RAN - 10th Anniversary VIDEO

Celebrating their 10th year in 2010 are Ran. Originating in Manchester their second store on Bold Street in Liverpool opened in 2006.

Ran has the distinction of stocking the 80s Casuals brand from its very early days of "trainers on T-Shirts" and has continued to support the brand to this very day.

Here we have a short tour of the Liverpool store with accompanying music from Owls* whos song "Sound of the Call" is available to download for free from the Bandcamp site. http://owls.bandcamp.com/track/sound-of-the-call

FINAL WARRIORS T-SHIRT

The final piece of our trio of commemorative T-Shirts is designed and will be in stores soon.

The Warriors second-in-command Swan takes centre stage and becomes acting Warlord as the group attempt to make their way back to Coney Island. Amongst those attempting to collect a bounty for bringing the Warriors to justice are a host of gangs listed on the T-Shirt.

Stuarts and Henry Brummel have exclusivity as well as our own website www.80scasuals.co.uk

NEW LIVERPOOL PAISLEY T-SHIRT

Bob Paisley is arguably the greatest manager of all time.

In his 9 seasons in charge of Liverpool F.C. He won 6 Championship titles, 3 European Cups, a UEFA Cup as well as 3 League Cups in a row and was named Manager of the Year in 6 of his 9 seasons in charge from 1974 to 1983.

We honour 'a gentleman' with an artistic collage T-Shirt that encompasses Liverpool's two Cathedrals, the Liver Bird and two significant Casual points of interest from the early 80s. Lime Street station had the infamous graffiti "Ordinary to Chelsea" sprayed upon its entrance wall plus the Wade Smith shop which became a mecca for the trainer obsessed youth of the North West.

Bob himself appears with the European Cup which he won on three occasions during a period where travelling abroad certainly broadened the horizons of the youth of the day.

The tagline is one of many Paisley quotes from his time at Liverpool.

BOSS MAGAZINE 11 INTERVIEW

The latest edition of Boss magazine has just been released and the lads at the fanzine have published a recent interview we did for them. Although produced by Liverpool fans the mag has a generic appeal with this issue covering such topics as Glastonbury, an interview with Politicians and the Times football editor, plus the usual music reviews and local cultural observations.

The publication is available here http://www.bossmag.co.uk/ for the measly sum of £1.

NEW COLOUR RAMBLER JACKET

The quick sell-out of the Summer Rambler Jacket had the stores crying out for more of the same. Not wanting to disappoint we have produced what maybe the last jacket in our small Rambler collection. The Navy coloured Jacket is as usual restricted to 100 pieces and will be available at the main 80s Casuals stockists across the country in the next week. Our website www.80scasuals.co.uk should have a supply by this weekend.

SEAMASTER PICS

Our supplier has sent us pics of the Seamaster Jacket after the slight modifications had been put in place. From the sample sent a couple of months ago we have altered the collar to incorporate a belt-buckle fastener, plus the two front pockets were rounded to give it the classic English touch.

Colours being supplied are Matte Grey and Navy and Only 100 have been produced in each colour.

Stockists will be taking delivery from the second week in November. RRP £85.

NEW T-SHIRT - THE END

It doesn't take much for us to get all nostalgic here, so after catching the recent airings of 80s drama "Boys from the Blackstuff" we knew the time was right to approach Peter Hooton of The Farm fame and commission the rights to print a famous cover from his "END" fanzine.

'The End' became a catalyst magazine and the forerunner of others including "Boys Own" and "When Saturday Comes". By Issue 13 a readership high of 5000 were enjoying witty observations of everyday life of the average match-goer.

2011 sees the 30th anniversary of its first publication and talks are at an advanced stage about publishing a book of the full 20 issues printed.

Our T-Shirt has the cover which depicts Bernard Hill as the iconic character Yozzer Hughes from The Blackstuff. First screened in 1980 as a 'Play for Today", the drama became a series in 1982 and is best remembered for its powerful depiction of desperation due to the high levels of unemployment. Yozzers phrase "gissa job" holds as much prevalence today as it did all those years ago.

The T-Shirt will be available during November at selected stockists.

LIVERPOOL BOYS BOOK

"The Liverpool Boys are in Town" book is now sold out. Published by Bluecoat Press in December 2008, the book was limited to a run of 2000

and looks like it will not be re-printed.

Initially "The Liverpool Boys" was written, self published and printed in 2004.

300 were made and numbered but the response was so great that they sold out in two weeks.

A re-run was then produced with 2200 of the do-it-yourself book being sold over a four year period until Bluecoat Press totally re-designed it with added pics and a touch more extra written material. Thanks to all who have purchased the book over the years.

NEW T-SHIRT - URBAN GENTRY

The latest line of T-Shirts are in the production stage and should be arriving in stores

at the start of November.

Amongst a selection of new designs is the Urban Gentry Tee. The title and image suggests a time when up-market sportswear and designer labels produced for the affluent folk or gentry of Europe were liberated from the continent by working class kids brought up on the run down council estates of Great Britain. The ideal accessory being the ubiquitous Head Bag.

80s CASUALS NEWSLETTER

Our website www.80scasuals.co.uk has this week started a newsletter to all subscribers. The content of which will include many exclusives and money off deals. To subscribe click the following link http://eepurl.com/bk7P5 and you will be added to the list.

The first newsletter went out this week and included an exclusive 40% off offer as an introduction and thanks for everyones support over the years.

1990s ARENA AD of the WEEK

Our Arena Ad this week shows the inspiration for the forthcoming MA Strum T-Shirt design which should be in stores at the beginning of November.

