Skip to main content

Latest by Cator Sparks

Modern Industry's Jacob Werner

Modern Industry’s Evolution in Design

There was a void in sustainably made contemporary furniture so Werner took what he learned from his father and grandfather and opened Modern Industry in Chicago.
EKOCYCLE LEVI'S JEANS

Feel Good Friday: Levi’s EKOCYCLE

There are all sorts of denim heads out there but musician and producer will.i.am is taking his love of the jean to another level with his movement, EKOCYCLE.
worn out wednesday john marsala marsla

Worn Out Wednesday – John Marsala

We wanted to create a shop that catered to a masculine design sensibility.
wander trade launches offers us enticement pendleton tee

Wander & Trade Launches (and offers us an enticement!)

With the whole ‘buy local’ craze sweeping the nation we forget it doesn’t just mean buying from your home town or even home country or continent. We appreciate anything that is well crafted no matter where it is from. But it is often hard to find such treasures, especially when we are glued to our […]
barbecue whiskey wine time charlestons food festival charleston

Barbecue, Whiskey and Wine? It’s Time for the Charleston Wine & Food Festival

In honor of the upcoming event we interviewed four epic participants from around the nation to hear what they have in store for the festival and what they are most looking forward to doing in the Holy City. Hint: Lots of drinking.
aint nothing basic goodlife

There’s Nothing Basic About Goodlife

Based in NYC, Goodlife is a new luxury line of men's basics
beckett simonon makes a fair priced shoe

Beckett Simonon Makes a Fair Priced Shoe

We often sit around the office wondering what ‘middle men’ will be doing in ten years. With more and more companies like Warby Parker, Harry's, and Poppin in the mix and cutting the middle man these men better start strategizing. New to the shoe category is Beckett Simonon and we are all about these brogues and boots.
allen edmonds sale and giveaway

Allen Edmonds Annual Sale and Giveaway

Starting today you can enter for a chance to win the handsome Long Branch Wingtip Boot in Golden Brown.
worn wednesday jeff barrett

Worn Out Wednesday – Jeff Barrett

Social Media Guru Jay Barrett speaks to The Manual about his personal style
the manual meet up san francisco meetup 9

Welcome Stranger hosts our first Manual Meet Up in San Francisco

On April 21st we hosted a happening at our favorite menswear shop in San Francisco, Welcome Stranger.
worn out wednesday quicksilvers josh rush

Stay High with Quiksilver’s Josh Rush

CEO of Quiksilver, Pierre Agnes saw something in me
worn out wednesday winston fisher

Worn Out Wednesday – Winston Fisher

Today we speak to Winston Fisher, of Fisher Brothers Realty and Drill Fitness.
custom suiting with southern hospitality abbeydale

Custom Suiting with Southern Hospitality

Sometimes in life we have to travel many a road until we find the path right for us. For David Watkins, he worked in the ad world for years until he started feeling burnt out. Then he remembered buying shirt fabrics in college and decided to try his hand at shirt making; then the dreadful […]
feel good friday yallsome

Feel Good Friday – Y’allsome

Y'allsome is a lifestyle brand focused on the South and gives back to foster kids in Atlanta
bluffwork pants will change the way you travel feat2

Bluffwork pants will change the way you travel

Quick drying and wrinkle resistant pants you need
Landmarks and Lions

Landmarks & Lions Leather Goods

Landmarks and Lions makes classic leather goods
Gottie Switzerland Goggles

Nemo Proof: Gotti Snow Goggles

We sure could have used these last week with Nemo swirling around Manhattan, but thankfully we have discovered these gems for future blizzard blasts and ski getaways. Gotti Switzerland is a rather fashionable line of eyewear known for their ‘wearable art’ manufactured in Japan, Germany and Austria using lightweight titanium materials. So it was great […]
Doc Hendley and Wine to Water Charity

Feel Good Fridays: Wine to Water Charity

Fortunately a gentleman named Doc Hendley (a CNN Hero) has created Wine to Water, a non-profit (501 (c) 3) aid charity organization focused on providing clean water to people in need world wide.
Akamai-1

Akamai Personal Care: Earth Friendly Grooming Products We Love

Akamai is a new men's grooming product line that focuses on using 100% organic ingredients in three multi use products--all while giving back.
Entree from Xiao Bao Biscuit

The Asian Persuasion for Charleston Foodies

Charleston, South Carolina is blowin’ up as a must visit foodie destination with Husk, Fig and Hominy Grill winning accolades around the country. But tourists and locals alike can enjoy only so much pork cheek and grits. That’s why Xiao Bao Biscuit is a welcome addition to the scene. Their style of cooking is playfully […]
feel good friday bombas socks bomba

Feel Good Friday – Bombas Socks

Bombas Socks deliver new sock engineering while supporting a great charity.
feel good friday naadam

Feel Good Friday – Naadam

Micro economic development mixed with Mongolian cashmere goats equals a new sustainable brands called Naadam
Price Latimer Agah and Salman Agah at Pizzanista!

Los Angeles’ Pizza Sanctuary: Pizzanista!

