One of the last swordsmiths, Korehira Watanebe dedicated 40 years to the ancient craft. In this installment of Etsy’s Handmade Portraits series, Watanebe discusses his introduction to the world of swordmaking, how his relationships shaped his career path, and the neverending inspiration he gathers from his surroundings. He is still very attached to his traditions, and this dedication to tradition and craft is a testament to his great spirit and is an inspiration for many of us.

Handmade Portraits: The Sword Maker from Etsy on Vimeo.

Source: etsy.com

Playing off of the antique Volkswagens of days gone by comes the concept of the Facebook car, a playful riff on the social networking site that has all but defined the Internet for the past decade. Painted with the Facebook pallet of colors, a simple white and blue combination, the car is built around the idea that the automobile is its very own Facebook page, including having its own privacy settings (windows).

The cars are sure to please any antique collector with a hand in both the old and the new. For the rest of us however, the cars are simply something for us to laugh about and admire.

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Read the rest of this post with more images at: Fanwagen – The Volkswagen Facebook Car

Back with another entry into the excellent Men of Distinction series, men’s grooming specialists, The Motley, profile designer, creative director, and entreprenuer Taylor Pemberton of New York City. Pemberton has an affinity for creating things that last, moving away from the throw away designs that permeate the market today. His current projects include Cavalier, a purveyor of handcrafted vintage goods, and Wantful, an innovative gift giving service, and look to echo the traits he values. Once again, The Motley proves to be a brand with distinction, aligning themselves with men who “create, explore, advocate, and inspire.”

Check out more from Taylor Pemberton here, and more from The Motley here.

There are some men who set out to define the eras they live in, men who unequivocally leave their impression in the sands of time, a group aptly titled The Men of Distinction in a new series of videos from grooming geniuses The Motley. The introductory film follows a group of distinctive men who aim to “create, explore, advocate, and inspire,” as they discuss never-ending drive to create things that will last. By taking an approach that doesn’t directly highlight their products, The Motley creates a distinctive lifestyle that surrounding their products, moving past sales of inventory into sales of an idea. That kind of broad scope puts The Motley ahead of the curve, and for good reason.

Check out more Men of Distinction from The Motley here.

Source: the 189

Once again focusing on artisans who craft their products by hand, this week Made By Hand videos focused on the work of New York worker Joel Bukiewicz. Bukiewicz is a knife maker for Cut Brooklyn, and in the video he shows the audience how he makes the renowned knives that Cut Brooklyn are famous for making. For those who appreciate modern artisans, this latest video is yet another entry into the excellent collection that Made By Hand is creating week in and week out.

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Read the rest of this post with more images at: The Knife Maker – Made by Hand

We’re long time fans of NOWNESS here at Swipelife, and the editorial crew over there just keeps churning out these amazing pictorial and video features. Their newest one takes a peak into the Catskill home of 3×1 denim designer Scott Morrison. Aside from his renowned accomplishments and future endeavors in the world of denim, which is highlighted in the interview, this peak into his home shows us some of Scott’s home treasures such as his denim collection and his workspace. See the rest now at NOWNESS.

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Read the rest of this post with more images at: At Home with Scott Morrison by NOWNESS

It seems that for some people, working with your hands is an extremely undervalued practice. In Dimitris Ladopoulos’s short film, the director focuses on the techniques used to achieve as a carpenter in todays modern world. Although the film clocks in at just less than two minutes, it perfectly captures the motivations and work ethic that come with being a carpenter with artistic inspirations. The film is part of a collection of many other short films, all showing people living off their own craftsmanship and handmade hard work.

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Read the rest of this post with more images at: The Carpenter by Dimitris Ladopoulos

This year’s fashion’s night out (FNO) was absolutely juiced up! Although a number of fashion houses send invites to celebrities, socialites, media reps and the like any fashionista can strut the night away and stop by many locations sans an invite. Fashion’s Night Out is really a shindig for everybody.

The streets of New York City were indeed the runway of style. Whether  Miranda Priestley (the devil wears prada) would give the nod or not, hundreds of locals and out-of-towners strutted their “stuff” as they pick up deals and bubblies throughout the night.

I was invited to join the Dockers® brand, GQ, and Bloomingdale’s in toasting celebrated designer Alexander Wang on his winning GQ’s Best New Menswear Designer in America award.

Wang’s resulting contribution to the collaboratively designed GQ Best New Menswear Designers in America Dockers® Collection was fully revealed and went on sale during  night of FNO, along with interpretations of the iconic khaki look developed by his fellow nominees:  Patrik Ervell, Miller’s Oath, Michael Bastian, Riviera Club, and Warriors of Radness. The work of each of these six nominated designers comprises this limited-edition, highly collectible collection.

Although this was the highlight of my night, the party went on and on. Honestly, one has to sit down a couple of days before to map out and create a timeline for night. From soho, madison avenue, meatpacking district, fifth avenue, upper west side to even Williamsburg DJs were spinning HOT beats and swags were being given away as deals were offered to all shoppers. Kudos to Anna Wintour for making this annual event a fashion runway to all walks of life. I had a fabulous time… And yes, I was sporting some prada that night!

In the short film “Las Calles de Borges” (The Streets of Borges), director Ian Ruschel paints a vivid portrait of Argentina, while paying homage to the illustrious Argentinian poet and writer, Jorge Luis Borges. Filmed from the perspective of an elderly man (Alcidez Zonco, playing the part of Borges) the short film takes the viewer through a typical day in both Buenos Aires and Capilla del Señor. Similar to Woody Allen’s prolific film “Manhattan”, Ruschel is able to turn Argentina into a character in the movie. The location, due to its importance, becomes a major focal point of the short film.

The film ends with a captivating quote from Borges, as he describes the importance of art. Not only does the director masterfully encapsulate the culture and the movement of both cities, but he is also able to introduce the influential scholar to a new generation.

Buenos Aires: Las Calles de Borges from Ian Ruschel on Vimeo.

Source: Matador Network

New York isn’t a stranger to being in front of the lens, playing it’s part as an excellent model in millions of tourist photos and multiple Hollywood movies. But truly capturing the feel of New York takes a little effort, a task that videographer Christian Anderson seemed to complete with ease. His sultry and hazy visuals combined with a frantic pace and razor-sharp editing create a picture of the Big Apple that displays both a city that is a thing of dreams and a city that is relentless in it’s drive to move. A day in the life of New York has never been told so incredibly.

You can see more of Anderson’s work here.

The Street Aesthetic of New York City from Christian Andersen on Vimeo.

Source: MatadorNetwork