D.E.A.R. time

We are officially porting D.E.A.R. time to tumblr

2011-07-08T01:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers,

We are officially porting our blog over to tumblr.

You will be able to get current updates on the inner workings of sifr & KIN at the following address:

http://www.dear-time.com/

Sincerely,
D.E.A.R. time

The Sifr Artisan Footwear Photo Essay and Factory Walkthrough

2011-06-19T23:50:00.000-07:00

Below is a short walkthrough around the factory that was responsible for our Footwear range. As you can see, the factory combines orthodox techniques with newer machines to hit the sweet spot with regards to Footwear Manufacturing. It is a beautiful setup that has craftsmanship at the core of the company's ethos.

Gluing Table. Our soles waiting to be attached onto the footwear.

As you can see, this factory still uses some older machinery that is not apparent in more modern footwear operations.

The welt that's being used on our Desert Boots. These come in long strings and are cut according to shoe sizes.

Our "Suresh" slip-on. Named after one of our company members. He inspired us to create this specific style. Thank You Mr. Suresh for this one.

"Suresh" unfinished.

The chipped/raw green on the conveyor system gives the factory a certain feel we can't quite put our fingers on.

Our visit was conducted on a Saturday afternoon which explains the quiet, almost eery feel about the place.

Belstaff work! Counter-Sample below.

German Machinery. Durkopp does all sorts of other sewing machinery. Check their site for a list of other products.

Unfinished soles.

The view from up above.

Not sure what this machine was. If any of you readers have an idea. Let us know.

Final product from the line. We were inspecting some of the finished goods to see if they were up to scratch. Everything worked out great. When you see these shoes at our retail stores, do yourselves a favor and take note of the product in it's entirety; check out the gold print on the insoles, notice the marigold emboss on the outsole, feel the leather, try it on knowing that you can put your faith in us to create a good product. It just keeps getting better every time. We stand for a whole lot more than just making things for you to buy.

-ssm

Pre-BluePrint Photo Essay

2011-06-15T02:58:00.000-07:00

Above is the mini sample room we worked with someone else to open up specifically for Sifr's production. This venue is a specialty in doing short-runs that's ideal for our retail platforms. Higher quantity of styles in controlled quantities to minimize any wastage or overstock while keeping things fresh. The beauty of this small factory is the close-knit association with each other. At Sifr, there's a feeling of responsibility to the workers there and to ensure that production is always running to create a good/sustainable working environment for them. Your purchase counts a whole lot more than on a surface level.

The production team trying to figure out the intricacies of the Poncho that we created. Everyone was baffled but we eventually figured it out. It's a beautiful piece with many functions. You'll see it in stores by August. Look good in the rain!

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Thought this might be an interesting post for some of you. As you may know, Sifr took part in the Blueprint Tradeshow at Marina Bay Sands last month. We decided to do it on a whim and realized that we had to create an in-depth collection in a short period of time. At the same time we were in the midst of doing the second range of Sifr Artisan Footwear that we've recently launched already.

This is a Photo Essay that documents the hectic 3 month ride that included picking fabric, finding correct thread, sourcing trims, fitting shoes, preparing collaterals and meeting deadlines; all in the name of "design". Sit back and enjoy!

Grading patterns is time consuming and there's no other way to do it. This is one of the processes of manufacturing that is key in achieving the best fitting product.

We produce at the factory for a company called "Carol Hochman Designs" and this is a dress form specially made for them to fit their sample size. We should soon get our own dress form but we still prefer fitting it on a human being. You get a better result every time when you incorporate movement, etc into the fitting process.

We're pretty technical now with preparation. All garments are prepared using the most comprehensive tech packs, etc. The efficiencies here will be noticed through future pricing of all our garments very soon.

A new take on the 3d Volume Pocket for our second interpretation of the Journey Shirt. Notice the top pocket layer slightly smaller than the bottom to create a little detail.

Nelly is a new member of our team (blue stripes). She was studying at Lasalle here in Singapore. Apparently she was the baddest out of the lot. Skilled, talented and most importantly...Highly organized! We sniped her and sent her back to Indonesia.

Studying the technicals of the garments. Making sure binding is done correctly inside most of the pants. Be sure to look out for the clean finishing in the Cargo Pants we're doing.

The factory in the photo above is divided into two sections. Bulk production on the left and sampling on the right.

One of the most tedious processes in production; ordering matching color thread. This can be one of the few processes that can really delay production. Remember that all garments using different fabric weights will require different thread gauges. Some stretch fabrics also require Nylon thread, etc. Exhausting just writing about it.

Our beautiful selection of shirts using past blocks. We paired voile, sheer fabrics with sturdy cotton to create some layering effects. These were received positively at Blueprint.

Here's our stock-lot fabric supplier showing us some fabrics we've never used. Jacquards, Knits, polo fabrics, etc for us to use. We're still contemplating as to when we'd like to include this in our Tangs programs.

This is our Poncho all wrapped up and ready to go. All 3 metres of it, with multiple zippers wrapped and folded into a compact bag for easy storage.

We did some Gabardine flat front pants in stretch fabrics for the show. You'll be seeing these in August as well.

A shot of the bigger factory at the end of the day.

This was slightly discomforting. On the 16th of May before the start of the show, some of the last few garments were still wet and drying at the factory when they were clearly supposed to be at our office.

These garments were late for the first day of the show and luckily enough we had someone bring them over for the second day. Our entire lineup was complete by the second day when some of the other buyers showed up.

The one positive thing to take from all these preparations was the ability to meet deadlines. 3 months ago, we set the deadline for getting everything prepared for Blueprint and we did just that. This is including the setup of the booth as well as tagging all garments, creating linesheets, collaterals and look shots. We know that future deadlines will be met accordingly from now on if we're well prepared. Luckily for us, we have a strong team that can take charge of their individual tasks. Teamwork was apparent throughout the entire process and is a good sign for the future.

-ssm

ML574

2011-05-28T00:40:00.000-07:00

The New Balance's ML574 is availabe at k.i.n now, in three different colours - grey, black and navy. Each pair has a tonal build with nappy suede and mesh paneling and its topped off with the Union Jack on the tongue as a recognition that the sneakers were crafted in their factory in Filmby, England.

Here, our boys Gavin and Fahmi are both rocking the ML574 in black and grey!

Bracket & Fantastic Man

2011-05-20T00:49:00.000-07:00

Over here at k.i.n, we were eagerly anticipating the latest issues of Bracket and Fantastic Man and after poring page after page of these two magazines, they didn't disappoint. Bracket Vol 2 - Hunger is easily one of the most beautiful periodical that is locally produced, dedicated to design. Its second instalment features interviews with sixteen visionaries such as Seth Godin, Matias Corea and John Maeda, who have all pursued their hunger to create change in the world. While the 13th issue of Fantastic Man's main cover story features David Beckham, other notable profiles include: the new director of the Tate Modern, Chris Dercon, the media oligarch Evgeny Lebedev; and Michael Stipe who takes time to speak about his projects outside of R.E.M.

All in all, both an equally amusing and engaging read.

sifr at blueprint emporium!

2011-05-17T03:45:00.000-07:00

We're going to be retailing new sifr product this weekend at Blueprint Emporium! Come by and keep us company!

Location: Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center, Hall B : Booth B64
Time: Saturday & Sunday : 11AM - 7PM

THIS IS NOT A SUIT - A FILM BY A. SAUVAGE

2011-05-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

There has been a dearth of content on our blog. If you'd like to contribute, please email us! We have tons of content to share with the world but there are only so many hours in the day. Anyways we try our best not to repost content, but we found this video to be amazing.

Our buddies over at drifters & stray linked us the video.

We have been contemplating a move to tumblr to keep things easy.

sifr artisan footwear : walking in soon

2011-05-12T04:22:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time coming for our next footwear release. We decided we wanted to take the craftsmanship up a few notches so we continued to search around Indonesia for this elusive supplier. After weeks of searching a promising lead popped and we decided to go for it. The next thing we knew we were going crazy with sample production. Several moons have passed since our last drop, we can assure you it has been worth the wait!

We will be following up with more images and information on the shoes as they reach Singapore soil.

Till then keep a look out for us at BluePrint, we will be showcasing our new collection!

All the best,

The sifr team

The Prince Pleats Shirt

2011-05-05T23:02:00.001-07:00

This is one of our favorite pieces in the latest drop.

The story of how this garment was created is an interesting one; Each pleat was sewn together and then snipped right at the edge to create a raw edge. After that, a picot machine was used to bind the edge for a "cleaner" finish to give it that a contemporary take on a classic piece. The beauty of the garment comes after each wash and wear cycle. The bound edges will fray over time without any runs. Feel free to peal the extra thread as required or wash it further to create more fraying.

Shown here is the Prince Pleats shirt in it's most versatile state, this garment can be dressed up or down with a Tie or Bow-Tie.

Available right here

-ssm

Road to Blueprint

2011-05-05T01:40:00.000-07:00

We're participating in the Blueprint trade show on the 18th of this month.

We've been hard at work for some time now trying to get all of our final product ready for the big show. Our booth will have us featuring our ever popular Essentials line as well as our Ready-to-Wear line and some accessories. Our footwear samples are looking great and we hope some of you will feel the same way.

All of this would not be possible without our team of Designers, Manufacturers, Sample Makers, and Soldiers. We hope you enjoy checking out the goods as much as we enjoyed the entire process of conceptualizing and preparing everything.

I was just in Indonesia for a bit of time and will be headed back there this weekend. Here's a short rundown of our trip down there;

We're preparing and finalizing the last bit of the new batch of Sifr Essentials. The new colors are beautiful. Remember to always "Take Time".

Cut panels ready to be fed into the sewing lines. This is the exciting part.

3 new updates to look forward to; size XXL (for our Australian customers), the "Holistic Living" Marigold screenprint to always remind you all who we/you are and what we/you represent. Take this is a reminder to always live well and look after yourselves by any means possible. Lastly, we're going to be introducing the Long-Sleeved versions of these garments for everyone that asked.

Above is a photo of how they position the pockets for our Essentials line. This is quite uncommon in your usual T-shirt. Our manufacturer uses a cardboard pattern to mark each individual piece to get the most accurate placement. This is to ensure a consistent quality.

Below is our next generation Pajaya that was highly popular for us. This time with gross-grain tape, real horn stoppers and another detail that was borne out of your feedback; pockets!

Below is the worst part of my job. Hopefully not for long.

Below is the shirting line for our new collection that features translucent/sheer fabrics with a touch of South Asian Flair. We've paired some premium Japanese voile with Tonal netting for a real subtle feel. This is one of the many shirting styles that'll be up on display.

So far so good, back to the grind for the final week running into Blueprint.

See you soon.

-ssm

BROWN BAG! sifr & darker than wax & kin / post party

2011-05-02T22:23:00.000-07:00

To everyone that came down, a big thank you! To everyone that missed out, we will be back soon!

This party happening was amazing for us! Brown Bag was something that was talked about and talked about and to finally see it come to fruition has been a great experience. We will be keeping the party with the weather, something fresh that'll blow by every now and then.

A big thanks to everyone that took part in making this happen: Kinki, Darker Than Wax, Musique Large, Fulgeance, sifr, KIN, DBS and x-mini!

Peep the photos on facebook or our flickr, also take a look at the post party video we put out.

