Jack Straw

New Dries Van Noten spring arrivals.

2012-01-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

PARIS, September 28, 2011

By Tim Blanks

Dries Van Noten came across James Reeve's work in 2010 when he was president of the jury at the fashion festival in Hyères. The young English photographer was summoned to Antwerp, and his subsequent collaboration with the designer yielded the night-scape prints that shaped the second half of today's collection. Because they weren't particularly fashion-y, Van Noten felt he needed the counterbalance of hyper-fashion silhouettes from Italian and Spanish haute couture of the 1950's. The boleros, the swingbacks, the sacks, ruffles, and bows, and the skirts with a structured flamenco flare inevitably suggested Cristobal Balenciaga, the greatest Spanish couturier of them all. It's that kind of research and informed reflection that makes a Dries show like a visit to a glamorous library, simultaneously academic and seductive. Much like the KLF's multi-sampling Chill Out album, which provided a suitably wide-ranging aural counterpart today.

Reeve and Balenciaga—just one of the subtle oppositions that determined the character of the collection. Black and white, night and day, natural and artificial were some of the others. Van Noten collaged prints from seventeenth-century botanical etchings, jungle scenes, and seascapes onto decorous couture shapes, which he rendered in fabrics that were resolutely ready-to-wear. The contrast was often winning—and even better when the designer got around to Reeve. Aside from an incongruously literal Vegas reference, Reeve's almost-abstractions looked like scatterings of colored crystals. Van Noten literalized the notion when he decorated one skirt with actual stones to replicate the lights in Reeve's photo of a building in Marseille. In every Dries collection, there is at least one master illusion. This one was up there with the best.

JACK STRAW WINTER SALE!

2012-01-02T09:48:00.000-08:00

Like Father, Like Son

2011-12-15T11:40:00.000-08:00

JOHN KNOTTS

2011-12-08T13:50:00.000-08:00

JACK FROST

2011-12-01T15:56:00.001-08:00

The Sweeping Merchant

2011-11-18T16:43:00.001-08:00

Color of the day - RED!

2011-10-21T14:28:00.000-07:00

Dries Van Noten accessories

2011-10-20T15:18:00.000-07:00

Sunglasses, Linda Farrow collaborations for Dries Van Noten.
Scarf Dries Van Noten

Color of the day - YELLOW!

2011-10-14T15:58:00.000-07:00

Grenson shoes

2011-10-14T13:55:00.000-07:00

If you love them. Don't wait. We sold out of the other models and these just arrived today.
Tobacco colored, pebble leather desert boot. With white vibram sole. Super light weight. Made in England.

Women's Engineered Garments

2011-10-14T12:45:00.001-07:00

Women's washed wool outerwear jacket.
In this amazing moss color.
Made in NYC by Engineered Garments.

The perfect raincoat. Lined with wool for extra warmth.
Made in NYC by Engineered Garments.

Dries Van Noten

2011-09-24T16:57:00.001-07:00

Comme, Junya, Dries and more.

2011-09-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

Junya Watanabe for men

Junya Watanabe for women

Dries Van Noten

Massimo Alba
available in anthracite & tobacco (as pictured)

Comme des Garcons and Junya Watanabe

Forme D'Expression

2011-09-09T14:53:00.001-07:00

Asymmetrical, medium weight stretch wool jersey. Available in size 40 & 42

New fall arrivals

2011-09-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

Sofie d'Hoore + the perfect go to jacket

Dries Van Noten + the devil is in the details sweater

Dries Van Noten + graphic print blouse

Sofie d' Hoore + riding pant

Dries Van Noten + graphic print 60's style dress.

Final sale reductions 60%-70% savings!

2011-08-03T13:15:00.000-07:00

Paul Smith

cotton trench coat

original: 995.00 sale: 380.00

size: large

Junya Watanabe

linen pinstripe trench coat

original: 1485.00 sale: 350.00

size: large (fits oversized)

Massimo Alba

linen pinstripe jacket with baby cord pant

jacket original: 1050.00 sale: 300.00

pant original: 355.00 sale: 100.00

size: jacket XL (fits small) pant: 28 (fits large)

