Your Soul On Fire

We bring you the world's greatest, the soon to be great and the newest and freshest entrepreneurs, gamechangers, athletes and more

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Heroes on Socks, in Dutch we say Held op sokken.

Heroes On Socks, in Dutch we say Held op sokken. A Held op sokken is somebody who acts brave but in reality doesn’t have the balls. A real chicken some will say.

To wear the Heroes on Socks (HOS) you might as well need to have balls to set yourself apart from the ordinary. HOS is a young sock label designed for the modern determined gentleman who wants to distinguish himself with a comprehensive wardrobe. HOS is a small label for innovative socks and yarns, based on traditional weaving techniques. All garments are made in Italy and authentically manufactured by the finest artisans.

Every season HOS will bring a sophisticated and unique collection, the redefinition of their collections show a clear addition to every gentlemen's outfit.

Because of a strong network with lifestyle stores HOS has realized a strong foundation where their products are sold.

After 2 years HOS is taking it to the next level and wants to grow as a brand. A new chapter to the HOS story has been added, Heroes On Socks Essentials.

With this Essentials line creativity is key, entailing a more commercial approach in which they are translating their inspirations and experiences of recent years in the collection. Exclusive patterns and prints are the core of the collection. A ready-to-wear sock-line existing of 16 styles each available in 3 color ways and all the garments are equally priced at the same price level of   8,95

For their new Essential collection they designed marvelous themes such as;

Geometric Polka Dots, Oversized Polka Dots, Geometric Stripes, All Weather

themes and awesome Color Blocks.

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Creating is celebrating – Jolanda van EIJK, designer and owner of EIJK shoes,

Two weeks ago I was visiting an atelier in Amsterdam West.Hidden behind two large garage doors one finds a raw warehouse space that houses the EIJK showroom and atelier.This inspiring space is the heart of EIJK, and from here the collections are designed, and the production process is managed.EIJK is created for confident women with a unique style, who love an elegant look.

EIJK Shoes are the perfect combination of elegance, edginess and simplicity. The 6cm high heel creates a truly seductive shoe for women with a strong style identity.Jolanda van Eijk, the creator of EIJK and an avid heel wearer herself, dreamt of.EIJK offers the ideal shoe for women who require a sophisticated look to carry them from early morning until late at night.

Jolanda, the creator of EIJK and an avid heel wearer, dreamt of a flirty heel which could be comfortably worn 24/7.A fashionable shoe that she could wear to a business meeting, romantic lunch, or on a stroll to an opening night; with that in mind, Jolanda created the optical high stiletto heel with the distinctive EIJK twist.The EIJK capsule collection consists of several timeless models in a diverse range of materials and colors.Jolanda’s passion is to pursue a fashionable, stylish design.EIJK is a shoe line created for woman with a timeless style.Shoes that add a finishing touch to any outfit and an edgy look that translates to any moment of the day.EIJK designs are refined basics with a feminine touch; a shoe that seduces.

EIJK shoes has a passion for traditional shoe making methods and high quality.EIJK works with small-scale artisan shoemakers from the Marche region in Italy.These Italian craftsmen are devoted to producing products of only the highest quality.

 The world is at your feet - EIJK Shoes.

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Closer Together with luxury erotic lifestyle brand, 210th,

"Intimacy is one of the most beautiful given things in the world." - Sofie Rockland

A few years ago I got in touch with Sofie Rockland when she visited the Mood Over West pop-up lifestyle store at the Overtoom in Amsterdam.Last year during the first citizenMag contributors road trip to Paris Sofie Rockland and some other like minded people where strolling the streets of Le Marais and got time to visit cool stores and share inspiration.The story of Sofie Rockland starts in the fashion industry.She studied fashion at the Institute for Fashion, Management and Design ‘Mr. Koetsier’ in Amsterdam.After 10 years of fashion experience and her many travels to the Far East, she decided to take the step to launch her own brand, 210th.

210th offers an exclusive line of luxury beautiful designed boxes offering you and your partner scintillating challenges with luxurious erotic accessories.Each stylish box offers you and your partner all the ingredients to provide each other the right dose of attention in the relation and keep the passion on a high level.The 210th Experience line consists of luxury and seductive products as massage oil, massage candle and lubricant. We love to seduce you.

Her mission: more love, intimacy and quality time for each other. Closer together!

Experience love, passion and communication with 210th. Closer Together!

Check www.210th.com for more. 

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The mission of Sofie Rockland with 210th: more love, intimacy and quality time for each other. Closer together! (photo courtesy of 210th)

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"Intimacy is one of the most beautiful given things in the world." - Sofie Rockland (picture courtesy of 210th)

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My favorite Dutch Wadden Island is called Vlieland !! Great in summertime, sea, beach, clouds, dunes. 

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Local Los Angeles brand Killspencer introduces 1st transformable backpack/tote for women

A few weeks ago I already mentioned this great ‘Local Los Angeles’ brand Killspencer.They are back with the introduction of their first transformable backpack/tote M-22 in the Women's collection.Constructed out of structured bullhide leather and premium paracord,the M-22 is an iconic design for the modern woman.All of their products are expertly hand-crafted in the Silverlake Workshop/ Storefront in Los Angeles. 

M-22 featuring artists Luke James and Melany Bennett.Music by Nickolas Beats and Melany Bennett on piano.

Check www.killspencer.com for more information about the new M-22 bag for women.