We meet the team behind Los Angeles' best pizza place
weekly dt innovators essentials breadwinner cycles

The Weekly DT – Breadwinner Cycles

This post originally ran on our brother site Digital Trends: In part three of our three part Innovators and Essentials series, presented by Scion, we stopped over at one of the two garages that make up the headquarters for Breadwinner Cycles and spoke with Ira Ryan and Tony Pereria. Ira and Tony are the co-founders of […]
feel good friday patagonia truth materials

Feel Good Friday – Patagonia Truth to Materials

Patagonia launched a new capsule collection called Truth to Materials
feel good friday shinola kicks makers monday maker s

Feel Good Friday- Shinola Kicks off Makers Monday

Shinola is encouraging everyone to buy American on Monday December 2nd.
Lexdray Ibiza Pack

The Lexdray Ibiza Pack – For the DJ in All of Us

Regardless, we all have a little DJ inside of us. One way to feel the part is to carry the new Ibiza pack from Lexdray.
recap manual meet portland the up

Recap: The Manual Meet Up Portland

A recap of The Manual's Portland Meet Up
feel good friday groundshounds 1

Feel Good Friday- Grounds&Hounds

Dogs and coffee? Not two things we usually put together but two things we really, really love. So does Jordan Karcher, the founder of Grounds & Hounds, a coffee company that supports no kill rescues around the nation.
feel good friday givedon

Feel Good Friday – Givedon

We were overthinking the name of the new shirting line, Givedon until we asked the owners for an explanation: GIVE = “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we GIVE.” – Winston Churchill Recommended Videos DON = A title in the Spanish language used to address a man […]
the manual awards best of new york city

The Manual Awards: The Best of New York City

Gotham's Greatest Spots
feel good friday found animal my

Feel Good Friday: Found My Animal

A new season is not just the time for us to change our accessories. Our pets have needs too! We aren’t talking about bedazzled hoodies. But we bet after a summer of beaches, play dates and muddy walks, your pup’s leash has had it. We are big fans of Brooklyn based leash company, Found My […]
new york goes nuts narcissa

New York Goes Nuts for Narcissa

Narcissa is the new restaurant at The Standard East Village by chef John Fraser
travel rules hotelier marco cilia

A Hotelier’s Travel Guide

Here are a list of travel rules to consider when on your next vacation
Tech products guide

The Manual’s Guide to Tech

The Manual's Guide to Must Haves in the Tech World
the funniest shorts on earth chubbies

The Funniest Shorts on Earth – Chubbies

To start, Chubbies is a brand of shorts made right in the Bay Area. They don’t make pants and they shutter at the word Cargo as you can see here. Don’t let the elastic waist band fool ya.
State Bags

STATE Makes a Statement by Donating Backpacks to Kids in Need

For every STATE bag purchased, the NewYork-based brand hand-delivers a backpack full of essential tools for success to a child in need.
justin noels top five rum cocktails for summer

Justin Noel’s Top Five Rum Cocktails for Summer

Bartender Justin Noel provides his top five favorite rum cocktail recipes for the summer
style tips on mens jewelry from george frost marlon

Style Tips On Men’s Jewelry from George Frost

Tips on Men's Jewelry
feel good friday buttons n threads

Feel Good Friday – Buttons ‘n’ Threads

With the online tailored shirt craze in full swing, we have tried many. Some are doing it right; some are missing the boat completely. One that we recently tried, Buttons ‘n’ Threads, is right on track.
worn wednesday eric bandholz

Worn Out Wednesday – Eric Bandholz

Today we speak to BeardBrand’s main man, Eric Bandholz.
Cole Haan alt header

Feel Good Friday- Cole Haan & Friends

Cole Haan has partnered with various brands to make holiday shopping easy.
worn wednesday sam talbot

Worn Out Wednesday – Sam Talbot

Sam Talbot is a chef, author, philanthropist and television personality based in Brooklyn, New York
The Manual Redesign

Welcome to The Manual Redesign

You may have noticed a few changes around The Manual lately. With the Manual Redesign fully implemented, we're excited to introduce you to our new look.
Cole Haan and Fragments Collaboration Penny Loafer

Cole Haan x fragment design

For anyone who lives in a walking city or is on their feet all day, a brogue or loafer can get awfully uncomfortable by mid day. We will never know how women do the heel thing all day. Yet we are vehemently against the late 90s sneaker and suit trend. Luckily Cole Haan has come […]
Morgans

Never Darken A Drug Store Door Again Thanks To Morgans

Morgan Hirsh recently launched his own company of natural, personal care products that you can order at will. It's aptly called "Morgans."
interview fiorella valdesolo gather journal

An Interview with Fiorella Valdesolo of Gather Journal

Fiorella Valdesolo talks about her foodie focused print magazine - Gather Journal
feel good friday ultimat vodka 2

Feel Good Friday: Ultimat Vodka

We don’t usually equate boozing with reducing world hunger, but that is Ultimat Vodka’s goal this summer with their summer-long fundraising campaign with Action Against Hunger aptly named, Ultimat Lemon-AID. Launched in May and continuing through August 20th (National Lemonade Day), the public is invited to text LEMONAID (50555) to donate $5 to Action Against Hunger. Donations from […]
worn out wednesday david pirrotta

Worn Out Wednesday – David Pirrotta

Today we speak to part owner and partner of The Drugstore at Liberty Fairs, David Pirotta.
feel good friday mission belts

Feel Good Friday – Mission Belts

Mission Belts gives a dollar from each belt to a micro lending program to help people around the globe