DJ Mag Canada 013 - January 2014 | Page 56

FASHION LESS IS MORE... BENCHMARK Our New Year Honours list… Celebrating 25 years with silver, of course… COLOUR OF THE MONTH… BENCH go back, way back. Born in the ‘80s in Manchester, they were at the epicentre of the club and street culture scene. So it’s no surprise that this year is going to be one big, long ballyhoo of a party for them; because that’s the way they roll. Starting things off with the release of their Street Tech Collection — combining technical fabrics with subtle nods to their heritage — a silver hoody features Primaloft insulating technology engineered for extra warmth. DJ Mag has had a good ole touchy feel of the capsule and can confirm it’s bang on trend. Ouch. Did we really just say that? Basically, it’s got all the specs to keep you snug and protected without looking like you’re about to do a hike up Snowdon or some such mountainous place. We’ll be keeping you up-to-date with the next stage of their celebrations and a forthcoming competition. Bench.co.uk Yellow. It’s fresh and optimistic. It speaks of positive vibes and hope. And custard! SWING... Or should that be shhwing? Get practicing your golfing skills in time for some leisurely summer action. And keep your balls neat and tidy courtesy of Daines and Hathaway — handmade and produced in the UK. FOOTSIE… We’re so over hashtag selfie. It’s all about the hashtag footsie. And when you’re rocking a cosy, expensive pair of socks from Pringle, you’d better make the most of them. PXL! Forward-thinking, best of LOW LOVE… Yet again Hype make the British label… DACRE BRACEY is a fan of creativity. He’s the founder and creative director for PXL, a brand currently receiving a whole lot of worldwide support from cool kids and hip cats alike. Known and respected in the music industry, Dacre’s passion for street culture started in the early ‘90s when he applied his design genius to flyers for club nights like La Cosa Nostra and Sun City. He’s produced artwork for Wiley, Tinie Tempah, 50 Cent, Pharrell, Nike and more. The favourite of Example, Giggs, Wretch 32 to name a few, PXL can currently do no wrong. In their own words they are ‘a premium streetwear brand dedicated to geeks, Keek freaks, nerds, neaks’. Nuff said. Pxlclothing.com CONNECTED Behind the brand HYPE 056 djmag.com “FROM what started out as a hobby to now a full fledged brand has definitely shocked me,” explains Hype co-founder Liam Green. Along with Aidy Lennox, it’s only two years since they first started out and now they’re showcasing in China, the US and Europe. Boasting new cut and sew items and ladies wear pieces, the brand is now stocked in Topshop. “Sticking with our reputation for ‘wacky’ prints and vibrant colour ways, we expect to shock our critics and fans alike with future collections,” Liam goes on to say. It’s certainly been a swift migration from shifting a few t-shirts to hitting the high street. The two friends were on summer breaks from Uni when they decided rather than spending it kicking back that they’d dabble in creating a brand. One of their first designs was the statement: Get Your Own Fucking Lighter. And when they released a cosmos themed collection early last year it was clear they were on to something. Hype. We salute you! list; this time with their low sneakers. Casual, affordable and the perfect alternative to you know which brand. Smiley face. WESTWOOD… Join Vivienne Westwood’s Climate Revolution Campaign. In fact if you do one thing in January it should be to join a campaign of some description. Get involved. TOO GOOD… GoodHood Store’s own brand and lifestyle collection has got us extremely hot under the collar. We predict more gorgeousness this year. Start saving! HIBERNATION… January has a wealth of possibilities. Many people bugger off for the month. Others get fit. Some stay indoors. Bershka’s cosy pants are all about curling up by a fire. djmag.com 057