DANCE
LOVE
VICE
SWEAT

Brown Bag!

sifr 2011 : the return of the band pants!

2011-04-19T01:29:00.000-07:00

The return of the band pant & short! You can purchase these online, at K.I.N, rockstar or TANGS. Click the photos to view more information on the product, or if you're feeling generous with yourself. These band shorts / pants feature an amazing high density lightweight Japanese cotton twill from Osaka. The hand feel is out of this world, they wear even better.

BROWN BAG! sifr & darker than wax & kin

2011-04-10T20:26:00.000-07:00

Hello dear readers! We are throwing an amazing party this coming friday on the roof top of kinki. The participants are the new record label based out of Singapore, Darker Than Wax in conjunction with both sifr and KIN. Party opens it doors at 9PM and goes till 2AM! Please RSVP on our facebook, once we hit capacity on the roof deck it will be RSVP priority. ~~Click here to access our facebook event page.~~

Looking forward to seeing you there and having one too many drinks with us!

With love and passion,
Brown Bag!

THE VIEW FROM THE ROOF TOP OF KINKI!

sifr & 'nd i : making custom furniture p.2

2011-04-08T05:02:00.000-07:00

We're getting ready for Blueprint at the moment, it hasn't been this hectic in awhile. Hence the intermittent blogging... We need guest writers/bloggers! If you like writing please contact us! So many story ideas but no time to write. We are also looking for bloggers in Jakarta. If you have video and photo experience please contact us, we're looking to document all of Suraj's movements in Jakarta and share them with you all on youtube and on a blog(we are porting to a wordpress very very soon).

The photos below document the proto-typing phase for our a-frame. We're no George Nakashima but we did a pretty damn good job at constructing the a-frame used to hang the new line 'ND I.

If you're interested in contributing to DEAR time please email, info{A}sifrsite.com

We are porting our blog very very soon, hop on board the new movement!

Garment info you won't find anywhere else

2011-04-05T00:25:00.000-07:00

What you see here is another trick of the rag trade. Read on..

In the case where your garments using dual fabric don't exactly match the color you are looking for, you can always paint it.

More specifically, this is a technique in garment manufacturing where you can use garment dye mixed accordingly to the color you are looking for. When you get the correct shade in the concoction, take a regular paintbrush, dab it into a little bit of the dye, blot and then paint away. I don't encourage doing this on your own. It takes experienced hands to get the job done. Always be sure to paint 1 coat all around first and go again as per your final requirement. Furthermore, be sure to let the coat dry to decide whether it matches before going again.

Watch the video and you'll notice at the middle mark that the base fabric does not match the jersey being used. This is a slight shade variation that was quite noticeable and we had to make sure that the jersey was matching the base fabric.

Worried about it running? Don't be.

As the paint/dye dries, the fabric will absorb it just as much as if you were dyeing it regularly. The garment outer layer may be a bit hard at first but after the ironing/steaming process, it'll be as good as if it was never painted.

Another one to keep handy. You read it here first.

-sm

'ND I : photos from behind the scenes

2011-04-03T23:37:00.000-07:00

Some background images from our recent 'ND I shoot. We took a bunch of video as well, currently working to get a video out to further support the aesthetic of the collection. If the building looks familiar, it's because you might have had some coffee or eaten there.

Stockist

K.I.N

51 Haji Lane

eclecticism

Paragon #03-08

Retail Therapy
Wheelock Place #03-13

'ND I : our first lookbook

2011-03-28T23:40:00.000-07:00

Hello! Our new line 'ND I is officially on racks at various retailers around Singapore! We released some of the test shots about a week ago and now the images you see below captured by Chuck Reyes are the final result of months of work and preparation between sifr, K.I.N, and the lovely Resham from Nocturnal. Growing the idea of 'ND I has been a beautiful dance between all its participants from the beginning with the mood boards to the sample edits to the construction of it's custom rack and till just recently the launch of the line this last Friday. The garments capture the female form in a eloquent understated manner referencing masculine details from menswear tailoring in order to accentuate a almost rigid yet feminine silhouette expressing a tinge of sexuality. The use of a lightweight cotton modal jersey is soft to touch on the skin and more than comfortable in the tropics. All these combined with a sombre color palate come together to produce sifr's and Reshams take on a contemporary basics line for ladies.

Sincerely,
sifr & Resham

A few more words below in the form of our official press release:

‘ND I is the abbreviation of And I.

‘ND I is a contemporary take on women’s ready-to-wear t-shirts. It borrows masculine details from traditional menswear tailoring in the form of darts and tucks to create an almost rigid yet feminine line of everyday garments. This is a structured knitwear line.

The use of a cotton-modal blend was chosen to combine the strong traits of each type of fabric. The modal fabric gives the garment an almost soft, supple feel maintaining a stable degree of drape, while the cotton holds it together with it’s sturdy build. This blend is ideal in maintaining cohesiveness with the overall aesthetic of the label. Sturdy yet feminine, strong yet compassionate.

Inspired by the idea of interaction and exchange of energy between people, couples and lovers, the direction is to create a product for the androgynous woman and man. Be it partners or even same-sex couples, the thought of exchanging these garments with one another is an idea that would like to be explored and conveyed through the development of this product. These notions make up the core of this collaboration.

February 2011 marked the beginning of this contemporary clothing label.
With intentional use of a sombre color pallette, the line evokes a certain sense of calmness while retaining a confident edge. Sleek, youthful, sophisticated and contemporary in it's appeal with styling being crucial in the process of creating (unique) looks.

The 'ND I design procedure starts at the hands of Resham and Suraj Melwani and then filters on down to the photographic and graphic expertise of Daryl Chan and Christopher John Fussner Jr. The inaugural photoshoot was conducted by the talented Chuck Reyes who works under the renowned Geoff Ang from Geoff Studio. Our model was the ideal Linda Hao; student and part-time model.

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"images from the projection/lookbook for 'Nd I, a structured women's knitwear line co-designed suraj of sifr and kin and his wife resham. it's being model here by linda, who's just a crazy multi-hyphenate and all around awesome chick." -Chuck Reyes

Stockist

K.I.N

51 Haji Lane

eclecticism

Paragon #03-08

Retail Therapy
Wheelock Place #03-13

sifr 2011 : hong kong sourcing day 2.3

2011-03-27T18:57:00.000-07:00

One of our last videos from Hong Kong!

This video takes us inside the sample room that we are currently working with out of Kowloon. So after a year of producing with Indonesia exclusively we've finally made a comeback into China. We're doing several styles with the sample room captured in the video and we're looking to grow that selection in the coming collections. Besides producing out of this great sample room we're also doing our first batch of knitwear out of HK! We were more than happy when some of the samples that the knitwear supplier showed us from their portfolio had Flippa K tags attached.

If you have any questions, feel free to post in the comments section below!

Next up we have some footage from our recent shoot for our new project and we will be shooting some out of this world footage straight from Jakarta with our new footwear and clothing manufacturers.

Sincerely,
sifr

Friendly Fire: Karya & K.I.N

2011-03-23T09:35:00.000-07:00

Before we embark on our next window display installation this coming Friday, we'd like to recap the first one we did with Karya. The idea of the having our display transcend it's common role of visual merchandising display unit came about in our weekly company meeting. In a matter of weeks we had our first installation designed and setup by the wonderful architecture collective Karya out of Kuala Lumpur. For our next bit we are working with the multi platform creative agency kult. We hope to see you there this Friday for the launch of our second installment for our window display series.

Click the link below for the event information.

CLICK ME

Enjoy the post below courtesy of the folks from Karya!

As promised, updates on the dismantling process of our 5 months stint on the window of Know It Nothing are up! We're deeply grateful for K.I.N for the opportunity given to kickstart their initiative in promoting and showcasing regional talents. So without further ado, march through the updates people.

KARYA|KIN 2011 from architectsforpresidency on Vimeo.

The Capsule Life

2011-03-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

The recent 8.9 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami that has devastated Japan really hit "close to home." Over the winter months, I did a homestay in Japan so I feel more than just a sense of sympathy for the nation. I hope all family and friends of Sifr/KIN are alright.

From the news reports, I understand that Japan is just as orderly, polite, and calm as usual with no reports of looting or violence despite mounting pressures-- nuclear threats, lack of food and clean water, and rising numbers of missing people. These issues are extremely pressing and I urge you to reach out and help the Japanese community.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

For now, here are some of my favorite pictures of my capsule life in Japan: exploring the Nakagin Tower and staying at a capsule hotel.

The Nakagin Tower is quite sad and eerie. Despite being one of the only built examples of metabolist architecture, it is in a state of decay not regrowth. I knocked on every door in both towers but only encountered a few people- both of whom were busy with office work. One office was packed with papers and completely dark. The other office was more friendly towards me, but unable to show me around as it was a child pornography trader.

My stay at the capsule hotel was just as eerie- I couldn't tell if people were living humans or ghosts. No one acknowledged anyone else in the building; it was all very secretive. The room was quite luxuriously large compared to the capsule hotels I see online, as the TRUE capsule hotels are only for men.

Makeshift plumbing solutions

Climbing onto the roof of the capsule.

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A perfect closet for 1 fur vest.

A home for my desert boots.

sifr 2011 : march drops

2011-03-18T00:35:00.000-07:00

All cylinders are firing over at our office as we are taking part in Blueprint as well as continuing to produce more product to keep up with demand in Singapore. We are going to be exporting this year so we are producing our first collection in over a year and a half. We're really excited to share this upcoming collection with you guys as it's been our blood and sweat over these last few months. We're are continuing to do our best to keep delivering quality products in the months leading up to Blueprint show.

The products below belong to a 2 part March drop, the other part has some other long awaited products that have been out of stock for awhile.

We produced a beautiful 60/2 high density cotton poplin used in these shell stitch pants. We went with a airy and breathable cut, these pants are way too comfortable and allow for maximum ventilation even on the hottest days in Singapore. The pants have a beautiful shell stitch on the thigh and the insides are trimmed beautifully, quality speaks on the inside and outside of this pant. The quality shown here is really what we've been working very hard to produce over this last year. The pants come in a limited run of 50 pieces available at KIN, Rockstar and Tangs. Please click the photos for more information or if you wish to purchase the product right now.

The cloud shirt uses a related fabric to that seen in our "70s throwback shirt". A digital cloud print on 100% japanese cotton broadcloth. We kept things simple with an airy straight cut and relaxed fit, the shirt makes you feel at ease. It features single needle stitching, chalk buttons and a comfortably sized breast pocket. This batch of shirts is available in a short run of 60 pieces for each color at KIN, Rockstar and Tangs. Please click the photos for more information or if you wish to purchase the product right now.

The prince shirt is made from a lightweight 100% cotton poplin with soft handfeel. this slim fit shirt is a contemporary take on a classic tuxedo pleat shirt. it features raw edge pleats that have been safely finished with a picot stitch machine. garment comes with real shell buttons for a premium look. This batch of shirts is available in a limited run of 70 pieces for each color at KIN, Rockstar and Tangs. Please click the photos for more information or if you wish to purchase the product right now.

Sincerely,
sifr

sifr 2011 : voyeur home videos

2011-03-17T18:42:00.000-07:00

A little different from the holistic design video we posted earlier but in a similar light. We're taking more video footage about our process, our day to day on trips, insights into spots we checked out while traveling, peaks into factories and offices we visit. On our HK trip we figured that we've been having such a great time these last 2 years it would be selfish to not share it with the people that make what we do everyday possible.

