Day out to Williamsberg Brooklyn

So if your into the creative world and crave that im not cool enough to be here feeling as i always get in east london you've got to hit Williamsberg in Brooklyn. As it was the weekend i had no formal meetings set up with any stores but i figured i might find a few styleee little independent to peddle the clobber to. I noticed a few things that day. We went by subway, which in itself was always abuzz. Busking was everywhere which straight away gives NY an exciting feel and a sense that people are following there dreams. Orens girly Donna and her homey Elina were my guides.

selling on the streetz


If i ever had to get a brief case it would be a lot like this


my future ride


For life!


Donna, Elina, Subway map, smallkid


As you find in England its not easy to find independent shops they are generally well hidden! But with a lot of asking we found two. As i would come to learn in NY most independents that sell multi brands are often skateboard orientated. It kind of makes sense as skate boarding isn't a fad that comes and go, its greatly routed in NY and has real loyal following. The other thing that is clear is that these independents do alot to keep the hype amongst there stores. KCDC have there own in house ramp and do frequent events and Boundless are connected with local hip hop radio shows and recently MTV went down to the store with rapper chip the ripper.

KCDC in Williamsberg check out there site: http://kcdcskateshop.com/



RIP Harold Hunter (If you've seen the cult film kids he is the pro skater in it)




Free Pizza skate Jam


Chip the Ripper in Boundless

Both stores stocked nice street wear brands such as the Hundreds and Stussy amongst there cores skate brands which was important for Bantum as whilst we sit next to skate brands, Bantum is nt a specific skate brand. Which over time we have realised could be an issue, people want to be able to put a brand into a category, i used to think it was cool that Bantum managed to transcend this but it seems people want the brand to be specifically for one type of people...the saga continues.
I checked if the buyers were in the stores, as expected on a saturday afternoon they weren't /aka didnt' want a sales pitch so i left Bantum promo material and got there details so i could email them the look book later. For buyers to really take you seriously in this game you have to make appointments in advance, something that took me a year or two to master:)

A key thing that did concern me slightly was the low price points on the clothing. Which to be honest is a good thing in general, apart from if your an English brand trying to sell in pounds. The most expensive tees were hitting the $35 retail mark which equals £22. since Bantum products are proudly printed in nottz our products retail is higher between £30 and £35.

night one in NY

I arrived at JFK Friday night and was getting picked up by my old camp buddys Oren and Alon that I met when doing camp America agesss ago. I hadn’t seen them for 10 years since I worked at a summer camp in New York! The power of facebook, only a few pokes and I had a place to stay in Brooklyn baby! Dressed as my buddy described as a bouncey castle they found me in no time. As soon as we got back to theres they banged the Knicks game on and they had organised a welcome party for me..it was like sleepers, loads of old buddys from camp came over. Thanks guys, It was a great night, it must have been as I don’t remember going to bed☺

This a shot of Oren sporting my new rubber duck earphones..gangster to say the least!




The morning after I caught Oren doing this:)

Take Off Time time!

Check in was a mission and not to my backs surprise I had to pay extra on my bag. (Note to self : next time you start a business go for something like jewellery, much lighter…and leave your wooden screen print carousel at home) Oh i forgot before i got the screenprinter off deign studio waste yourself http://www.wasteyourself.com/ If you got a sneaker book theyve done some banging collabos as well as doing collections for brands like Tommy Hilfiger.

Straight away on the plane I got to test out the effectiveness of my fine English accent. To my horror American Airlines don’t offer alcohol free of charge! I’m no big drinker but I wanted a beer to toast the start of my adventure!). Result!

On the flight I was pumped to start my new book ‘streetwear’, it contains interviews and images on the worlds most famous streetwear labels. A large proportion of which come from the US. I figured this was a perfect book to inspire me and pump me up for my US takeover!I recommend it highly to anyone interested in the street fashion market all my bestys like kidrobot and Stussy are included, pretty inspirational insights/made me realise we need to make it happen now as most these dudes took off at about the 30 mark that im getting scarily towards!

ROOSEVELT SCHOLARSHIP : THE DAY BEFORE I GO!

January 22nd I left for the USA on Nottingham's Roosevelt Scholarship to forward Bantum and promote Nottingham's creative scene. (NOTTINGHAM PEEPS BETWEEN 21-30 APPLY FOR THE S

COLORSHIP NOW AT http://www.rooseveltscholarship.org/News.aspx

Ok for those who know me its not a great surprise that the day before i left for America we were desperately banging out our samples for the new collection (oh for those not in the 007 know the new collection for our grimey street label Bantum...one day soon you'll know all about it:)

James Huyton (www.jameshuyton.com) and Rachael Hobbs (new Bantum bunny fashion designer) have been working solidly on the label with me for the last year and up till they left me at Nottingam train station they were immense.

James in the Bantum HQ (aka the organised one)

20th Jan (Day before i left) went like this :

8.30am: I hit October textiles screen printers to finish sampling. Mat, Craig, Hacket were legends being patiently matching the colours to weird things i bought in for colour matching (please don't follow suit the owner paul will one day shoot me..pantone references are proffered)

Whilst I'm there James is sorting out promo material for the trip and Rachael is finishing labeling samples and making a big pocket sweat.

