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Feel Good Friday- Shinola Kicks off Makers Monday

By Cator Sparks Dec 21, 2019 12:16 PM

The Shinola brand sure has come a long way in a year. They went from ‘Who’s That?’ to superstars of the Made in America movement. We thank them for that (and their quality product) and were pleased to hear about their latest endeavor ‘Makers Monday’.

Shinola Piggy Bank — Shinola Piggy Bank Image used with permission by copyright holder

Starting on Monday December 2nd, Shinola is encouraging all consumers to take a pledge to buy American and support local businesses who make their products in the towns, cities and neighborhoods where we live for just one day! As they told us, if every American of voting age spends $10 on something American made that is $2.4 billion in just one day. Boom.

Shinola Baseball — Shinola Baseball Image used with permission by copyright holder

When you go on the site you can sign a pledge to buy American, or if you are an American business you can register your company, then scroll down and find a list of companies who are participating and start shopping. We have included some of Shinola’s own American made holiday ideas throughout this post.

Shinola Bike Lock — Shinola Bike Lock Image used with permission by copyright holder

Go on and buy that Topo Designs backpack you have wanted or that Bilenky Bike for your sister or that Ampersand table for your apartment and then share it on social media (and be sure to tag Makers Monday’s Facebook and Twitter!) and encourage others to join the movement.

Shinola Candle — Shinola Candle Image used with permission by copyright holder

We love a theme day but hope people will consider American made part of their daily lives and not just an annual one trick (heritage breed) pony.

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Fashion & Style

The best casual watches for men (to upgrade your everyday style)

Work wear blues watch close up

Watches are more than a tool. They are more than an accessory. They are the kind of tool and accessory that make a statement. They are an expression. They are a statement. A man can look incredible: the right top, the right bottom, great shoes, great hat. The wrong watch can ruin a look, or even the whole essence. Here is the rub: the wrong watch can be subjective. For instance, most people will tell you that a Timex broken watch isn’t the right watch for a pinstripe power suit. However, it was my grandfather’s watch, and I wear it anytime I need him and his guidance. The point? That is never the wrong watch. Once you find a casual watch that works for you, it will be your everyday wear and will never be the wrong watch.

That is what I collected here: The best of the casual watches you can pick up today that will become your everyday wear.

Fashion & Style

Audemars Piguet launches pre-owned program to rival the titan of the second-hand watch market

Audemars Piguet

Rolex has dominated the watch world for nearly a century. The industry is a deep and complicated web of luxury houses and independent hopefuls. While brands like Patek Phillipe and Cartier vie for their place on the podium, Rolex holds a death grip on the chronophile’s aspirational collection checklist. But Audemars Piguet has decided to challenge them somewhere most other brands are deciding to ignore: the pre-owned market. Now, while something like the Royal Oak is an icon among enthusiasts, AP launching their own certified pre-owned marketplace to chase the reported $1 billion Rolex pie will certainly upset the market.

Like I said, it is a deep and complicated web, so I sat down with a horological expert and founder of WatchGuys, (317K on Instagram), Robertino Altieri, to have him walk me through what this means for watches and their passionate collectors.

Fashion & Style

Round two of Wrangler’s imogene + willie collab leans on America’s last big denim mill

Jeans, Pants, Belt

Wrangler and imogene + willie have released the second of three drops in their made-in-the-USA denim collaboration, and this one is built around fabric from America’s last large-scale denim mill.

Capsule No. 2 dropped Saturday, Oct. 24, and features Wrangler’s signature broken twill in jeans, jackets, and shirts. The fabric was developed with Mount Vernon Mills in Trion, Georgia, the last mill of its size still making denim in the US.