Free & Easy: Apolis Activism

The headquarters for Apolis Activism are featured in Japanese publication Free & Easy this month. The entire issue is devoted to interiors. While flipping through the issue on the 6 train, today, I was thrilled to see Shea Parton’s handsome mug just hangin’ out in their brick lair.

Pick up a copy of Free & Easy at Context Clothing.

SeaVees: Your Vote Counts

PMS433

As a general rule, blogger polls don’t work. May this case be the exception. I am in a pickle, and I need your help.

PMS391

I have counted all the coins in the piggy bank, and I am ready to invest in some fun summer footwear.

Derek Galkin and Steven Tiller of SeaVees, a California-based footwear company, were granted full access to the Pantone archives. Pantone, started in September 1963, set the standard for communicating color-correctness, and the world — literally everyone from the designer to the producer to the consumer — is forever indebted to their series of colored fan books.

PMS274

Using the original fan book from 45 years ago, Mr. Galkin and Mr. Tiller have put together a handsome, timeless collection of shoes aptly named, 09/63, in honor Pantone’s creation. The collection, they say “epitomizes the cool, casual style of California in 1963,” hence, my plea.

PMS427

I’ve mulled it over long and hard since first learning about SeaVees courtesy of Mr. Williams’ write-up on Selectism. Their shoes are thoughtfully made with a care and precision heretofore unseen in casual footwear. The front of the shoe, the vamp, is made of sueded leather, and the sides, the quarters, are made of canvas dyed-to-match. With sueded leather insoles and lining, waxed cotton laces, and a herringbone siping on the bottom, the outsole, these aren’t Vans Authentics, and they won’t wear out as quickly either. At $125, they are an investment, but one worth every penny, hence, my piggy bank.

I’ve narrowed it down to three colorways, and I invite input of any kind as I venture towards a decision.

PMS170

Apart from the t-shirt I was given as a proud member of the Tiger Cubs, I never owned anything orange growing up. Since writing about blaze orange, I’ve slowly begun incorporating this happy marriage of red and yellow into my wardrobe. I own a cashmere scarf, documented quite well by Foster Huntington and a camel-colored duffel coat that has been lined with a canvas the hue of a harvest moon. I am seriously considering SeaVees’ PMS170.

PMS322

Again, harkening back to my younger days, my first pair of Chuck Taylors were an intoxicating turquoise. It is a color I wear often. I own OCBDs, polo shirts, and t-shirts in this color. This is my flash, my bling, my go-to-hell. On a typical day, SeaVees’ PMS322 are a lock.

PMS587

The dark horse candidate, while pale yellow is a color I wear often (I’ve worn pale yellow polo shirts since birth), it strikes me as too weak a color for footwear. I like my kicks to be grounded in something strong. I find myself most often attracted to a hard white canvas or a bold color. The PMS587 have the look and feel of skin tone, albeit that of Bart Simpson, but with the right amount of wear and tear, these suckers could be the dirty buck I’ve always longed for: the perfect balance of shock and awe.

To recap, the PMS170 blaze orange, the PMS322 turquoise, and the PMS587 pale yellow, are your choices. Any insight, opinions, or psychological analysis are welcome. I would love it if someone quoted Kandinsky. If you’re uncomfortable leaving a comment, you can cast your vote via e-mail, plaidout [at] gmail [dot] com, or via Twitter.

I will tally the votes and report the outcome in a timely and efficient manner. The polls are now open. The line starts to the left. Coffee and donuts to the right.

Check out SeaVees blog, Worthy.