What’s a left without a right?

Daiki Suzuki’s work for Engineered Garments always impresses even when it comes to basics like a cotton zip hoodie by adding high-quality craftsmanship. Based off of their Workaday Thermal-lined range, this simple cotton zip-up features the same snap-button neck strap, yet is updated with monotone fabric paneling detailing and comes in sleeker minus the heavy cotton lining. Available here.

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It’s interesting times out there if you’re in the market for a canvas bag. With the growing acceptance among men for totes for everyday use and duffles for carry-on travel, more and more brands have been entering the market, each with a claim of putting their own spin on canvas. Small, but quickly growing, Danish brand Mismo’s spin on canvas almost qualifies of a lack of spin. And that’s a good thing. Instead, Mismo brings it back to basics by championing simplicity in design and construction, with superior quality materials in the form of rugged, water resistant canvas and full grain leather accents. Behind Mismo’s products is the philosophy that real luxury arises from the choices made – about what to subtract, and what would should remain. While we’re currently in the midst of being unkind to a MS Shopper bag (shown above) to see how it fares overtime, we had a quick chat with Mismo founder Adam Alexander Bach about Danish design, collaborations and the worst part about his job, along with a peak inside his operation.

Before Mismo I did not have so many worries, nor did I have so many thrills….

The name Mismo comes from Spain…. Mismo has two meanings; “the same” or “something that refers to yourself”, which we liked as reference to the personal marks each person leave on their bag because of the natural materials we use.

A dedicated craftsman constructing the M/S Canvas Work bag

If I hadn?t started Mismo I would be disillusioned for not having pursued the dream… But if it hadn’t been Mismo it would still have been something with a touch of design and entrepreneurship to it.

We chose to specialize in bags because back in ‘03 when the idea first came to mind there were nowhere you could find a well designed bag in a nice material to hold your laptop. From there we’ve sought of expanded the line into every possible bag we could see ourselves use on different occasions.

What differentiates Danish design versus American design is subtractions, leaving only what should remain.

I really want people to know that when they?re paying for a Mismo bag they?re getting a meticulously crafted product that will follow them for years if treated with care. A product where heart and dedication has been equally put into every last detail… Buying a Mismo bag should feel like you’re getting a new best friend.

Our Limited Edition pieces are must haves…haha…something we do when we stumble across a special fabric or type of leather we only have limited access to, but have this urge to turn into a bag.

My thoughts on collaborations are that they can and should be a creative playground from where new and interesting products arises…. but too often collaborations seem conceived with the idea of promoting brands rather than products.

What you can expect from the Fall/Winter 2010 collection is a new vibrant navy and curry color and a handfull of new styles. We have a great new canvas weekendbag coming out as well a slim, practical document bag in all the canvas colors. And look out for a three style limited edition collection in a special developed, thick, wrinkle full-grain leather.

We don’t replace existing collections twice a year, once a product is conceived it stays in the collection unless there is a specific reason to replace it. So we merely add a few new styles and colors to the collection each season, but if it is one or five new styles depends on whether we feel we have something interesting to offer. Each bag we develop and bring to market needs to have a certain purpose or relevance. We don’t make new styles just to have something new to show.

The making of the AnOther x Peter Pilotto x Mismo shopper soon to be available at colette.

The most gratifying for me personally with Mismo has been that people have responded so positively to what we do. The satisfaction of having people telling and writing you that they absolutely love their Mismo bag is priceless, and basically the fuel that keeps the engine going.

The best part of my job is that I’m able do what I like the most…..design, create, invent, dream, travel!

The worst part of my job is that it never really leaves you. It’s a 24/7 commitment that has its firm place in the back of your head.

As for plans to expand Mismo beyond bags and accessories we still have so many bags we’d like to put our signature to, so no immediate plans of moving into apparel or shoes. But we have a few ideas, so it could be a matter of time…

We plan on expanding into North America very soon! In December we’ll be launching at Bergdorf Goodman and hopefully a couple of other great stores.

You can always find me using the next [Mismo] product to come. Our only way of testing new products are by using them. So I always find myself using different prototypes of new styles to come. Currently I’m using the new limited edition “wrinkle” leather shopper with our new full-grain laptop leeve (Shield) inside. But for traveling a natural Hercules or a navy MS Travel is the favourite.

Outside of Mismo, you can find me relaxing with friends and family, going to the countryside or by the sea. Still trying to squeeze in a round of golf, an hour on the tenniscourt or a football match at the stadium once in a while…Nothing beats the atmosphere of a packed stadium with 30.000 fans vigorously cheering for victory!

Mismo MS Canvas Work

Mismo MS Canvas Weekend

Mismo MS canvas Sleeve

Mismo MS canvas Travel

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When we were first introduced to Hozell by a local Californian friend of ours, we quickly appreciated their laid-back, leisurely take on fashion. Not only do they live and breathe with their company’s success, they represent the brand in their everyday lives. Inspired by the Southern Californian lifestyle we all love and admire (and are all slightly jealous of), friends Chad Campion and Jeff Jackel are aiming at taking their local brand global; from premiere retailers in LA, to Barneys New York in Tokyo, to HBO’s Entourage. We recently sat down with co-founder Chad Campion between tradeshows and finishing production on the Fall line to talk about social responsibility, golf and Johnny Drama.

LH: What makes living in Orange County so appealing? Is it anything like all the reality TV shows out there?

