The ever pressing task of educating oneself can be overbearing at times. I am constantly seeking out new information in order to truly appreciate the details life has to offer. Phoenicia Association allows me to stay current and up to date with manufacturing trends, materials, etc. This in turn gives me insight into the unique subtleties the products in my store have to offer.  Heres a few videos I’ve found to be eye candy for the denim head:

A little peek at the festivities from “fashions night out” with Oak Showroom and April77 Records.

Project by Sidney Lo sponsored by Self Edge (who manufacture the 3sixteen denim we carry) and Superfuture®. This video shows the transformation process of raw denim by photographing a single pair everyday for a year. More information and photographs can be found at sidneylophoto.com

Although we do not carry Japanese Denim manufacturer, Edwin, this is a very  cool concept commercial. Using quality 11-14oz japanese denim, rivets and stitch detailing, the company produce some of the best quality jeans on the market today.

Honestly I remember that stussy shirt from back in the day “…Knowledge is King…”

stay awake educate, easy.

Kings Yield Living Examples

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It still amazes me to hear kids talk about being “scared” of downtown, or the ones that still think it’s tumbleweeds and gang bangers. I find more and more that the sprawl of Phoenix has left the youth with misconstrued views of what actually occurs in the “city” on a regular basis. In fact there is a STRONG thriving group of creative individuals located in central phoenix that are providing a “scene” and major city culture. It seems that with all the whining and complaining about the PHX not being up to par with its metropolitan counter-parts (i.e. New York, Austin, Los Angeles, Chicago) individuals are missing out on the secret. Well, allow us at Phoenicia Association to enlighten you a bit; you live in the fifth largest city in America. Perhaps if you took the time to look at every other major populace with a central city  you would find that most of the “happenings” and overall “good times” are found within close proximity to its downtown center. If you in fact live forty five minutes away, or in college town USA, you’re probably not going to have a good grasp on what is really going on with the cities artistic progress. Now, with phoenix being such a “tween” in its development it’s understandable that kids can’t recognize the changes occurring. This town was founded by a generation with the goal of “escaping” from the hustle and bustle of big city living. That generation is now phasing out, and with the recession acting like a giant broom this “old school” mentality is being swept away. Say hello to the new breed, mid-twenty to thirty year olds with worldly experiences and change on their minds. Picking up the pieces, shaping them into a beautiful nest, and burning it to the ground giving life to a real Phoenix.

This weekend gave birth to the Grand Ave Festival showcasing the living, breathing, entity that is Grand Avenue. With artists, live bands, dancing, food, and a fashion show this was the place to be saturday.

I went specifically to check out the “local boutiques” fashion show, and support the girls over at Butter Toast Boutique. Jasmine Jarrett and Traci Nelson own and operate this wonderful vintage boutique located on grand in the same complex as Paisley Violin. Oddly most girls I meet are not familiar with this hidden gem. Luckily the show was a great opportunity for the Toast girls to gain more fans and continue to push the style of Phoenician females. Smart, simple, and fashion forward these ladies provide that classic style with new age swag.

It continues to grow, you can be a part of it. Hell, you might even start it.

stay awake, create, innovate, educate. easy.

K

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James Miller

“vail”

$950

James Galindo

“Mr. Ed”

$400

Tato Caraveo

“Womb of the Earth”

$450

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I’m sure you could guess this, but we love blogs.  The world’s best blog has to be The World’s Best Ever.  If the name doesn’t say it all, then the proof is in the pudding.  You can spend hours on their blog, but it can warp your mind from time to time, so proceed with caution.  Here is a little piece they did on April 77 Records‘ new style of denim, the Cross Blue Selvedge, that we will be carrying this season.

Our favorite local blog, Factory Made Future is covering everything related to our community and much farther beyond.  Factory Made Future dabbles in a bit of everything, but does a great job of event photography.  Check out any of the parties Factory has been to, and of course, check out how cool they make all the happy faces look.  Also, if you’re looking to find great new music, they are on top of it with free links, downloads, and local concert updates (and an occasional contest to give away free concert tickets.)

Another blog that we’re into because it is keeping an eye out for the entire fashion industry is Style Hive.  They are the biggest fashion blog in the U.S., but their site is much more than that.  Part social-networking club, part pop-culture lab, they mainly concentrate on the high couture fashion, but they do find the best, the fresh, and the innovators in every facet of fashion, including your boys at Phoenicia Association.  Check out our write up.  The reason why they can cover so much is because of how much feedback they get from all the great followers they have that love fashion, design, and trend setting.  Become a part of the Style Hive community today.

