Jarvis & Waterman

Whether it be their vinyl figures or comic books, the creative minds of Russel Waterman and James Jarvis of Amos Toys have created a brand that people from all walks of life find fascinating and enticing. Their products maintain more then just pleasant aesthetic properties but go far and beyond to entrench you into fun and creative storylines and concepts. In a recent interview with Amos Toys, Russell Waterman and James Jarvis outline the creation of Amos Toys and their brand philosophy which has yielded them a legion of fans.

HB: Please introduce yourself to the viewers and offer a bit of insight into how you both ended up forming Amos Toys.

JJ: Bloody hell. That's a large question. We started Amos as a way of taking toys away from the world of street fashion, but failed miserably...
RW: I'm Russell Waterman, co-founder of Silas and Maria with Sofia Prantera (although I am no longer a part of this group) and a co-founder and collaborator with James Jarvis on Amos. We ended up working with each other because we couldn't find anything better to do!
JJ: I started working with Russell and Sofia back in the mid-90s when they were working for Slam City Skates. I carried on working for them when they started Silas and we've been collaborating in one form or another ever since. We started Amos as I kind of sister company to Silas in 2003.

HB: What sort of role do you each have within Amos Toys?

JJ: With Amos I do all the artwork and graphics, the easy bit!
RW: I look after the business and help think up and develop ideas for new projects and products. I do a bit of editing with James and I co-write pieces such as Vortigern's Machine, The YODzine etc. Outside of the day to day running I guess my role is pretty conceptual.
JJ: The conceptual bit is the fun part...
RW: We both enjoy that part. The day to day running sucks but someone has to do it.
JJ: The interesting thing about Amos is that it acts as an umbrella for anything we might want to do.

HB: Do you both essentially fill in each others weakness' with the other's strengths?

JJ: I'm not sure about that. We probably enable each other's negative traits as well.
RW: Yeah I think that is fair to say. We know each other very well and we both compensate and compromise. We are both pretty cynical but I like to think we use that to approach things in a realistic manner.
JJ: I want to communicate to a wide audience and having Russell as a collaborator/editor/confidant/what-have-you helps avoid being self-indulgent.
RW: I think we both bring an extra bit of perspective and context to what each of us does.
JJ: That's it and I'm better at spelling!

HB: What sort of impact have toys had with your respective lives? Were you always toy enthusiasts?

RW: I have always bought toys and I have a loft full of cartons full of toys. I've slowed down now. It was hard, say 15 years ago as people would see me as a freak. Now it isn't a problem. I accept I am a freak.
JJ: I was never a toy enthusiast, but making toys seemed like a fun and interesting thing to do when the opportunity arose.
RW: I would also claim to be an enthusiast but not a collector. I only collect our figures. Then I buy whatever takes my fancy. More licensed figures than anything else.
JJ: I was obsessed with Lego as a kid. I think it's all about building realities... which is what I do now.
RW: Working with toys has been a cathartic process for me as I had a legitimate excuse to buy them. Although storing them in boxes in my loft is a bit scary. And I would never let my kids play with them which is downright cruel!
JJ: What I really like doing is drawing, but on their own drawings are a hard thing for people to consume. So I use the drawings to make toys, or illustrations or comic strips, which are more commercial.

HB: Is it safe to say each sub-brand represents a different theme and approach?

JJ: I think so, YOD is arty and weird, Vortigern's Machine was an attempt to make a more mainstream (but still a bit subversive) kid's entertainment property.
RW: In-Crowd was an experiment to go wider. Green Fuzz gives Will Sweeney some freedom to explore other areas and develop his world vision!
JJ: Amos' identity comes from ALL those sub-brands.
RW: We wanted Amos to work on many levels from mainstream to cult status. Very ambitious. Vortigern's Machine was actually supposed to be for 10 - 12 year olds!
JJ: ... and YOD is for philosophers.
RW: ...and revolutionaries.
JJ: ... and mathematicians.
RW: ... and drug lords.
JJ: No, that's Mr. Spoons.
RW: No, he is a drug lord... of sorts. Sorry...we digress

HB: That's an interesting method of keeping concepts clean and tidy by offering up different outlets.

JJ: I think we are both too interested in all sorts of things to only work on one kind of concept. YOD scratches one itch and Vortigern's Machine another.
RW: Also we did not want to put out product that was not extensively thought out. We are both thinking people and we expect our customers to be that way too. We needed to offer products with context.

HB: How important is that each of your products are concept driven? Does it complete the circle by having something that not only looks good but also maintains a good background regarding it?