CC: Living here is pretty easy and mellow… Can?t complain much about 75 and sunny almost everyday, especially with the beach and mountains so close! I went east for school, for a liberal arts education and the world of finance. During breaks and vacations, we (Jeff and I) would reconvene on the beaches and golf courses of Orange County. I just couldn?t let go of the lifestyle. We both moved home to build a company that captured the lifestyle that we loved so much, but also reflected what we had picked up along the way traveling the world and living in 2 of the most influential cities in the world (LA & NYC). Confession #1 ?for the first 6 months, we both lived at Jeff?s parent?s house learning how to start a business and make clothes. It?s a bit slow for me at times, but moving back to anywhere from NYC would seem a little slow. Luckily LA is close, and I am able to get out to New York quite often. Confession #2 ?regarding the reality tv shows, as a recent college grad living in NYC nostalgic for home, I watched every episode of the OC and Laguna Beach their first seasons. That was amazing television…

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LH: Appreciate the honesty… Let’s talk about ?Leisure with Dignity? -your tagline. What does it really mean to you and how do you live it day by day?

CC: Consciously reserving time in life for the things that you love doing the most. Not being held down by the daily grind. Not taking life too seriously. For us, that means creating clothes we love, surfing, golfing, ping pong tournaments in the office, lazy afternoons at the pool, outdoor movie night every Wednesday (projected on the wall behind our office), etc.

LH: All your clothes are made in Southern California, and you position yourselves as ’social responsible’ brand. Why is this important to you?

CC: By making all of our clothes locally, we know everything that happens and goes into making each garment.  We are personally involved; we know why our screen printer?s nickname is Muerte, we attended Jose?s (one of our main cutting and sewing manufacturers) daughter?s quinceanera…  All of these good people are part of our community, so it benefits us all to work and grow together.  And for us, that is exactly what social responsibility is about? community.

LH: Does it make it hard to compete with brands going overseas for cheaper manufacturing costs?

CC: While the bottom line is important for every business, other factors should definitely come into play while decisions are made and actions are taken. The world of fashion and apparel is changing.  It?s becoming so much faster, connected, like everything I guess. So having complete control over production and quick turn-around times is not only a luxury afforded to us by locally producing our goods, but it?s an advantage. It is a huge benefit that keeps us nimble and able to do things other (and often times much bigger) companies are not able to.

LH: Golf seems to be a huge inspiration behind the brand. How does the ?stuck-up? country lifestyle mesh with your seemingly laid-back brand culture?

CC: Much more so at the beginning, yes.  And something that we plan to revisit in the future.  But for us golf is supposed to be fun. Period. It?s way more about hanging out with your buddies than trying to look and act like Tiger Woods. More and more people playing golf get that, and that is where we fit in.

LH: How about another confession… what?s your handicap?

CC: I actually don?t have a handicap at the moment, but on any given day i could shoot a 75 or a 95.  Consistency is not one of my strong suits!

LH: You have a favorite golf course?

CC: Tough call… I?ll have to go with the Princeville course on the north shore of Kauai.  Wow is the first word that comes to mind. When I do get around to playing there, I think that the Bandon Dunes courses in Oregon will become my favorites. I just love the idea of that place.

LH: Tell me about the Green Machine? Do you guys still roll out the trailer from time to time? What?s the response been like?

CC: So, we took a dilapidated 1984 Shasta RV and turned it into the coolest mobile store known to man. We gutted the interior, ripping out the bathroom fixtures, the kitchenette and all of the gross shit left in it by the previous owners and put in faux wood floors, crown molding and astroturf walls. The juxtaposition of all the elements represents our brand better any description I can offer – high brow/low brow, old/new, it really turned out great. Oh and we topped it off by painting the whole think bright green. We take it out as much as we can, and people love it. I can?t even tell you the number of people that ask us if they can live in it.

LH: I keep seeing Hozell pop up in Johnny Drama?s wardrobe, how did you guys get on Entourage? Did you ever get to meet the star of Viking Quest?

CC: I honestly don?t even remember! I think the show?s costume designer just contacted us. We get requests like that all the time, but I must admit that we were pretty pumped about Entourage. We have yet to meet the man, but we are working on something big that may change that.  Unfortunately, I?m not quite at liberty to discuss yet…

LH: How intriguing… Let’s change pace- you obviously love to travel, what are the 3 most important things you need to pack before you leave home?

CC: a) A nod to my brother, Jason ?he is a pilot, so I fly for free because of him. 2) I really should be put in one of those blackberry commercials. d) My Tretorn slip-ons.

LH: What are some of your favorite streetwear brands right now? What are they doing that you like?

CC: Rag & Bone ?if you?re familiar I don?t have to elaborate.

Generic Youth ?they are good friends of ours, and have a really cool program creating largely one of a kind garments from overstocked and recycled fabrics.  Plus the owner/creator is responsible for starting Maui and Sons, in the 80?s, and Modern Amusement, more recently.

Tretorn ?an old swedish company that used to make gear for fishermen back in the day, now makes the best shoes. They are pretty much all I wear. My grandparents used to wear tretorns all the time years ago.  I recognized the logo from my childhood at this little store in Brooklyn a few years back? the connection was instant and I have been wearing them non-stop ever since.

LH: Wow, that’s quite the connection. Other than the O.C. or NYC, what are your favorite spots around the world? To surf, skate, hang out?

CC: South America is my favorite. I lived in Buenos Aires for a while and can?t get enough of that place. The city is amazing, the surrounding areas offer limitless fun and adventure, and the girls are super hot.

LH: What can we expect from Hozell in the near future?

CC: More and more product categories, more basics. That is actually one of the things I am most excited about personally. I love to wear plain T?s, and as we speak today, we are launching a big basics program.  What that means is that our beloved T?s will now be available each season in an array of different colors, with no graphic art or crazy embellishing.  Some with pockets, some with back yokes, some with contrasting accent fabrics – to keep things a little interesting, but basically just an incredibly comfortable, well fitting t-shirt.

On the big picture scale, we have some amazing international opportunities that we are finalizing right now, so next time I’ll have to fill you in on those.

Check out the entire current collection from Hozell on their online shop, here.

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