Engineered Garments

100% cotton anorak outerwear jacket

original: 480.00 sale: 100.00

size: small

Dries Van Noten

100% cotton peacoat

original: 1215.00 sale: 350.00

size: large

Adam Kimmel

100% cotton pinstripe sweater jacket

original: 1775.00 sale: 350.00

size: large

SOLD

Junya Watanabe

100% ramie bright blue dress with contrasting stitching

original: 1895.00 sale: 400.00

size: medium

Dries Van Noten

pinstripe cotton & linen stripe sportcoat

original: 1255.00 sale: 300.00

size: 52

SOLD

Sofie d'Hoore

color block knit top and skirt

knit top original: 445.00 sale: 125.00

skirt original: 355.00 sale: 100.00

top size: 36 skirt sizes: 34 & 40

Dries Van Noten

railroad stripe sportcoat

original: 1075.00 sale: 350.00

size: 52

Junya Watanabe

anorak outerwear coat

original: 1275.00 sale: 400.00

size: medium

Dries Van Noten

tie dyed jeans

original: $375.00 Sale: 100.00

Size:29

Dries Van Noten

sarong high-waisted skirt and sheer yellow blouse

skirt: original: 750.00 sale: 250.00 size: 36

blouse: original: 495.00 sale: 150.00 size: 36

Paul Smith

two-toned cardigan

original: $535.00 Sale: 150.00

Size: Large and XXL

Junya Watanabe

knit cropped trousers

original: 525.00 sale: 150.00

Size: Medium (fits 6 & 8)

Dries Van Noten

2011-07-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

Sofie d'Hoore

2011-07-29T14:13:00.001-07:00

Simply perfect!

New arrivals.....

2011-07-29T14:04:00.001-07:00

Comme Des Garcons

Cotton sportcoat with matching pants

Vintage silk scarf lining

Junya Watanabe

Cotton flannel asymmetrical shirt dress

Engineer Garments has arrived!

2011-07-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

Working men's and women's clothing.

Engineered and sewn in NYC.

What we have in now for men. Women's will be arriving soon.

Bedford jacket, khaki corduroy and vintage navy wool serge. Shawl collar vest, khaki corduroy and black and white glen plaid. Oxford button-down shirt.

Early Fall arrivals

2011-07-09T15:15:00.000-07:00

It's like Christmas in July! We've received our first three shipments of Fall 2011 merchandise -- Dries Van Noten, Sofie D'Hoore, and Massimo Alba. Much more of all of this is on the way, but here's a sampling of what has arrived.

INSTANT KARMA'S GONNA GET YOU!

2011-07-06T11:31:00.000-07:00

Just to be fair to the boys...

2011-06-16T16:01:00.001-07:00

Junya Watanabe

Bright blue, coated cotton anorak

Dries Van Noten

Ochre, double breasted, cotton peacoat

Junya Watanabe

Thick cotton, sweatshirt jacket

Lot's of great clothing left.... on SALE!

2011-06-15T16:46:00.000-07:00

Forme D' Expression
Washed, mottled grey silk tank dress

Dries Van Noten

Ombre, cotton canvas, no button trench

Dries Van Noten
Stretch cotton, tuxedo style fitted jacket

Junya Watanabe

100 % Ramie, trench dress

Forme D'Expression

Double-face twisted cotton cardigan

Summer Sale

2011-06-02T15:53:00.000-07:00

Our summer sale begins June 10.... 40% savings.
Hope to see you and the sunshine soon.

wish the sun would come back

2011-05-21T13:32:00.000-07:00

Then you could wear these great summer dresses.

Dress pictured above by Junya Watanabe

Forme D'Expression

Available in plaid or washed mottled grey silk.

Sofie D'Hoore
Last one!

We know that it is just a Hallmark holiday.

2011-05-07T11:41:00.001-07:00

But we still feel that it is important to wish all Mother's a very happy day
tomorrow and everyday.

Engineered Garments

2011-04-29T10:50:00.001-07:00

Engineered Garments took its brand name from a pattern maker hired to draft the first round of patterns. She claimed that the clothes were not designed but engineered due to the vast amount of detailing involved in each garment. The designer of the collection, Daiki Suzuki, agreed. Details from American sportswear, outdoor clothing, and military uniforms are all included in the collection and give Engineered Garments unique and practical detailing missing in much of American sportswear today.
Daiki coveted American sportswear when growing up in Japan. To him, clothing which came out of the US was an interesting blend of design innovation and the latest in industrial manufacturing. He was mesmerized by the details and saw that American sportswear was affected in many ways throughout the decades from the immigrants who sewed the clothes to the industry specialists who designed and manufactured them. He came to appreciate the flaws and weaknesses in some of the manufacturing processes and thought they defined many of the American made clothes in a special way. "Those clothes have a natural, post modernist & deconstructive quality about them. If a button falls off you sew another one on but it probably won't match and this makes it uniquely yours. When you find a garment that you love to wear it survives with you in its own way and becomes a second skin. It is these clothes which I want to make, clothes that you love wearing and become yours through the experience you have with them."

Anorak cotton jacket. Available in red only.

Sweet cotton shirt dress. Available in grey glen plaid, navy voile and as pictured.

A dress for summer... if it ever comes.

2011-04-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

Our lovely model wearing Stella Love at a recent fashion show presented by The Stranger. Photograph by Laurie Clark.

