Palladium, the legendary footwear brand from France, was founded in 1920 as a vulcanised rubber manufacturer for the European aviation industry. When demand for airplane tyres plummeted following the end of WWII, the company opened a plant in Pont De Cheruy, near Lyon, and began to produce boots and shoes that boasted a quality equaled to their tyres.
Palladium shoes amassed a huge cult following, before seeing a quiet period towards the 90’s. In 2006, however, the label was successfully re-launched in the United States, its guerilla-style campaign in particular garnering the praise of media, bloggers, and consumers.
• PALLADIUM PAMPA: Palladium’s most well-known model, Palladuim “Pampa”, was first produced in 1947. So functional, durable and comfortable were these shoes, that after putting the boots to test in the harsh desert conditions of North Africa and the rugged terrain of the Atlas Mountains, the Légion étrangère (French army) adopted it for their use.
• PALLADIUM PAMPA OXFORD LO: Comfort and retro simplicity define the Palladium “Pampa Oxford Lo” canvas shoes. The 100% cotton canvas upper is stonewashed for a vintage look.
• PALLADIUM BAGGY: A little bit sneaker, a little bit boot, the Palladium “
Baggy” shoes say you’re not confined by one style. Everything you want in footwear in terms of style and durability, the distressed canvas and matching laces create a rugged industrial appeal while the thick sole and padded foot bed provide comfort and protection.
• PALLADIUM LITE: This Spring/Summer, Palladium finally cracks the secret of the summer boot. How? With the switch to a full
EVA outsole. Breathable, durable, with moisture wicking
dri-lex, and as versatile as ever, the new Palladium LITE boot in the signature “Baggy” style weighs just 283.5g or 10oz - the lightest boot Palladium has ever made in its 60+ year history!
• PALLADIUM ENZYME WASH: Yet another interesting line from Palladium is the Enzyme wash collection, which features a variety of silhouettes -including Pampa and Baggy- with a grimy enzyme wash. The special washing process accelerates the visual fading and weathering of canvas, resulting in an authentic vintage look and feel.
All the Palladium styles are urbane and trendy and all-purpose enough for the ladies, too.See Palladium spend an afternoon with it girls Daisy Lowe and Alice Dellal as they explore London:-
PALLADIUM “PALCACHING”
Palladium’s revival a few years back was greatly fueled by an unorthodox but brilliant guerrilla campaign called “Palcaching”, Palladium’s version of geocaching (where thousands of players use their GPS to find caches -containing anything from poetry to cash- hidden in locations around the globe; it is one of the fastest growing leisure activities in the world).
Palcaches or clues were hidden in Palladium retailers -as well as odd places like under bridges, next to trash cans, stuck to change, hanging from sign posts, even on people’s clothing- around cities like New York, Atlanta, San Francisco, Portland and Chicago, and when a player finds a cache and enter its code on the Palladium website, he/she wins free Palladium shoes and such.
The game became an underground sensation and, as luck would have it, Palladium shoes landed in the hands of Will Smith and a starring role in 'I Am Legend'. As word spread and demand exploded, Palladium caught the interest of K-Swiss, who eventually bought over the brand and expanded it.
This clean-cut, 100% cotton polo, from big-name-in-British-fashion-retailing AllSaints Spitalfields, is made from fabric so soft and cool, you will feel like sleeping in it and continue wearing it the next day. Except, it also features the added detail of wire inserted into the collar, allowing you to mould the piece to your personal style when you wear it with chinos on Casual Fridays or with jeans for Saturday Drinks :-)
True to their name, you are sure to fall in love with cult Aussie label Sass & Bide's ‘The Lover Skins’ super skinny jeans. In rich dark kohl, slightly waxed, a little bit rock (they look -and grip!- like leather), and a little bit classy - have a love affair this season with these perfect go-anywhere, do-anything jeans!
Good morning, dear friends.
Happy Administrative Professionals Week to all of the ladies and gentlemen who keep the offices around the world running sanely :-)
Crafted to the highest standard of workmanship, this exquisite cocktail piece from French fashion house Givenchy will elevate your wardrobe to a sartorial orbit most others can't reach. The bold studs offer the essential glitz 'n' glamour, while a classic V-neck and just above the knee-length ensure a ladylike silhouette.
An innovative eyewear maker who has fearlessly decorated, accentuated and emphasised the eyes of its fashion-forward patrons for over 15 years now, JF Rey is literally an eye-conoclast. The frames have a truly inimitable look about them - the designs are often futuristic in shape and concept, and feature very accomplished detailing. Founder-creator Jean-François Rey (assisted by his wife -and colourist- Joelle Rey and a small team) is a creator without peer, arduously translating structural fantasia into wearable objets d'art through the use of hand-worked, lightweight materials. The resulting frames (largely for men but also worn by women), in which technological innovation also plays a determinant role, are top-of-the-line and exuberant, appealing to an urbane, hip clientele seeking to avoid classification.
Play peekaboo! With edgy perforated leather (baby-soft lambskin, no less) panels, rolled sleeve details, a relaxed fit, and an infallible downtown vibe, this combo Modal tee from New York label under.ligne by doo.ri is truly a gimme-now piece for gals who like to have a little fun with their clothing.
The style-savvy chaps among you may already know Folk, the London-based Scottish label.
Happy Easter to you if that’s your thing, otherwise, happy Sunday! Off to breakfast!
Every year, the title of UNESCO World Book Capital is granted to one city, which will hold the title for one year and undertake to run a larger number of events around books, literature and reading. This year, that city is Buenos Aires - which clearly lays claim to one of the world’s most incredible book stores: El Ateneo, or the Ateneo Grand Splendid Bookstore. Built in 1919 by an Italian architect, the Grand Splendid Theatre entertained Buenos Aires for a decade with top-tier tango concerts, before it was converted into a popular cinema. In 2000, the building was leased by a publishing house and found new life as a bookstore.