Meet Our Friends: Jeremy Tooker

Jeremy Tooker continues to be one of the most influential figures in the flourishing coffee community of San Francisco. He founded Four Barrel Coffee in 2008 and it has become an attraction to people from all over the world. We first met in 2010 when we asked him to set up his coffee cart at our Meet Your Maker pop-up market and have been great friends ever since. Jeremy is one of the most driven people we know. He continually works to better his business as well as his product. In doing so, Jeremy is dedicated to sourcing the highest quality green coffee by personally traveling all over the world to buy directly from coffee farmers.

 

Jeremy headed out on these expeditions before phrases like “social sustainability” and “direct-trade” became hipster green terms and only a handful of others were directly buying their coffee. Embarking on these trips has allowed Jeremy to personally check the quality of his product as well as making sure that the coffee farmers are paid their share in full. Through this process, he is able to build lasting relationships with coffee farms around the world and help in their communities.

 

Each expedition is unique, but Jeremy’s favorites are his trips to Ethiopia. Once he lands, he needs to find a driver that is willing to undertake a six hour car ride to the coffee mill and then a four hour car ride to the actual coffee farm. After he arrives, the farm will buy a lamb to cook for Jeremy and they celebrate for the night. He will camp out in the jungle for the next couple of nights, allowing him to take in all the beauty Ethiopia has to offer.

 

Sourcing coffee this way requires relationships that are built on mutual respect and a passion for quality. It is time consuming, expensive and plain hard work, but it is the one way that Jeremy can personally vouch for his coffee and maintain these partnerships. We commend him for his dedication to quality and creating social, economical, and ecological sustainability in communities all over the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adventures, Correspondence.

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Shop Spotlight: Standard & Strange

Temescal Alley is quickly becoming Oakland’s number one spot for local shops. In addition to a great barber shop and some fine eateries, Temescal Alley stepped its game up even further when Standard and Strange entered the scene a little less than a year ago.

 

With a very intimate store setting, Standard and Strange specializes in American-made clothing and accessories. Founders Neil Berrett and Jeremy Smith focus on bringing men clothes that can be worn on a daily basis and fit in an outdoor urban setting. Versatility is key. The goal is to be able to go into the office, leave to go camping, and look damn good doing both.

We believe they have succeeded in their goal and were happy to partner with Neil and Jeremy. The next time you find yourself in Temescal Alley, stop by Standard and Strange for some gear!

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Studio Visit: Dave Muller

When Dave isn't spending all of his waking hours running Outerlands and raising his amazing daughter, he crunches away in his studio creating one-of-a-kind illustrations for companies all around the world. He is in the process of developing an incredible design for our Aloha Collection. We couldn't be more stoked on the outcome of this project.

Aloha Dave!

 

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Album of the week

Our album of the week is Mercy by Don Covay. Simply put, this album is great. If you have an appreciation for classic American soul and rock ‘n roll, you will understand the significance of this album. It’s the perfect background for dinner with friends as well as for a road trip with your partner. Needless to say, we highly recommend this album and want to give you a little insight on the artist.

Born Donald Randolph on March 24 1938, Don Covay is one of the most influential American soul artists from the 1960s. The son of a Baptist preacher, Don was raised in Orangeburg, South Carolina. The award-winning musician began his career singing in his family’s Gospel quartet, the Cherry Keys. He crossed over into secular music when he joined Marvin Gaye and Billy Stewart to form The Rainbows.

Covay started his solo career by releasing his first full-length album Mercy. The album features a young Jimi Hendrix on guitar and paved the way to a very successful career. To solidify Covay as one of the top artist of his time, he suffered a severe stoke in the late 1990s, recovered, and released another album in 2000.

Here’s to you Don!

 

Album of the week.

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Artist Spotlight: Ryan De La Hoz

Ryan De La Hoz is a local artist who is quickly becoming a well recognized name. He began to explore art as a child by sketching the action figures he had collected. Now, he makes amazing pieces of art with paper cuts and ink work all by hand. While most artists try to eliminate slight imperfections, Ryan embraces them as an appealing aspect to paper and ink work. It makes his art raw and refreshing.

 

Ryan has been a friend of ours for years. He has a lot going on this year and we couldn’t be happier for him. As well as being apart of a two man art show in New York this July, working with Comune and Boy Parker on t-shirt designs, and his own solo show in Portland, Ryan is opening his own clothing shop in San Francisco. His clothing company is called Cool Try. The focus is on making t-shirts that are lighthearted and fun. The message is all about being positive and good humored. Cool Try's grand opening will be on Saturday May 11th, from 5pm-Midnight at 483 14th St and Guerrero St. We hope to see everyone there.

 

Again, we couldn’t be happier for Ryan and are excited to see his new projects come into fruition. Follow his work as he grows his clothing line as well as his art.


www.ryandelahoz.com // www.cooltry.net

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Restock: Oxfords and Poplins

We hear the word staple a lot in this industry, but we want to make sure you know the meaning and the importance behind it. What is a staple? It dates back to 1390 when King Edward II required all merchants to trade in a city square he called “The Staple.” The most lucrative and valuable product that was traded and sold was wool. Soon, people began to call wool the “staple” product because it was such an indispensable item and held the trade market together. Thus, a “staple” is an item of such importance that it holds the foundations of its market together. 

With that said, we believe that the Oxford and Poplin button downs are indispensable items that hold the foundations of every man’s wardrobe together. They are not going anywhere, nor should they. We are pleased to announce we will be restocking the Oxford and Poplin button downs.

