BHOLA: Let’s jump right into it. The July 2008 issue of Italian Vogue, a.k.a. the “black issue,” featured only black models. It was the highest selling issue in the history of the magazine. What are your thoughts?

RENEE THOMPSON: The full cover-to-cover issue with only the top black models that have made it, and not the up and coming ones? Ya, I saw that one. Do you hear the hateration in my voice? Lol. I think it was great, but they’re depicting something we’ve known forever: Black girls are beautiful, they pose well and they’re on top of their game… we know all that shit already. Why don’t you (magazines) not try to fill your quota in one issue and spread it out? Now they’re just going to say “OK, we did our black thing, now can we go back to what we were doing?”

SACHIN: So do you think that ethnic models in fashion are trendy or something that serves to advance your position in the industry?
RENEE: Well it’s just like what they did to the Asian girls for the last two seasons: They were all over the place… doing major ad campaigns and being the ethnic counterpart to the white girl. Where are all of them now? I think black, Indian, Chinese, or any other race that is not visibly white is always a trend. In and out.

Sachin Bhola: AskMen.com

February 4, 2009 – AskMen.com, the online lifestyle magazine for men covering areas from health & sports to power & money, has introduced its latest contributor to its fashion pages, Sachin Bhola (a.k.a. me). Stay tuned for product reviews and other fashion coverage from yours truly. Click on the link below to view an article!

http://bit.ly/1GQ6gJ

Kreesha Turner: Scene At Toronto Fashion Week

October 29, 2008 – The celebrity attendees at fashion shows can generate just as much attention as do the designs. Toronto Fashion Week was no exception. To name a few, seated front row at the Denis Gagnon show was stylist to the stars Phillip Bloch and spotted front row at the Gsus Sindustries show was model coach/judge on Canada’s Next Top Model, Stacey McKenzie.

After wrapping up the week, I was surprised to bump into Kreesha Turner - Canadian singer best known for her single, “Don’t Call Me Baby” – at the restaurant my friend and I were at. She attended a few of the week’s shows including Afshin Feiz and Denis Gagnon. For what it’s worth, she was very approachable and open to conversation.

Thank you Kathleen for taking this picture!

Picture: Kreesha Turner and Sachin Bhola

Alyssa Lambert: Model Moment

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October 28, 2008 - While at a casting, I met Alyssa Lambert – a familiar face I had seen on the Tyra Show (yes, I watch the Tyra Show). That episode covered the A-Z’s of New York Fashion Week and followed three models around as they went on a Pamela Roland casting. Not only did Alyssa book the show, Tyra sat down with her and gave her advice on being a new model.

We know that media makes good use of editing during production to create a story, but I didn’t realize to what extent until I sat down and heard Alyssa Lambert's side of the story.

On T.V.: Alyssa was portrayed as the typical beginner model, new to New York City, holding a map in her hands, walking out of the subway looking lost… You get the picture.
In Reality: Alyssa was familiar with the area, but the show’s production team asked her to reshoot the bit looking confused and disoriented.
On T.V.: Tyra sits down with Alyssa and gives her advice on being a new model.
In Reality: Alyssa was asked by the producers to think of a question to ask Tyra. She was not given this opportunity on screen as Tyra jumped into her own pre-set answer (modeling advice) to a question that was never raised.

Thanks Alyssa!

Alyssa Lambert's hometown is Winnipeg, Manitoba and she is represented by Elite in Toronto and Specs in Montreal.

Picture: Alyssa Lambert and Sachin Bhola