In this video we are kicking starting our second day in Hong Kong. The day preluding this one was an action packed 23hours of work, indulgent food and smooth drinks; unfortunately we don't have much documentation of that besides a couple of photographs. We're about to go upstairs and finish some tech packs and then check out what Sham Sui Po has to offer, hopefully we will find a worthy fabric to sample with and use for production. We have a few more videos from HK covering the sample room and our thoughts of Sham Sui Po, stay tuned!

We are planning to return late May, so if you guys have any suggestions on places to go please let us know. We're up for anything, private kitchens to local noodle joints to beautiful nature spots. Share your secrets with us!

We'd also like to thank Alessandro Schuelli and Fasil Alemante for their continued support and advice regarding our growth! Their words and actions have helped us shape the company into what it is today.

Sincerely,
sifr

K.I.N. Website v2.0

2011-03-10T21:14:00.000-08:00

We've been working away at developing our new website to match the new developments at the store. No pictures here, have a look for yourself!

CLICK HERE

'ND I : soft release

2011-03-10T01:13:00.000-08:00

We recently conducted a photo shoot for our new brand 'ND I; A collaboration between sifr and Nocturnal. The result is a beautifully understated basics line that uses a silky cotton modal jersey geared more towards the beautiful ladies out there. The shoot took place right along Kallang Riverside Park inside the new TURE building that's now home to the famed coffee shop and bean roasters, Loysel's Toy (Papa Pahletas).

Photos are courtesy of Chuck Reyes.

Sincerely,
sifr

New Public Nuisance show 75 w the Funk Bast*rd (Cosa Nostra, Darker Than Wax)

2011-02-27T05:04:00.000-08:00

If an easier start to the week is what you are looking for, then perhaps tuning into
our very own Public Nuisance Show could do just that for you. We do it freestyle, on a fortnight basis, dishing out a wide spectrum of music that spans from Soul, Jazz, Hiphop, Bass, House to other assorted cosmic beats. Solutions to everyday problems. Enjoy.

Funk bast*rd / Cosa Nostra, Darker Than Wax, Public Nuisance radio show
Hear us on soundcloud
Visit us on facebook

Public Nuisance show 75 w the Funk Bast*rd (Cosa Nostra, Darker Than Wax) by Cosa Nostra

Travel: Door Obsession

2011-02-24T20:37:00.000-08:00

All pictures below are doors (except the shutters) I purchased on my travels to Lyon & Paris. The procurement of each door told a different story, some were hard to believe while others droned on with very much wind. I will say however that each story, although hard to hear at times in that terrible Franco-English accent did leave me fully entertained. My favorite story came from a young french couple, the husband came from an old parisian family while the wife had moved to Paris from Bordeaux in the early 80s to study at Sorbonne. The story left me rather unsatisfied and prompted further inquiry that could have lasted for hours if not days (Part of me very much enthralled by the movement of her lips and her poise, even the way she touched the stem of her glass to take in a stream of velvet (C. Haut Brion) got my seat tight). Much of the story fanned out into the building's history and how door came to be prior to the construction of the building in the mid 1850's during Haussmann's urban planning of the city. The family's struggle during the revolution and how his great great grandfather had hidden some of their assets with relatives in an estate just outside of Ghent... Now that I think of it perhaps it wasn't the story at all, but just the idea of her backdoor. With all that said, the cultural significance of a door had not sat with me till I had embarked on this recent trip to France. The doors that I find myself entering most of the time are either glass panes with no depth or consumer fabricated objects that only sit with the interior designer's vision of the space. Up until recently there have been very few doors that I've entered that could stand alone or carry a building's facade. As time continues I can only hope that the craft doors and their entryway facades that join them are not forgotten. Although one may say the result of such aesthetics is a society's opulence and fat, a result of human greed, the idea of looking good, the idea of Versaille, something that sits with vanity and not reality. I say, "If you can, let go of the current reality go on and craft your own."

Craft one with amazing doors!

The post above is fictitious.

sifr 2011 : psrp , premium pima rib

2011-02-22T20:07:00.000-08:00

Our pima rib shirts are back in stock, after a few test runs we are doing a full release for the psrp also known as the prince rib pima shirt. You can find the psrp at Tangs Orchard level 3 and KIN on 51 Haji Lane. The pima rib is softer than our pima jersey due to the more voluminous knit of the rib as compared to the jersey. The shirts play with structure and paneling.

A few more days till our promotion of 2 sifr essentials for 49$ ends at Tangs Orchard Level 3 - It's been encouraging to hear complaints regarding stock, we assure you that we will be delivering a new batch of essentials in new fashion colors this coming April.

We're going to be opening up a contest in the next few weeks where by one of our next fashion colors coming out in early August will be a color that you suggest to us. All you have to do select a color from a photo or send in a color swatch and why you would love this color to be on one of our essentials. Send photos and write up to info [at] sifrsite [dot] com.

Sincerely,
sifr

Photos done by: Shawn Chen

DARKER THAN WAX SELECTIONS

2011-02-18T23:19:00.001-08:00

Back from some early Saturday morning crate digging, and Im feeling good!
On that note, here's three more nuggets that are on heavy circulation at the mo. And again, freestyle selections.

Enjoy the weekend, we all deserve it.

Funk bast*rd (Cosa Nostra, Darker Than Wax, Public Nuisance radio show)
Hear us on soundcloud
Visit us on facebook

1. Space Invadas - Life ft. Jade Macrae

2. Jiro Inagaki & His Soul Media - The Vamp

3. Stan Zoid - Let's Do It.

New Pointer collection at K.I.N.

2011-02-18T02:05:00.000-08:00

If you have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of more Pointer shoes, the time has come. The new range includes extensions of the popular styles 'Debaser' and 'Tanju'.

For those however, who have not heard of Pointer, the brand features well-designed casual footwear which are great for day-to-day use. It's comfortable, simple, and easy to match.

Come on down to take a look at the full set, or delight in the 60% discount off our old Pointer collection.

sifr & 'ndi : making custom furniture p.1

2011-02-17T18:03:00.000-08:00

D-I-Y has been a growing part of D.E.A.R. time (sifr & kin) collective since we embarked on reworking the second floor of 51 Haji Lane. After working on the upstairs we took on building a custom fixture for our pop-up with Isetan, followed by designing our own fixtures at Tangs. After situating Tangs we only saw fit that we try our hands at constructing our very own 'A-Frame' rack. The photos below capture the journey we took to the lumber mill, Sin Wei Hong Timber, in Sungei Kaduk and the objects we found around their humble container office. Each trip we take to one of Singapore's oldest industrial areas is a journey in itself (We were there in early 2010 working with Clear Channel). The landscape that is within and around these industrial plots casts a beautiful reflection on an unchecked and organic side of Singapore. The imagery in these plots range from scrap metal collection to cement barrier casting to lumber. Each lot contains a very human and uncensored expression of a person or peoples business. A beautiful space to travel through. In our next post we'll be capturing the construction of the 'A-Frame'.

Sincerely,
sifr

Do you guys have any photos of urban decay to share?

Il Bussetto in KIN

2011-02-16T08:08:00.000-08:00

The minute we unsealed and opened the box, we had the pleasurable experience of breathing in the divine leathery smell of Il Bussetto's hand crafted leather wallets and coin-cases.

Exquisitely put together by Italian artisans, the products are produced using vegetable tanned leather with 100% natural colours and waxes.

Il Bussetto has intimate knowledge of leather processing and specializes in leather accessories such as wallets, coin-cases, card holders, etc. Some parts of the production process are even kept secret and the spectacular quality of Il Bussetto products is second to none.

Finding another excellent wallet would be a difficult task...

DARKER THAN WAX SELECTIONS

2011-02-15T23:16:00.000-08:00

Finally squeezing five mins of my time to contribute to one of the finest blogs around (in my opinion anyway) with three heavyweight musical selections...Darker Than Wax style. Hit me back if you are feeling the selections.

Funk bast*rd / Cosa Nostra, Darker Than Wax, Public Nuisance radio show
Hear us on soundcloud
Visit us on facebook

1. The Tiaras - Lost Girls

2. Coco Bryce - Boesoek

3. Penner & Muder - Speak your mind

sifr & tangs : orchard level 3

2011-02-09T23:16:00.000-08:00

We can’t believe it’s been over a year and a half since we started our relationship with TANGS. For a homegrown department store to invest in a homegrown label is a beautiful thing. The only way to progress as a society is more co-creation between entities. It’s been a great experience working with TANGS, the amount of knowledge we’ve gained through working with their team and being exposed to a more competitive retail environment has not only made our company stronger but ourselves as individuals have seen tremendous intrinsic growth through the process. After a series of pitches in the middle of last year TANGS agreed to giving us a bigger retail space, so in that time we’ve grown from a rack among racks into a beautiful store in store. It’s been a great and organic growth process with TANGS, I still remember putting our essentials on the promotional display area and then moving up to a rack several months later and finally we’ve attained our own store in store.

The space we are currently shaping at TANGS Level 3 Orchard plays on two major influences. The floor is anchored with Tibetan & Nepalese style carpets, South Asia is a special place for sifr in terms of spirituality and inspiration. The racks are custom designed in house and are a play on a neo-Victorian style emulated in a lot of upper eastside homes in New York. A place that sifr holds very close to its heart. The rest of the décor ties everything together as such a sifr house should look and feel. Elements such as picture frames capturing sifr memories and floral arrangements that are reminiscent of our company’s origins nestled at the top floor of a quaint shop house on Haji lane.

You can expect to find the full sifr range on display as well as a handful of complimentary products from KIN from brands such as: Gitman Vintage, Il Bussetto, Grenson, Makr, A Tail We Could Wag.

Sincerely,
sifr

Photos courtesy of Djulian Chng, http://www.primary-studio.com/

CNY SALE

2011-01-20T22:39:00.000-08:00

Of the many different traditions of Chinese New Year, our favourite is definitely making special effort to dress up in a new set of clothes. This also means that it's the perfect time to fully welcome the New Year with a brand new style. So chuck those over-worn Oxfords and trade up your old wardrobe for something K.I.N. has to offer, especially with our awesome CNY sale commencing today (Fri, Jan 21)!

Moscot Titanium frames at KIN

2011-01-18T02:47:00.000-08:00

Those who are fans of Moscot Original frames can celebrate as we add three new styles to our existing collection. The Miltzen-T, Nebb-T, and Lemtosh-T.

These frames are basically a modern spin-off from Moscot's famous and favourite frames. They are made from nickel-free hi-tech titanium which makes each pair significantly lighter and thinner. Sleek, durable and most importantly stylish, the frames are priced at SGD559 per piece.

BAG'n'NOUN : available at KIN

2011-01-18T01:43:00.000-08:00

BAG'n'NOUN bags, made from an unprecedented combination of materials, are perfect any destination or activity. Originally from Osaka Japan, the label is well-known for their simple, well-crafted, and streamlined designs.

The bags are made from extremely durable Cordura nylon and canvas material, which has an excellent tear strength and boasts water-resistant characteristics. Come on down to K.I.N. to check out the variety of Bag'n'Noun haversacks, totes and slings.