Spring!

2011-04-22T17:20:00.001-07:00

2011-04-21T13:04:00.000-07:00

Sofie D'Hoore

2011-04-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

Sophie D'hoore is a graduate of the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts. Originally trained in dentistry, her interest in fashion eventually lead her to change careers. After working in Italy for a period, she moved back to Brussels and created her first label with partner Chantal Spaas called 'Fashion Ink'. In 1992 Sophie decided to split with the label and design under her own name, known for it's purist aesthetic. Her modern designs are understated, flattering and created for a woman who values style over trend-lead fashion.

Also available in grey + navy. Great everyday dress.

Fantastic graphic print dress. The best party dress ever and only one more left.

Awesome retro color combination sweater. Shown with khaki cotton skirt with pockets. Almost every dress or skirt Sofie makes has pockets!

Also, available in matte grey cotton. Sleeveless,
exposed dart dress.

Junya Watanabe

2011-04-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

Junya Watanabe is a Japanese fashion designer, originally the protege of Comme des Garçons designer Rei Kawakubo. Born in Fukushima, Japan in 1961, he went on to attend Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo, graduating in 1984.[1] At this time he began his apprenticeship at Comme des Garçons as a patternmaker. In 1987, he was promoted to chief designer of Tricot knitwear line and then moved on to design for the Comme Des Garçons Homme line. Starting in 1992, he has worked under his own name as part of Comme des Garçons. He started his own line under the Comme Des Garçons name called 'Junya Watanabe Comme Des Garçons' in 1993 and began showing in Paris that same year.
Watanabe, like his mentor Rei Kawakubo, is renowned for designing innovative and distinctive clothing. He is particularly interested in synthetic and technologically advanced textiles and fabrics as found in his spring/summer 2001 line but also uses more traditional materials such as cotton in his spring/summer 2003 collection. Watanabe is often considered to be a 'techno couture' designer, creating unusually structured clothes out of modern, technical materials.
In 2007, Watanabe was licenced by Converse to design a series of All-Star shoes.
In April 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama wore a blue-patterned cardigan designed by Watanabe on a visit to the Royal Opera House during her and President Barack Obama's trip to London.

Forme D'Expression

2011-03-31T15:41:00.000-07:00

KOEUN PARK, SEOUL BORN, STUDIED HAUTE COUTURE WORKMANSHIP AND DESIGN AT THE ECOLE DE LA CHAMBRE SYNDICALE DE LA MODE PARISIENNE, IN FRANCE. AFTER GIORGIO ARMANI AND DONNA KARAN WHERE PARK HAD SET THE CORNERSTONES AS BOTH MEN'S AND WOMEN'S DESIGNER, SHE STRUCK OUT TO LAUNCH HER OWN PRIVATE LINE OF WORK, COLLABORATING AND EMBRACING THE CRAFTSMEN IN THE UMBRIA REGION, IN ITALY. IN 2004, PARK LAUNCHED HER FIRST CLOTHING LINE 'FORME 3'3204322896', IN PURSUIT OF A MORE PERSONAL APPROACH TO DESIGN. THE PHILOSOPHY - THE NAME FORME 3'3204322896 - PRONOUNCED "FORME D'EXPRESSION", IS EXTRACTED FROM THE NUMERIC KEYS OF HELVETICA - FRACTION FONT. MUCH LIKE THE CLOTHING IT REPRESENTS, THE NAME IS ABOUT CONVERSION AND INDIVIDUALITY. THE PHILOSOPHY IS TO CREATE DIFFERENT FORMS OF HUMAN EXPRESSION THROUGH THE GARMENTS THAT ARE NOT JUST FASHION ITEMS BUT SOMETHING BEYOND - BEAUTIFUL FORMS AS RESULT OF THE EXQUISITE BLENDING OF ARTISAN CRAFTSMANSHIP AND INTELLIGENCE. PARK ACHIEVES THIS PHILOSOPHY THROUGH THE UNCOMPROMISINGLY TAILORED AND METICULOUSLY CONSTRUCTED CLOTHING THAT ARE OFTEN BUILT ON SIMPLE GEOMETRY OF PATTERN THAT EVOLVES INTO AN UNEXPECTED VOLUME, EXPERIMENTAL FABRICATIONS AND SPECIAL TREATMENTS OBTAINED THROUGH IN-HOUSE ORGANIC EXPERIMENTS.

More Massimo

2011-03-10T12:01:00.000-08:00

Massimo Alba

2011-03-09T15:10:00.000-08:00

A breath of fresh air from Massimo Alba for both women and men. Casual, wearable everyday clothing. Washed baby corduroy trousers, breezy floral blouses, over-dyed polo's in a refreshing color palette. Just in time for spring.