Lastly, Wooster Collective is dedicated to showcasing ephemeral art placed on streets in cities around the world.  From graffiti in Paris, to murals in Sau Paulo, to fine art in Milan, to Sheppard Fairey stencils in Africa, to previews of exhibits in Los Angeles.  They truly go around the world to find the best artists doing work today.  They do not discriminate which mediums of art they extol because their site celebrates street art, the artists that are always re-creating it, and their influences.  They do a lot of reporting and great coverage of news related to arts, but you could ask “how are they able to find all of this great but obscure artwork?”  By people like you who see something fresh on the streets, get a picture of it, and send it to them.

stay up.  educate.

J

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APRIL77RECORDS presents

FIRECRACKERS
(Grenoble, Paris, Londres)
NEW SINGLE “PINBALL MACHINE BLUES”
VINYL & TEE-SHIRT OUT OCTOBER 1st 2009
DIGITAL OUT NOVEMBER 14th 2009

Two albums and a bunch of nice 7″ made the media say they were the answer to THE HELLACOPTERS’ recent split.
As you can hear by this new exclusive single for APRIL77RECORDS, the band can really go deeper in rock’n'roll roots.
If you’re looking for extra balls, they can show you their skills.

LISTEN TO THE TRACK HERE > http://fairtilizer.com/track/52394

INFOS
http://www.april77records.com
http://www.myspace.com/thefirecrackers

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With october just around the corner it seems fitting to give you a little glimpse at the talent that will be hanging on the walls as well as “hanging” around the shop. First Friday October Second 7pm,  Photography Exhibit at Phoenicia Association featuring Nicolle Clemetson and Greg Gainor.

Nicolle “Natty” Clemetson owner/operator of Studio8, a photography co-op located in downtown Phoenix.

Greg Gainor macro photographer/skate enthusiast

There will of course be live DJ sets from your man EdotC and friends. As well as roaming photography by Factory Made Future. Also, Mr. Gainor himself will be running the live photobooth setup. So all you beautiful people can show off your faces for the camera. On the count of three smile and say…EASY…

stay awake, up to date, educate.

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Back from the adventures in LA LA land, which was both business and pleasure. As you may have already read, I picked up some more stock from Beta Unit and viewed the current collections of Future Heretics, Love Thy Neighbor, and Lifetime Collective. The trip also allowed me to catch one of the premier acts in dubstep today CASPA. He played a show to a packed House of Blues alongside other grime slangers 12th planet, Matty G, and Dj Evol. The show was epic in its nature and afforded me the opportunity to show all the new kids in the scene how  a veteran steppa rocks his bassface.

Of all the heads in the house that night, one fellow, named Logan, came prepared with an exclusive t-shirt. It ended up that his forward thinking was rewarded by a nice fat drop from the DJ and a hoist up on the shoulders by myself and Eric Carfagnini (aka EdotC).

Naturally it is fitting that the “Dubstep Don” finish with a bang. Which of course left the audience looking like that scene at the end of Indiana Jones when everyones face melts off. The track that dealt the final grimey blow was none other than one of this years biggest rippers by EMALKAY called “When I look at you.”

After that RINSE OUT, it is nice to be back to the PHX in order to get some of this action out in the desert. Be prepared kids “…aliens have taken over and are communicating to us through dubstep.” -Anonymous

stay up. stay steppin. stay awake. educate.

easy

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Alright boys and girls….You get to sneak peek at some of the product I was able to view at the T&A Showroom. Located at 824 South Los Angeles

Justin and Tim are great guys and much thanks goes out to them for showing us around their beautiful space.

They have a balcony setup “for smokin stoagies” which also caters to some great views of downtown Los Angeles. Which has seen A LOT of change in the past five years, and reminds me of what is happening in Phoenix right now.

Art piece by MADSTEEZ

The main purpose of my visit to the showroom was to pick up some immediates from one of our new lines BETA UNIT. They have some awesome pieces dropping this spring, not to mention the great selection of basics with an engineered flare.

The question is….can Phoenix handle oxblood colored waxed denim? or better yet tye die?

Saving the best for last I give you one of my favorite t-shirt prints. Now, this company is so buttery I’m not divulging their name till we carry them in the store….

We have a lot of great product coming in shortly, not to mention the lineup for spring summer. Much thanks to our ever growing Los Angeles based associates. See you back in the PHX Monday.  Stay close, stay posted, stay awake, educate. easy.

Kyle

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Jay Dee produced a track titled “Get Dis Money” and as I write this I had to interupt the previously playing Joker mix to put it on. Anyone who is familiar with the track knows the response to the ever pressing question, “What do you want to do today?”  So it is fitting that throughout the work day here at Phoenicia Association we drop tracks that inspire a “Hustlers Mentality.”

It seems that if “Going Green” is the new black, Greenbuild International is the most fashionable place to be come november.

This also caught my attention recently….

EXSITU INSITU from sam3 on Vimeo.

Augor is one of my favorite graf artists doin it right now. He used to bomb my old neighborhood on western/melrose regularly and It allowed me to watch his style progress over the years.  Here is some awesome video of your boy doing dirt.

Stay awake. educate. easy

K

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