The Big E Jeans company is a small British Selvedge Jean company that was created in order to compete with the finest selvedge jeans available from within both the US and the EU. We’re always interested in bringing new and interesting products into Kiosk 78 and Big E Jeans fit the bill perfectly.
Big E Jeans re-creates traditional product, with the main emphasis on quality of construction. Using only the highest quality selvedge denim, selected from some of the finest denim producers worldwide. All their denim is still produced on original shuttle looms, Big E offers traditional 14 oz Red Selvedge, 13 oz Yellow Selvedge (left hand twill), and 11 oz White Selvedge Jeans. All threads are sourced from the original US cotton thread supplier dating back to the 1900′s. Big E Jeans have branded solid copper rivets throughout, as they did back in the day! Plus, for durability and strength, every Big E Jean has heavy duty 10 oz pocketing.
With more time spent manufacturing Big E Jeans, the emphasis is on true quality. Every product is produced in the company’s own factory, with meticulous attention to detail. Big E jeans are only produced on Union Special and vintage Japanese sewing machines. All stages of the manufacturing process are done individually by hand, retaining individual character. There are no automated machines used in the construction of Big E Jeans, which means that every pair is made as they used to be, with each pair being different.
All Big E Jeans were re-created having spent years taking apart original collectible pieces. Each style name was selected from the list of names of the hard-working men who would have worn ‘workers overalls’ when building the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco. As a mark of respect and in order to commemorate their hard work, the arcuate stitch on every back jean pocket was designed in the shape of the Golden Gate bridge.
British brand Universal Works has been at Kiosk 78 a couple of seasons now and despite it’s relative infancy as label, Universal Works have gained themselves an excellent reputation for producing quality mens garments. Founder David Keyte has over 20 years experience in the industry and continues to design modern garments inspired from classic functional pieces made with quality fabrics and constructed in some of the finest factories in the UK.
Below are just a few pieces from the collection that Kiosk 78 will be carrying next season. AW11 will see our largest selection yet for Universal Works so keep checking the website for new seasons drops
The lookbook was produced by British creatives, Second to None with photography by Jim Tobias.
Photographer Alasdair McLellan recently worked with one of our favourite British labels Sunspel to create a film titled ‘Repton Boxing Club’. The film itself is a fascinating look into Britain’s most famous amateur boxing club in the East End of London featuring Ryan Pickard, Ellis Pickard, Louis Cadman and Sam Lawson wearing Sunspel classics throughout the video whilst sparring, training and eating pie and mash in a cafe.
Deformed Cactus and Kiosk 78 are proud to present…….CACTUS STOCK – An event showcasing some of Leeds’ best bands, all playing at The Well (formely Josephs Well) in Leeds on Friday the 17th June in aid of St Gemma’s Hopsice. St Gemma’s is a Leeds based Hospice specialising in medical and nursing care for people with life threatening illnesses, predominantly cancer, along with support for their families…a truly worthy cause.
Bands on the night include…Shakinouts, The Mexanines, SPECIAL GUESTS, Soul Circus, Pretty Riddles and The Deratas.
The Deratas are a five piece Post Punk/Indie Leeds based band. Having gone down a storm at Deformed Cactus 9, this scintillating live act twist dark and psychedelic lead jangles with catchy sing along anthems. The band are a must see live and never fail to deliver a powerful and energetic live show.
Up next, another triumphant return of one of DC’s finest acts from the past. Pretty Riddles are a 4 piece local triumph of Indie ambience. Well known on the Leeds gig scene, the lads take their influences from the likes of Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones. Live shows are energetic dance along affairs littered with bouncy catchy riffs, clever intricate lyrics and song after song of singalongability. Primed and ready to move to the next level, Pretty Riddles could quite easily be Leeds’ next big break out band.
Soul Circus
3rd on the bill, Soul Circus join the party with a reputation growing at a feverish rate following successful support slots for the likes of Miles Kane and Detriot Social Club. Hailed as ‘one of the tightest live bands around Leeds (by The Beat Surrender) this five piece indie rock band have a truck load of energy with a rare ability of channelling it through a distinctive, catchy mainstream sound. DC have been courting these guys for a while now and are delighted to have finally got them on the bill.
SPECIAL GUESTS
Shhhhhhhhhhhhh, this is all rather secret but we’ve managed to secure a very special band. The details we are able to release are limited but we can tell you that this Leeds based band have officially broken through in the last year to much critical acclaim. Following key supporting slots for Glasvegas, Wild Beasts and Bombay Bicycle Club, our 4th act have been touted as being on the cusp of something special by the likes of The Fly, Leedsmusicscene, NME and Steve Lamacq…You won’t want to miss these!
Up next The Mexanines! This Bradford trio deliver a hard hitting set of bluesy indie/rock tunes with flowing melodies and viscous guitars. Their newly released demo ‘This Is Not A Formal Event’ is quickly becoming a hit with the critics and is sure to put hairs on your chest. A band on the rise, they ripped it up at Bingley Music Live last year, played several strong support slots and have now landed themselves a prized position at CACTUS STOCK.