Smitten

2011-02-11T14:25:00.001-08:00

Smitten with Sofie D'Hoore

A president worthy dress....

2011-02-05T13:49:00.000-08:00

President worthy dress... and not blue!

Katy just sent me this image of her wearing a recent purchase from Jack Straw.

Junya Watanabe

2011-02-02T15:53:00.001-08:00

Fantastic stripes.

Bright linen blue with partial patchwork lining.
Great detailing and handwork.

Cozy sweatshirt outerwear jacket.

Amazing yellow-olive colored sportcoat.

Stella Love

2011-01-28T14:00:00.000-08:00

Hattie

A dress to dance around the kitchen in.

Looks equally good with a floury apron or Faye, as pictured. Named in memory of Hattie, a wonderful woman whose turquoise kitchen my friends and I destroyed every weekend of our childhoods, making sticky buns and cinnamon lollipops. I still think of her every time I make yeast rolls, because after all this time her recipe is still the best. A role model’s dress.

Engineered Garments

2011-01-14T14:52:00.000-08:00

We feel so privileged to be carrying Engineered Garments for a second season. We will also be one of the only stores in the U.S.A. to be carrying Engineered Garments for women! Lucky you!

Ahoy!

2011-01-14T13:25:00.000-08:00

Ahoy there! Junya Watanabe will be sailing in soon for both men and women.

We love stripes - hope you do too.

Spring is sprouting......

2011-01-14T12:38:00.000-08:00

At Jack Straw that is....

Dries Van Noten's new collection had an entirely primal origin: Let there be light. He'd been looking at the work of Jef Verheyen, a Belgian painter who died in 1984 (and is therefore now on the brink of a major revival), and it made him ponder the ways he could transmute Verheyen's efforts to capture light. What the designer came up with was an ombré effect, which produced some striking pieces, especially when it intersected with the collection's other key reference point—Chinese ceramics. Art and ethnology have often been Van Noten's touchstones.

Winter Sale!

2011-01-04T11:16:00.000-08:00

Fantastic savings on both men's and women's designer clothing. Back by popular demand the Sin Bin, now for women too. Hope to see you soon.

Holiday Wish List

2010-12-10T14:17:00.000-08:00

A gift from Jack Straw.

For the women on your list.
A warm coat by Stella Love.

A riding jacket by Forme D'Expression.

A stunning 50's style dress by Dries Van Noten.

For the men on your list.
Waistcoat by Engineered Garments.

A plethora of plaid. Danolis, Gilded Age and many more..

A scarf to keep him toasty. Paul Smith, Cp Company and Dries Van Noten.

Forme D'Expression

2010-10-21T15:55:00.001-07:00

Forme D'expression (actual name Forme 3.3204322896, created by decoding numeric orders that make up the Helvetica-Fraction font) is all about conversion and individuality. Founder and designer, Koeun Park, believes that garments should evolve with the wearer while standing on their own. They should work together over time.

Park spent her youth building and constructing anything that inspired. A BA in Fashion at Seoul National University was followed by studies at the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. Subsequent roles included apprenticeships at Christian Lacroix and Nina Ricci, and senior designer of Giorgio Armani's black line.

Linen and wool fibres are mainstay materials, chosen for their potential to evolve under a variety of treatments. Each piece is meticulously constructed and designed to have a life of its own, rather than take on the prestige of the label's name. This allows fans to really own and continue to mould the clothes they choose and wear.

TRICKERS!

2010-10-14T12:48:00.000-07:00

In 1829, Joseph Tricker, master shoemaker, founded the company R.E. Tricker Ltd and five generations later his family continue to apply the same traditional crafts and skills in the production of the world renowned "Tricker's" shoes.

Built to last. Available in espresso or my personal favorite navy blue.

Small World

2010-07-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

Ahoy there,

I04 years ago my uncle had this picture taken at a photo studio situated at 1118, 1st Avenue, Seattle and sent it to little Bobby - my Dad. I see your styles have changed somewhat since then!!

Regards

Capt Ken Appleby

Heddon on the Wall, Nortthumberland England

THOUGHT YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW

2010-06-07T17:09:00.000-07:00

2010-04-21T10:45:00.001-07:00

We talk about Dries Van Noten a lot. We just can't seem to get enough of him. Below are descriptions and images of the amazing textile world that Dries has produced for his spring/summer collection. Which we proudly carry at Jack Straw.

Batik

Batik, originating in Indonesia, is a technique of hand-dyeing fabric by using wax to protect parts of the fabric from the dye. Once the dye has set the wax is removed by boiling the fabric in water. The process is repeated with various colours to complete the design of the print. Some of the Batik motifs used in the collection are part of the collection of the Ethnographic Museum in Antwerp home to a vast collection of original Javanese batiks including designs reserved for the Javanese Royal family of the time.

