Saturday, March 8, 2008
STORE FEATURE + INTERVIEW - "ALREADY FAMOUS"
Looks like ATTIC got a full makeover after their Spring Cleaning sale last weekend - which left the store in full chaos: mountains of tees (unfolded of course) & denim spread all over (unfolded of course) - you know, the full effect and signs of a pretty good sale.
In an attempt to add a little flair for your reading pleasure, I've decided to spotlight the store, to get a little 411 about the history and its features - after all, who else can provide clean streetwear prior to hitting up Knott's right across the street?
Matt Barrera held it down for ATTIC and spilled the beans.
LJ: Thanks Matt, for taking the time to do this interview. First of all, tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do at the ATTIC
MB: 19 year old college student, as Biggie says it "money, hoes and clothes" cept im respectable of women. As far as ATTIC is concerned, you can say I'm a "shoe salesman" but I also sweep, fold, and do recent arrival blog entries
LJ: All around man right there. How'd you get hooked up with this job at such a dope streetwear store, right next to Knotts?
MB: Networking, people knowing people knowing people. Lets just say I know alot of people
LJ: Dang...people's man right here. When and how did ATTIC get started, and what's the history behind it? Who's THA BOSS?
MB: The idea started in mid 2006. With little boutiques in the surrounding area of Orange County, and the long trek to L.A. to get your fashion fix, it only seemed right to set up a one-stop "mega-streetwear-boutique" smack dab in the middle of the southland AKA Buena Park. Lets just say a certian TV/movie star is responsible for the store. hint. YouTube T-Mobile poser mobile.
The conveyor belt serving up fresh kicks daily:
LJ: Is it The Attic or Attic2Zoo?
MB: It's ATTIC, just ATTIC, no need for the THE. Attic2zoo has a few meanings. A to Z, meaning we have everything from A to Z. Also, attic.com was already taken
LJ: Haha, for sure. So what makes ATTIC different from any other streetwear store out there? What's the ATTIC specialty????
MB: Other than saving you the time, effort, and gas to travel from, lets say, a store that only sells tees, a store that only sells denim, and a store that only sells shoes, we're all-in-one. And everything is retail price, none of this marking up bullshit that other shops pull. Oh, did i mention, 8000 square feet of streetwear?! Yea, I dont think anyone else can compete with that. Specialty? Well, lets just say that we specialize in suiting you up right.
Wall o' Nike:
Alife/Kid Robot:
New arrivals corner:
Creative Recreation, Reebok, Adidas, Converse, Puma Wall:
East Coast representin' with Mishka, King Stampede, 10.deep, Rocksmith, Lemar & Dauley:
Full line of Nudie Jeans:
LJ: Word, what do you see as hot sellers for this spring? And I guess, what are your personal favorite brands?
MB: Spring is gonna be crazy. Foreign Family's sprummer line is gonna kill, their re-release of their classic designs and their new denim is just gonna kill. Acrylick is always a consistent heavy hitter. As well as the big dogs Crooks & Castles, The Hundreds, Rogue Status and Kid Robot. My favorite brands as of late are The Hundreds, Foreign Family, Fuct, Franco Shade and PEOPLE WITH AGENDAS.
Crooks & Casles Corner:
Kid Robot/10.deep:
LJ: Sweet, Franco Shade is a good one. Any news for the girls line? What can the ladies expect to suit up in a fresh new outfit for spring?
MB: Definitely, I mean, what would this world be without women. Stussy is a staple in the industry as well as MAMA and Hellz just for LJ. Also, expect denim in the lines of Nudies and Cheap Monday for girls. and WESC debuting at ATTIC.
Ladies we in the hoouuuse:
LJ: Ya'll need to get some DimePiece and Claw Money though. I'll be waiting....but thanks for the looks on that. Any guest appearances at the store so far?
MB: We have our resident celebrity Justin Chon who starred in Just Jordan on Nickelodeon and the upcoming film Crossing Over. Other notable appearances are Glasses Malone, J-Kwon, the kid from the Nutty Professor, Yuri Tag of Kaba Modern on MTV's America's Best Dance Crew (good luck guys), and last but not least, ME!. JK.
LJ: Tight Tight...What valuable things have you learned working at ATTIC, and in this streetwear business?
MB: Always treat the customer as if they were the one's signing your check, everyone's trying to start a line to be the next Jonas of LRG. 75% of the designs most companies use are either recycled, stolen or have been legally altered 20% so they wont get sued.
LJ: Awesome!! Good to know..What brands do you wanna see collaborate together in the near future, or I guess, recycle designs together?
MB: Two of my favorite brands are Vans and Foreign Family, im gonna have to kill you after this but take this as a hint *wink*.