C.P. Company moved into the FlatIron Building in New York during the buildings restoration period of the early 90s. As the ad says 'the FlatIron was something that was beautiful yesterday and will be beautiful tomorrow' which was how Massimo Osti viewed his designs. Now we witness this fact with MA Strum re-producing some of the finest Osti jackets, which show his commitment to craftsmanship and quality.

80s CASUALS BOOK RE-PRINT

It appears that the 80s Casuals book is fetching extortionate prices on Ebay at the moment. We always said that the initial run of the coffee table size would be restricted to 2000. True to our word the book will not be produced in that size again but we are re-producing it with the exact same content in a smaller travel A5 size. Printing was completed in the last day or so and it has now gone to be 2nd Edition silver foil embossed [instead of gold] on the cover and bound together. Some of our usual stockists have asked for a supply plus our website will have copious amounts and one or two will appear on ebay. All stores should have a supply by the beginning of November.

SEAMASTER COLLECTION VIDEO

The final piece in the SEAMASTER WINTER COLLECTION is due to arrive in the next two weeks. The Jacket has had a few slight modifications since we last showed pics of the sample and once the Jackets arrive we will put more pics up on the blog. Stores should expect delivery in the first week of November.

For the moment here are the three pieces from the collection in a short video, filmed on Crosby Beach, Liverpool.

We are employing a local graduate of Film and Media who is still at University completing his course but we hope he can give a more two dimensional view of some of the garments we shall be producing.

Music is from Wirral based Seal Cub Clubbing Club whos second album is due for imminent release. more info here; http://www.myspace.com/thesealcubclubbingclub

STUARTS LONDON VIDEO

Here we have a video from the Network 7 programme in 1983. Focussing on the London scene and including an interview with Stuart Murray of Stuarts in Shepherds Bush.

MILLE MIGLIA "CHALLENGE" S/S

The 2nd of our "Challenge" Series of Sweatshirts is at the design stage in the printers. The images focus on the Italian Mille Miglia endurance race. It is well known for making the likes of Porsche, BMW and Ferrari famous and was run on 24 occasions until 1957. Since 1977 the event has been staged as a parade of pre 1957 cars.

Sir Sterling Moss takes pride of place as the only British winner of this Challenge in his Mercedes-Benz 300SLR. The number on the car 722 being his start time 7.22am.

Moss finished the course averaging 97.96mph, a record that would not be broken.

As with the "Everest" Sweatshirt, the "Miglia" will be individually numbered on the left sleeve close to the cuff from 1-100 and will not be reproduced again in the chosen colours.

The "Miglia" will be available in Marl Grey and Gold.

The "Everest" will be available in Marl Grey and Navy Blue.

Expected delivery into stores is the first week in November.

80s CASUALS "CHALLENGE" SWEATSHIRTS

We are in the process of designing a couple of Sweatshirts for our Autumn/Winter '10 clothing range. Known as the "Challenge" collection, the first two designs will be available at the beginning of November. Inspired by the iconic brands of the 80s such as Best Company and Chevignon, our interpretation will have a 7 colour print and be embroidered with a classic Viscose thread which uses the highest quality raw materials possible.

The early stage of the design is pictured but a few amendments still need to be processed.

The 80s Casuals signature will be embroidered below the print, plus all Sweatshirts are limited to 100 x 2 colours and will be numbered/embroidered 1-100 at the cuff of the left sleeve. The Sweatshirt colours have yet to be decided.

The "Challenge" Collection is imbided with a "Boys Own" spirit where each piece has a story. The "Everest" Sweatshirt [above] pictures mountaineer Sir Chris Bonnington who conquered the Worlds highest peak 25 years ago this year in 1985. Sir Chris is also well known in these parts for wearing Berghaus on his expeditions.

Our second design embraces the Mille Miglia race. Known more of late for the ubiquitous C.P. Company Jacket which was named after the Italian 1000 mile endurance contest, the race itself has a rich history, none more so than the 1955 battle between our very own Sir Stirling Moss and Italy's Juan Manuel Fangio. More details and design pics to follow shortly.

SWEATSHIRTS - AD OF THE WEEK

After a lengthly abscence Crew Neck Sweatshirts look set for a major return to fashion this Winter with many major labels including Ralph Lauren, Norse Projects and C.P. Company to name but a few releasing their own variations.

Back in the late 80s/early 90s labels such as Best Company, Chipie, Chevignon and Liberto became Casual staples. Manufacturing heavy cotton Sweatshirts emblazoned with large motifs of fine graphic detail, the designs were inspired by American Campus styles of the 50s and 60s.

Our Best Company ad is from the Summer/Autumn Arena magazine of 1992. Designed by Olmes Carretti, the Sweatshirts have gained cult status. The Italian designers work with Henry Lloyd can also be seen in the latest Consort Jacket released by them and in stores now. Best Company on the other hand closed in 1992. A book "Best Company" by Carretti and designed by Vier5 had a limited edition release of 500 in 2009 and is full of designs plus an interview with the guy himself, although it is in German.

DOVES 3D IN STORE NOW

Our latest rave inspired T-Shirt is ready to distribute now and is very limited in that the only stockists will be www.80scasuals.co.uk plus Planet (www.80scasualclassics.co.uk).

The Doves T-Shirt has been given a 3D effect by our printers and takes us back to the hedonistic rave times of the late 80s.

Wording is from Frankie Knuckles hit from 1989.

MA STRUM A/W10 STOCK

The website www.80scasuals.co.uk has now taken delivery of a few more selective pieces of MA Strum from it's Autumn/Winter collection. The first couple of pieces are the "Glass Back Sateen Parka" which is water repellent with an attached hood and an adjustable belted cinch waist.

We also have the "Officer Field Jacket" with its detachable wool inner.

Also available are a couple of knitwear garments. A four pocket military cardigan plus a button neck knit both reasonably priced at £240 and £169 respectively.