Mexico Retrospective - Part two.

I was incredibly amused by how many warnings people gave me when I told them I was going to Mexico. I mean, I came back in one piece, didn't I? Anyways, more pictures from Thanksgiving Break.

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Mexico Retrospective - Part one.

Wandering through the streets of Mexico City with family.

Saw some cool things along the way.

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It took lots of urging from my sister to remember that sometimes, you just have to push the damn shutter button. It's been a while, but I think these pictures show more of my personality and eye rather than being "technically" correct. They're not the prettiest things in the world, but they're wholly me.

A night well spent

My family tends to be scattered in different places throughout the world, so it's particularly lovely when we can sit down together for a nice dinner.

I've missed these moments.

Photos taken at Quebracho in Mexico City. Amazing Argentinian beef.

Afternoon snack

Streetside tacos with beef, grilled pineapple, and pico de gallo. An ice cold Mexican beer. Can I please do this everyday?

Can we just make this real life?

Packed my bag.

Grabbed some food.

Met up with some friends.

Drove off into the desert.

Made some new friends.

Sick.

A Second Skin - Twelve days in.

These jeans have been treating me very well since in the short time that I've had them. They're starting to break in nicely, with slight fading where I keep my cellphone and pocket notebook. The creases at the knees have set in and there's some slight fading at the sides of the knees. However, the stitching at the knee is a tiny bit loose and I seem to have worn through some of the stitching on the back pen pocket. But then, I wore these rock climbing so I don't think the craftsman is at fault here.

Whenever the indigo fades, it does so slowly through a progression of lighter shades of blue that creates a range of hues that I absolutely love. I'm going to have fun with these as time goes on.

I also realized that the back pen pocket serves well as a wand pocket for when I go watch Harry Potter. Success.

Also, the wonderful people over at Without a Box have been nice enough to help fund this project of mine, for which I'm incredibly grateful. Check out their shows for a good laugh, and to help other art students!

Back home.

Back from an awesome weekend at Joshua Tree.

Pictures soon to follow.

A Second Skin - Details

I can't say enough good things about these jeans. Here are the important facts.

- Made in Downtown LA by Karl (he's pretty freaking cool, btw) -

- Manufactured from 14.5 oz raw selvage denim from Nihon Mills in Okayama, Japan -

- Dyed with shoaizome (natural Japanese indigo) -

- leather patch is locally sourced, then cut and branded by hand -

- They fit amazingly -

and these jeans are filled with details. It's actually ridiculous.

- hand silk-screened pocket bag

- Hidden pen pocket in right back pocket

- Back pockets are half-lined in heavyweight canvas

- Selvage on fly and coin pocket

-Hand stitched detailing on back pocket

- Custom branded buttons and rivets

There are so many little touches that can only be found upon close inspection, almost all of which serve the purpose of adding to the overall construction and aesthetics of a superior pair of jeans. So I get to support the production of handmade, artisanal goods. I get to buy local. And I get to walk away with the best jeans I've ever owned. Win.

A Second Skin

A pair of jeans worn everyday for a year.

With that much wear and tear, they slowly take on the characteristics of the owner - specific patterns of fading that give little hints into one's lifestyle. A telltale rip here, a patch there... it's like painting one's life story on a rich, blue canvas.

I bought these jeans - Stantons from Rogue Territory in Los Angeles - with the intention of squeezing every last ounce of life out of them... clothes as an investment rather than a consumable, if you want to put it that way. There's an inherent charm to clothing that has "character" whether it was bought at some vintage store or found in a grandparent's closet. But I want my clothes to develop their own character. I'm young and all over the place. What better time to break in some raw denim and make them wholly my own?

These jeans will also serve as a sort of visual anchor amongst the changes that happen all around me. My immediate surroundings may shift, but these jeans will be a constant through it all - a reference point that will be with me everyday to help keep my sanity in check. Think of it like a totem from Inception, if you must.

And so I put on these jeans - this blank canvas that will be with me for many days. Time to beat these things to hell.