New shoes: PF Flyers

2011-01-18T01:23:00.000-08:00

PF Flyers are the new shoes we've brought in for all you sneaker junkies. The line of casual footwear is a splinter line manufactured by sportswear giant, New Balance. Each pair of PF Flyers is carefully crafted with a special insole technology that sets a new standard to sneaker comfort.

We currently have two unique styles in a variety of colours. Read more on how the Posture Foundation insole technology works here .

Jakarta R&D - Day 1 in-depth and sifr 2011 : holistic design 0.2

2011-01-17T05:07:00.000-08:00

These trips aren't fun. I'm usually loaded with things to do that were discussed in previous meetings with the guys in Singapore.

For this trip, lots to do such as;

1) Post-CNY (Chinese New Year) Product edits/changes/confirmations that were previously commented on

2) Dyeing exploration (process of seeing what type of dyeing they are able to do)

3) Distress exploration (process of going to distressing company and seeing what they are able to do)

4) Exploring visual cues/visual signifiers (this is tough because it's got to resonate the brand's ID as well as be aesthetically viable. (to my team and the rest; read on to see whether I was successful in trying the visual signifier for the new product)

5) Sifr Essentials production plan for March Delivery. (This will include long sleeve versions of your favorite pocket crews and v-neck tees)
6) We've also ordered a tonne of trims that we're trying to implement in the next batch of production.

Diving straight in, today started out with POST-CNY Product edits. No time was wasted at all. My team in Singapore should be happy to hear this!

Just FYI, it's always necessary to have a reliable fit model that you fit your sample garments on. In our case, we have one of our MVP's who don't seem to gain or lose any weight at all. He's the perfect fit model who frees me of any such obligation. What you see below is actually a garment that we're working on for the Post-CNY (Chinese New Year) program. This was fitted on our MVP in our studio. It was then photographed, commented on including changes and improvements, etc.

In our case, I bring the edits and comments to the patternmaker and merchandiser and they subsequently make all the changes to the garments. The issue we're having now is trying to get them to make sure they meet our deadlines for the next batch of goods.

I didn't have time that day to focus on distress and dyeing. That is done out of our industrial complex. I did however, have time to focus on something the guys told me to explore;

-----Visual Cues-----
\\\\\Visual Cues/////
___Visual Cues___

Remember that a visual cue is quite important in every garment/product/etc. We use the Fred Perry example a lot at the office but the embroidery on the chest is quite important in that even if you're not physically interacting with the person across from you, you're most likely indirectly interacting. That embroidery says a lot about you, what you stand for, etc. With that said, we're working on a signifier for both essentials and our main line that will speak to your neighbor in a subtle yet meaningful fashion. Next time you see someone with one of our garments from the new batch, you'll probably be able to identify what team he plays for.

We have in our factory a lot of beautiful gross grain to work with. Before leaving to Jakarta, we had come up with a few techniques we could employ to create a visual cue that is subtle, not over bearing and not overly thought-out. It had to also make technical sense.

One of the more interesting ideas was to create a braid out of 3 strips of gross grain and then somehow attach it to the matching colored garment to ensure it's subtlety.

What you're seeing above is the gross grain strip being slotted through a folder. A folder is a metal piece that folds the piece of fabric into the required. This is usually used to create strips of fabric or for binding a seam, etc or even for clean-finishing a garment.

As soon as the folder's done with one long strip, it's then cut into 3 strips and braided. After braiding comes attaching.

Next time you see someone wear a braid on their right side seam, could be a sifr product. The only problem with this was that the gross grain was already quite thick and 3 strips folded 3 times made for a pretty sturdy braid. This was unfortunately a no go but who knows (sorry guys at the office, you can discuss alternative options after your meeting tomorrow), maybe next time if someone hasn't already read here and decided to use it. We'll just have to opt for thinner string.

Best,

- ssm

sifr 2011 : holistic design 0.1

2011-01-16T18:48:00.000-08:00

We are going to be releasing a set of unedited anecdotal videos from our production trips in Jakarta, sourcing trips in Japan, to our day to day operations in Singapore. In this series of posts & videos we will be touching on everything from production based techniques to things we learn about in our visual merchandising that we've picked up over the last two years and employing in our brand today. Hope you enjoy the footage!

In this video Suraj is touching briefly on "stitches per inch" something that is integral in constructing any garment. SPI has a direct impact on the strength of the seam, the appearance of garment, and can affect the elasticity on certain fabrics and seam puckering. Seam strength depends on several factors: fabric weight & type, stitch & seam construction, stitches per inch, the type of thread and its size, and balancing the tension between stitches. SPI differs from garment to garment, fabric, weight and so on.

Consistency is also mentioned in the video something that resides in our design process but is visually distinct once the garment comes into reality.

Jakarta R&D

2011-01-14T06:03:00.000-08:00

Above are some photos from the last trip. I'll try to be more up to date in the future.

Back again in Indonesia for more sifr related R&D.

Now that we're up at CK Tangs level 3, it's been a real game-changer. Distribution to a boutique and to a department store are two different playing fields.

With great exposure comes greater scrutiny. Therefore, we're required to make sure that the floor is constantly filled with good product.

With that said, we're back in Indonesia doing more R&D as well as making sure the upcoming merchandise is sailing through the production process smoothly.

I'm at the factory and will be here till next Thursday so feel free to let us know what you want us to feature in the comments section.

- ssm

K.I.N. makr pre-order

2011-01-14T05:20:00.000-08:00

hello,

we are doing a pre order for makr carry goods that will go on from today till next week thursday. goods will be delivered into singapore mid march.

-please view the pre-order catalog below/
-please read over the terms and conditions of the pre-order/
-once you've decided what you want to order please download the word document below and fill out the order form/
-email it to firdauz [at] knowitnothing [dot] com/

or alternatively...

-you may place a pre-order in person at the store/
-over the phone @ +65 6392 5475/

have a great weekend!

kind regards,
k.i.n.

PRE-ORDER FORM DOWNLOAD

makr january 2011 pre order

a tale we could wag

2011-01-11T22:43:00.000-08:00

The newest addition to a tail we could wag belts in store is the Classic - Red, White and Blue design that is, like the rest, brilliantly coloured and made with quality craftsmanship. The leather finish adds a touch of ruggedness and earthiness - pertinent to those who are a fan of the great outdoors.

Available sizes range from waist 30" - 36"

Travel: Urban Decay

2010-12-28T02:45:00.000-08:00

Even before an object is completed or a building is built it has already slipped into a state of decay. Some of the photos below examine objects in different states of deterioration. I was quite fixated on certain air conditioning units in some of the older subway lines in Tokyo. The cream with a few drops of coffee color, the scratches and bumps, the consistency between the intake and output grates, the stainless steel skirting providing a great aesthetic accent as well as a protective design feature, and their names in the top right hand corner; "FCU-2-10".

For the vintage addict

2010-12-21T22:14:00.000-08:00

Our in-store stationery collection just got a little larger with a set of quirky, timeless back-to-school favourites!

Call it what you will. Scrap book, scratch pad, notebook, we don't care! Whether it's to pen your thoughts, doodle, or even list your new year resolutions for 2011, our select range of multipurpose journals and paperbacks will not disappoint.

Adding on to these are some alluring, vintage knick knacks that combine form and function with 100% usability.

Our favourite includes classics such as the mini Lakeland colour pencils and lunchbox-style Faber Castell pencil case, complete with a dozen Faber Castell's 2B pencils.

Sincerely,
Verena

Travel: A Glimmer of Tokyo

2010-12-19T02:49:00.000-08:00

This last trip to Tokyo trip I brought two cameras, an Olympus EP-1 and a Horizon Perfekt. Despite having two cameras I did not take that many photographs. I keep arguing in my mind about the relevance of capturing all the details of my trip and what the significance of 1000 digital images will be after the trip is over. The whole argument of ,"being in the moment versus capturing the moment", has been bothering me. Regardless of what I am thinking in my head I will still bring a camera on every trip I embark on, however the usage and depth of thought in documenting will vary depending on which side of the argument is louder.

The basis of this last trip was to use an existing ticket that was purchased but had to be rescheduled due to unforeseen personal circumstances (injured my knee playing football). To sum up my trip: met two amazing fabric contacts, I partied with an UK artist doing a gig there, met some unexpected people from Tokyo and out of town, ran into 2 sets of friends from Singapore unplanned, one of the sets I travelled to visit some architectural sites with, discovered an amazing cul de sac of bars, and found my future residences in Tokyo. All in all a pretty damn good weekend +2.

A small set of photos that captured a nice tiny slice of my trip. (No party photos unfortunately, if anyone wants to donate a compact hotshoe flash, please leave info in the comments.)

If you get anything at all out of this post, the next time you are in Tokyo go to Nakameguro and check out Golden Gai in Shinjuku.

Probably my last time using the Narita Express due to the advent of the new Haneda airport which is closer to the city.

I hope that sooner rather than later I will be using their fabrics, I touched this 60s supima dungaree, the handfeel is out of this world.

Meeting with the bigboss since the whole team was at Premier Vision. It was an interesting, a lost in translation moment but we got along just fine in the end.

I couldn't believe that this is their fabric showroom in Tokyo, it looked more like an art gallery.

If you love football, this is a must go. (Weston Corp you guys are still my number one, but if there's any other city you can do something better than KAMO it's Singapore.)

Prayers

Mountain Research, Naval Research, Research Research!

Cowbooks is my favorite shop in the whole world and I don't know why.

I can't imagine how Nakameguro looks in the spring.

This is a beautiful, need to get one of these for home.

You are mine SS11

Spiral is amazing, a wide spectrum of products highly curated. Furniture to fragrances.

MON MON MON MON

Would just like to throw a heads up to all our readers that are still with us after the dearth of posts on this blog. We will be porting the blog over to a wordpress format! Nothing crazy, getting a few more guest bloggers on board and going to streamline the design of the blog into something simple and a little more organized.

Leave your name and email in the comments and we'll tell you how you can get a free sifr item if you live in Singapore.

Happy Holidays,
sifr

Holiday Gift Ideas from KIN!

2010-12-15T08:55:00.001-08:00

Take a look at our gift suggestions for this holiday season! We'd also like to remind you that we will be giving away a free gift each day to one lucky customer!

Happy Holidays!
K.I.N.

Friendly Fire: an\b editions

2010-12-13T01:13:00.000-08:00

We're proud to announce our friends from across the water (Roberston Quay) have just published their first book. Card Board Book explores this common everyday material in a number of facets from: architecture and interior design, furniture and lighting, products, art and installations and toys, the featured projects include works by shigeru ban, work architecture company, ball-nogues studio, wendy plomp. If you're interested in exploring the versatility of this found resource, the book provides succinct write ups and detailed images giving you an overview of the processes and ideas regarding each of the projects it showcases.

If you're interested in acquiring Card Board Book locally look towards the following stockist:

Basheer Books

Blk 231, Bain Street
#04-19, Bras Basah Complex, Singapore 180231

   [Workshop] by Angelus Novus Studio
   7 Rodyk Street 01-30 . Watermark Robertson Quay . Singapore 238215
   (opp. Gallery Hotel)

"New Singapore-based architecture and design publisher, an\b editions, releases its first book in early November 2010. Cardboard Book explores incredible cardboard designs from across the world.

