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Sideshow Sign Co.

Sideshow Sign Co. started in a backyard garage in 2011 and with a mission to tap into an era where everything was made by hand… and they’ve exceeded even their own lofty expectations. Signs are one of the earliest forms of Communication Design and the industry clearly needed a reboot as mass-produced junk signs took over the signage world. Sideshow’s high quality craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail has set the bar pretty high and their unique products continue to impress.  Boasting the broadest range of materials among any sign company in America, there’s not much Sideshow can’t do.  Check out more in the below video (in partnership with Jonathan Chapman Photography). More on the project and how the short film came to life at jonathanchapman.com/blog/sideshow-sign-co/

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Parkman Sunglasses - Bombay Vinyl Record

It’s the middle of summer and we strongly recommend you regulate the power of the sun with some high quality shades .  Mount up with these Bombay Vinyl Record sunglasses with silver flash lenses from Parkman Sunglasses.  We don’t usually recommend wearing shades at night (don’t be that guy), but as long as it’s a clear black night and a clear white moon then you can rock these and get away with it.  The frames are made out of vintage vinyl records and black walnut wood.  An unlikely combination that is sure to make even a peanut butter and jelly sandwich jealous. If that wasn’t enough, each pair is outfitted with polarized lenses and comes in a handmade padded pouch. Parkman is based out of Mountainside NJ and all the manufacturing is done in their shop../ from veneering the rough-cut lumber, to milling, sanding, finishing and cutting the lenses (check out the video below).  Obviously made in the USA. Get them here for $225.00.

SPECIFICATIONS:

– Frame measurements: 52-20-143 – Polarized lenses – Stainless steel spring hinges – Aircraft grade birch core

FRAME MEASUREMENTS: 52-20-143

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American Giant The Weekend Short

The Weekend Short from American Giant will give you one less thing to worry about this weekend. The wearing instructions are pretty simple. 1. Put them on Friday after work.  2. Wear them until you wake up Monday morning.  3. Throw them in the washer so they’re ready for next Friday. That’s it… seriously it’s that easy.  The 100% cotton French Terry Fabric (the American Terry is currently unavailable) is super soft and comfortable but also tough enough to sweat in… or whatever else a typical weekend entails. The waist band is awesome and the drawstring will stay in place so you won’t have to play the “weave a piece of spaghetti through a maze” game after you pull them out of the dryer.  Obviously made in the USA.  Get them here for $44.00. And have a good weekend.

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Fulsus USA Mountain Jacket

Arctic Blast, Polar Vortex, Cold as Hell… whatever you want to call it, the weather has been freezing in many parts of the US with a year’s worth of snow falling in three days some places.  That’s crazy precipitation and it’s not too late to up  your cold weather style as there’s plenty more to come.  A clever combination of “Full” and “Suspension”, Fulsus USA products are designed in the mountains, tested in the mountains and perform anywhere (especially between 10,000 and 14,400+ feet). When you wear Fulsus gear you will suspend elements such as cold, wind and rain. The rigorous testing standards in extreme conditions ensure that Fulsus products with perform for customers all over the world so you can get on with your active life and not worry about your cold weather gear. Given that it’s almost Thanksgiving and we’ve got pie on the brain, the Key Lime colorway seemed like a perfect color to feature (and they don’t have a Pumpkin colorway). It’s waterproof, windproof, breathable, fully seam sealed, utilizes YKK zippers, can handle 10°F to 50°F with adequate layering and made in Colorado, USA. There’s additional bullet points of features and benefits on the Fulsus site, but if you’re not into details just know that all products Provide Full Suspension of the Elements.  Get your Fulsus USA jacket here for $295.00.