Finally, we have the Shakinouts!! This works on many levels, after pretty much stalking one of Leeds’ hardest working bands DC have finally nailed them down and what a fine time to get them! This 5 piece dirty pop band from West Yorkshire formed in 2009 and in the two years since formation they have spent the majority of the time in the darkness writing and recording songs, only stepping out on a number of occasions such as supporting Shed Seven on an academy tour, to play Party in the Park in Yorkshire to over 20,000 people, to appear on BBC1′s Look North’s Christmas show playing live and to headline a Leeds show to over 400 people in April 2011. The Shakinouts really are something special live as they blast out quick, entertaining and unbelievably catchy tunes that leave you grinning from ear to ear….the perfect way to end what will be a very special evening.
Tickets are £5 and are available from Kiosk 78, Jumbo Records and on the door. Doors open at 7:30pm.
A while back we came across one of the most exciting British labels we’ve seen for a while, London based label Percival – the brainchild of Chris Gove and Luke Stenzhorn. The brand hasn’t been around too long (AW10 to be exact) but their collections are developing very nicely each season.
Percival uses lasting, honest fabrics in styles that capture a sense of boyish adventure with playful buttons and stand out contrast linings. Each piece is built to last with the a philosophy of lasting style taking precedence over trend led shapes.
Have a look at the video made for their debut collection in AW10 starring Daisy Lowe no less…
For Spring Summer 11 we’ve decided to get on board and have brought in a selection of jackets, shirts, chino’s and tee’s. A taster of what will be online soon is shown below. We’re expecting big things from this label and from what we’ve already seen of Autumn Winter 11, they’re continuing to take it to the next level . It’s good to see quality garments being designed and made in the UK – needless to say we’re big fans here at Kiosk.
The latest offering from Parisian label – Bleu De Paname is a thematic collection with reference to the clothing style of the street gangs of Paris from the Belle Epoque era….
“In 1902, two journalists in Paris, Arthur Dupin and Victor Morris, starts calling “les Apaches” the petty criminals and thugs of the Rue de Lappe and pimps of Belleville, which differ from the underworld and criminals by their style appearances. Originating from the upper districts of eastern Paris,as Ménilmuche (Ménilmontant) or Belleville, they invest at night the Bastille district or Mouff (Mouffetard’s street). The Apaches travel in groups, with accoutrements that enable them stand out: semi-open jacket over a rumpled shirt,
pants tall concealing a 22′s blade, scarf and cap screwed over a shaved neck.”
As always, rather than simply revisit the past, Bleu De Paname put their own contemporary stamp on things using high quality materials and expert construction. Below are a few key looks from the collection. SS11 has just landed at Kiosk 78 and is available to buy in store and on our website soon.
The Heritage Research Spring Summer 2011 collection is nearly here so we thought we give you a quick low-down of what to expect from the collection this time round with a few snippets of inspiration from the HR team and a few choice images from their lookbook shot by John Isaac who is the owner and shaper of Squire Surfboards but also co owns Revolver Surfshop in Newquay.
The Collection is an homage to the returning American servicemen who fought in WWII. The ravages of war had taken its toll on some more than others, and many disaffected young men returning after the war found themselves unable to re-assimilate with society – they were lost. The camaraderie and feeling of belonging that came from being part of a military unit was wanting, and so, for some, it was replaced by taking to the road with other like-minded types, on motorcycles or in car clubs and a new cult of highway style was born.
When peace broke out, many American servicemen were demobilized in California, and settled there. As servicemen, they had earned regular pay, but found little to spend it on. The veterans formed hundreds of small motorcycle clubs with names like the ‘Jackrabbits’, ’13 Rebels’, and ‘Yellow Jackets’. Members wore club sweaters; rode, drank and partied together; and organized informal motorcycle ‘field meets’. The US Military, however, was not a particularly good place to acquire social graces something demonstrated at the infamous 1947 Hollister riot when a a number of veteran motorcycle clubs rode into town for a meet, got drunk and ended up racing in the streets. The local residents began harassing them which was a big mistake and the situation turned into a full scale riot. The incident was later used as the premise for Brandos ‘The Wild One’.
Heritage Research salutes these veterans and their contribution to freedom and classic American style!
We’re very much looking forward to ex Verve members Nick McCabe and Simon Jones new band The Black Ships releasing their debut material this year. Drummer Mig Schillace and composer/violinist Davide Rossi complete this very interesting line-up of talented musicians. They’ve recently posted this 10 minute video of some snippets from the new album and it sounds class.
At the weekend the Kiosk buying team went on our usual January trip to Paris to see what AW11 has to offer and we certainly didn’t come home disappointed with what we saw. Autumn / Winter always seems easier to spend loads of money and we were suitably impressed by the new gear from our existing labels but also spied some great new labels that will be a welcome addition to Kiosk 78 – watch this space on that front. Anway, below are a few choice images from the trip…..
Entrance to A.P.C studio in St Germain…
Inside A.P.C studio…
Old School Triumph motorcycle in the A.P.C entrance…
Gav on his way out…
A random Bleu De Paname ‘tag’ spotted by Damon on our way to the next bar…
A heavy duty gabardine jacket with suede collar from Bleu De Paname…
A rather awesome collection from Japanese denim masters Momotaro at their stand in Capsule…
