Heineken Does Denim. Neighborhood Collaborates With The Brand For The Heineken100 Program.

Heineken, the world's most international brewer, debuts their exclusive denim collaboration with Japanese brand NEIGHBORHOOD for the #Heineken100 program, an exclusive seeding program that celebrates Heineken's "Man of the World."



Overseen by #Heineken100 Creative Director Chris Gibbs (owner of West Coast shop UNION Los Angeles), the indigo denim, rigid narrow jeans include exclusive Heineken green cross-stitching, a custom green leather label, and Heineken-printed label with personalized packaging.





"Similar to Heineken, NEIGHBORHOOD is an international brand that truly believes in providing consumers quality, and is at the forefront of strategic lifestyle partnerships," says Belen Pamukoff, brand director of marketing, HEINEKEN USA. "NEIGHBORHOOD's dedication to this collaborative project has provided the #Heineken100 program a unique offering like no other."



"When working with Heineken on the partnership for this year's program, NEIGHBORHOOD was one of the first brands that came to mind thanks to their signature denim collection, " says #Heineken100 creative director Chris Gibbs. "Both Heineken and I wanted to expand the horizon of this year's products, and also work with a brand that had international reach but selective distribution."

Announced earlier this year as the creative director for the 2013 #Heineken100 program, this is the third partnership under Gibbs' direction.



Prior to the debut of the #Heineken100 X NEIGHBORHOOD denim the brand also released their joint KILLSPENCER backpack in October, and two collaborative chukka boots in September 2013 with acclaimed designer Mark McNairy (all shown above).

Heineken plans to debut their final #Heineken100 collaborative project with iconic artist Eric Haze during the Art Basel Miami Beach fair in December 2013.

"For this project, I wanted to use contrasting stitch colors to evoke different emotions-especially Heineken's signature green," says NEIGHBORHOOD designer, Shinsuke Takizawa. "I am proud to share a product that not only showcases the brand quality, but also highlights a part of my culture with a niche audience that genuinely appreciates it."




In its fourth year, the #Heineken100 influencer program identifies and celebrates various tastemakers across the nation that represent Heineken's "Man of the World." The collaborative products are exclusively available to the 100 individuals on the #Heineken100 list.

Previous collaborations include: Mark McNairy saddle shoes, a Public School camouflage duffle bag, a Tsovet watch, Android Homme sneakers, and tote bags designed by fashion duo Dee & Ricky.

Video footage of Chris Gibbs and NEIGHBORHOOD discussing the #Heineken100 partnership:


Information and images courtesy of PR Newswire and Heineken

Chillin' In Denim. SMEG's FAB28 Jeans Refrigerator In A Limited Edition of 500.

Smeg, which has developed home appliances for 60 years, and Italia Independent, a brand of creativity and style, have combined two icons: the FAB28 fridge and Jeans.



Using traditional objects combined with new ideas has inspired the two Italian brands to produce the first refrigerator covered entirely by jeans.




The FAB28 with its range of colors and soft curved lines is a functional but also decorative icon. Jeans have long been a part of our culture that communicates freshness and comfort, rebellion and style.





The fabric itself combines tradition and innovation. It is treated with PLASMA, a nanotechnology that protects the surface of the refrigerator against splashing water, oil, milk and fruit juice.



Specs:
The FAB28 Jeans stand alone refrigerator with freezing compartment by SMEG is now available in this Limited Edition with Denim Jeans design. This refrigerator features right hinged doors as well as left hinged doors.

Energy efficiency rating A++

Refrigerator:
• automatic defrosting
• interior lighting
• ventilator for dynamic cooling
• 1 bottle grid, 3 safety glass shelves
• 1 fruit & vegetable box
• 1 small cheese & cold cuts box
Inner door equipment:
• 2 small butter & cheese boxes
• 2 containers with stainless steel rail, height adjustable
• 1 egg container, removable
• 1 bottle & can container

The FAB28 Jeans, a limited edition of 500 pieces, made its world debut at the Salone del Mobile in Milan. In addition, this extraordinary example of fashionable technology can be admired in the Corso Monforte Smeg showroom in Milan.

Price is $2498.75

Purchase the Smeg FAB28 Jeans here

The Gap & Ecouterre's Recycled Denim Challenge Finalists

Inhabitat and Ecouterre recently held a Denim Design Challenge sponsored by the Gap in which they asked people to recycle their old denim into new and functional items. The winners will appear online tomorrow.

It's too late to enter now, and voting on the finalists ended yesterday. But I still thought I'd show you some of my personal favorites from the numerous finalists.

Hyun Gun Jung's geometric denim dress:

Siddharth Hirwani's recycled denim cots:


Elina Priha recycled denim jacket:

Justin Blakely's recycled denim doggie vest:

Recycled denim mattress by Open Your Eyes:


Woven recycled denim shoulder bag by Miranda Chance:

Bondi Biker recycled denim jacket by Sawy:

Rebecca Butler's recycled denim Bikini:

The Zeppelin Denim Duffle Bag With Leather Accents by Chance:

Lisa Williams recycled denim skull baby booties:

Angela Friedman Denim Corset:



See all the finalists here

The invitation to the contest read as follows:
CALLING ALL DESIGNERS & CRAFTY DENIM DIY-ERS!

Jeans are one of the few universally worn and loved garments around the world. Wardrobe staples for everyone from fashionistas to tiny tots, to the burliest construction workers, jeans are a simple basic that everyone has in their closet. But what do you do when your jeans wear out on you? Ecouterre wanted to know, so they’ve partnered with the Gap 1969 Stream to shine a light on the most creative denim reinventions on the planet—show us your stuff and stand a chance to be featured on Ecouterre, Inhabitat, and the Gap 1969 Stream, plus a $200 Gap gift certificate.

The deadline for this competition WAS 11:59 p.m. EDT, October 24, 2010 and the competition is closed. Winners will be announced on Monday, November 8th and featured on the Gap 1969 Stream.

The official rules can be found here.

New Fashion Label Current/Elliott: What Denim Dreams Of Being

Current/Elliott is a new fashion label by stylists-turned-designers Emily Current and Meritt Elliott, who met in college and became stylists under the name of MAUDE. They began by buying vintage jeans and customizing them for their celebrity clients.



Now, they've recreated their special one-of-a-kind pieces with japanese stretch denim, so that everyone could enjoy their sense of style, comfort and individuality.



Their 2008 Fall denim collection includes everything from a backlash against skinny jeans with their fabulous "boyfriend jeans" to denim smock dresses, shorts, chic denim jackets and hoodies. They manage to combine femininity with comfort, sexiness with style and vintage with contemporary couture.

Getting lots of press (even in the NY Times just yesterday) is the 'boyfriend jean', a wonderful slouchy but still sexy pair of jeans:




Here's a peek at some of my other favorites from their line:

The Shrunken JJ:

The Duckhunter:

The Fontaine Short:

The Tulip Dress:

The Moto Jacket:

The Kangaroo Dress:

The Seam Skirt:

The Navy:

The Mini Pocket:

The Circle vest:


Like all hot new fashion brands, these are not cheap. Expect to shell out about $225 bucks for the 'Boyfriend' jeans and the following items list for the prices in parentheses: The Circle Vest ($172), The Laurel Canyon ($194), The Fontaine Short ($159), The Elephant Bell 1971 ($226), The Artist Smock ($206)

Where can you find these?
Below are links to some of the stores that carry their line.
Ron Herman, Singer 22, shopbob, eluxury, lola boutique
You can also find them at Fred Segal, Barney's and Neiman Marcus.