Ikat

Ikat, originating mainly in India and Pakistan, is a weaving technique for which yarn is first tie-dyed and then woven to create an intricately detailed fabric. There are three predominant methods of producing Ikat, before weaving either the warp (the length) or warp (the width) yarns are tie-dyed to create warp Ikat or weft Ikat, or both are coloured to create double Ikat.

Woodblock printing

An object is used to stamp identical and repeated designs onto a material or fabric. Woodblock was first devised for letterpress printing by the Chinese over two thousand years ago and later evolved in India and China as a technique for printing motifs and colours on fabrics. It remains in daily use today.

An Interview with Steve Ward

2010-03-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

A client recently introduced us to artist Steve Ward and we liked his work so much we brought some of his furniture into the store. Steve’s as local as you can get—he was born in Seattle, went to Bellevue High, and now lives in a house he built off the grid, south of Twisp.

“I gravitate toward the beauty of objects in a raw or unpolished state,” says Steve. “I believe that they present possibilities not always immediately evident, but there to be discovered and shared with a viewer.”

Here’s one of his chairs:

They are hand-welded. We have two. We also have a stack of fabric swatches for their eventual (but optional) upholstery, so they’re pretty customizable.

Here’s a short interview we did with the charismatic Steve a few days ago. Enjoy!

A Walk Through Jackstraw

2010-03-13T12:06:00.000-08:00

Spring has arrived in full bloom

2010-03-10T17:29:00.000-08:00

We aim to please at Jack Straw.

We have had so many requests to carry women's clothing and we just couldn't keep turning ladies away. As Laura Cassidy described in her blog, the new women's space is like an "American folk song hummed on a modern side street in Antwerp." Couldn't have said it better myself, Laura. Thank you!

Our own little slice of Antwerp here at Jack Straw.

On the road to Antwerp, via Seattle.

Sofie D'Hoore was born in Antwerp, Belgium in 1962, and looks at fashion with a purist's eye. A demanding and sophisticated perfectionist, her cut and choice of materials is rarely equaled.

Her particular penchant is for comfortable, well-built clothes. It's a refined style with pure lines, strict cutting, and flowing (but structured) volume.

Sofie D'Hoore makes timeless clothes. She dresses women (never disguises them) with class, discretion and reserve.

What to Wear

2010-03-07T17:21:00.000-08:00

Daily Candy has recognized local designer Maresa Patterson. Available only at Jack Straw.

Women are more than welcome!

2010-02-15T17:55:00.000-08:00

Hello there.

Women have always been welcome at Jack Straw, but now there's an even better reason to come in and visit! Jack Straw is introducing women's clothing to the already amazing men's stuff.

We have wonderful designers such as Dries Van Noten and Sofie D'Hoore, and some unknown gems like Stella Love, a local that we are proud to solely represent. Check out the February's issue of Seattle Metropolitan Magazine by Laura Cassidy to read more about it.

Here are a few teasers from the Stella Love collection:

Betty Draper

Okay, I am addicted. Named after Mad Men ’s Betty Draper, but inspired by the 50's.
It's more than the clothes. I like pineapple upside-cake. I like Eero Saarinen’s molded plastic tulip chair. I like the whole aesthetic. Admit it it--you can see Betty D. floating around the kitchen with a martini in one hand, a jello mold in the other, this dress on her back, and a cigarette in her mouth.

100% Italian cotton
Plaid under dress with pin tuck bodice detail and sheer cotton apron overlay.

Hazel

Perfect for a picnic, but just as good for running errands. Inspired by a vintage dress found in Fargo, North Dakota. Named after my home-ec teacher in high school, who taught me how to make a bad-ass red velvet cake and gave me an A for my Western-style fine-wale corduroy shirt. The dress’s shawl collar is matte washed cotton. Best worn with cat eye glasses.

100% Washed Italian cotton

If you would like to read and see more, visit stellalove.com.

SALE

2010-01-03T08:39:00.001-08:00

Come dig around in the 75% off Sin Bin.
All other amazing fall/winter clothing 40%-50%.

But as long as you love me so

2009-12-14T12:20:00.000-08:00

Let it snow

Let it snow

Let it snow

It's A Wonderful Life

2009-12-07T14:06:00.000-08:00

Proof that wishes sometimes come true: we were dreaming of a white Christmas.

Before you get excited -- nope, the penguin's not for sale. Those great chairs are, though...

Come in for some funky holiday cheer. We'll have a bottle of something open, and It's A Wonderful Life is running on a loop. On our wall. We have a few cozy Inis Meain sweaters left, and in this cold snap they feel like wearing a hug. There's some new furniture, too, that would look really good under the tree. (Check it out at 1stdibs, if it's been a while since you visited.) We'll probably make some fudge or toffee or something for the front counter, too, at some point.

