NEWS

A History Of The Bolo
Have you ever seen Texans or Arizonians wearing what looks like a thin leather thong around their necks leading from a buckle at the shirt collar? If so you’ve probably thought it dates back to the Wild West. That’s what I thought until a little research revealed quite a different story. This neckwear is called a Bolo or Bola and proclaimed the official neckwear for Arizona, making it one of the most original American styles, the Converse All Star being another; ironically its advent was the outcome of an accident. Had it not been for the loss of a hat in the wind and a quick thinking Arizonian, the style would never have come to fruition?

In the late 1940s, a silversmith named Victor Cedarstaff went riding with friends in the Bradshaw Mountains outside Wickenburg, Arizona. When the wind blew his hat off, Cedarstaff removed the hatband, which had a silver buckle he did not want to lose, and put it around his neck.

When his friends complemented him on the new apparel, Cedarstaff returned home, and wove a leather string. He added silver balls to the ends and ran it through a turquoise buckle.

Cedarstaff later patented the new neckwear, which was called the bolo because it resembled the lengths of rope used by Argentine gauchos to catch game or cattle.

Now mass-produced, bolos are usually made of leather cord, with a silver or turquoise buckle. They are common throughout the west and are often worn for business. In 1971 Arizona legislature named the bolo the official state neckwear. Reference 201.8

No experience necessary; a man creates neckwear after his hat blows off in the wind and another everlasting style is created.

Clothing Styles Of Tomorrow Are Evolving On The Streets Of Spitalfield Today
Spitalfield: Not the most attractive name for a London suburb. But its early music halls propelled Charlie Chaplin to international stardom. As a major entertainment district for many decades, fashion styles evolve in the evenings as the pub and cub scene come alive. Up and down the streets and alleyways in a mixture of classes and cultures.

Also famous for artist Mark Gertler (1891-1939) is perhaps most admired for his 1916 painting The Merry-Go-Round, which hangs prominently at Tate Modern. He is less favourably immortalised in the 1995 biopic Carrington, in which he is portrayed as the tormented lover of the androgynous Bloomsbury artist Dora Carrington.

Spitalfields takes its name from a hospital and priory known as St. Mary’s Spital founded in 1197. Most of the area was built after the Great Fire of London and Spitalfield’s market was first established in the 1680’s. Most of the beautiful houses in and around Fournier, Princelet and Wilkes Street date from around 1685 when the Huguenots fled France and bringing their silk weaving skills established an industry that still flourishes.

The United States' Liberty Bell was originally cast in the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in Whitechapel Road. The pavement here is extra wide – this was the main way via Aldgate for cattle and sheep to be driven into London, together with carts laden with hops for brewing and hay for cattle.

Renowned tailor to Tom Cruze and David Beckham, Timothy Everest concludes many decades of change to the area by opening up shop at 32 Elder Street, once the residence of Bloomsbury artist Mark Gertler.

He rejuvenated British fashion icon Daks and helped prop Marks and Spencers return to traditional pound for pound quality with his outstanding “Autograph” range of men’s clothing and fashion accessories.

Timothy’s move to the area and adopting the Spitalfield flower as his signature marked a new creative direction for men’s clothing and accessories design. Savile row is far removed from the hub of style evolution. Perhaps the beginning of a new era has begun and more tailors will follow to set up shop in Elder Street.

Now the Spitalfield flower blooms on jacket linings and ties, as though culminating centuries of historic events. And to push the boundaries of innovation even further he has re-invented Swank cufflinks, styled on designs from the 1940’s.

Nothing in Spitalfield lays to wrack and ruin for long. It’s constantly being rejuvenated and with each new generation evolves different styles from all walks of life up and down the streets of Spitalfield.

You can manufacture fashion clothing, but style is an evolution. Ask Vivienne Westwood

To draw a comparison; The Beatles evolved, The Monkees were manufactured.

Perpetuating traditional values of English made clothing and accessories is part of our ethos.