Hook & Albert: Stock up on style essentials

By Marla Milling Published March 17, 2015

Ready for a fresh spring look? Hook & Albert just premiered its Armor Collection, which takes accessory staples like cufflinks, lapel pins and tie bars and raises the bar by making them with interchangeable inserts.

We love the look of the new alligator cufflinks. At $125 a pair, they offer great versatility with three colorful insert discs that allows you to change your look on a whim.

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Hook & Albert also celebrates a new image including a new website and overhauled logo. What this means for you is an elevated shopping experience with a cleaner, modern look. Plus, they’ll unveil in April a one-click checkout and seasonal look books that you can make selections from. In the fall, they plan to introduce updated packaging and a do-it-yourself multi-category gift box.

“Our new brand look is about maturity,” said co-founder Cory Rosenberg. “When we started the business four years ago we saw a white space in men’s accessories and wanted to own it. Today we have exited as the leader and we’re responsible for some of the biggest category shifts in the men’s accessories space. Our branding and overall look needed to match-up with who the company is now versus then.”

Rosenberg met his business partner, Adam Schoenberg, at a wedding. They commented on each other’s colorful sock choices and that led to a deeper conversation about what was missing in the market. Their chance meeting led to creation of Hook & Albert.

“We will continue to evolve and mature as a brand,” said Schoenberg. “We have some incredible product launches in the bag and small leather goods market. Our mission is to be the largest men’s accessories brand in the country. We will accomplish this through innovation, differentiation, and quality.”

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Marla Hardee Milling is a full-time freelance writer living in a place often called the Paris of the South, Sante Fe of the…

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New Ming 37.02 Ghost watch draws inspiration from architectural finishes

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Ming 37.02 Ghost

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Versatility is the keynote feature in this luxury watch

Travis Hunter, Jr.

There aren’t many sure things in this year’s NFL draft, but the early selection of Travis Hunter, Jr. is one of them. As a unicorn two-way player, the Colorado star won’t have to wait long to hear his name called. And if he wants to record his waiting time for posterity, he’ll be able to do it with a premiere luxury watch that’s specially designed to celebrate his unique versatility.
AXIA Time is the company behind the watch, and John Kanaras is the man who designed it. Axia specializes in producing custom timepieces for championship teams and organizations, and Hunter’s watch, the ORATOS, came about as a result of Axia’s partnership with the Heisman Trophy Trust.
“Travis Hunter and I met [during Heisman weekend in New York],” he explains. “As the official timepiece of the Trust, AXIA Time designed the Heisman DIASIMOS, a limited edition timepiece that the 2024 Heisman Trophy recipient, finalists, and honorees would receive.
“During the weekend, I had the opportunity to meet with Travis and the other finalists. Hunter was excited to be named the 2024 Heisman Trophy recipient and appreciated being gifted the Heisman DIASIMOS. We discussed the range of AXIA's ultra-custom designs and how taking it a step further to reflect [that] his versatility on the field could be an incredible design.”
Design-wise, the watch embodies the unique game-within-a-game process that Hunter has learned while playing both cornerback and wide receiver in college and excelling at both positions.
“There is a lot of symbolism in the design of the Oratos,” he says. “I aimed to create something that was ultra-premium yet versatile. It also needed to be sleek and durable, but most of all, it needed to be elite from a mechanical perspective, and I wanted to provide visibility into the precision of the mechanism.”
The versatility starts with a simple three-hand movement, but the watch also comes with multiple strap options that include a Titanium 5 bracelet, an alligator strap, or an FKM rubber strap. All three options feature quick-release mechanisms.
“Depending on the strap, the watch can be worn on the red carpet or even for a dip in the pool,” Kanaras explains. “And with the X1 grade Super Luminova, the watch will glow for hours. The Oratos will be the most premium watch we have released to date, but even at the higher price point [of $3,500], it remains a great value relative to watches with similar specifications.”
As pivotal as Travis Hunter has become in this year's draft machinations, he won’t be the only one to be honored with a new watch. Ohio State safety Caleb Downs was a finalist for the Lott Impact Award, and that led to the watchmaker striking up a relationship with Downs.
“Caleb was gifted one of our watches when he was a finalist for the Lott Impact Award,” says Kanaras. “It was Caleb’s first ‘nice’ watch and he expressed interest in working together. As Ohio State progressed on the playoffs, we decided to work together to build awareness around AXIA Time and our timepieces via use of his NIL on social media and some podcast appearances. He’s becoming quite the watch enthusiast!”

Fashion & Style

Indochino looks to the Earth for inspiration in summer suiting

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Incorporating the color of the year