2 pm : I run back to the studio to drop samples to sew...gotta love Nottingham's trams as it got me there quick time!

2:30pm : Rachael goes to Dot sports, Bantums other printers to get the new Bantum logo flocking shirts..standardly big thanks to them for helping out last minute..are you getting a picture of how i roll?...not good for anyones health I aim for 2011 to be my more in advance year!)

3pm I pick up portable screen printer from Norm and Alex at Waste yourself Graphic design studio. Big thanks for that guys...its breaking my back though!

4pm : pack my samples bag...organised James has laid out the samples real nice making it easier in times of slight panic that i might miss the train.

6pm Rachael finishes sewing the last sample. everyone jumps in the car. We drive to Kid 30 aka Nathan of Nottingham's prestigious Oxygen Thievez to check out his screen printer as I'm hoping its lighter...doh its not..our well ill man up and take the Waste one:)

645 : cain it to the station from Forest fields to make the 7pm train.

6.56: Liatti from the Bantum family's Elementz (Big in the game hip hop producers) meets me at the ticket barrier and stuffs the 'Crumbs of Nottingham' CDs into my bag. A compilation of the Bantum family and other Nottingham legends to drop around the US.

The Beautiful Liatii from the Elementz getting a munch before Skimans Nottingham arena debut back in 2010

6.58 get on the train....7pm train moves with me wishing i had remembered to put my lynx on in the morning and feeling for the people sitting by me:(

10 arrive back at my ma and pas in London town. Get some good fatherly advice, half listen (thinking i should probably listen harder), go to bed.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

ps READ ME:)

To all those peeps who say why dont you go to China and make everything real cheap there the above is testimony to why you should try and keep as much on the home front as possible. 1) It means when its really needed can get things done in a day 2) you can be there for sampling (SUPER IMPORTANT) 3) It feels good to have relationships with other businesses in the city..a good business is built on good relationships foolios!) 4) A made in England label carrys weight. 5) You should be proud to have try and support your local economy especially in these harshe times.

pps Rant over.

BANTUM: INDIA: 5 DESIGNERS: BRITISH COUNCIL...BRAAAANTUM!

Yoyoyo! First up big thanks to anyone who bothers to read this…I’ve never blooged but thought I been given a crazy opportunity so figured its only right to bestow the wisdom I learnt onto you guys☺ Also if I am honest I have felt so many strong emotions in the last year and particularly it’s a chance to get everything off my chest…I guess its like free therapy much needed in this grimey fashion world☺

(Writing this a few days in hind site) the trip has changed my view on fashion and general life things..im not gonna go soppy on you but I have been captivated by some Indianisms (if that’s not a word it should be!). I have never been anywhere people take so much pride, have the nicest genuine smiles, attention to detail and a place where creating jobs is often more important than the actual product they are producing…it sounds kinda stupid I feel emotional just at thinking of this concept I have a strong feeling of almost being ashamed that ultimately Bantum has only really bennefitted me…so if I don’t make some changes when I get back I give you absolute permission to kick my bantumass!

Next to the 5 star hotels myself +5 other sick designers have been pimped out in (big thank to the british council!) you can see the slums..every time our car stops in traffic..which happens more times than we move…a child often missing a limb will come up to the car begging….its heart wrenching and I am ashamed the longer I have been here I am hardening to it…although I think most importantly it has added to my feelings that a fashion label just for the sake of profit is so shallow and wrong….im not promising Bantum will change overnight but I do commit to moving it in the right direction..there are loads of labels like one I am out here with right now , Choolips who is works with a village of ladies in Ghana to produc her beautiful threads…I got crazy respect for this….but don’t get me wrong there is poverty al round the world which nees to change but obviously right now things aint rosey in sunny engand so im not about t turn my back on the fine country im from and the compnaies who have supported me+berny from day 1!
For Peeps new to Bantum add us up on facebook: berny bantum and www.myspace.com/bantumuk here you can get to know and have a gander at our threads….in short…Berny Bantum+side kick sim had the concept for the label 8 years ago at college and after doing some sucky jobs thought I got aout a quid to lose lets give it a bash..i never really expected things to work but as time has gone on awards like this one, seeing peeps in are garms have importantly anialated the bad feelings such as punkshops walking away owing us a couple of G’s; in the shadows of Notts we grow in confidence .....bantumisation is coming….

Bantum was started to bring stylee threads to shorter guys who couldn’t find stuff to fit them right. Bantum is named after the Japanese Bantum chicken and the Bantumweight chicken. It turned out big dudes liked our stuff to so we added some heavyweight (L) and Bruno (XL) sizes. Also girlys were feelin our brigt colours so ‘Berny’s bit in the side’ has come about. 2 years in we stock 10 fine boutiques round, have been lucky enough to blag the UK and have got a few ninja moves in the pipeline. Anywayz lets get are blog on…this is just by opinion so feel free to abuse me back in the comments and I will do my best to send our bantumninja warriors out to jet Li your ass…or I might just comment back! Shanty and I hope as my boy Richard taylor (google this legend) said you’re all good….

First up, I feel the need to start at the day before the trip to give you an insite into Bantumlife..anyone who knows me probably wont learn anything from this☺