LJ: Hush hush talk - don't worry I won't tell anyone. Alright, I'm gonna get to know you on a deeper level now, you ready?
MB: Born ready
LJ: What do you do in your free time, and favorite hotspots of the moment? (BESIDES WORK)
MB: Theres no such thing as free time nowadays. But when I do have time to kill, I play the piano, clean my shoes/shoe laces, steal music, play tetris on my MacBook in class. hotspots? Gotta give a shout out to the biggest duo in Los Angeles... Pho 2000 and Lolicup. Give me a no. 1 at Pho, and large milk tea w/ mini boba at Lolicup and im set. LOL
LJ: Boba fiend right here, it's all about Dolphin Bay 2 for $2.50 suckaaa. Too much Pho is too much MSG, be careful. Anyway..Favorite artist/band/musical group of the moment?
MB: Being filipino, the given is Kanye, but I'm 25% Chinese so Kanye is OK w/ me. But im into old school shit. ATCQ, Pharcyde, Earth Wind and Fire, Weezer, Sublime, Procussions, Nas, Atmosphere, Alicia Keys....also Nujabes
LJ: Good shit. Favorite alcoholic drink?
MB: Adios muthafucka, haha, jk. Im straight w/ a Heineken
LJ: Haha, alright well I think this interview is wearing you out by now, any last shoutouts or advertisement before we wrap it up?
MB: To my Lola in heaven R.I.P. i'll see you when i get there. PWA, everyone at ATTIC. CARSON STAND UP! and to LJ for taking up an hour of my time.. jk
LJ: Wow, you'll be thanking me for this in a cool minute. or two. Alright thanks Matt, you are one cool cat who lives in the ATTIC. I'll be stopping by again shortly.
MB: I'll be waiting for the fanmail
LJ: Where's the contact info, if the ladies wanna come holler??
MB: MySpace.com/justdonikes, mbarrera06@gmail.com, est-1988.blogspot.com,
Hit him up, ladies. He's fresh to death. WORD.
Oh, and remember to cruise through Attic
FLEA IT UP TOMORROW!
It's tomorrow!
Rose Bowl Flea Market and Market Place regular admission starts at 9am for the general public at $8.00 per person, children under 12 are admitted free with an adult. We also have an express admission from 8:00am - 9:00am at $10.00 per person, an early admission from 7:00am - 8:00am at $15.00 per person, and a special preview VIP admission from 5:00am - 7:00am at $20.00 per person. The box office is open until 3pm after which time sellers begin packing and leaving. The public may shop for those last minute bargains until 4:30pm.
FREE PARKING. SORRY NO PETS ALLOWED
Lipped Jeanius will see ya'll there.
Get your spring vintage & antique fix!
DISNEY x ATMOS FEATURING MICKEY & MINNIE
Atmos is launching collaborations left and right, and besides the new North Face team up, they've created a collection featuring our favorite childhood mice from Disney: Mickey & Minnie!
Atmos has released just these two designs for now, but until July, they will be releasing a total of 15 designs, dropping two at a time.
Atmos also plans on releasing small accessories, so keep them eyes peeled!
Check it out via Atmos - we can all be kids again.
Friday, March 7, 2008
KENDO NEW ARRIVALS
New Nike Blazers and Reeboks!
Make sure you check out their backyard warehouse sale this weekend!
TONY ALVA: 77 NEO-RETRO
A celebration plus exhibition for the opening of Alva LA's new gallery, Exhibit A - tomorrow!
N.O.T.O.R.I.O.U.S.
Producers of the film "Notorious" have finally found the man to play one the greatest MCs ever to grace a vocal booth: Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace. Fellow Brooklyn rapper Jamal Woolard — better known on the mixtape circuit as Gravy
— has landed the coveted role. While other entertainers such as Beanie Sigel, West Coast rapper Guerilla Black and even Sean Kingston had expressed interest in the part, the producers conducted an exhaustive search, auditioning thousands of men across the country.
Derek Luke will play Sean "Diddy" Combs, while Anthony Mackie has been cast as Tupac Shakur. Angela Bassett is set to appear as Mrs. Wallace. Former 3LW member Naturi Naughton has also been given an as-yet-unspecified role in the film, which begins filming in New York this month with director George Tillman and is slated for release January 16, 2009.
It was all a dream...
now he coming back to life! Let's make this one good.
VICTORIOUS
Priceless:
Kevin Love's about to handle:
Bringing it back all the way baby.
If you were bonkers enough to miss the game, read about it!
-Photos by Kevork Djansezian
WIN FREE PROMAMAS, MAMA!
Want these but don't have the cash or means to get em?
Well now is your chance, ladies!