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Baldwin Denim - The Aaron in Raw Selvage Denim

Founded and designed by Matt Baldwin, Baldwin Denim and Collection has been creating high quality denim pieces rooted in quality tailoring, durability and a modern aesthetic since 2009.  Starting small, with 3 men’s fits and  production runs as small as 70, the company has grown to add a women’s line as well as two flagship stores in Kansas City.  Each piece is a new chapter in the Baldwin story and The Aaron in Raw Selvage Denim is a really climactic part of the story.  Perfect for fall weather, the 13 oz. indigo dyed, red line selvage denim from White Oak Cone Mills and custom hardware throughout give this jacket a super high quality feel and stylish look that’s sure to garner some double-takes from passersby. The Baldwin story is just beginning and we’re excited to see what’s ahead… get The Aaron in Raw Selvage Denim here for #245.00. 

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MAKR Daypack

When thinking about bags and luggage, often times we go to straight to the huge duffel or awesome hard case roller, however it’s the everyday bag that’s most important.  It’s similar to golf clubs, everyone wants that new shiny driver that’s used a maximum of 14-15 times per round, when they really should be focusing on their putter which usually racks up over 30 strokes.  The MAKR Daypack is the Scotty Cameron of backpacks.  For those of you who know nothing about golf, it’s the best of the best.  It comes in several different colors, but we’re keen on the nautical, yet rugged Navy Canvas and Natural Horween Leather version. The large main compartment has plenty of room to store all your gear and the interior pocket securely holds items you need to access often.  The padded straps feel like a dream on your shoulders and the super durable YKK Excella zippers (with leather pull-tabs) stand the test of time. Get yours here for $245.00. 

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Death At Sea Cage Tape

We thought the Tom Sachs 25′ Stanley Kubrick Tape Measure was the most expensive ever sold (credit COOL MATERIAL for showing up when we googled “most expensive tape measure ever”) at $250.00, however we’re excited to announce there’s a new champion in this three figure price tag tape measure battle… The Death At Sea Cage Tape weighs in at $320.00, but there’s actually some reasoning behind the high cost. Unlike the aforementioned Tom Sachs product, Matt Cavanaugh didn’t simply scribe his name into an existing product and then jack up the price… he’s a manufacturing innovator that utilizes a single fabrication process whenever possible to create unique products that stand out from the crowd. The Cage Tape is 3D printed with stainless steel and has an exposed working mechanism that looks so damn cool that you’ll be measuring things for no reason other than to see it in action. It doesn’t have a locking feature or belt clip like most tape measures these days, but if you cruise through Home Depot with the Cage Tape in hand we’re sure you’ll walk out with a badass employee dubbed nickname. To wrap things up, every single thing Death At Sea makes is made or assembled by hand in Brooklyn, NY. Get your Cage Tape here for $320.00.

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Word 2015 Standard Memorandum Notebook

Often times revisiting the past will inspire us to create something for a better future… in a world where everything is going digital, the pen and pad has taken a backseat to touch screens and the cloud.  We’re all about using technology to improve our quality of life, however there are certain scenarios where keeping things old school is the way to go.  This is one of them… inspired by pocket journals from the early to mid 1900’s, Word Notebooks’ Standard Memorandum is designed as a way to chronicle a year of your life which gets harder to remember the longer we live and as our memory starts to fade. To quote Gretchen Rubin (creator of The Happiness Project) “The days are long, but the years are short”. It’s such a brilliantly simple and true sentence that resonates with everyone.  Many days drag on and feel like they last forever, however every New Y ears we ramble on about how we can’t believe another year has passed.  With Word and their awesome collection of Notebooks it’s much easier to quickly jot down both major and minor events each day so you can l0ok back and know how that year was spent. The 2015 Standard Memorandum is the follow-up to last year’s super popular daily pocket journal, and it’s ready to be your trusty companion for the upcoming year. Just like the original, simply jot down a line or two every day and when December rolls around you’ll have a memento you can save or pass down.  Get your 2015 Standard Memorandum Notebook here starting at $11.00. 

