Happy Christmas!

Cushions made from a gamut of hemming offcuts have been sent off to be photographed. Should be online in the next week or so.

@Nik awww! Name, age, where are you? My sample would probably fit. May I present Ziggy, the Jack Russell terrorist in a 21oz RE:LOVE coat…

Home sweet home!
What a weekend - thank you all x

@sophisto000 it is indeed a bar tack machine, but that’s not all! It converts from bar tacker to a pre-programmed and a bespoke programmable stitcher. It’s rather fabulous and I’ll be showing more of what it can do over the coming weeks.

The other machine is a 5-thread overlocker, which we’ve set up to match Iron Heart’s machines in Japan as closely as possible. More to come on that too, but in the meantime here are some bar tacks for you

Day 2 done…apart from Rocky Top, but we did go to Shimbashi railway arches instead (no pics, but a vibe worth feeling).

Day 3. Today began in Akihabara for cameras, games and electronics. Then onto Harajuku, to Porter’s for the Tomoshi Yasuda exhibition. Stopping on the way at Snow Peak, who’ve released some active wear garments that have been indigo dyed and should fade and wear like jeans. And, next door, we stopped at a brilliant little gyoza place for lunch. Great little art exhibition at Porters. Found a new bag I really liked and some fabulous Yoshida bags, indigo dyed locally. (Along with weaving, that’s another workshop I’d like to squeeze in )

We were meant to do a vinyl trawl in the evening, but were too pooped and decided to do that another day.

So, a “shortcut” through Takeshita Street to the train station followed. Once known for fashion it’s sadly now mostly micro pigs, otters, huskies and strawberry-themed cafe chaos.

Back to the calm of Ginza for a final tech shopping session, rooftop drinks at The Mint watching the city light up, then dinner at TsuruTonTan where we massively over-ordered udon noodle dishes and sides.

We finally wobbled back to the hotel and flicked between Emma Raducanu, showing some form again, and Lewis Hamilton, back in the saddle ️ A good night for the Brits.

Process shots:
The latest Winyl bags are nearly ready. One wabash and one 1955. Just hanging around waiting for snaps, before they join the rest of their posse to be prepped for sale.
I’ve loved making these.
They are mahoosive! Wide enough for vinyl, deep enough for wine

Tool roll update.
Following everyone’s input, here’s a first draft.

45x25cm flat size noted. We can get near this depending on what jeans we have - this finished size is 43x24cm.

Pocket sizes noted. We have 2x 9cm, 3x 3cm, , 2x 5cm and 1x 4cm on this option. I’ve not sewn them down yet in case you have further thoughts. Pocket depth is 11cm.

Tied with a belt loop.
Final product will all be finished off properly, so ignore loose ends for now

This is a 25oz denim, as I don’t have anything lighter atm.

Thoughts?

I’ve been looking at things to make from smaller hemming offcuts. Liking how the Swatch bag works, I’ve used our thinner strips to make a small-medium size cushion. This fits a 30x50cm cushion.

Just getting your feedback for preferred cushion sizes/colourways etc. Options going forwards could be a plain indigo/black/duck; a mix of worn faded indigos; mix of denim colours/splash of wabash; chino/whipcord. Smaller size cushions only.

This is a pillowcase type cushion cover which may have copper snaps on the back - or front if you want to face it that way. I’m just working on that.

Small Relove cushions - yes/no?

@CosmoSix5 love this!!!

Excellent collection and presentation.
Well done team!

Just reliving some photos. A quick round up of our first few days can be found here. Still feeling zen from our trip. Long may it last.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaXhJODN2hx/?igsh=MWdoNjdsNmp5ZnRuZA==

Wherever you are in the world, it’s good night from me and it’s good night from him

Running out of ‘film’, but still going. This is a couple of days ago.

We started the day at Omicho Market for a gourmet wander before heading over to Higashi Chaya. Beautiful old streets with loads of character.

Picked up the car near Kanazawa Station and its huge wooden Tsuzumi Gate, then headed up into the mountains to Ainokura, one of the traditional gassho villages. A truly impressive place – steep thatched farmhouses tucked into the hills and a much quieter feel than some of the better-known villages.

Next stop was a washi paper workshop where we were introduced to traditional Japanese paper making. Really interesting despite language barriers - and something similar I want to do for ReLove by pulping our smallest denim offcuts.

From there we drove the sandy Chirihama Beach Driveway and watched the sun set over the Sea of Japan. Another highlight of the trip.

Then finished the day back in Kanazawa with a wander through the samurai district after dark. Definitely a brooding masculine vibe going on there.

Feeling fulfilled. Couldn’t have packed anything more into the day.

@Vik can’t wait to see yours too!

Day 3. Today began in Akihabara for cameras, games and electronics. Then onto Harajuku, to Porter’s for the Tomoshi Yasuda exhibition. Stopping on the way at Snow Peak, who’ve released some active wear garments that have been indigo dyed and should fade and wear like jeans. And, next door, we stopped at a brilliant little gyoza place for lunch. Great little art exhibition at Porters. Found a new bag I really liked and some fabulous Yoshida bags, indigo dyed locally. (Along with weaving, that’s another workshop I’d like to squeeze in )

We were meant to do a vinyl trawl in the evening, but were too pooped and decided to do that another day.

So, a “shortcut” through Takeshita Street to the train station followed. Once known for fashion it’s sadly now mostly micro pigs, otters, huskies and strawberry-themed cafe chaos.

Back to the calm of Ginza for a final tech shopping session, rooftop drinks at The Mint watching the city light up, then dinner at TsuruTonTan where we massively over-ordered udon noodle dishes and sides.

We finally wobbled back to the hotel and flicked between Emma Raducanu, showing some form again, and Lewis Hamilton, back in the saddle ️ A good night for the Brits.

Day 2 done…apart from Rocky Top, but we did go to Shimbashi railway arches instead (no pics, but a vibe worth feeling).

Today’s itinerary:
Shiodime to Iidabashi. Breakfast at Canal Cafe est. 1918, walk through Kagurazaka backstreets to Yayoi Kusama Museum (my highlight of the trip). Lunch at Kagurazaka Saryo, train to Kichijoji, Jota Handweaving Studio, mooch around Kichijoji shops/cafes, dinner at Iseya Yakitori, drinks in Harmonica Alley. If we have any energy left, finish with a nightcap at Rocky Top, Ginza.
Let’s see how it goes?

@Tyler send us any favourite places and we’ll try and go!