JJ: Definitely. I think that is where Russell is very strong.
RW: For me it is really important. As soon as you turn an idea into a product and expect people to buy it then you have to offer something with some meaning. Or else you are no better than the other 99% of shit that is out there. You walk around the stores and they are full of rubbish and it makes you wonder what people would want these items. The other trap is self indulgence. Making art for yourself is one thing. Expecting people to buy it is another. It has to have some context as soon as you offer it up as a product.
JJ: I think that as soon as you mass-produce something you have a duty to try and make it have substance.

HB: I believe that concepts in all walks of life drive the design world, of course not everybody's interpretation is put to work correctly, not so the case with Amos.

JJ: I'm too much of a fascist to allow that (!).

HB: Can you attest to that Russell?

RW: I believe you are 100% correct. Good design has a basic idea and concept whatever it is. How people chose to view that and use it is up to them. Sometimes I like other peoples views and interpretations of what we do. And yes, James is pretty authoritarian in nature. I am and will always be his bitch!
JJ: That's the yin-yang dynamic in the office - the authoritarian/libertarian conflict.

HB: Do you guys have any last words you'd like to say?

JJ: Clean up after yourselves, put some brakes on your bike and always stop for a red light.
RW: Thank you for giving us a chance to spout our bullshit. And I guess I'd like to thank those that genuinely take an interest in what we do. We try, and we really do appreciate the support.

HB: I too must thank you guys for the opportunity as well. I don't want to keep you guys too long as I'm sure there's tons of shit for you guys to attend to.

RW: In James' case that is probably very literal!

Less is more

I recently stumbled over some old Bape designs from 1993-2003. Its sad to see how Bape have come along and progressed (used in its vaguest sense) as a brand. These old pieces lack the horrible, garish designs and colours that have become synonymous with Bape these days.

Images courtesy of stopbeggingmag

However the new Bape spring/summer 2008 collection shows there is still a wray of hope, despite the fact it may be dimmed by the countless garish camo prints suffocating it. Some of the pieces in their new collection suggest they might be verging towards their more classic and subtle older style.

Images courtesy of my bape blog

However flip a couple pages through their spring/summer collection and your back to what I've come to associate with Bape.... The concept of disgrace delivered through design and colour.


Either way, whether the designs come back to par, the image i have of Bape is so tainted by their extortionate prices, and more significantly their London shop and staff, that i couldnt bring myself to purchase anything Bape regardless of what i thought of it. Ill let the people over at stopbeggingmag do the talking.....

"Then you got the staff that are probably the single worst thing in terms of Bapes brand identity within London; they're simply not good enough. They bring no background product knowledge, no customer repour, no sales techniques and worst of all zero manners. Which results in you going there, asking them a question only to be greeted with a plain face and one worded answers. It's as if they secretly never wanted to work there but the Yakuza took their family as hostage and forced them to work to cover their imported Pokemon cards debt, ha"

Words of wisdom

"Protect Ya Neck"

Hit Doctors Orders, Tea rooms and the Old blue. A relatively low-quality, unproductive night. Old blue has a strictly Wu-tang music policy apparently, of which i can do nothing but support whole heartedly. Its ironic how gems are usually found in the most unpredictable places. Doctors orders decided to play nothing but female vocaled funk and soul whilst old blue served us with a much needed portion of "Protect Ya Neck".

Might catch me in some faded evisu's and w)taps chukkas

W)taps seem to have gained some kind of cult following. Everywhere i go i meet more W)taps wearers, all of which seem to be sternly serious about their w)taps appreciation and wearing. Understandable given id go as far as to argue these are the best Chukkas ever made! Yes, ever made! And thats a big statement considering the lifetime of the Chukka.

If i'm ever to escalate this blog into anything respectable ill have to cop myself a camera sooner or later. Until then enjoy the Sony-Ericson 5 megapixel mayhem.

"My other car's a VAN"

Ive been salivating over the purple half cabs for a while now, so when i noticed that some new purple and black accented half cabs have been released somewhere in the depths of Japan i was nothing short of the drama 'Ante Up' can cause in a club. I find that half cabs, in their naked entirety, are quite an ugly and misshaped kind of sneaker, kind of like Sloth from the Goonies.

But alas, when one has time to appreciate them and sport them alongside a nice item of demin wear they flourish, just as if one takes time to look past Sloths incredibly horrible and misshapen head they are likely to realise he is a lovely and kind character.

Second in my trail of thought is Nike's re-release of the Air Structure, originally released in 1992. As I've said before im usually a fan of all things Nike air and these are no exception. These are absolute butter and i cant wait to get my grubby mits on a pair or two.

Until next time. Adieu

Bag it up

Goodenough UK and Berlin based messenger bag specialist Bagjack have combined forces on a small collection of bags. The collection consists of backpacks, tote bags and mobile phone holsters. The bags are made out of nylon and feature some crazy floral detail on the outer leather. I'm a first rate advocate of all things detailed with subtlety so these bags are a micro penis (and thats really! small) away from perfection for me. My personal favorite is the lighter brown and white bag becuase i think the light brown really hits off against the clean white.