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The Founded 1776 Experience x The Paul Bunyan

We featured Founded 1776 back in August and talked about the “surprise box of pure America” and how cool it would be to periodically get something in the mail other than bills in the mail… Well it was fun to talk about, but once you actually go through the Founded 1776 experience you quickly realize how surprises, spontaneity and enjoying the small things are completely unappreciated this day in age.  It exceeded our expectations for many reasons… some you may not have assumed.  Here it goes, The Founded 1776 Experience…

At first, Box 2: The Paul Bunyan looked like a pretty standard, small gift wrapped in plaid wrapping paper reminiscent of a 4th of July table cloth. Lo and behold, this “ordinary wrapping paper” is actually Lumberjack Plaid Wrapping Paper from Norman’s Printery in New Jersey.  The small details throughout the entire experience are exactly what make Founded 1776 so special.  It’s not just about a box, it’s about learning and discovery.

It was a struggle to rip through the paper, not because it’s strong like a Lumberjack, because the package is so wrapped to perfection and it feels odd to destroy something that looks so good.  After getting over the destruction apprehension, you’ll quickly see that the box is actually printed with the Founded 1776 logo and rest assured, the box is 100% recycled and Made in America.  And they’re vegan friendly too if you care about that stuff.

Next you get the box itself, which is clean, simple and white.  Not a lot more going on here, other than the excitement and anticipation to find out what’s been hiding in this gem of a box.

It happened again… more details.  A nice “MADE IN U.S.A.” sticker holding the Made in America tissue paper in place.  Again, that feeling of destruction apprehension creeps in to the though process… but stay strong, keep going, it continues to get better.

Now it gets really exciting.  Good things come in small packages, right?  First you’ll notice a card insert explaining Box 2: The Paul Bunyan and how it “pays tribute to America’s woodsy heritage with a larger than life selection of four Made in USA products that are sure to inspire tall tales of your own!”.  The card is great and a lot of hard work went into the clever and sexy copy, however you’re going to notice a theme here… it’s all about the details.  The card is personally signed by the Founded 1776 founders, Michael and Mikayla. Unless they’ve got a stamp or printer that makes signatures look super, super real, M & M have taken the time to personally sign each card.  That gives you an idea of how much care and attention to detail goes into each box.  Note: If that super, super real signature stamp exists, we want one.

Now it’s time to flip the card over to find out exactly what’s  in this box of pure American-made goodness.  They’re listed out in order from highest price to lowest and you’ll see that you’re definitely getting your money”s worth.  The $33.00 price tag for the box is long forgotten at this point as the experience as well as products more than make it worth the cost.

The biggest and most noticeable item is the Made in New Jersey Olive Marled Watch Cap from Topo Designs. It’s looks warm and cozy which is very season appropriate and definitely captures the Paul Bunyan theme…. We’re pretty sure Mr. Bunyan would be rocking the Topo Cap today if he had the chance. The party could have stopped right here and we would have been happy, but wait… there’s more.  Next, the Shelterwood with Band of Rubber Field Notes Three Pack memo books made of sustainably produced American Cherry Wood. If you don’t know already, Field Notes makes an awesome product and the Made in Illinois Paul Bunyan themed American Cherry wood edition makes these memo books extra special.  Writing in something that has a wood grain exterior is about as woodsy as you can get!  Next is a Mokuyobi Threads Nature Park Patch.  It’s made to iron-on so you have the freedom to place it almost anywhere and instantly feel closer to nature…It’s made in New Jersey as well.  Last but not least is the Tattly Ax and Log Temporary Tattoo… We’re pretty sure Paul Bunyan actually had this tat on his lower back. He use to refer to it as an Ax Stamp. Made in Arizona.

To sum things up, the Founded 1776 concept is much more than a box… It’s about learning, discovery, details, and a unique experience. It also makes you realize why American Made Matters (which you get a reminder tag of in the box). We’ll leave you with one final image of the Founded 1776 Box 2: The Paul Bunyan laid out on a reclaimed wood table.  Nope, you can’t get any more appropriate than that. If you liked this write-up and want to experience it for yourself then we highly recommend the Full Subscription… It’s well worth it.  The only thing that could make it better? A monthly option.  Enjoy!