Did you ever think you’d come across a cardboard bridge, farm, bed, light, surfboard, computer, necklace, or toy gorilla? an\b editions’ Cardboard Book is packed with ingenious examples of how architects, designers, artists, and craftspeople around the world have used cardboard in a variety of contexts, and achieved fascinating results."

'rip curl canyon' by ball-nogues studio is an imagined landscape where 'land and water collide'

'cardboard sculptures' by chris gilmour are intricate, life-sized replicas of everyday objects
see more here

'paper bridge' by shigeru ban architects
the twenty-two meter long temporary bridge was designed to mirror the dimensions of its neighboring bridge, the historical pont du gard

'message in a box' by wendy plomp
cardboard boxes were transformed in to ornate arabesque 'carpets' with silkscreening
see more here

coffins' by eco coffins

photos courtesy of http://designboom.com

Sincerely,

sifr

K.I.N Year End Sale.

2010-12-08T06:45:00.000-08:00

For 12 days before and after Christmas, we are having our year end sale - our way to thank you for all the support and encouragement you have provided us over the years. Our success would not have been possible without you and we are truly humbled and grateful.

From all of us, Happy Holidays!

We're on a Slight Break

2010-12-03T02:51:00.000-08:00

Hello Readers,

We haven't been posting much as of late. We've been wrapping up the 2010 projects and also re-approaching the blog and potentially launching an off-shoot blog ala webzine (still in heavy brainstorm). We finished our first live music gig with TAB and ROX (video below), we're working on bringing a few more acts in with TAB and the Darker Than Wax label this coming 2011. The photo below is of our recently finished Isetan x sifr pop-up space, it was our first full on DIY space if you remember the images from a few weeks ago, Click Here

We're currently working away on getting our new store in store at TANGS up to scratch. We feature the full sifr range on the third floor of TANGS orchard. Waiting for some of our custom fabricated furniture to come in from Jakarta, waiting for some Nepalese & Tibetan rugs to come in from Kathmandu and on top of that we've been scouring antique & junk shops around Singapore. If you have any suggestions for places that have great nicknacks and furniture please leave your suggestion in the comments section.

Also I'd like to put out a question to you. What do you enjoy most on the blog?

sifr 2010 : evening ankle boots

2010-11-18T03:36:00.000-08:00

Evening Ankle Boots, handmade by expert craftsmen. It'll help you walk the walk. Now available at KIN and Rockstar. Click the links for more information regarding how to procure these wonderful boots.

Sincerely,
sifr

Be Linen Movie

2010-11-14T09:13:00.000-08:00

A friend recently passed me the link to the video below. I found the timing of my friends recommendation to be quite uncanny as the world's cotton supply plummets due to terrible harvests the last two years and prices begin to shoot up as world consumption catches up with supply. The question I have been asking myself regarding fabric is where to next? We at sifr have been looking at several possible fabric alternatives to offset our cotton consumption. For our jersey we've been exploring modal, tencel, and bamboo. For our woven we have been looking at linen (not European in particular), lyocell, and several other cellulose & synthetic blends. You'll start to see us use a wider range of fabric types this coming 2011.

If you're interested in fabric or just about systems & processes the video below will most definitely satiate your curiosity. The 15 minute film provides a brief glimpses at different components of the growing, processing, post processing, manufacturing, and fabrication of the oldest fabric in the world, linen. The film is beautifully shot and has superb flow between the different topics related to linen although the video does get a little too overt with the marketing it's still a great watch, enjoy!

BE LINEN MOVIE from Benoit MILLOT on Vimeo.

sifr 2010 : eppaulette shirt

2010-11-11T20:47:00.000-08:00

the eppaulette shirt is made from a custom 60's double micro sanded cotton poplin. (60's double micro sanded: 60 is weight of the thread and double means that the thread is two ply. micro sanded is a post-weave finishing that gives the fabric a slight sheen as well as drops the weight of the fabric). this slim fit shirt is perfect for a night out. it features single needle stitching, a split seam placket, and mother of pearl buttons.

sincerely,
sifr

sifr 2010 : jersey contrasts

2010-11-09T23:58:00.000-08:00

made from a lightweight 100% japanese cotton yarn dye gingham. (yarn dye: the weave of the fabric is composed of different color threads which make up the pattern which is gingham in this case). this slim fit shirt is perfect for a night around town. it features a hidden placket and cotton modal accents.

sincerely,
sifr

Deck Towels

2010-11-06T08:34:00.001-07:00

Deck Towel (made of 100% Italian linen)

"Our towels are light, compact and sturdy. They don't hold in sand or odors like cotton, and are both faster-drying and more absorbent."

A great gift for family or friend that's a frequent beach goer. I reckon, you could even use it as a bath towel.

Sincerely,

Photography : Gianni

ROX / THIS FRIDAY / TAB

2010-11-04T03:43:00.000-07:00

We're handing out a last minute reminder to all our readers that tomorrow night 8PM is ROX's live event at TAB. We have come together with x-mini to create a great give away package. Contents include: x-mini speakers, a cash voucher for KIN and sifr essentials. Check the flyer below for more details. Tickets are available at the door.

See you guys at the event!

Sincerely,
sifr & KIN

sifr & isetan : pop-up store

2010-11-01T01:53:00.000-07:00

We're doing our second pop-up store at Isetan Scotts! November sifr items will be released at the pop-up space. Keep a look out for our space, we are right by the escalators leading up to Lido Cineplex. Details on the flyer below. With any purchase above 150SGD we'll be giving you a free traveler jacket.

Some images of us prototyping palate configurations.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Sincerely,
sifr

Naked & Famous FW10 Release

2010-10-29T22:28:00.001-07:00

From L to R :

- Weird Guy Black Selvedge

- Weird Guy Grey Selvedge

- Weird Guy Deep Indigo Selvedge

From L to R :

- Skinny Guy Natural Indigo Selvedge

- Skinny Guy Black Power Stretch

- Skinny Guy Indigo Broken Twill Selvedge

From L to R:

- Skinny Guy Natural Indigo Selvedge

- Skinny Guy Black Power Stretch

- Skinny Guy Indigo Broken Twill Selvedge

- Slim Guy Black Selvedge

Photography : Shawn Chen

Looking for FT Retail Staff

2010-10-29T01:46:00.000-07:00

Interested applicants to send CV to info@knowitnothing.com & firdauz@knowitnothing.com

KIN FW10 Release

2010-10-28T04:44:00.000-07:00

EG - Grey/Blue/Red Dobby Stripe Tux Shirt

EG - Black Whipcord Bedford Jacket

EG - White Broadcloth 80s Shirt

EG - Grey Dobby Diamond 19th Century BD Shirt

Moscot - Miltzen in Tortoise

EG - Red/Navy Twill Stripe Cyclist BD Shirt

EG - Brown/Tan HB Stripe Tab Collar Shirt

EG - Navy/Purple Novelty Silk Jacquard Neck Tie

Sifr - Black Coated Icicle Pants

EG - Brown/Tan HB Stripe Tab Collar Shirt

EG - Olive Ctn Ripstop Logger Vest

sifr - Black Coated Icicle Pants

EG - Grey Vintage Chambray Engineered Jacket

sifr - Black Coated Icicle Pants

sifr - Grey Nubuck Slip-Ons

EG - Black /Grey Stripe French Terry Bedford Jacket

EG - Black/Grey Stripe French Terry Sweatpant

Shades of Grey - Denim Chambray BD Collar Shirt

Shades of Grey - Tan Flat Front Chino

Shades of Grey - Grey L/S 2 Layer Tee

Shades of Grey - Tan Flat Front Chino

Shades of Grey - French Cheque BD Collar Shirt

Shades of Grey - Navy Pinstripe 2 Button Blazer

Shades of Grey - Grey L/S 2 Layer Tee

Shades of Grey - Denim Chambray Funnel Neck

Shades of Grey - Tan Flat Front Chino

Model : Darren Loke

Photography : Shawn Chen

Styling : Darren Loke, Gavin Lee

Location : K.I.N 2nd Floor.

Graduation

2010-10-27T23:07:00.000-07:00

We've tracked our progress over the years. We've tracked the things we've done and our overall approach to life/design/spirituality, etc. Life has it's simple pleasures, it's actions/events that don't have any real consequence on the world or the people around you. That's why you undertake them. We channel our energies doing these small things/parts that tend to not have any weight on the whole and that's how we approach life/work, clothing production, etc.

You might wonder why we're writing about this?

It's because of a certain graduation we have experienced in the last year or so. Some may notice that the quality of work through our blog/our garments/our store curation, etc has been fine tuned. We are understanding who we are and where we'd like to take this/these businesses to. The comparison between the work we have done before as opposed to what we do now is vast. Sometimes "design" can be construed as creation for the sake of creation. When you don't have a grasp on things, that's usually the case.

There now seems to be more meaning in the small parts while considering the impact on the whole. I think Wikipedia calls this a "Holistic" approach to design/life, etc. Check and feel free to agree/disagree through the comments section.

How did we come to all of these more meaningful observations?

1) This came about the other day when we were going through our product line. The end results that we have received in our office in the form of garments have experienced significant growth in terms of quality since the date of the products initial conception. I have reserved a special post for this that will be useful to a lot of you guys in the clothing business. I don't mind sharing some of our trade secrets and things to look out for if it'll benefit you readers. For example, we have paid attention to all the small parts of the garment to create an appealing whole, even if it doesn't appeal to the greater masses. It's due diligence on our part, but more on that later.

2) The store has been our canvas to show all the things we find interesting, worthy of a mention under the umbrella that is culture. If it wasn't executed as well before, it will get better in the future as part of the "graduation". We've progressed in the form of window display competitions, pre-orders, useful production posts, more effective store interiors (the 2nd floor is just as beautiful as the bottom floor). All of this has been done with regard to our overall business direction. We might throw some parties soon as well. Again, more on that later.

To explain: The process of all this was part of a greater process called "Reductionism". We've been reading up on it and trying to apply. It's when we reduce everything to it's small parts and study it's effect on the greater whole. When you come to reduce everything and strip away the unnecessaries, you come out understanding things in greater depth. We've been implementing this concept into clothing production, store curation/direction and life in general. It's a stronger approach.

In terms of clothing production, by breaking down all of a garments details and studying them in depth, you will find that certain things can be improved through better technical understanding. When they are improved/adjusted, the garment on the whole has more life, personality and value (intrinsic and extrinsic/monetary).

If this is all too complicated, we'll go through it in the next post with relation to one of our favorite garments; The Icicles.

Till next time, enjoy the store curation, the second floor and the beautiful clothing. Here's to quality!

ssm

Friendly Fire: Underscore x Vanguard

2010-10-21T15:36:00.000-07:00

Our friends over at Underscore & Vanguard have teamed up to do a series of custom bicycles and installations to celebrate the second issue of Underscore Magazine, "The Constant Issue". If you're curious peep the flyer & information regarding the installations below.

Underscore, is an independent magazine with thematic content attuned to a simple rhythm; quality of life.

Vanguard, specializes in building & restoring custom one-off bicycles.

We're featuring 4 VANGUARD X UNDERSCORE bicycles at 4 installation venues for the launch of UNDERSCORE N°2: THE CONSTANT ISSUE.