We haven't written too much about Yohji Yamamoto this season, which is kind of shame, but there are still a few great pieces left, like this coat:

Jeffrey, the dude in the coat, is a good friend of the store. He's known John since the Kennedy administration or so, and he visits regularly. Looks pretty good in the Yohji, right?

So please swing in, and we'll raise a glass to the holiday you're celebrating. We probably won't be playing Christmas music.

Let it snow!

Don't mess with Mrs. Straw

2009-10-29T12:17:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Straw is wearing Dries Van Noten grey and plum pinstripe wool suit with Number (N)ine. Martin Margiela hat was a generous gift from a client.

The very cool blue sofa that Mrs. Straw is lounging on is also for sale. Deja Neu furniture just brought in some amazing new pieces, check out their blog. www.dejaneufurniture.blogspot.com

Warmth from the edge of the world

2009-10-03T11:57:00.000-07:00

Inis Meain Knitting Company has been creating high quality knitwear in luxury fibres for the best stores around the world since 1976.

Inis Meain Knitting Co.
-Aran Islands, Galway Bay Ireland.

Inis Main is one of the Aran Islands lying 15 miles off the west coast of Ireland. It is just 3 miles across and supports 200 inhabitants. This is the island where all of the knitwear that bears the Inis Meain name, and symbol of the upturned currach is made.

The currach is the islanders' fishing boat which the fishermen must carry up from the shore after every voyage. For centuries, the fishermen's garments have been knitted by the women of the island. This is the tradition that inspires the knitwear designed and made in Inis Meain. The Aran Islands are renowned not only for their unique history of knitting but also for their natural style and way of life. Old traditions in farming, fishing, sport and music are sustained and celebrated.

Taking inspiration from island life, Inis Meain Knitting Company creates clothing with a new twist on the elegant and stylish Irish country look, in luxurious materials. Colours, inspired by land and sea, relfect the seasons. Donegal yarns, tweeds, plaids and stitch details such as herringbone, fairisle and moss all reflect Inis Meain's authentic original Irish style.

Being the least visited of the Aran Islands, Inis Meain offers the most peaceful and genuine experience of this unique cultural landscape. There is just one pub on the island where locals and visitors gather. This tranquility and simple way of living are what make Inis Meain Knitting Company provides a means for the sustainability and development of the unique island traditions and way of life by providing employment for islanders in their own environment, and by designing clothing reflecting the natural style of Inis Meain.

MAY YOU LIVE LONG TO WEAR IT

2009-09-14T17:06:00.000-07:00

John is in New York this week buying women's for Spring 2010! If you're one of the scads of wives or girlfriends or daughters that have been after him to do it, now's a good time to get excited. The reports have been very good.

We never really followed through on those promised travel stories, and there's no guarantee there will be any this time, and we're sorry. Hopefully the clothes that keep coming in are incentive enough to visit us. (It feels a little anti-climactic now, but John really did save a woman's life in Paris. She was visibly struggling, the passers-by ignored her, and when John took the time to call an ambulance the medics determined that she'd been having a heart attack!)

The last few shipments of fall are trickling in, and this week we got a few more pieces of Issey Miyake.

It's edgy

and vibrant

and interesting, always.

Issey Miyake is a Hiroshima survivor! See this article for his recollections.

Dries and thank you.

2009-08-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

This is Dries Van Noten.

Dries, as we chummily call him, is a Belgian fashion designer, and has been designing since the mid-eighties. He is also a member of the Antwerp Six, a group of Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts-educated designers that blitzed London in 1988 and have been well-regarded and very influential since. (Another member of the group, and a big presence in our store this fall, is Ann DeMeulemeester.)

On September 9, Dries will be awarded the 2009 Couture Council Award for Artistry of Fashion, a big honor with an awkward name. He told WWD, an industry trade magazine, that he's, "...very happy with this award, because it is for artistry in fashion, which for me is one of the most important things. It's the skills, the craftsmanship, the colors and the fabrics I create."

You can see what he's talking about:

His collections are notable for their sophisticated, typically rather sedate, colors -- but who can forget that leopard print from a few years ago? Or the gold? Or those scarves?

He's also known for tracking down artisanal craftsmen -- the Dries network is world-wide (Italy! India! Hungary!). He's careful and responsible about his sourcing, something everyone's become more conscious of, and it shows in each hand-crafted piece. As the tag on one of his scarves says, "This piece is handmade by artisans. All pieces are therefore unique and can slightly vary in tone, size, and finish. Some imperfections can show, inherent to artisan production process." These aren't McClothes, in other words. Each piece is special.

See?