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Sketchbook Crafts Patchwork Backpack

A sketchbook is usually the starting point… a place where random thoughts and ideas marinate and evolve before transforming into beautiful, real life creations.  Amber Jensen must have one heck of a sketchbook because the finished products are phenomenal and each bag carries the name –  Sketchbook Crafts. Drawing inspiration from nature and natural materials, she is creating unique, eye-catching bags and backpacks that are both nostalgic and trendsetting. Currently each bag is cut, assembled, sewn, punched, riveted and lined by her two hands, however we’re not sure how long this can last given the demand is sure to rise once the word gets out… so keep that in mind when you’re shopping around or in other words hurry up! As you probably figured out already (Sketchbook reference, duh), the idea for each bag begins as a drawing, is made into a prototype, tried and tested, modified as needed to find the perfect balance of durability, style and functionality then finished and passed onto lucky purchasers. All materials are sourced locally or American-made when possible and each bag is obviously made in America… We love The Patchwork Backpack, which takes a folksy patchwork design combined with a classic roll top style backpack.  It’s unique, functional, durable and will surely be something to talk about next time you’re strolling down a busy street.  Get yours here for $330.00.

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Hit City USA Perfect White T-Shirt

How do you “one up” an icon?  Well, it’s probably best not to change much and stick with simple refinements that enhance what was already flawless.  The Perfect White T-Shirt from Hit City USA is the perfect mix of classic style and modern lines.  The cropped torso make the “tucked-in” look tough to pull off unless you go up a size, but we like the fact that the Perfect White T-Shirt basically revokes the possibility. It’s not always the case, but “tucked-in” is often times a red flag for “up-tight”. Aggressive in the sleeves and high on the collar, this shirt is the epitome of cool… It would surely make James Dean proud. The tear away tag ensure you’ll be scratch-free and comfortable in any situation.  Pre-washed, 100% cotton and 100% made in California.  Get the Perfect White T-Shirt here for $32.00. 

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Weiss Standard Issue Field Watch

A couple years ago it was almost impossible to find a quality watch made in USA, however today there are plenty of brands giving the Swiss a run for their money.  The Weiss Watch Company was founded in 2013 by California native Cameron Weiss and is on a mission to restore prestige to American watchmaking with extremely high quality timepieces that are designed and built in Los Angeles, California. Okay, now this is where it gets interesting and the whole “Made in USA” label debate comes in to play… the Weiss Watch Company is currently the only watchmaker in the United States designing, engineering, and manufacturing their own cases and dials, as well as finishing each movement by hand.  Yes, you read that correctly… THE ONLY.  The others (i.e. Shinola) are assembling here with parts from overseas… Don’t get take this the wrong way, we still love the other brands, just want to ensure full disclosure for those of you that want to know it all! The “assemblers” are still doing a lot of great things for the country and economy (we’ve featured Shinola several times and continue to support what they’re doing).  That being said, this sets the Weiss Watch Company apart from all the others.  A symbol of American ingenuity and integrity, each watch edition purposefully surpasses historical standards, using higher quality materials that last longer with less scheduled maintenance.  It’s a timepiece you can hand down for generations and there’s nothing to debate… It’s made in the USA. Get the Weiss Standard Issue Field Watch here for $950.00.

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Rickshaw Bagworks Sutro Backpack

The last time we featured Rickshaw Bagworks was back in March 2012 (Messenger Bag for the iPad 2)… boy oh boy, times have certainly changed, but their unwavering passion for making things has not. At obviousamerica we’re obviously all about American made for a number of reason (see the about page), but for Rickshaw founder, Mark Dwight,  the reasoning might not be what you think (credit Inc. magazine article). He’s not a protectionist or made in America zealot, he’s simply a maker that wants to connect his product with the people, have accountability for what’s produced, and create an amazing story.  Luckily for you, all these things make for a fantastic product and brand.  We love Rickshaw Bagworks and one of our favorite products is the Sutro Backpack… It’s sleekly sturdy, surprisingly spacious and built with a splash-proof zipper and bike light loops. And you can customize in what seems like millions of combinations. Check out the video below and grab the Sutro Backpack here… starting at $199.