Mist Messenger Bike - 2902 Gallery Old School, 11B Mount Sophia, #B2-09
Rain Messenger Bike- Books Actually, 86 Club St
Cloud Messenger Bike - Grafunkt, Park Mall, 9 Penang Rd, #B1-21
Dew Messenger Bike - Fred Perry Laurel, 19 Ann Siang Rd
Do drop by from Thu 21st to Mon 25th Oct 2010 for a preview of the one-off Vanguard x Underscore bicycles and magazines available for presale before it officially hits the newsstands.

In collaboration with
UNDERSCORE N°2: THE CONSTANT ISSUE

Travel: Mustang Pt.2

2010-10-21T04:17:00.000-07:00

The photos below are from the second installment of my 14 day hike through Mustang, Nepal. Truth be told I did not hike for all 14 days of the journey. I was on foot for the first 7 days to Lo Manthang, during the return I split the time between horseback and foot. I did not commit to hiking powerfully for a full 14 days, if I did, maybe I would feel like a true outdoors man (Davy Crockett concept, a huge influence in my own life, I must have watched 'Davy Crocket, King of the Wild Frontier' over 100 times as a child). Riding Nepalese style on a horse through the mountains was the main reason for passing up foot travel, the feeling of being a real cowboy. Although I did not wrangle or herd any cattle, I was able to traverse terrains that were reminiscent from scenes in an Italo-Western. In another reality we could have starred in a neu-Nepalese Western...

I rode in the company of: a master South Asian outdoorsman whom was the leader of the trek, a restoration expert responsible for keeping a lot of the ancient monasteries intact throughout Mustang and the Himalayas, a high-Lama that ran a school in Pohkara, 3 children from Mustang that attended the Lama's school in Pokhara that were on their way back to visit their families, and last but not least a great support team of sherpas.

The diverse group made for a trip filled with a range of different experiences and interactions on a daily basis. On any given day we'd wake up as the sun rose eat a relatively light breakfast that was usually made up of oatmeal &/or eggs, sausages and toast. We'd discuss the path we'd take, rest stops, points of interest, lunch break and our next camp location. An average day encompassed close to 8 hours of hiking up and down the surrounding landscape. Some of my most treasured experiences on the trip was times spent in restoration sites of Buddhist temples. Looking at frescos that dated centuries if not millennia humbles your existence in time. Seeing the restoration work on some of these massive frescos some spanning several meters wide and tall was amazing, with each brush stroke life was being breathed back into the space.

An unforgettable experience, I will most definitely return in the near future.

ROX / November 5th / TAB

2010-10-20T03:24:00.000-07:00

We are dipping our feet into throwing ridiculous parties and being part of great music events. The gig with ROX will be our first installment of several events in the coming year. This November 5th we are (sifr & kin) teaming up with TAB & X-mini to bring you ROX. She is finishing up several shows in Tokyo and heading on over to Singapore for a one night performance at TAB. If you are interested in getting a sample of what is to come take a look at her video, "My Baby Left Me". There's more information regarding the gig at the bottom of the page.

Although only 21, Roxanne Tataei AKA Rox, released her debut album Memoirs in 2010. Her debut album was partially recorded in New Jersey with Commissioner Gordon (of Lauryn Hill fame) but mainly in London with Jay-Z and Lupe Fiasco producer Al Shux.

Rox has already been described as "The next big thing" by music reviews. She's had a sensational performance on "Later.. with Jools Holland", been on tour with Mark Ronson and Danie Merriweather plus she was nominated for MTV's EMA Best Newcomer in UK 2010.

Rox is performing for one night only at TAB at 8pm on Friday, 5th Nov. Come listen for yourself as her soulful vocals soar through upbeat tunes and reggae-tinged beats on tracks like "My Baby and "I Don't Believe".

Tickets are available at tab.com.sg

Early Bird Tickets - $28 (until 20th Oct)

Standard Tickets - $38

DBS CARD HOLDERS ENJOY 10% OFF TICKET PRICES

PROMO CODE: TABrox

For more information go to

www.tab.com.sg/2010/10/rox/

www.thisisrox.com

*TICKET HOLDERS MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD.

*PRICES NOT INCLUSIVE OF $1.50 TICKETING FEE.

**DBS CARD USED MUST BE PRESENTED UPON ENTRY

Spread the message on facebook!

Keep an eye out as we're giving away a couple tickets for the gig. See you on November 5th!

public nuisance radio show no. 68 : funk bast*rd (cosa nostra)

2010-10-08T05:31:00.000-07:00

no explanation needed, public nuisance no.68. it's ~~ridiculous~~. keep an ear out for the mini-cascade feature.

Public Nuisance show No. 68 w the Funk Bast*rd (Cosa Nostra) by Cosa Nostra

Sifr Annex Pop-up x KIN 2nd Floor Preview

2010-10-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

Following up on our previous post about KIN's second floor, this weekend and next, we will have a preview of our space in conjunction with sifr Annex pop-up.

The second floor space is relatively raw, but this weekend and next provides an opportunity to view its original shell and see it transform and grow in weeks to come when it becomes a full fledged retail space expansion for KIN.

And just a quick recap, sifr Annex is an online store where you have an opportunity to purchase past season items at 50% off the original retail price and for those who have yet to try a sifr garment, the pop-up over the next two weekends will allow you to try them before purchase.

Note that we have very limited sizes so spread the word, come early and dig for some good buys. See you over the weekend.

Mfoliage Skincare Line

2010-10-06T02:10:00.000-07:00

Just in at K.I.N, a facial wash made from all natural ingredients to not only clean your skin but pamper your senses with calming lavender oil and undertones of Sandalwood and four other Australian oils and extracts.

Mfoliage by Janet Sng - "A skincare line created with passion and belief in natural scent and simplicity."

Visit the store to try the product.

Window Display by KARYA.

2010-10-05T23:34:00.000-07:00

What began as an idea pitch during our weekly meeting sessions has turned into reality in 2 months. The idea originated from a disagreement we had during the meeting over the full utilization of our window space. The idea of merchandising curation was getting old and the potential impact of the window was being greatly undeserved as not only a space within KIN but as a public space as well. Not only do we want our window display to attract shoppers' attention, we wanted to convey an authentic message - something that resonates with the store's ethos.

We can not express how pleased we are with the work produced by KARYA, an architecture based design collective based out of Malaysia.

This is an excerpt explaining their idea behind the installation:

"The work installed by the team depicts the dynamics of the brand's growth and immeasurable potential. The work is made up of networks, an analogy and imagery of the brand's numerous developed connections throughout the years in Singapore's fashion scene. In its formation, the work also signifies KIN's intended growth and expansion in influence and bridging ties regardless of distance and dimension. The usage of thread, buttons and color exploitation lends a light-hearted air to the installation, a direct juxtaposition to it's mature theme. Lines are kept clean, sharp and minimal, materials are experimented to match KIN's outlook and KARYA's attribute."

Just as their work reflects growth, the team at KIN has unanimously agreed that this project is the start of many to come from 2011 onwards where we get creative entities to do work on KIN's window display on a quarterly basis.

This project reflects our determination to engage the local creative community to do collaborative projects with KIN. A considerable and positive change from our initial usage of the window display as product placement to utilizing the space currently, as a 'blank canvas' for creative expression.

K.I.N. new magazines in store

2010-10-01T02:38:00.000-07:00

we're in the process of augmenting our reading section, 2 new additions that have dropped into store these last few weeks. if you have any suggestions for rare/niche/hard to find magazines, please leave a comment.

apartmento: visits, interviews and documents personal spaces; no gloss, no styling, just embracing the human element of inhabitance. a mix & match of old and new. apartamento captures personality not perfection. quoted off of japanese webzine, shift's feature on apartamento awhile back, "We will not show tidy interiors because they don’t exist outside your mum’s imagination. We want to show how people arrange their homes and the solutions they find to the same problems you have."

bjournal: is a collaboration between two photographers; Alvin Tang & Joel Chan. Their works are simple yet sincere. Through their well-crafted printed journal, they hope to get in touch with more like-minded artists for future collaboration.

Grab them at the store. They're beautiful!

Song Combo: B.Bravo / Space Dimension Controller

2010-09-30T21:02:00.000-07:00

Computa Love

The Love Quadrant

The Second Floor

2010-09-29T23:01:00.000-07:00

In 15 days, we'll be very pleased to present to all of you the second floor at KIN.

Just a quick recap on what it was and what it intends to be in the future:

Upon opening it's doors back in 2007, the second floor was initially delayed due to furniture and design issues. We had decided to go ahead and present the first floor and slowly attempt to get the upstairs portion sorted out. 3 months after we opened up, the second floor was done. All furniture was put in and the store was eventually segregated into two sections with the first comprising of clothing and accessories while the second floor comprised purely of footwear and some artwork.

The second floor turned into somewhat of an enclave for many. With the mood set by a combination of subtle lighting and cozy mid-century furniture, the space welcomed customers both new and old. Sometimes even to purely just soak in the atmosphere of a quiet and cultured setting far away from the bustle of the more central areas. The space also functioned as a gallery and sometimes played host to many a gathering for friends or other like minds. We even had DJ "Brown Suga" at the second floor to drop some 90's R&B for an intimate gathering one Thursday evening. It was a one of a kind affair. If you know of anyone that was present at that event, make sure to ask for highlights of the evening.

As some of you may know, the second floor was recently turned into an office space for us. Shortly after, we grew out of it and moved on to another great spot in the city. We packed the ping-pong table, the water cooler, the inventory and moved out. Since then, the second floor has undergone a slight renovation to turn it back into a retail location. We miss having an engaging space.

Albeit fun, the second floor renovation was an interesting challenge. With the entire team throwing out ideas for furniture/design/direction, it was more relaxing than it was 4 years ago when I single-handedly took charge of the project. It made me thankful for the support of a solid team. I also realized that this business has come a long way since May 2007.

Our brief was simple. Keywords tossed around included; Modular, Visually Engaging, Clean, etc. We wanted a slightly different realm than the first floor which is why we chose some of the furniture that you'll eventually see up there. A lot of us at the office were highly influenced by the would be home of a wealthy upper-east side divorcee. You'll see brass in shiny yellow, you'll see carpets we've accumulated over the years, you'll see a more loose collection of knick knacks that we've gathered over time. In the meantime, here are some teasers.

This brings us back to when we first conceptualized the space. There was a certain pressure to overly plan in order to come out with a very solid concept. The research part was important, but the overall execution was even more crucial. We felt the need to include as much artwork and other visuals that would define the KIN brand. 4 years on and it seems that "designers" have moved away from that. In essence, it seems like the space just needs to organically develop into a collection of all the things the store resonates with. Visual merchandising is more key than conceptualizing a space, at least in our books. Feel free to disagree with all this in comments section.

All the furniture here was made in Indonesia. If any of you like the look of it, let us know and we'll be able to direct you to the source. We'll post more in the coming days.

-ssm

tangs : tent museum concept pitch

2010-09-26T21:39:00.000-07:00

. . . . . .

I've been out of the Sifr/KIN office and back in the architecture studio for almost two months now and I've been asked by Chris to share a little bit about how we approached our first Tangs pitch.

We needed to present a couple of schemes to Tangs in a cool way so we decided to produce a leporello packet (accordion binding technique by folding a long piece of paper back on itself).

I started out with rough sketches which I then overlaid with some light colors and textures in Photoshop. White, bright, and clean is very much a part of the Sifr/KIN aesthetic and it just has the sophisticated je ne sais quoi, so I kept the images simple and light-washed. (On the other hand, I guess gold rococo mirrors and frou frou teal chairs make up the other half of another Sifr/KIN aesthetic, but that would be for another pop-up store, another day, or another annex.)