Congratulations, Dries!

In memory of Les Paul.

2009-08-13T20:21:00.000-07:00

We are a pretty rock n' roll music lovin' bunch at Jack Straw.

When I came home from working at Jack Straw today, I had not heard the news that the legendary Les Paul had passed away. The tale below is a true account of my husband's recollection of an evening with Jimmy Page and Les Paul. I dug up the photo album from our very musty basement the moment he told me the story below.

"I took Jimmy Page to see Les Paul play in NYC in the early eighties. I had been traveling with him for a few weeks, working as a promoter's rep on a Firm tour. Page wanted to meet Les Paul and possibly jam with him. So I took Jimmy and his guitar (his Les Paul, of course) to the club where Les and his group played every week. We were unannounced guests. Of course heads were turning and Les Paul seemed to think it was pretty cool Jimmy was there. They had never met before.

After a while, Les invited Jimmy up to the tiny stage to jam, and the handful of people in the audience were treated to an incredible hour or so of Jimmy Page playing jazz with the Les Paul Trio. I shit you not, he had jazz chops that were close to as good as his rock n roll chops. Les Paul had incredible skill and a really unique, cool sound of his own. Both of them seemed to have a great time meeting each other and playing together and were all hugs and smiles at the end of the night.

After the jam, as Page was an extremely shy guy, he wanted me to get Les to sign his guitar. I pulled out the Sharpie which I always carried when in the company of guys like this. Page said, "no, use this," and handed me his pocketknife. I had Les Paul carve his signature into the finish on the back of Jimmy Page's guitar.

True story. I think I even have a picture taken that night stashed away somewhere, though I'd be hard pressed to come up with it. In those days I hung out with and met a lot of pretty big time rock types, but that night was up there in the top few coolest moments."

Road show.

2009-07-27T16:34:00.000-07:00

Last week, Maresa took a field trip to the Seabold vintage market with some of our furniture. Click here to learn more.

When the cat's away...

2009-07-27T15:08:00.000-07:00

John's back from his month in Europe. He got back last week, and he has some stories to tell. More on that later, though.

See, we had some fun while he was away.

We climbed on the furniture.

We tried on the new Number (N)ine.

We snuggled up to the new Yves Andrieux pillows.

It was like the Cat in the Hat in here!

Number (N)ine is a collection designed by Takahiro Miyashita, who's a real character. According to this article he draws a lot of inspiration from music, and a lot from place. The collection that you see a smidge of above was, in fact, inspired by the Pacific Northwest, and it is a great blend of Seattle and Japan. It incorporates flannel, corduroy, thermals, plaid, and skinny pants, and does it with unusual detail and perfect fit, which makes it special.

This is also Number (N)ine's last collection. With our shipment, we received a pin that said, "Goodbye."

That pillow is from Yves Andrieux, and it's made out of vintage French army fabric. It smells like sex. There are bags too, made out of the same stuff. They smell like sex, too. I mean it.

Stay tuned for those stories. Teaser: on his way to a showroom, in Paris, John saved an old woman's life!

24 Hour Pate People.

2009-07-12T11:29:00.000-07:00

Well, Tim called it. I do enjoy a nice pate now and then. It's really tasty on a fresh baguette. I like the chicken-liver terrine. Maybe it's all the butter in it, but I like the smooth texture. I don't make pate myself, though.

I do have other creative outlets. For example, I bet that you didn't know this: we print every one of the shopping bags by hand, with hand-carved stamps. Each bag is an original. In fact, sometimes when we're on a roll, a logo can accidentally get printed upside down! (Are these a collector's item?)

We're not nuts; we just like the rough-hewn groove that mass production can't copy. And we agreed with Mr. D. that it would look cool. So how long can we keep this up? Well, today Loud Music will be heard at the underground Straw Lair. And I will hand stamp about thirty bags. Each one will have its own peculiar individuality.

I may not get "blisters on my fingers," but I will get ink on my hands. I'll have to clean up before I slice into that baguette.

-Mrs. Straw

Contagious.

2009-07-09T15:06:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long pause between blogs. To be honest, we're still deciding what we'd like this blog to be.
Of course, while we were thinking, the blog wasn't anything.
In the meantime, we did this:

I'd intended to write a little more snarky Disney dialogue for this blog while we were conceiving the window but I changed my mind as we were putting it in. Some time between working out the logistical troubles (which were plentiful) and laughing at our own goofy jokes we noticed that passers-by were stopping and reading and laughing and chatting with each other. We were able to communicate how much fun we were having! It made for a good afternoon.

A word about that sale -- nearly everything is half off, now. We have a little bit of everything left, but of note is a pretty good selection of Spring designer sportcoats in a nice range of sizes. Now's your chance. There are plenty of good t-shirts left, too.

