All Things Achievable: An Interview with 46NYC
SwipeLife is always inspired by an entrepreneurial spirit. It’s more astounding when this drive is coupled with an obligation to give back through charity. The 46NYC company has combined their talents and passions to achieve just that.
Being able to affect positive change on a person’s life is a quality that many of us possess and have the means to. We’re all familiar with the merits of charity, and some of us are fortunate to participate or receive in these selfless acts. The images of depressed areas that flood our news media outlets are a stark reality for the people in these areas. It’s these harsh realities – abuse, poverty, hunger, education, water – that add to a growing epidemic.
It’s a privilege to have a direct involvement in improving a community that’s in need of basic resources and education. Having someone design a platform that enables the public to provide these necessities are the measures that make this change a reality. The 46NYC group is committed to bringing awareness to these areas of need, and their stout efforts have already made substantial contributions to these causes through their partnerships with several International non-profit organizations.
The first idea that spawned the 46NYC concept was to sell a t-shirt and have a portion of proceeds go to a proven relief organization. The idea was simple, but it required steadfastness to bridge these networks and market their idea – an ongoing process that presents itself as a rewarding challenge. Their latest campaign with the Wine to Water organization helps to raise funds for communities that are in dire need of potable water.
SwipeLife touched base with Operations Director, Hal Kivette, to understand the spirit that helped build the 46NYC company and all of their charitable endeavors.
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The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG: An Interview with Gorden Wagener
We at Swipelife were lucky enough to be the guests of Mercedes Benz at the Frankfurt Auto Show this year. We have attended many shows over the years, and this year’s IAA was undoubtedly the most exceptional any of us have ever been a part of. We were one of the few publications fortunate enough to sit down with Gorden Wagener, the head of design for Mercedes-Benz and the creator of the SLS AMG supercar. Special thanks to the Lifestyle Presse at Daimler AG and everyone who made the event unforgettable.
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2009 Frankfurt International Motor Show – Top Fives
After the out-of-step-with-the-rest-of-the-world luxury smorgasbord (or should that be cheese fondue?) that was this year’s Geneva motor show; Frankfurt showed us an automobile industry that has at least noticed the current economic downturn, even if it would rather pretend it wasn’t there. So, in between the Porsche Panameras, Lamborghini Reventons and Rolls-Royce Ghosts there were a multitude of electric and small car concepts, emerging like green shoots pushing through the crumbling blacktop. But we didn’t let that spoil our fun. Here then, are Swipelife’s pick of the show, the coolest, the craziest and the bandwagons that everybody and their dog are jumping on right now:
Continue to read to check out SwipeLife’s Top Five Picks from the Frankfurt Auto Show.
Mercedes-Benz at the Frankfurt Auto Show
SwipeLife was invited by the good folks at Mercedes Benz to come check out what they had in store for the Frankfurt Auto Show last week. Needless to say, the presentations of the various autos for the event was nothing short of spectacular. We were also lucky enough to come up close and personal with their show stoppers such as the BlueZero Concept, S-500 HYBRID, and the breathtaking SLS AMG. We spent quite a bit of time at Daimler AG’s “halle” during the Frankfurt Auto Show, and the meticulous planning and amount of effort put in by the company to promote their brand was overwhelming. Overall, Mercedes-Benz did more than just wow the crowd. They also were on hand to educate and inform the audience on what the future holds for the company in terms of technological advances and what it means to be a top auto manufacturer.
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Custom Cool: Interview with Ezra Caldwell of Fast Boy Cycles
“Fuck cancer, I’m Ezra,” are the words emblazoned on the masthead of Ezra Caldwell’s blog found on the website of his custom bike building company, Fast Boy Cycles. Caldwell is the man behind the New York-based operation that works under one simple premise: building custom frames to fit the client’s personal likeness. Fast Boy has already caused a sensation among bicycle enthusiasts with their custom racks, fenders and handlebars.
Like most entrepreneurs, Caldwell’s faced his fair share of disappointments, notably being diagnosed with rectal cancer in July of 2008. But just as Albert Einstein once said, “Life is like riding a bicycle – in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.”, these words couldn’t be more true in the story behind Fast Boy Cycles. For Ezra, a former art student, dance teacher and now a highly sought after custom bike builder, the road to doing what he enjoys is one that came full circle.
We recently got to sit with Ezra at his workshop based in Harlem and discussed his philosophy on bike customizing, entrepreneurship and teaching cancer to cry. In this interview, Ezra shares the details on how he got started in the industry and what he hopes to accomplish in the future.
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Creating Compass Pointe: An Interview with Kelly Deck
Sean Anderson of Progressive Design Concept and Kelly Deck of Kelly Deck Design and host of HGTV’s “Take it Outside,” collaborated on the creation of The Compass Pointe House, a stunning modern abode in Whistler, Canada. The home combines modern and rustic elements to complement and capture the fluidity of the house’s natural environment. Anderson, of Progressive Concept Design, created the home’s layout and overall design, while Deck selected the interior and exterior finishes.
We recently caught up with Kelly Deck to ask her a few questions about herself and her involvement in the recently completed Compass Pointe House project.
Continue on to read the rest of the interview and to view more images of the stunning Compass Pointe home after the jump.
Ready-to-Wear Revival: An Interview With Patrick Grant of E. Tautz
These days, so many clothing companies claim that their products are the ‘real thing’, ‘100% authentic’ or ‘the genuine article’ that the phrases have become practically meaningless. When the advertising – and the label – promise a world of French or Italian glamour and sophistication it can be a bit galling to discover that a suit or shirt was actually made in a large, faceless factory and not in the atelier of a master craftsman.
It is then, a refreshing change to see the relaunch earlier this year, of historic British men’s sportswear label, E. Tautz. If the name promises a world of classic style, inspired by the likes of the Duke of Windsor. Then the collections so far, have delivered; High-quality cloths from around the British Isles have been used and the pieces are cut and tailored in Savile Row at the home of Tautz parent, the bespoke tailors, Norton & Sons. Indeed, Patrick Grant, the suave head of the 187 year-old company described the ready-to-wear collection as being ‘.. as close to a bespoke product as we can make a suit without actually making it for one person’.
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Words with a Watchmaker: An Interview with Maurice de Mauriac – Zurich’s Daniel Dreifuss
There is no denying that watches of the highest caliber, precision, and craftsmanship come from Swiss watchmaking. However, in a sea of watch brands hailing from such a region, only a few can pride themselves in actually combining both superior production and genuine customer satisfaction. This is where Maurice de Mauriac excels at. Its founder, Daniel Dreifuss knows what it takes to make the best timepieces for the most demanding clients.
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The Newcomer: An Intervew with Spencer Nikosey of KILLSPENCER
The creative process for Spencer Nikosey is a collaborative one that takes place with a team that’s very close to home.
Spencer is the creator of men’s bag line, KILLSPENCER, and his first collections have garnered a lot of attention recently with an immediately recognizable military-inspired design. His practices are innovative for intercepting what would be discarded used military equipment and re-uses the fabrics and materials for the manufacturing of his bags. The result is a product that is chic, masculine, and durable by military specifications.
These concepts all require a screening process from a personal team that he values: his family. Mom and Dad are integral parts of the process, and that involvement started in the years of his youth. His family since those skateboard and drumstick-toting days has extended to a talented bunch of close friends.
Spencer is a very inspired newcomer, and his path to developing the brand is set to a very steady and assured beat.