To create the leporello, I arranged the images in one large image for plotting at our friends' office (thanks a ton, Dean and Richard and Paulo who helped us out that day). Unfortunately, the plan to print double-sided on thick, creamy paper did not work so I ended up making the leporello by hand instead of the traditional folding method. I'm happy they still impressed Tangs though, because Tangs ended our meeting asking for a few more copies and talking about final schemes for our pop-up store!

. . . . . .

A raised enclosure for one to be surrounded by clothes.

. . . . . .

A series of steps and double-steps for displaying, sitting, walking. The void becomes storage.

. . . . . .

A screen which implies enclosure of space, a space filled with some modular furniture.

. . . . . .

A translucent tent for us to shop in. Uplighting creates silhouettes. Bundled 2x4 lumber creates a bench.

. . . . . .

Pipes and pallets and changing elevations. I like industrial chic.

. . . . . .

from KCL

Ithaca, NY, USA

sifr essentials : the wait is over

2010-09-26T21:02:00.000-07:00

a new shipment for sifr essentials landed in our office last week! all primary colors (black, white, heather, light & dark midnight) have been restocked, we also have 4 new colours in the v-neck & pocket crew. only available at tangs orchard (3f), k.i.n stock will be in next week. check out the flyer below for more details.

hope you had a great weekend,
sifr

Marc Newson Transport

2010-09-22T11:18:00.000-07:00

The summer drought of art shows is over and the galleries in Chelsea have reopened. I'd read about Marc Newson's Transport exhibit online few weeks ago and decided to pop over during lunch this Monday. Unfortunately, it turns out that Monday is one of the Gagosian Gallery's days off. I guess they haven't completely reopened. But my curiosity was piqued by rejection and a quick glimpse through the closed doors, so I went back today and found the show well worth the second trip.

Transport explores a range of Newson's locomotion products. A cabin designed for the EADS Astrium Space-Plane prototype gives a glimpse of the future of travel, while the Ford 021C concept car illustrates how stylish it can be today. And if it is style that you're after, then the 33 foot speedboat designed for famed Italian boat maker Riva is right for you. It is crafted using an innovative set of materials, including a laminate made form linen and resin, and is only produced in an edition of 22.

In and amongst these more standard forms of transportation were several esoteric products. Against one wall leaned a Nickel surfboard used for tow-in surfing. And on the opposite side of the room, a shoe designed in collaboration with Nike for Russian cosmonauts.

Concept runs the risk of becoming synonymous with outlandish, but in Newson's work it does not. All the products appeared rigorously designed and highly practical, while welcoming a strong sense a playfulness. It is as if childhood toys were transformed into fully functioning models. I found myself wondering why his cars weren't already on the street, and his planes in the sky, and desperately wishing they were. A few pictures below.

Each piece of this car, from the dials to the tiers, were individually designed and then crafted in top tier automotive factories.

Nickel has a natural bouncy that makes it ideal for surfing. When in use, this board is meant to look like a knife-through-water.

K.I.N Window Display Competition

2010-09-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your overwhelming response and submissions for the competition.

Congratulations KARYA! The creative team at K.I.N has chosen your proposal as the winning entry. The image is a sneak peek at their rendering.

We have contacted Hani from KARYA and the installation will be done over the next couple of days. It will be completed by 26th September and will be ready for viewing from the 27th September onwards for two months.

So, if you are in the vicinity, head over to the K.I.N to view the window display and show support.

Photos of actual installation and work will be up soon.

Travel: Mustang, Nepal / Pt.1

2010-09-21T03:13:00.000-07:00

I usually share our business trips on the blog here but I've decided to get a little more intimate on the blog and share my recent (February 2010) 14-day hike from Jomsom to the forbidden kingdom of Lo Manthang.

A little background information, Lo Manthang is a walled kingdom located in Mustang region in northwest Nepal. Similar to Bhutan, Mustang only allows 2000 tourists a year to protect local traditions and the environment, prior to 1992 it was off limits to tourists. Mustang borders the kingdom of Tibet. During the Chinese annexation and genocide of Tibet the kingdom of Lo Manthang was responsible for granting asylum to many Tibetans. The queen of Lo Manthang at the time was Tibetan. The main facets of life I witnessed on my travels were related to farming, herding, tourism, or religion; a great juxtaposition to everyday life that most of us experience on a day to day basis.

The elevations experienced while hiking the region ranged from 5,000 to 13,000 ft above sea level resulting in a variety of breathing conditions. The climate experienced on an average day (early spring) ranged from relatively warm and dry in the day to near freezing at night.

The following items were my tools in visually documenting my journey.

1) Horizon Perfekt, A 35mm xpan swing lens
2) Kodak Elite Chrome 100
3) Fuji Velvia 50
4) Agfa CT Precisa 100
5) Sekonic Studio Deluxe III

To accompany the materials above (besides standard hiking gear and clothes) I had a notebook and several books for reading. The only digital item I had taken on this trip was a cellphone for emergency situations, otherwise the phone remained off for the duration of the trip. It was imperative that the time I was spending on this trip was focused purely on human interaction as well as my dialogue with the earth around me. The question I sought out is where do we stand as an individual organism in relation to the biosphere we inhabit? It's easy to lose the connection we can have with our earth as we're so engrossed with the thousands of things that make up our day to day lives. This trip was about reviving the dialogue and seeing where I stand in all the emptiness that surrounds me.

Part Two : Click Here!

RSA Animate - First as Tragedy, Then as Farce

2010-09-14T03:23:00.000-07:00

In this short RSA Animate, renowned philosopher Slavoj Zizek investigates the surprising ethical implications of charitable giving.

Moscot Eyewear + Colette

2010-09-14T00:37:00.000-07:00

During the last week of July (July 25th –August 1st), MOSCOT was prominently featured in the front window of the world famous lifestyle store, Colette, in Paris. Very few brands have ever been featured in the front window of Colette and this was the first time an eyewear brand has been.

The window display reflects that of the original Moscot Flagship store in New York City.

Pretty slick.

sifr online : annex store launched

2010-09-12T22:09:00.000-07:00

hello,

we're pleased to inform you that sifr has launched it's 'annex' online store. if you missed out on past season items you may have a chance to purchase them at 50% off original retail price. please note that stocks and sizes are in limited quantities.

we'd also like to let you know that we've received our first shipment of essentials in the office today. new seasonal colors and a restock of primary colors (black, white, grey, dark & light midnight blue) are finally here! we will also be getting several other sifr styles in by the end of this month. keep an eye out on the blog / fanpage for more updates.

click the image below to jump to our online store.

warm regards,
sifr

K.I.N. makr pre-order

2010-09-08T21:36:00.000-07:00

hello,

we are doing a pre order for makr carry goods that will go on from today till next week thursday. goods will be delivered into singapore mid october.

-please view the pre-order catalog below / please read over the terms and conditions of the pre-order.
-once you've decided what you want to order
-please download the word document below and fill out the order form
-email it to adrian [at] knowitnothing [dot] com

or alternatively...

-you may place a pre-order in person at the store
-over the phone @ +65 6392 5475

have a great holiday weekend!

kind regards,
k.i.n.

PRE-ORDER FORM DOWNLOAD

Pre Order Sept 2010

jason fried, marketing by sharing

2010-09-07T21:26:00.000-07:00

we've recently started using basecamp in the office, this is a great talk given by one of 37signals founders, jason fried. we will do a post on a how basecamp has impacted us later this month. in the mean time enjoy the brilliance of this video.

sifr 2010 : 1st september drop

2010-09-07T02:51:00.000-07:00

hello,
just a follow up to earlier release post. we currently have two new colors in the leisure shirt, two pants and one short in the new icicle style.

the following products are currently available at our online store & k.i.n.

if you're interested in more photo details for a certain product please click the photo, it will link you to the specific product page on our online store. we do free shipping within singapore.

black folded stretch twill icicle short

black coated stretch twill icicle pant

creme stretch twill icicle pant

nepp chambray leisure ss shirt

nepp chambray leisure ls shirt

sincerely,
sifr

Song Combo: Bonobo / Bonobo / Lorn

2010-09-06T01:08:00.000-07:00

The two Bonobo tracks should be listened to in succession.

Prelude

Kiara

Greatest Silence

sifr 2010 : september drops

2010-09-03T01:14:00.000-07:00

we're pleased to announce that this september drop will mark the start of a steady stream of sifr products. we've recently shifted operations to our close neighbor, indonesia, where we have literally been working hand in hand with our manufacturers to produce new sifr garments.

since the last product drop we have been re-calibrating our whole pipeline. taking the quality up a few more notches, sourcing new fabric and trim vendors to ensure sifr is continually evolving into a higher state of distinction.

in this drop you'll see some styles we first released back in 2009; the leisure shirt, reworked and reinterpreted. also introducing several new styles; the icicle pant and short.

we're also proud to announce that we'll be putting out some products made from our first custom fabric order. it's been great working with a fabric mill to produce an 80/2 micro sanded cotton poplin in several different colors.

below are a few glimpses of the products we shot this week. the goods below will be available in singapore by the good people at, k.i.n. and rockstar later next week.

products below are now available at our online store, with the exception of the dip dye shirts which can only be purchased at k.i.n.

click image to jump to webstore

exclusive to k.i.n

exclusive to k.i.n

click image to jump to webstore

click image to jump to webstore

feel free to post your thoughts, concerns, comments; we look forward to releasing more product in the coming weeks.

kind regards,
sifr

K.I.N. We're Looking for a New Teammate

2010-09-02T01:56:00.000-07:00

If any of you are interested in applying please revert to the flyer below. We look forward to your responses.

Warm Regards,
KIN

K.I.N. Window Display Contest

2010-08-31T20:13:00.000-07:00

~~OPEN CALL FOR KNOW IT NOTHING WINDOW DISPLAY DESIGN~~
Contemporary multi-label boutique, Know It Nothing (K.I.N) invites you to create a window display proposal that will be on display for 2 months. Your work will be displayed from 23rd of September to the 20th of November. There are no restrictions to your idea, except perhaps for size (Length: 1.61m, Width: 0.4m, Height: 2.00m) and a budget of $300. The following mentioned are possible angles for you to consider:

A) Respond to the space (not exclusively to the physical store space but the surrounding area as well) and creatively interpret what K.I.N is about.

B) Respond to the ethos of labels that are available in store.

The creative team at K.I.N will award the designer behind the winning proposal a $150 cash voucher for use at K.I.N.

~~Mechanics Of Submission~~
Applicants are to submit their ideas in a proposal with sketches, mockups (for installation/sculpture), your objective and rationale in a PDF file not larger than 3MB to adrian [at] knowitnothing [dot] com. A write-up, no more than 50 words explaining your conceptual plans, should be included.

Winners will work with the KIN creative team to construct the installation.

Submission Deadline: 20th of September

Best of luck!