Female Sneaker Fiend is conducting a March contest celebrating Women's History Month, and THREE winners will be picked at the end of the month with their very own, ProMama sneakers by Adidas x MAMA.
All you gotta do is submit some info about a woman in history who has defied gender roles as a woman, exceeded society's expectations, and inspired you or other females in the world today!
Check out a sample and details about the contest here.
Hey, you could be rockin some new ProMamas by the end of the month if chosen, so...show some of your female pride and uh...submit.
One love.
SO YOU WANNA HYPEBEAST?
Hypebeast is lookin' for some new writers to contribute to their site.
Check the details:
Hypebeast is on the look out for interested individuals looking to write on a part-time paid basis. Writers must possess a strong interest in fashion, sneakers, toys and varying degrees of interest in art, music and electronics. The job premise includes finding the latest news and information, building a base of contacts and updating the front page of Hypebeast. A strong desire to become educated on different subject materials is also an asset.
A list of skill requirements include the following
- Proficient skills in English and the Internet
- Articulate and creative writing style
- Ability to proof-reading
- Basic Photoshop skills – crop, resize and edit
- Basic HTML skills
- Knowledgeable in the necessary fields of interest
- Ability to work independently
Assets include the following:
- Post-secondary education
- Located in a major metropolitan area (Los Angeles/New York is preferable)
For all interested parties, please send a package to jobs@101medialab.com which includes a resume, three short written samples based on relevant subjects and a general introduction on your brand interests/hobbies. Please ensure all three documents are included in the application as we will not review incomplete applications.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
I ROMANCED THE BEAN
Today was a day in the valley, visiting my girl Em.
After a few stops shopping around in Downtown Burbank and eating a fine meal for two like lovers on a winters night at Chadaka Thai, we headed over to Romancing The Bean.
Sort of like a Central Perk but with a cozy, romantic flair, heartwarming ambiance and exceptional service - and no Gunther.
The heart-theme throughout is apparent in their heart stamps for their frequent coffee card, to their cute heart powder topping on the top of yo foam! 
Free wireless, baby:
Everyday is a romantic day, no matter what your status. That's the power of coffee.
Later on, we encountered a problem for Em, the "I don't know how much space I'm over on your side but I'm practically taking up your spot" parker dilemma.
Em was nice enough to remind Ms. Elizabeth to stay on her own side of the land. You tell 'em, girl.
That's the Valley right there for you.
PIERRE HARDY FOR GAP
Everyone loves Pierre Hardy.
And now Gap is showing off their own love for the designer, with their Design Edition European Collection featuring Pierre's own takes on spring shoes.
I only really liked these two pairs, and they are reasonably priced, but I was confused that Pierre Hardy's name was nowhere to be found on the site, or the item descriptions.
Hopefully, he'll keep designing more as spring/summer rolls around.
Shop online at Gap.com
HEAD PORTER SPRING/SUMMER 08
Head Porter Spring/Summer 08 has been released, and they are looking quite special.
They have introduced 4 brand new spankin' lines: the nautical & full o' stripes MARINE, elegant & enamel detail ENEM 08, simple leather DOEK, and traveling line Excursion.
These collections are all a part of Head Porter's "Functional Existence" campaign, and by checking out the products, you'll see how they've constructed functional accessories and bags, with key to simplicity and freshness, all with that signature PORTER mark to top it off.
Here are a few of my faves, mostly from the the MARINE line:
And this last one from DOEK 08 is yup, a dog carrier.
So your pooch don't get suffocated and can enjoy the same air you breathe while on a stroll, or should I say, a sit.
Visit Head Porter's collection via Honeyee.
I FELL IN LOVE WITH BENJAMIN
Shades by Benjamin, that is.
Classic plastic frames meets carefree cool gradient.
I am speechless. Just in love. Shades season begins, with an hour more for eye protection starting Sunday, so...where yo stunna glasses at?
View more from the entire collection via Lee Lee Lunettes.
MILK + SATINE = CREAMY SATINY SALE?
Two of the poshest boutiques bringing you savings on pieces for hot designers.
What more can you ask for? Shop, and then catch a bite at Toast or Doughboys for a test of WeHo...or head over to the newly opened Nobu Los Angeles, chef Nobu Matsuhisa and partner Robert de Niro's newest LA joint, showing up on the La Cienega scene: 903 N. La Cienega Blvd (S. of Santa Monica)
I'm from L.A....
Super shops combine forces to give you 50-80 percent off retail on labels like Vanessa Bruno, Derek Lam, Catherine Holstein, and many more.
Why: It takes two to make a thing go right.
When: Fri.-Sun., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: 8207a W. Third St., b/t S. La Jolla & S. Harper Aves. For more info, call Milk (323-951-0330) or Satine (323-655-2142).
-Info from Daily Candy LA