Moving furniture.

2009-07-09T14:29:00.000-07:00

We moved the Deja Neu things to 1stdibs.com. Check it out, when you have a moment. There's a comprehensive listing of all of the furnishings we have in the store -- much more than we were able to feature on this site or in our mailers. (What's that? You wish you were on our mailing list? Just ask!)

Of course, nothing beats coming into the store to test drive the furniture. A few moments in the yellow armchair or a quick trial of the pale green cowhide loveseat (yeah, you heard me) and you'll become a believer. But when a picture's all you can get, or when you're on a mission, 1stdibs.com is a helpful resource. Here's the url: http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_search.php?FRID=amqZZ5dkwpLH

Bloggage.

2009-07-09T14:27:00.000-07:00

1. I think I'm going to refer to the store staff, collectively, as Jack. It amuses me when people call the store asking for Jack Straw. I'm usually so tickled that I answer, honestly, that Jack isn't in, and ask if I can take a message for him. (P.S. There's no Jack. This isn't the post where the mystery of our name is revealed, though; I'm going to let the suspense mount.)
So: if something is signed Jack, it's from all of us. The same will go for co-written posts, and a lot of them are.

2. If, however, a blog is somebody's personal entry then it'll be signed by the poster. This, like when you're watching the commentary track on a DVD and the parent company disclaims that they don't necessarily agree with what their artists are saying, is to protect us from having to take responsibility for each other's weird opinions. Here's a true-life example:

I like liver. I'm Tim, by the way.
Maresa doesn't, but has never said no to an honest pate.
John is vegetarian (I almost used quotes there, but resisted), and would turn inside out before he ate liver.
Paola and I haven't discussed it, but I bet she's in favor. In fact, I bet she has a few good recipes.
I'd be startled if Ryan was pro-liver, but he is constantly surprising me.

And that's the core crew.

3. Points one and two lead naturally here -- we're all going to be posting. And not just about clothing and furniture, as excited as we are about it. There's kind of a lot to say.

Gimme some truth.

2009-06-10T21:14:00.001-07:00

Reckless wishes.

2009-06-02T15:56:00.001-07:00

I saw a TV show, when I was a kid, in which a man was given three wishes, but he didn't know it. The first three things he wished for, he got. He didn't catch on until he'd made all three and they were all goofy -- like a good golf game or a good hair day.

I was reminded of this the other day when I made a rash wish of my own. I quit smoking about two years ago and I wished, as I was walking, that I could see what my lungs look like now. (I am curious.) Then I imagined how I'd look with a transparent torso and I remembered that TV show -- what if my wish had been granted? I feel like I dodged a bullet.

No more reckless wishes. Better to be careful.

In this spirit, here are a few things that could each be a respectable summer wish.

2009-06-02T15:32:00.000-07:00

Wish One

Wish Two

Wish Three

Deep, not wide.

2009-06-02T11:19:00.000-07:00

It was Balzac's birthday last week, and we were reminded of a quote of his: "I am not deep, but I am wide." He wrote about a hundred novels before his death in 1850. He was 51.

Jack Straw is the inverse of that. We're not wide, but deep. We don't carry a lot of collections, just a few big names and a few little names. We choose what to carry very carefully.

2009-06-02T10:56:00.000-07:00

Dries Van Noten cotton pinstripe suit. Sold separately.

Dries Van Noten, soft argyle pattern summer weight vest. Available in long sleeve version.
Danolis, washed oxford cotton button down shirt. Available in white, blue, pink.

2009-04-22T17:17:00.000-07:00

We’ve just received our first pieces of Deja Neu, an innovative, one of a kind local furnishing line. Below are images of just a small representation of some of what’s in the store now. We’ll be changing things frequently, so please come see us soon.

Introducing Deja Neu

2009-04-22T15:48:00.000-07:00

A functioning psychiatrist's chaise found at a doctor’s estate. Late 1800’s tufted leather with a hand carved frame. All original leather and finish. Oedipus complex sold separately.

Grampa’s 50's-era red vinyl chair in pristine vintage condition. Early 1900’s triple jointed adjustable jack lamp used for leveling homes the old fashioned way. Can set on a table - or unscrewed to set on floor next to furniture as a floor lamp.
French leather club chair from 1930's Paris, so it made it through the occupation and, somehow, to the new world. It's beautiful. 1920’s industrial machinist’s floor light bought from a gentleman in his mid 80’s. He used it in his shop where he fabricated parts for Boeing.

Whip pendant lights are re-purposed KitchenAid whisks from a commercial bakery. Many years of beating batter gives these whips a rich patina. New wiring.

Car-jack lamp base found at an old gas station. Original paint, adjustable height base with custom shades. We have one in yellow, too.