• Spencer Morgan takes a look at one of NYC’s best custom suit makers — Mr. Ned [The New York Observer] [Pictured]
• America has shed 707,000 textile and apparel mfg jobs since 2000 — hopefully everyone can find jobs at their local jail. [USA Today]
• The second Pop Up Flea got a little international ink [Drinkin' and Dronin']
• “I like my house, but these rooms just seem too tiny and stingy.” [The New York Times]
• Mr. Ray A. Smith explores the business potential of Band of Outsiders [The Wall Street Journal]

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Every single stitch, button, thread and piece of fabric is Grown & Sewn in the United States of America. That was half of Rob Magness’s concept, to source everything domestically. The Ralph Lauren alum’s other idea was to combine denim fits with khaki cotton twill fabrics. The result are some very nice looking, wearable, washable goods.

I first heard about Rob’s collection at the second Pop Up Flea in November. A very nice young lady told me about their new store in TriBeCa, but it wasn’t until a few weeks ago in Las Vegas that I could meet the designer and see the collection. I’ll be honest, at first pass I wasn’t sold on everything (and there are a few pieces that are definitely not for me) but on the whole, the line is excellent. There are three fits to choose from, and just like with denim, there are varying wash options — everything from raw to distressed. (Note the top photo, distressed on the left, medium in the middle and raw on the right.)

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It has taken me this long to get back in the saddle and post a recap of the second Pop-Up Flea. It was really exciting to see everyone come through and to see people excited about picking up some new gear. A big thanks to my partner in the endeavor Mr. Randy Goldberg for all of his hard work.

I also want to thank all of the vendors for participating. Gitman Bros. Vintage, Hickoree’s Hard Goods, Billykirk, J.Crew, Jack Spade, Alexander West, Farinelli’s, Epaulet, Alexander Olch, Ohio Knitting Mills, Tanner Goods, Tellason, Michael Andrews Bespoke, C’H'C’M, Schott NYC, Sit and Read Furniture, No Mas, Digby & Iona and Amass.

Finally, appreciate all of the coverage for the event. Check out: Racked, Selectism, Cool Hunting, Uncrate, Design Obvserver, Put This On, Valet, All Plaid Out, Secret Forts (twice), What I Saw Today, New York Magazine and others (sorry if I missed people).

With the dust settled on another successful event, I will say that Mr. Goldberg and I are taking a serious look at a new city for Pop-Up Flea III in the coming spring. Can you guess?

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Announcing the lineup for the second ever Pop Up Flea. Everything kicks off this Friday afternoon at 3pm and runs throughout the weekend. The complete dates and times are below. See you there.

Friday, November 20th, 3pm-9pm
Saturday November 21st, 11am-7pm and Sunday the 22nd 11am-6pm.

201 Mulberry Street, Between Spring and Kenmare
New York City

Get Handsome.

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ACL & Co. bags…

Dearest ACL brethren,

The plan all along has been to launch the ACL Shop this fall, something I have been saying for months now. Well in the interest of quelling the impatient messages and comments (everyone is asking me everyday), I feel it important to set the record straight. THE ACL SHOP IS GOING LIVE ON NOVEMBER 23RD, 2009. This of course, barring force majeure. The shop will be offering a limited selection of goods under the ACL & Co. label, plus collaboration items from a few other designers (which will be announced on the 23rd). The selection will be minimal at first with new goods coming in every month for the next several months.

Those of you in New York City on November 20th – 22nd will have the option of getting first crack at the ACL Shop merchandise at the Pop Up Flea. I look forward to seeing you then!

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Boom…we’re back. After a successful summer event, my partner-in-crime Randy “Freedom” Goldberg (of UrbanDaddy fame) and I knew what we had to do, bring this baby back for another round of Pop Up Flea goodness. Expect a killer line-up of new and vintage goods from all of your favorite brands, plus a few surprises thrown in for good measure. Mark your calender, November 20th – 22nd at 201 Mulberry Street in NoLita. Get Handsome. Pop Up Flea Official Site

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That is my buddy Randy Goldberg’s set-up pictured at a concert earlier this summer. The wallet is a custom Billykirk from the Pop Up Flea. I finally got around to pulling those pictures off my camera and this guy stood out. The Billykirk boys are famous for being painfully nice, so I bet if you wanted a special wallet a la Mr. Goldberg’s below they would do it for you for a few extra bucks. Budweiser sold separately.

If you haven’t had a chance to drink some Buds outside, sit around a camp fire, drive fast with all of your windows down, ride on a boat, catch an outdoor show, drink a Dark ‘N’ Stormy and do all of that other fun summer stuff you better get at it. One more month and it is September…

Download Freedom

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The Japanese outfit Workers is known for producing some of the ultimate reproduction of classic American work wear. The company came to my attention last year and I have been keeping an eye on it ever since. Recently, that voyeurism became much easier with the launch of the Workers blog. While I can’t read Japanese (and don’t bother translating it), I do like to follow the links and it is a good place to get a better look at the Workers goods. It is sort of like Free & Easy, but I don’t have to trek all the way up to Kinokuniya to get a copy.

Another recent discovery (and something that is linked on the Workers blog)  is the old-timey obsessed site Your Old Pal Jim. I had a chance to meet the man behind the blog, Mr. Jim Christensen at The Pop Up Flea and was impressed with his encyclopedic knowledge of all things work wear, denim, garment making and seemingly everything in between. I was really impressed with Jim’s level of interest in this sort of thing and humbled by his command of the topic.

Men cutting fabric at a Manhattan factory from Your Old Pal Jim.

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The first ever A Continuous Goldberg Pop Up Flea (known in some circles for better or worse as the Man Flea) was by all measures (including High life consumption) a rousing success. Thanks to all of the vendors who participated and everyone that stopped by. On top of all the tasty merch, we had a lot of my favorite bloggers in the house, guys like (and I’m probably missing a few) Sean from The Impossible Cool, Tom from The Scout Mag, Sasha from The Pint Imperial, Russell from Kempt, Andrew from Covenger + Kester, Jeff from Cold Splinters, Morty from Mister Mort, The Trad, Brandon from Drinkin’ and Dronin’, plus the good folks from Racked and Men.Style.com.

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If you don’t know, now you know. If you are in or around New York City this weekend, stop by The Pop Up Flea for all sorts of cool menswear goodness from Billykirk, Mark McNairy, Hattan, Alexander West, One Trip Pass, Alexander Olch, Aether, Aprix, 3Sixteen, Gitman Brothers Vintage, C’H'C’M and a few surprises. Food will be on offer from the fine folks at Cafe Select.

Kick off is Friday June 26th (tomorrow!) from 4-8pm. Stop by for some Irish Whiskey and a certain Milwaukee brew.

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Last week I covered the much hyped and wildly popular Brooklyn Flea. I now feel it incumbent upon me to dedicate some space to my old-standby flea market the Elephant’s Trunk. If you aren’t familiar with The Trunk, it is a classic New England flea with all sorts of old and random things stretched out in a field located on Route 7 in New Milford, Connecticut, just slightly past the new mega-church. Natch.

Unlike the Brooklyn Flea which starts at 10am, The Trunk starts at 7am sharp. Getting up to New Milford from the city earlier than 9am is a feat and will make you regret your decision to go out drinking the night before. Once you make it up there (rent a car or ride share), you will find all sorts of people that you would expect to see at a flea market. The word eccentric would be a good place to start. That said, everyone is nice and there are some great finds to be had if you hunt. More pictures from this past Sunday after the jump. The full photo set can be found here.

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