A few years ago when we decided to open shop, Jay ran into Sammy Tiam and started talking bikes. With Sammy’s help and getting our vision, We exposed a few of his custom motorcycles. Knobby tires and raw metal parts ,The Japanese and New Yorkers crowd love his rugged street designs… Sammy is strictly word of mouth so I met him at his small workshop located inside a body shop in the Bronx. It was nice to hear his background story , his French and African descent and how he was introduced to the world of machines by his uncle when he helped him work on his Rally cars. With oil, grease and gasoline in his sensory he got his first mopped in Paris at the age of 14. We spoke about the difference with riding in New York versus Paris and he said “Here it’s more dangerous to ride due to the street conditions and that there so many less riders than in Europe therefore drivers are less respectful and conscious of their surrounding.”. Sammy’s bikes are inspired by trendy fashion and antique bike parts. Equipped with off road tires and always ready to hit the rough pavement with style.

You can see Sammy’s bikes here or reach him at Mets Auto Body 2507 3rd Ave, Bronx 718.993.3676

I opened up my box of old photos and my favorite journal from high school from good ol’ Anchorage- Alaska(shout out to Bartlett… Military brat central high). ((Time has seriously stood still it feels like)). What was cool about high school was I had “civilian” friends. They didn’t sport their dads military hammy downs. It was a big deal to live off base because cost of living was so much higher (everything is 2x’s higher in AK), but you had a true stand alone home with a yard instead of living on base in complexes. (kinda like NYC?) So having “civilian” new friends and experiencing their homes with rooms filled with sport trophies, treasured broken skate decks shipped from the lower 48 with broken tails, collections of trucks, and scratched off stickers and personalized frayed Levi’s with safety pins and hand etched sharpie symbols. Traditional American households. I loved exploring my friends bedrooms and helping them decorate or shop old man vintage that we could afford. We couldn’t decide if we loved goth, punk or alternative. Grunge started. I sank into betty/grunge/alternative. So going back to these journals…I knew I would be leaving Alaska and my fresh set of friends. I breathed their worn hoodies and hand made graphic tees. Young tattoo artists in the making etched in my journal. Cherished.:) Young rebels skating thru cool long endless nights and the fresh days of attempting snowboarding on the slops of Alyeska…or just the big hill behind my window on Fort Richardson base – “Home of the Arctic Warriors”. My journal was passed around…I wanted to remember and have them write. I wanted to know what inspired them, made them sad, made them psyched and especially taking in their artistic imaginations with “my journal”. It was our beginning quests to escape Alaska and march south. It tells this same story via blog and tweet. I feel part of a pack. Back in high school it was our note passing and journals. Today its whats in a blog. …hopefully a good one… 80′s it was Greenpeace. Today it’s Made in USA. I don’t mind that. Let’s bring it home if we can. x SB

PS…lets encourage our youth to “handwrite” in journals and doodle what they please

Joy Division

I’m super excited to see this iconic yard start to come alive. It takes an open mind however to make the effort to trek to the Navy Yard and see beyond the griddy walls and embrace it’s history. This was our NY industry for a long time and there are hopes on making the industry come alive and bring commerce/industry back- it takes tourism however…as designers and business owners we’re so dependent on our history for the tourist drive and the influx of new comers to our neighborhoods. I say.. you don’t appeal to locals. You don’t appeal to tourists. Whats the point? Where’s your love?

Anyway …I met Shoy that works at the new museum BLDG92 as a community liaison. He sparked my long time interest in the yards and I wanted to share this to those who hope to visit our neighborhood and perhaps longing for real New York beside corporate Time Sq. (fyi..record breaking turn out for new years ball drop..fyii..whats up with lady gaga? her songs stank..and the whole world was watching!..who cares about her get ups anymore?) You can ride a bike around Brooklyn as a tourist, you can’t in Times Square. You can see where the real New Yorkers live and it’s communities…more to it than Times Sq.

Anyway, I’ll let you explore and imagine these majestic ships docked, maintained and shipped off back to sea…leaving behind a few unlucky service men.

Check out:  BLDG92 Video and…BLD92.1 Video

Oliver from Quality Mending Co. has presented a vintage collection at Smith + Butler.

His passion for quality + long lived history was a great match for SB and he’s made a handsome presentation of old flannels, cardigans, cowichan sweaters, military shirting+peacoats, university scarves+army watch caps.

I’m holding off on grabbing items for myself! Swing by as things will be shifting and getting ready for 2012.

Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer

So after watching this all time favorite show..view link. Yukon Cornelius is in full SB gear…SB X Tellason Blue Dye Chore Jacket and Pant plus…our MasterPiece backpack! He is the current inspiration for the lumber jack man AND he’s sporting the red lumberjack cap…complete hipster and would be photographed by Sartorialist.

Check it out. All available at SB…

Barbour in stock.

Barbour Motorcross video to get inspired on the treks upstate.

Repairs+ Reproofing in the US. Customers always ask. This can be done yourself if you want to try this in your small apartment. Lark in Vancouver did a nice video I thought on the rewaxing process, this should be a motivating and a fun weekend project. I say, dont just do a Barbour jacket, have a martha weekend- bags, dog pillows, stockings…saddle bags?

Side note…There are confusions on what Steve McQueen loved riding in. It was the International…not the Roadmaster.

Internationals are in stock for your pleasure…to be trekked in.

Utility Chore Jacket + Utility Riding Pant in Stock

Raw White Oak Denim and Dyed Canvas all with a Tanner Goods Patch

Available in:

Raw White Oak Denim, Natural Rinse Canvas, Brooklyn Blue Dye , Washed Black Dye

Jackets:  XS-XL

Pant: 28- 36

$198 Special @ SB ONLY

REG. $225

Blue Available at IN GOD WE TRUST shops

Made in the USA

Call 718.855.4295

shop@smithbutler.com

Brooklyn Blue Garment Dyed

Natural Rinse

Black Garment Dyed

Raw 12.05 oz White Oak Denim

Come check out our new mural by Brusdecor

Also updated the SB logo too.

Stay Tuned.. .