Color Story: Reid Black
Face it, the Reid Black isn't like anything you've seen; that black Fargo leather, the dove grey waxed canvas panels. They are a dapper, dressed up version of the original brown and denim Reid and they are in stock now as part of HELM's Spring 2013 collection. We especially like them styled with some of the other items currently available at the HELM Retail store in Austin.
1. Black and Grey leather backpack by Stash Co., TX
2. Charcoal heather socks by Two Feet Ahead, GA
3. Clear and black Freeway sunglasses by Shuron, SC
4. Vintage silver lighter by Sam Hill Store Vintage, TX
5. Black waxed cotton shoelaces by HELM, TX
Studio Visit: Edwood Studios, Austin
Edwood Studios is Michael Brozgul. He has a day job with a small tech start up but his real interest is in woodworking. Currently operating out of a compact shop in the Delta Millworks building on the East Side of Austin, he makes it over most evenings to focus on his craft. Included in the many large scale tools in the shop is a lathe which he has been employing to make beautiful turned vessels and stools of Texas hardwoods. He also turns out charcuterie boards of the Brazilian exotic, Imbuia that can be found at Henri's, Parkside and Backspace among other Austin locales.
The day we visited he was busy making a bed for his mom. Hers was ruined in events triggered by Hurricane Sandy last year and Brozgul saw an opportunity to be a good son and to further his furniture making skills. He referred to this project as a "Beta Test" for the furniture line he hopes to put into production soon. Made of Imbuia, inlaid with turquoise epoxy and with immaculate attention to detail it's easy to see how Brozgul should expect a wait list for his creations in the near future.
The HELM store in Austin has a large selection of Edwood Studios products; bowls, charcuterie boards, keychains and even a badass knuckle ring. Make sure to stop by the store soon to see his work in person. For those who also want to play, Brozgul runs his studio as a co-op and membership info can be found at the Edwood Studios Website
4 quick facts about his not-so-quick turned bowls
- Each one starts as a chunk of Texas hardwood
- They each take 3-4 hours to carve
- after carving, the bowls sit in denatured alcohol for one week
- before final finishing they must dry for two more week
Staff Travels: Marfa Photo Journal
Ethan Brown, our Studio Manager, had a chance to spend a few days in the Far West Texas high desert last month. Marfa, Texas is a special place if you've never been. Settled in the 1880s as a railroad stop, it maintained its isolated location for nearly 100 years when the New York minimalist sculptor Donald Judd came upon it in the 70s and made it his creative outpost. Despite an influx of artists from NYC, Houston and all over the world, the town has managed to maintain its small, dusty western feel (think The Last Picture Show) but also has a large collection of modern art found at the Chinati Foundation, The Judd Foundation and the small galleries scattered through town. It still hasn't outgrown its one blinking traffic light or the fact that everyone shops at one general store. It's hard to get to and even harder to leave. Definitely try to make it out at least once in your life.
Photos and Captions by Ethan Brown:
Top Photo:
1. Maybe that meant lamé gallery?
3. One of Donald Judd's concrete sculptures on the grounds of the Chinati Foundation; there are fifteen sets in all.
4. Overlooking the Chinati Foundation and the mountains beyond.
5. West Texas landscape on the way to Marfa
6. The trailer at El Cosmico, where we stayed for a night.
Bottom Photo:
1. A copy of Mandorla from Marfa Book Company and some delicious macarons from The Get Go, a gourmet food store.
2. A Dan Flavin installation at the Chinati Foundation.
3. Ilya Kabakov's full building installation at the Chinati Foundation resembling an abandoned Russian schoolhouse. All trash and rubble are part of the installation and the general effect.
4. HELM in Marfa!
Gift Ideas for Grads
May and June are such busy months for gift giving and for those of you that don't know, HELM now has a retail store on the East Side of Austin that stocks a variety of Made in the US products (in addition to our Made in the US boots) that make great gifts. Featured here are some gifts that we would love to receive if we were graduating from an institute of higher learning - something that seems to be happening to a lot of folks over the next week or two.
1. Grey Day Pack by Topo Designs, CO $139
2. Freeway Sunglasses by Shuron, SC $245
3. Socks by Two Feet Ahead, GA $9
4. Vintage lighters curated by Sam Hill Vintage, ATX $42-$48
5. Essentials bags by Topo Designs, CO $13-$17
6. Walnut key fobs by Edwood Studios, ATX $21
7. Leather Minimalist Tote with Clutch by Stash Co, TX $279
All products may be purchased in our Austin, TX store: 900 East 6th St, 78702//512-609-8150
What's Inside: A Stash Bag
HELM Brand Manger Hillary Bilheimer has been carrying her Stash Co. Minimalist | Tote bag for about 5 months. She bought it the day that Cheryl and Paul brought their wares to the HELM Store. Her job requires that she be linked into social media at almost every hour of the day and is also able to work remotely. The tote is the perfect size for work and has also been used as a weekend bag for several last-minute trips. One thing that Stash Co. does that Bilheimer is particularly fond of is to use every part of the hide, even if it has a rough edge or a scar or a brand. It creates an extremely unique, one of a kind piece and allows us to remember that this leather came from a living thing. It comes with a matching clutch and you can get yours today at the HELM store in Austin 900 East 6th St.
Contents, Clockwise from top: Matching clutch in caramel for keys, lipstick, credit cards; vintage compact with the State of Texas embossed on the outside, Warby Parker Sinclair eyeglasses, Warby Parker Robinson sunglasses, iPhone 4GS, two TUL ballpoint pens (the best), Aveda Stress-Fix aromatherapy oil, EO lavender hand sanitizer spray (doesn't smell like chemicals), Roobee notebook because even with all that technology, life still needs an analog organizer sometimes, 11 inch MacBook Air (the lightest computer ever)
Made in the US Mother's Day gift ideas
We know. We're a Men's boot company so how can we be possibly making suggestions for Mother's Day gift ideas? Well, if you live in Austin, you know that we just opened up our retail store and we carry some made in the US, unisex products that flesh out the HELM lifestyle concept. Some of those products would be perfect for your Mom. Stop by our store: 900 East 6th St to see them in person. Weds-Sat 12-6 and Sun 12-5.
1. Candles by Raven and Lily. Made by hand in Los Angeles by previously homeless women. Two scents: Hermosa (bamboo, yuzu and lemongrass) and Silverlake (mango and grapefruit) $28
2. Porcelain vase handmade by Austin ceramicist Keith Kreeger ,various sizes: $70-$125
3. Perfume by CB I Hate Perfume. A Brooklyn, NY perfumer who creates realistic scents that invoke the beach, a garden or the air of a Spring day $90-$95
4. Sunglasses made in Greensboro, SC by Shuron. This style is the Sidewinder and features handmade amber glass lenses $245
5. Vintage turquoise//sterling cuff by Sam Hill Vintage $126, Cast brass rings by Sal Miel in Houston $99-$153 and a porcelain tray by Keith Kreeger $70
Beautiful Video