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MALVIN + JOYCE 16th Street Workboot

For reason this reminds us of Nada Surf, but that’s another story… The MALVIN + JOYCE 16th Street Workboot sure is popular… to boot. The simple design and classic, clean lines make this equally as useful as a workboot as it does with jeans and a t-shirt.  The Horween Chromoexcel leather makes the 16th Street a route you want to take… it’s produced using a bark retannage from a proprietary (aka secret) recipe, and then genuine hot stuffed with a blend of natural oil and greases.  The resulting “pull-up” leather yelds a rich, deep finish with subtle shade variations that develops more character with age.  In summary, the more you wear them, the better they look. Sure to become a staple in any man’s wardrobe, the 16th Street also features six brass eyelets and a Goodyear Welt construction.  Obviously crafted in the USA. Get yours here for $235.00. 

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Bison iPhone 6 Wallet

Like it or not (i.e. Can We Auto-Correct Humanity?), our phones are becoming more ingrained in our lives. They can pretty much do everything and although there are laws against it… almost every single person driving around on the road is glancing down every few seconds to see what’s new on their text messages and social feeds.  That being said, Bison’s motto is “Designed For Life” and with the release of the iPhone 6 it feels like this slogan has never been more relevant.  Life is complicated so we need to simplify it in anyway possible… the Bison iPhone 6 Wallet will simplify what you carry.  Keep your phone, cards and cash safe and secure in this handsome piece of natural tanned leather made by Hermann Oak.  The innovative outer pocket provides quick access from both sides and there’s no linings, rubber or glue to get in the way so “easy access” truly takes on a whole new meaning. There’s a lifetime warranty on the stitching, however that would be dependent on the iPhone 6s, 7, 7s, 8, 8s, 9, 9s, 10, 10s and beyond being the exact same size.  Um, doubtful.  Nontheless, it’s a super high quality, made in America accessory that will simplify your life.  Get it here for between $75.00 – $85.00 depending on the leather.  We personally like the “Whiskey” version. Yum.

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Trion Nemesis

To quote Thomas L. Friedman… “America is the greatest engine of innovation that has ever existed, and it can’t be duplicated anytime soon”. That pretty much sums it up…We could come up with something similar ourselves, but it felt more legit going with the established author quote  (check the full quote here). It’s becoming more and more apparent that America knows how to do things right. This homegrown supercar known as the Trion Nemesis is ready to go the distance in the octagon against every single Italian, German, British, Swedish, Japanese, Korean or whatever other random country car manufacturer you want to name. Hand-built in America, the Nemesis sports a 9.0 liter, twin-turbo V8, 2,000 horsepower engine with 8 speed transmission that is capable of 270 mph and goes from 0 – 60 in 2.8 seconds.  Take that countries that aren’t America!  This advanced ultra-luxury, high performance line of vehicles is designed around the driver.  The exterior and performance is flawless, but the interior package deserves just as much attention… mostly because it was not only designed for the driver, it was designed for American drivers.  We’re getting bigger (okay, maybe fatter) and taller… and the Nemesis will comfortably accommodate 6’4″ drivers in all models and the hardtop can accommodate 7’0″ drivers (so most NBA players are good to go).  This thing will truly blow your mind and your face off at top speeds. You guessed right… the price tag is probably in the 7 figure range and the quantities are limited so you better inquire in less than 2.8 seconds or you’ll miss out.  Seriously though, here’s the notice you get if you’re interested: “Thank you for your interest in owning a Trion Nemesis. We are currently taking orders for the Nemesis RR model, including the ultra-exclusive ‘Black Ops’ edition. Production of the Nemesis RR will be limited to 50 RR models with an additional 9 RR Black Ops models. Please complete the short form below and we will be in contact with you to help you configure your own Nemesis and reserve your specific build number.” Get your bank statements ready or just keep an eye out for them on the road.

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