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Shop Spotlight: Studio Velo

Studio Velo is one of the Bay Area's premier cycling retailers. Located in Mill Valley, CA, it is owned and operated by three passionate cyclists: Scott Penzarella, Colin Beardsley and Chris Reed. Their focus is on custom and production bikes and they feature some of the most exclusive brands in the business. To further embrace the lifestyle of riding, they have selected some of the finest performance apparel and accessories available today.

 

We have been friends with Scott for a couple of years now and have worked with him in the past, so when he asked us to make the Bike Mechanic shirt, we jumped at the opportunity to work with him again. We made the shirt out of a durable twill fabric with  powder coated snaps and a very unique embroidery. It is a classic shirt that all mechanics need. We are proud to introduce our newest collaboration with Studio Velo: The Bike Mechanic Shirt.

 

Correspondence, Special Project.

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Studio Spotlight: Everything Type Company

 Needless to say, when our friend Kyle Blue told us he was leaving Dwell Magazine and heading east to start a new design studio, we were a little sad. We worked with Kyle on our first collaborative project ever, our Architect's Shirt we launched with Dwell on Design, and he’s been a good friend ever since.

 

Two years later, Kyle is truly rocking and rolling! We got to catch up on Thursday afternoon over a great lunch at the Wythe Hotel's Reynard. We rapped about all the projects he has been putting out, including the newly launched Sightglass Coffee website.

 

It's always great to see you Kyle and we’re excited for your future endeavors.

 

 

 

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Event: Fair Ends Pop-up Shop

We were excited to be able to make it out to New York this past week for the opening event at the Fair Ends pop-up shop hosted by F.S.C. Barber & Supply in Brooklyn. It was great to see and catch up with old friends as well as make a few new ones. Their warm welcome made us feel right at home.

The place was packed despite the drizzle coming down and we made some great memories. Big thanks to Sixpoint Brewery and Art In The Age for letting us imbibe on their goodness all evening. If there’s something we appreciate as much as clothing it’s good drinks and you guys crushed it. Also, thanks to the fellas from Hector's Pets for adding a bit of good ole fashioned rock 'n roll to the evening. We’ve been jamming out to you guys all day.

New York, as always, you were good to us. Maybe next time we come out we will stay a little longer...

 

 

Correspondence, Special Event, Special Project.

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How To Mix Up The Telegraph Suit.

The deconstructed suit can be a bit confusing. When do I wear one? How do I wear one? We understand. A suit on its own is a tough proposition. We are here to ease your troubled woes and make it easy on you, fellas. 

All you need to do is break it up. You don't need to wear both things at once, or ever for that matter. Don’t feel bad about it, there is no love lost between the blazer and pants.

Our lightweight Italian denim is perfect for any summer occasion. The trousers are easily rolled and paired with some fresh vans and a crispy tee. We personally try and wear socks as little as we can during the summer and these pants give you great reason.

Mix the jacket with some other types and shades of pants. For instance, try a light grey pant and throw a tie on with one shirt button undone before heading to work. It will give you just enough of an edge over the next fella with your cool, calm and collected sensibility.

 

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At The Shop: Tenugui

At first glance, one could see the tenugui as an interesting hand towel and nothing more. However, this multipurpose cloth has been a major part of Japanese culture for centuries. During the Heian period (794 – 1192 AD) the tenugui were used as accessories for Shinto religious rituals. The cloth was considered to be such a sacred item that they did not become widespread to the public until hundreds of years later. As their use became more prevalent, the samurai began to wear them in battle to keep the sweat from their eyes. 

Once the tenugui were made available to the general public, their usage was increased even more dramatically. Farmers would wear them as headbands, but would also drape them over their neck to protect them from the sun. Blacksmiths would wear them as masks to prevent them from breathing in smoke as well as to polish finished products. When they were not being used for more practical purposes, the tenugui were commonly used to wrap gifts. Giving someone a gift wrapped in this cloth displayed a sense of appreciation and respect for the recipient. The tenugui maintains this strong symbolic and esthetic value.

In today’s society, men and women continue to use the tenugui in an even more versatile fashion. We are happy to bring this rich history to California and hope you will find the tenugui as useful and enjoyable as we have.

Come into the shop and purchase yours today.

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Shop Spotlight: Iron & Resin

In the small beach town of Ventura, California, Iron & Resin has emerged as an authority of American made apparel. Their story reminded us a little of our own; a group of friends left their own ventures to start anew together. The result is a small, hand built collection of goods that draws heavily upon the founders’ lifestyles and experiences. Visit their retail shop located on 324 East Main Street and you will quickly pick up on the influence of Ventura's beach and motorcycle culture.

As motorcycle enthusiasts and American made advocates, we are extremely excited to begin this partnership with Iron & Resin. After meeting founder Tom Hill we knew this was a great match for both of us. We are pleased to announce that Taylor Stitch is now in Southern California and looking forward to a very special collection with Iron & Resin.

Correspondence, Shop Talk.

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Shop Spotlight: Two Jacks Denim.

Located on 2355 Broadway in Uptown Oakland, Two Jacks Denim is an all U.S. made menswear company that specializes in handcrafted raw selvage denim. Inspired by the mad, wild, and rugged individualism of Jack Kerouac and Oakland native Jack London, Two Jacks Denim is quickly filling their store with an extensive denim selection and a great community.

 

About a year ago, owner Tommy Mierzwinski approached us about stocking our denim in the store. Their appreciation for quality clothing and love of handcrafted U.S products made them the perfect match. We are proud to announce that Two Jacks Denim is now carrying Taylor Stitch and look forward to a growing partnership.

Correspondence, Shop Talk.

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