Pictures from the Office

2010-08-24T23:35:00.000-07:00

250gsm, emboss, wax thread, calabash clip

wallsocket

tent museum layout research

Song Combo: Tiger & Woods / Joycelyn Brown

2010-08-24T01:04:00.000-07:00

Gin Nation

Somebody Else's Guy (Club Mix)

SYNDICATE 09 this SEPT 4TH

2010-08-21T02:06:00.000-07:00

A lot of the readers here do head to many of the events that grace our island month in and month out but if you haven't had the chance to head over to Home Club for Syndicate I'd suggest you give a it a try. A distinctly different vibe and feel from most of the nights on the island, you're able to tap into a raw and unhinged environment. There's a heaviness in the air (it's not sweat) that makes the whole setting intense yet welcoming, everyone's there for the right reasons.

We hope you join the party this coming September 4th!

Press Release from Syndicate:
Come Saturday 4 September 2010, Syndicate plays host to genre-defying beat-maker, Free the Robots. Much like his Los Angeles contemporaries such as Flying Lotus, Nosaj Thing & The Glitch Mob, Free the Robots has been reaching out to a worldwide audience due to the constant development of his sound and live shows.

An artist who knows no boundaries, Free the Robots pulls together heavy doses of traditional jazz, psychedelic rock, electronica and hip hop with progressive melodies and devastating drums into a rich pot of sound. His techniques create harmony between genres with the blending of obscure samples within analog and digital compositions.

His debut full length release, “Ctrl Alt Del”, has been critically acclaimed and is a must-have for hip hop heads, dubstep lovers and fans of electronica.

Free the Robots live performances are known for creating a balance between the sounds of the past, present & future with the use of samples, controllers and other live instruments. Expect a set of button-pushing & knob-twiddling madness filled with surprising samples for that true boom-bap experience and the irresistible nods.

Syndicate will also feature its first hip hop act of the year with TheCrazy88. Fresh from dropping their self-titled EP, this emceeing duo seems set to lay the standard for the future of hip hop in Singapore. They are also known for their amped-up and dynamic performances.

Keeping up the beats for the night will be guest DJ Twinhed and Syndicate residents, Max Lane & Darren Dubwise with Rafi Dean on the visuals.

Returning as a partner for this special Syndicate installment is the most iconic name in street culture, Obey. Known for their camaraderie with the Low End Theory crew in Los Angeles in which Free the Robots is part of, Obey sustains its radical ideas by supporting Syndicate’s revolutionary movement here in Singapore.

public nuisance radio show no. 66 : funk bast*rd (cosa nostra)

2010-08-18T05:04:00.000-07:00

public nuisance no.66 has finally arrived, be prepared for another musical adventure with the funk bast*rd. this month's show is a little more beat heavy which is welcomed warmly. if you guys like what you hear on this mix you should check out, 'bake & shake' this saturday at la maison (green fairways, next to mimolette) / music will be insane, bring your listening ears and dancing feet.

*note: if you're up for some great music (they'll be playing too many genres to list), disco:very at velvet this friday is going to be off the hook.

Public Nuisance show No. 66 w the Funk Bast*rd (Cosa Nostra) by Cosa Nostra

KIN Clear Channel Photoshoot

2010-08-16T01:51:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, we had a photoshoot for KIN'S new Clear Channel bus station ad.

Just a little background: as the newest intern, this was the first photoshoot I've witnessed. It was pretty cool having all our clothes and products in the office and just playing around with it. The mood was chill, too, because our in-house graphic designer, Daryl, was also our in-house DJ for the day. We had a few setbacks because we didn't do a proper fitting, but we dug through our samples and found some unreleased products to wear from Sifr.

Want to know where something's from? Just ask in the comments, but the most probable answer is our store at Haji.

Lastly, tomorrow's Sifr's 2nd birthday. So you guys should all take advantage of our sale. It lasts till the end of August!

Sifr's New Clear Channel Ad

2010-08-14T00:57:00.000-07:00

Some photographs from Gavin of our new bus stop ad right behind Ion Orchard Shopping Mall, outside Orchard MRT. So if you're along Orchard Boulevard, check it out.

sifr 2010 : on sale for the rest of august

2010-08-12T23:09:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SIFR (Aug 17)!!

to thank you for all your support, we'd like to inform you that sifr will be on sale for the remainder of august at the following locations:

k.i.n. (51 haji lane)
rockstar (8 grange road, orchard cineleisure, #03-08)

if you're in town do stop by rockstar as they are offering a few other deals over here.

Home Club 5th Anniversary: DJ Marky

2010-08-12T22:06:00.000-07:00

I don't usually do 'party' photos anymore but about 9 weeks ago I made a declaration to support as many local events as money, my body and my schedule permits; spreading the love one party at a time. So I figured that I could present splices of that declaration through my trusty Ricoh GRD & toy hotshoe flash with you (the readers). A lot of the music that is posted on d.e.a.r. time is played at these events so if you like what you hear via our youtube digging and you live nearby please do hit us up for a good time. In coming installments I will try my best to keep the photos as dirty, voyeur and off kilter as possible.

The photos below were shot at Home Club's 5th year anniversary. One of my best nights of 2010/2009, and considering I don't listen to much D&B, I had an insane time! The crowd was responsive, people were drunk and dancing, people were making out and dry humping each other. Excellente! The party vibe was heavy in the air from start to finish. There was much to be loved about the rawness of it all. After utilizing happy hour and then some more the night went till the last last song, the club was still packed I was pushing myself to the limit without performance enhancers... Awesome.

Fashion or Garment Construction/Assembly

2010-08-10T09:22:00.000-07:00

Most of us tend to be highly influenced by "Fashion" etc.

I need to ask some of you out there what you're influenced by; "Fashion and it's idea" or the actual process of "construction and garment assembly"? Please enlighten me because for a while now, people haven't really noticed the latter.

From personal experiences at Fashion School in New York, the class was most definitely divided into two different schools of thought and you could categorize people as soon as they walked into the studios. I'm reminiscing. All this happened about 6 years ago so it's slightly hazy.

Strangely so, it was easy to spot the people who were more interested in the "idea" than in the actual process. Most of the people that signed up to be part of the "idea" dropped out within six weeks or headed right into depression after the 3rd day. It was a humorous sight that'll always remain as a firm reminder for the rest of my production days.

The idea of this post is to ask what you guys are thinking. Are we moving into greater appreciation for construction, quality? With the ascent of Menswear at the moment, we're now lucky enough to really see great clothing that is focusing less on the "idea" but rather on the actual garment, the styling and the people the garments resonate with. Are you happy with this?

As far as I know, the situation in this city is one that is currently still behind the international circuit. We're still in the midst of embracing the "idea" when we hear of an event or launch happening. We're enamored by the parties, the overly stylish yet seemingly uninteresting attendees and the desire to really be noticed. Seems like we're not actually promoting or cultivating a great design scene but rather just a "scene". This is what makes this city really interesting to me because in the not so distant future, we're probably going to be laughing at this phase and thinking about how strange we all looked.

I did a couple of gigs with CJ at a local college for design and in those discussions we always tried to promote the idea of fashion as a whole and not just the good bits. Are you interested in making a "good" shirt first or are you dead set on making a shirt that looks really cool? We posed that question continuously and hoped to the powers above that we'd get people interested in the first half of that question.

So what are you? What do you peoples think?

I'll leave you guys with a really good article on some of the types of people we relate with. Get it here.

"Yet interestingly enough, fashion is not a word that inspires Adeline. “I don’t like this word, fashion,” she confides. “There are two things for me. There are clothes, and there is fashion. Fashion – it’s trends, money, industry, and companies. On the other side you have clothes – construction, fabrics, and people who want to know about clothes. How we make clothes, how we wear them, how we feel in them. It’s my way to see the clothing, the exchange between my customers and I”.

Office Bags

2010-08-04T01:38:00.000-07:00

More documentation of our office. This time, we're introducing the contents and the bags of the office. To be a cool sifr kid, you'll need: a black bag, a sketchbook, a macbook pro, and a flashlight (seriously, I don't know why but all three of us had flashlights; I guess we're all prepared for a Great Singapore Blackout). Anyway,i f you want to know where something is from, just ask in the comment section.

Top to bottom: My bag, Chris' bag, Daryl's bag

For all the Flickr perusers, I'm sure you've heard of the Flickr group, What's In Your Bag. Check it out for more bag-stalking.

Maybe I'll document the guys' outfits next time! What do you think: yes or no? Personally, I feel like a 'what I wore today' (WIWT) post is in order for a company that designs and imports clothes of discerning taste. I mean, don't you wonder what these dudes behind the company wear on a blah blah whatever daily basis?

D.E.A.R. time

We are officially porting D.E.A.R. time to tumblr

The Sifr Artisan Footwear Photo Essay and Factory Walkthrough

Pre-BluePrint Photo Essay

ML574

Bracket & Fantastic Man

sifr at blueprint emporium!

THIS IS NOT A SUIT - A FILM BY A. SAUVAGE

sifr artisan footwear : walking in soon

The Prince Pleats Shirt

Road to Blueprint

BROWN BAG! sifr & darker than wax & kin / post party

sifr 2011 : the return of the band pants!

BROWN BAG! sifr & darker than wax & kin

sifr & 'nd i : making custom furniture p.2

Garment info you won't find anywhere else

'ND I : photos from behind the scenes

'ND I : our first lookbook

sifr 2011 : hong kong sourcing day 2.3

Friendly Fire: Karya & K.I.N

The Capsule Life

sifr 2011 : march drops

sifr 2011 : voyeur home videos

K.I.N. Website v2.0

'ND I : soft release

Recommended Reading: The Basic Handbook of APPAREL

New Public Nuisance show 75 w the Funk Bast*rd (Cosa Nostra, Darker Than Wax)

Travel: Door Obsession

sifr 2011 : psrp , premium pima rib

DARKER THAN WAX SELECTIONS

New Pointer collection at K.I.N.

sifr & 'ndi : making custom furniture p.1

Il Bussetto in KIN

DARKER THAN WAX SELECTIONS

sifr & tangs : orchard level 3

CNY SALE

Moscot Titanium frames at KIN

BAG'n'NOUN : available at KIN

New shoes: PF Flyers

Jakarta R&D - Day 1 in-depth and sifr 2011 : holistic design 0.2

sifr 2011 : holistic design 0.1

Jakarta R&D

K.I.N. makr pre-order

a tale we could wag

Travel: Urban Decay

For the vintage addict

Travel: A Glimmer of Tokyo

Holiday Gift Ideas from KIN!

Friendly Fire: an\b editions

K.I.N Year End Sale.

We're on a Slight Break

sifr 2010 : evening ankle boots

Be Linen Movie

sifr 2010 : eppaulette shirt

sifr 2010 : jersey contrasts

Deck Towels

ROX / THIS FRIDAY / TAB

sifr & isetan : pop-up store

Naked & Famous FW10 Release

Looking for FT Retail Staff

KIN FW10 Release

Graduation

Friendly Fire: Underscore x Vanguard

Travel: Mustang Pt.2

ROX / November 5th / TAB

public nuisance radio show no. 68 : funk bast*rd (cosa nostra)

Sifr Annex Pop-up x KIN 2nd Floor Preview

Mfoliage Skincare Line

Window Display by KARYA.

K.I.N. new magazines in store

Song Combo: B.Bravo / Space Dimension Controller

The Second Floor

tangs : tent museum concept pitch

sifr essentials : the wait is over

Marc Newson Transport

K.I.N Window Display Competition

Travel: Mustang, Nepal / Pt.1

RSA Animate - First as Tragedy, Then as Farce

Moscot Eyewear + Colette

sifr online : annex store launched