The collection has been released at the Hideout.

Until next time. Adieu

London Joyrider

Alife tee, Stussy London fitted and Gold casio.

Oh yea. And get your grill game right!

Until next time. Adieu

Hell hath no fury

I touched on my appreciation of American Apperal's marketing policy a couple days ago and would like to officially add HellBellz to that list. Pictures like this are nearly enough to persuade me into thinking sporting under-sized womens clothing as belly tops could be a good look in the new year....

And thats only the beginning! I would be undermining the brand that is, if i were to say their models are the only reason they deserve recognition in 2008. Hellz Bellz have been supplying female street wear enthusiasts, aswell as those simply looking for a bit or colour or something guaranteed to stand out, with designs nothing less than fire for years.

aptly titled "gunning for peace"

Hellz Bellz and rouge status have obviously drawn inspiration from similar sources as the design focus is evidently that of a similar nature.

Everyones gotta like a gun here and there right? Even on your car?........
HELLLL YEEEAAAA!!

Until next time. Adieu

I like variety when it comes to varsity

Berlin's Solebox have teamed up with UK jacket marker extraordinaries Trainerspotter to produce a custom varsity jacket. The wool body is marked by leather sleeves, a satin lining and the imagery of both Solebox and Trainerspotter respectively. Their use of pink, palm trees and neon light style lettering gives it a very 80's Miami feel.


Its very Miami vice. Might catch either of these two sporting it in the upcoming series...


Possibly busting a sordid drug deal in a hotel like this....

Until next time. Adieu

And theres me thinking all lines in the fashion world are white?

Interesting and accessible insight into some fashion concepts and whatnot. Doesnt come across as too elitist or complex like alot of prominent figures in high end fashion can.

Until next time. Aideu

Nike Stiletto Pack - Kicks for Chicks

Speechless.....

Until next time. Adieu

Shoes that shine

"Alan Kashi - a.k.a 'AK' - had a vision that his and his family's collection of jewelry would later expand into Hip-Hop fashion in a way that would revolutionize an entire industry"

That he certainly has! The AK sneaker courtesy of Kashi Kicks may well be named after a lethal firearm but ain't nothin' getting killed by these babies except yo image and pride.

The guy has even blessed the sneaker game with clocked out sneaks...... Yea thats right, clocks on yo sneakers!! Why you ask?
Because every modern day flyboy gotta know what time it is! Its Kashi time dammit!
Everyone knows wristwatches are outdated. Ain't no one want no Iced out watch no more. Instead you want the time on your shoe, just where you can see it....... Right?
Oh yea. The clocks are interchangeable aswell just incase you wanted to switch yo clock game up and start swapping with the homies.

No only has the Jewish homie provided us with clocked up sneakers, the designs he is coming with are nothing but 100% dope.

Piano keys. Yes Pianos keys on sneakers. Not only that but Clefs all over the gaff. What can i say? Genius

Oh yea and incase you didn't know. They rock real nice if you pull the jean up and expose the mandatory white sock.

Excuse my shameful use of American slang. I thought it was rather fitting for the post.

Until next time. Adieu

Up your beach towel game

Late winter sounds just about the right time to start dropping beach towels right? Kidrobot and Target have both made their latest contributions to the world of beach apparel via the way of Toweling.

Target have approached the world of beach apparel with an artist series, boasting the likes of Jeff Koons (Guy who designed the supreme skate boards)

and Kehinde Wiley.

Since most of us don't live anywhere near a wave of sand granule we wont be able to utalise the towels in their tradition sense. However theres still hope! Buy these and proudly pin them up on your walls, beach towels are the new skate decks.

Until next time. Adieu

Throw some J's on that bitch

Went to bag up some books today from my univeristy library. Alas it was shut, and i was left university stranded with no books. The result was a break dancing bretherin and a seated me.

• Nike Air Jordan III Retro
• Over-sized Carhartt Plaid shirt
• Stussy London Fitted

These blew my mind when i saw them!!! I've never seen em' for sale before but will keep a eye out from now on. Peep the bloodclaat stitchin!!!

I never used to appreciate Jordans too much, as I've always been an air max man. However as i grow and my tastes evolve i find myself looking at and copping more and more of the god damn things! Jordans are like a whole brand in themselves and boast such a variety of sneakers that its plain ignorant not to respect them in one shape or another. I started with the Air III's but the V's are definitely growing on me.

Until next time. Adieu

Food for thought

Inspired by a junkie
Until Next Time. Adieu

HoodBike

Until next time. Adieu

HoodSkate

Until next time. Adieu