For some manufacturers/retailers I think it would suit their brand ethics to be publishing these types of maps along with their products.

We have a local organic farmers market where each fruit/vegetable stall has a label of the “food miles” that the item has travelled. Imagine something similar for garments.

Self Edge x Cone Mills x Roy from Self Edge on Vimeo.

Click the vimeo logo to watch on vimeon in HD.

Update:
You can also download the free iPad app ASCENT to watch about 45 minutes of Shuttle launch footage.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ascent-commemorating-shuttle/id473973416?mt=8

Seems a bit quiet. And the guy pulling his sleeves up just before he puts his hands into the vat looks a bit awkward, but it’s a nice video.

It has a longer version of the handles that I’ve been making previously.  The handles use a thick leather sewn over rope and riveted to the brass rings.

The body of the bag is a thinner leather, but I added strengthening straps that circumnavigate the whole bag and attached the handles to these.  I also added a second layer of leather on the base of the bag.

This was also the first time I sewed a zip, and I lined the whole bag with a coarse cotton canvas.

It was a lot of work – took me over two months – just hand sewing bits and pieces in the evenings or on weekends.

It is actually quite big.  Here’s my daughter dragging it around.

I’m pretty happy with the zip and lining.

My next project might be an A3 folio with zip.  I need to find some high quality double zips…  this YKK one above is crap.

Here’s the site for the tour:

http://japanesetextilestudytour.blogspot.com.au/

It’s a blog, so perhaps read the introduction and the brochure.  Contact them if you’re interested.

The tour is next month.  I realise now that I should’ve blogged about it a while ago.  Sorry Nat.

Oh, here’s a link to Nat’s personal blog:

http://notjustnat.blogspot.com.au/

I won’t be going on the Textiles Tour unfortunately.  I will be very busy with some big projects (I.T. projects)… stress.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240529702045424045…

Via Blue in Green

It’s a mistake to think all of Japan holds these values, but it seems to be a much higher percentage than other countries.

Here they are side by side for an interesting comparison.  Both belts were originally the same colour.

Both belts are 36 inches, but it’s interesting that the old belt has stretched over time to be a couple of inches longer.

You can see the marks from the buckle on the tongue as I migrated up the holes over time.

The hardware hasn’t really changed.  You can see some water damage from rain and a few beers that I lost control of.

On the back of the belt you can see a fair bit of indigo, and some marks on the tongue from where it rubs on the rivets.

These Sugar Cane belts are good quality and relatively good value.

Buying Tip

Make sure you get your size correct.  If the tongue is too long or too short it could be awkward and won’t look right.  Also note that the belt stretched about two inches over the years, so you really need a couple of belt holes available to size it down when required.  I wear around size 33 jeans, so the size 36 works for me.

Original Belt

http://indigofan.com/2008/01/sugarcane-raw-leather-garrison-belt/

Jacket Art via BoingBoing