Walking up to the second floor of New York’s famed sporting goods store Paragon, I was on a mission to find a good new cycling jersey. I made a left at the top of the stairs and skipped past the cases of pocket knives, sunglasses and flash lights heading straight to the cycling section. Just as I got there I came upon a sign that read: Search and State Made in New York City. Needless to say, I was intrigued. When I set out to Paragon I expected to find something that would work for what I wanted, but I couldn’t have expected to find something as great as what I did with Search and State.

The New York based company is the product of Devin O’Brien and Daniel Golden, two guys who previously worked in design and marketing and decided to set off on their own and create a brand that had a different approach to cycling. What started back in 2010, has emerged this spring as tight collection comprised of just the essentials: one jacket and one jersey in all black. It’s a simple start with more products coming throughout the year.

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Amazing to see such a succinct convergence of art and craft in one little four minute video. Filmmaker Dustin Cohen pays a visit to violin maker Sam Zygmuntowicz’s studio in Brooklyn to explore the precise art of making fine musical instruments. The film is the first part of the promising Made in Brooklyn series. I find it remarkable the commitment that Mr. Zygmuntowicz has to his clients and to the ongoing service to all of the violins that he has created, specifically staying in New York to support them.

Violin making is a fairly obscure talent, but one that is definitely worthy of awe by musicians and non-musicians alike.  I look forward to seeing and learning more from Made in Brooklyn.

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The worst part about calling cards is the potential for people to actually call you. Because let’s be honest, the only time you want to see that phone number deployed is to a new lady friend. Even with that limited use we stand behind everything calling cards stand for: class, tradition, quality and of course, simplicity. With that in mind, we here at ACL teamed up with Ted Harrington and Terrapin Stationers to create an engraved Twitter calling card; finally classing up that age old “follow me on Twitter” conversation. We loved the idea of mixing such a traditional thing with something as frivolous as Twitter.

Terrapin has these on offer in its shop: $125 for a set of 100. Everything is hand engraved in New York City and you get the copper plate with the order. [Terrapin Stationers]

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There is really nothing like a clothing factory. And I mean clothing in the proper menswear sense of the word — suiting. It really is amazing that I haven’t visited the good people at Martin Greenfield sooner, but I never really had a good opportunity. When Tyler Thoreson and I got to talking about Gilt’s Martin Greenfield suit offering it was just the chance I was looking for. Ladies in smocks constructing jackets, sewers sitting together stitching by hand, and of course, Martin (along with his two sons) on the factory floor full of enthusiasm. Check this off my list.

You can tell this place never stops and probably hasn’t for years. (Note the GGG clock.) The floor gets layered and layered around tables and machines because there is no time to stop production and redo the worn out floor. The factory has been there so long the neighborhood went from good to bad to hipster in a blink of Martin’s eye. During their breaks, the Greenfield factory workers spill out onto the sidewalk in front of the building and mix with seemingly unemployed creative types that inhabit the post-industrial streets of Bushwick.

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If you are in the market for a new suit, the time is now. If you are attending a wedding soon and need a suit, the time is now. If you are someone that just likes to wear suits, the time is now. I can’t say this enough.

One of the most common emails I get from people needing style advice is about finding and buying a good suit. I have a few favorite places I generally point people to (one of which was Hickey, may it rest in peace), so when I heard from Gilt about the suits the commissioned from Martin Greenfield I got legitimately excited for a few reasons. 1. Because these are the perfect recommendation for anyone needing a suit. 2. The value for money for this clothing is off the charts. 3. Martin Greenfield makes really nice suits. 4. I’m in the market for a new suit.

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Last week during my visit to Terrapin / Stationers Engraving & Printing Co. I had a chance to watch the engraving process first hand — something truly amazing to see in person. It was equally amazing to take a trip back in time via the Terrapin archive. The company has 50+ years of old business cards, stationery and other printed goods sitting around. The good news is, they didn’t mind letting me look through it.

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At one point there were hundreds and hundreds of printers and engravers in New York. Varick Street was the center of the printing district and the buildings were packed with all sorts of different companies proficient in various specialties; but these days the New York printing industry is a shell of its former self and only a few businesses continue the tradition. The good news is, the art of engraved stationery is alive and well on 37th Street at Terrapin / Stationers Engraving & Printing Co. The family run business, operated for years by a husband and wife Lloyd and Cathy Harrington, and their son Ted, has fought off all of the challenges presented with a changing industry. Recently Lloyd retired and Cathy and Ted have carried on their company’s nearly 100 year tradition of producing some of the finest stationery and printed goods in the U.S. Even the recently shuttered (and well respected) Mrs John L Strong would send their engraving work to Terrapin. As would law and financial firms, and of course fashion houses; anyone looking for beautiful letterhead, business cards, note cards and or invitations.

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