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.

WADE-SMITH RETURNS

80s Iconic retail institution Wade-Smith is about to relaunch. Famed as being the first designer sportswear store in Europe and a catalyst for all designer shops that followed, Wade-Smith finally closed its doors to the Liverpool public in 2005.

Next month sees the return of the famous name in the form of an online fashion business. Along with his wife and two children, the family are each individually designing a range of clothes for their own age group. The emphasis will be on classic English tailoring and the website http://www.wade-smith.com/ will be up and running from 20 Oct 2010.

80s CASUALS CELEBRITY SPOTTING

Aired this Sunday on BBC2 was the weekly cook show "Something for the Weekend". Co-presented by Tim Lovejoy and Chef Simon Rimmer. It was Simon who was spotted wearing the 80s Casuals long sleeve "Deck" Polo.

Besides T.V. presenting Simon Co-owns two restaurants which are both well worth a visit. The Vegetarian "Greens" located in Didsbury has won numerous awards including the Big Issues "Restaurant of the Year" while the more carnivorous amongst us may enjoy "Earle" in Hale, Cheshire recently voted "Best Sunday venue outside of London".

INSIGHT T-SHIRT RELEASED

NEW T-SHIRTS

A couple of newly designed T-Shirts are being distributed to our stockists this week including the "Insight" and "Commit no Nuisance" tees.

The "Commit" T-Shirt references an old Victorian streetsign which can still be seen in parts of olde London. No doubt aimed at the youth of the day and appearing some what relevant to the many youth cultures over the last Century.

The T-Shirts are available from www.80scasuals.co.uk plus usual stockists Terraces, Casual Clobber, Hip, Manifesto, Stone, Evolution, The Showroom, An-X, Harpers, SW1, Planet and McKinnleys in Holland.

80s CASUALS BOOK NEWS

We are still being in-undated with requests for the 80s Casuals book, with plenty of interest from abroad, especially Copenhagen, Denmark. We have therefore decided to re-produce the book as a second edition. As we wanted the first edition to be exclusive and maybe collectable, this re-print will be half the size (210mm x 140mm) and will retail at £12.99.

The cover on the initial book was Gold Foil blocked, this re-run will be Silver Foil blocked as an indication of it being the Second Edition. Apart from this one detail, the remainder of the book will have the exact same detail and pics etc.

MA STRUM T-SHIRT

In support of our friends at MA STRUM we have designed a T-Shirt which embraces a part of Massimo Osti's sartorial past. The iconic Flat Iron Building was chosen by Osti as the location for C.P. Company's New York store because of its architectural and historical significance. He also thought that because it was slightly off the beaten path, it set C.P. Company apart from the pack. This was during the 90s as C.P. looked to broaden its retail horizon.

Our design highlights the magnificent Flat Iron whilst incorporating the logos of MA Strum and the Massimo Osti Archive into the billboards around the building. 

The T-Shirt will be available towards the end of October.

MA STRUM A/W10

80s Casuals continues to stock the pick of the MA Strum A/W10 collection.

The label is supported by Massimo Osti's son Lorenzo and daughter Agata with former Victorinox designer Donrad Duncan at the helm. The pinnacle of Osti's work is certainly the jackets and coats produced with such fine attention to detail. We feel it is only right that we offer two coats from the MA Strum A/W10 range that we feel are most commited to the craftsmanship and quality Massimo endured upon his products.

The Condor Coat and Sniper Jacket accentuate the Osti heritage.

Both garments are available now at http://www.80scasuals.co.uk/shop8.html

NEW WEBSITE

Our website has been under-going a total re-vamp over the last couple of days. It is now up and running and should be a lot simpler to navigate with a sharper, yet informal look to the photos and detailing. A shopping cart has also been added for a simpler shopping experience.

http://www.80scasuals.co.uk/shop.html

AD of the WEEK

A great advert for Fred Perry appeared in this months Wallpaper magazine. Depicting buildings from Manchester in the late '70s including the Arndale Centre, it also includes one of the lads from the cover of our friend Ian Houghs 'Perry Boys Abroad' book. 

Ian began writing as a forum member on the 80s Casuals website a few years back now. His memoirs of those early days in Manchester were that good that we asked him not to write anymore as he should commit them to a book. Within weeks we had put Milo books into contact with him and as they say the rest is history. 'Perry Boys' was his first book and is an honest and accurate account of growing up in recession hit Britain of the 70s and is a definite must buy. 'Perry Boys Abroad' the follow up, again is a personal account of a lad emerging into a grown up world.

Both books are still available from most book stores including Amazon and Play.

Ian lives on the other side of the pond now but you can still catch up with his literary musings on his own website http://thenamelessthing.com/

WEBSITE WORLD EXCLUSIVE

In the forthcoming week or so we will be announcing a real coup for the 80s Casuals brand. What we have for sale will be a world exclusive to our website www.80scasuals.co.uk and will not be available in stores. Availability will be restricted to only 30 pieces and we shall be keeping 2 or 3 for ourselves so once we announce the details we will be taking orders for what should be a November delivery. Keep checking this blog as it will be the first place for the announcement with full details of cost and ordering etc.

NEW COLOUR RAMBLER JACKET

S/S10 BLUE RAMBLER JACKET

MARITIME HOODED SWEATSHIRT

It is with regret that we have had to cancel our Winter Maritime Sweatshirt. Although the cost of the Sweatshirt would have been at a very reasonable price, the postage and import duty took the price of the hooded top beyond what we would consider to be acceptable.

We have therefore decided to produce the recent Summer Rambler Jacket in a new colourway. A warm Winter may be forecast and our thoughts are also with those who missed out on the Limited Edition Jacket in the Summer. It appears many of the Stores sold out within 10 days. So we now have on order a quantity of Marine Navy Ramblers. In Keeping with the Nautical theme for the Winter, this Dark blue colour was first used by the Royal Navy before the name change to Navy Blue. Expected delivery into Stockists should be in the first week of November.

WEBSITE NEWS UP-DATE

Although its been a bit quiet on here lately, it doesn't mean we've been taking it easy. First off will be a complete overall of the website giving a more simplistic, understated approach. 

Most pages will still be available although we have lost our links page which did become a bit cluttered with different size banners. All stores stocking our range will be mentioned on this blog when ordering T-Shirts and Clothing, therefore we feel its better that these are the stockists who gain from any publicity associated with our products.