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FUTURA, menswear fashion label revitalized by Anne Bosman and Tom Renema

FUTURA is a menswear label which had its relaunch last summer (2014),creative director Anne Bosman and general manager Tom Renema have revitalized the menswear label FUTURA. Bosman earned his master's in 2014 at Central Saint Martins-University of the Arts London.He is one of only 11 students from the Netherlands that studied at the Central Saint Martins University.Prior to studying in London he studied BA Fashion Design at ArtEZ Arnhem.His graduation collection (with honors) which received two H & M Awards back in 2012.Renema graduated for his International Business Management study in 2013 at the HES Amsterdam.FUTURA started in February 1984 as an underground t-shirt label in Amsterdam. The brand was picked up by many trendsetters and among others was seen a lot at parties and in the national capital’s nightlife. The scene disappeared along with the brand.

The 'new' FUTURA has a strong, clean and minimalistic look that is often characteristic of Dutch Design.FUTURA mixes fashion with denim in order to create a futuristic look for the modern man.In terms of materials, there is a strong focus on Japanese denim, organic cotton and other sustainable materials combined with European manufacturing skills.T-shirts and sweaters are hand silk-screened which gives them a custom-made feel.

Pictures from the Spring Summer 2015 ‘Plane Bikers‘collection of FUTURA - pictures courtesy of FUTURA

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Cledingraad,advice from the man with the hammer,

More than two decades I know the man behind Cledingraad, Clement, we have been in the same class at retail high school in the north of Holland.We have worked in the same cool store in Leeuwarden,Oxford Blue, after a few years Clement decided to move to Groningen. 

Now years later and a lot of experience in fashion retail has given him enough knowledge and inspiration to open his own store, Cledingraad,a mensfashion store where personal advice and service mean a great deal to the staff and their customers.Located in the Zwanestraat just around the corner of the Grote Markt.A combination of clothing,socks,shoes,books ,accesories ,a good cup of coffee or inspiration for that new look for Spring and Summer that is coming up.A mix of small upcoming brands and well known brands are presented at Cledingraad.

Go and visit his store at the Zwanestraat 9 in Groningen, check the www.facebook.com/cledingraad or his website www.cledingraad.nl for inspiration and information. And from the 1st of May he will be online with his own webshop and on www.localsunited.nl

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KAZMOK is creating unique products using used conveyor belts

Somewhere in Amsterdam West it al started back in 2010 when we met Dinand Stufkens where he visited the pop-up store Mood Over West.He brought a small selection of his KAZMOK collection and the consumers loved the story behind these products.KAZMOK,a line of business bags and accessories made of used conveyor belts was introduced at Mood Over West and since then we followed each other. 

The idea for KAZMOK was born at the kitchen table of Industrial Designer Dinand Stufkens.The increasing pressure on our ecosystem has inspired him to look differently at materials with their functions.Reusing materials is for him an important key for a more sustainable future.

Dinand Stufkens: “It is our ambition to push boundaries in regenerating value to an industrial waste product.=We want to discover our limits but up till now we are also surprised by the results of our journey and do not see it ending.”

To be successful Dinand Stufkens continues to innovate with advances in design, production, materials and finishes, creating a collection that is at once energetic and refined, deeply rooted in classic business style and values, and yet perfectly suited for todays modern lifestyle.If you wanna look fresh, smart and clean and do good to our environment be sure to check out this great looking products from KAZMOK.

KAZMOK successfully shows with its collection the potential of developing products made from used conveyor belts.Established in 2009 (Amsterdam based) KAZMOK is a great example of design, made and crafted on Dutch soil.Working with this ‘new leather’ already evolved in a range of unique, authentically handcrafted briefcases, trolleys, shopping and laptop bags, and accessories like iPad sleeves and belts.The material is strong, very durable, and unique in terms of color and pattern.The used conveyor belt had a previous life in the flower industry, airports, postal services, in distribution centers, and in the recycling industry.

For more information check www.kazmok.com and soon on www.localsunited.nl

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Dutch bicycle brand Batavus partners with Storm&Marie for this cool citybikes

Just before the spring and summer season is starting, a great new bike by Dutch bicycle brand Batavus in collaboration with Danish fashion brand Storm&Marie is entering the market.Wanna look cool and fashionable on your way to the city or the beach?

Batavus has partnered with the Danish fashion brand Storm&Marie and designed two unique bikes.The two lightweight city bikes have a minimalistic Nordic appearance, with a nod to the racing bikes of the past.The design is also very practical and are therefore perfect for cycling in the city and for daily living and work.A timeless design that translated the classic simplicity of the bicycle into modern Scandinavian design.

The bikes are for sale online at www.batavus.com at the beginning of May.

Storm & Marie is a young clothing brand for women founded in 2010 in Copenhagen by business and life partners Kim Vedel Hansen and Signe Elisabeth Vedel.Storm & Marie combines minimalistic Scandinavian design with varied prints.Within the collection straight lines alternate with female and challenging shapes and edgy details.The brand characteristics are a clash between masculinity and femininity which is reflected in the name of the mark; Marie stands for delicate, chic and elegant,Storm represents the wild and energetic.

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We like to support local brands, products, people and entrepreneurs, sharing their stories with you - today a mens fashion brand called Dstrezzed

This time we would like to introduce to you amens fashion brand called Dstrezzed, the idea arose from the mind of AleksanderR. Dentski, one day he came up with the idea of improving the workers lives.His plan was to establish a company that would produce comfortable garmentsthat men could wear after their work, after all a vital part of their lives.The fabrics had to be unique in appearance as well as superior in comfort and functionality, underpinned by the highest level of quality.Doing so the workers could DSTREZZ and still look fresh.Aleksander R. Dentski had a vision that workers could DSTREZZ and still look fresh. Following this story, “The luxury vintage company” was established by Dentski and now still runs through the DNA of our brand.It is by respecting our history that we have become naturally aware of beauty and functionality.Which results in iconic and everlasting clothes with a vintage feel, made from the highest quality fabrics.As Dstrezzed likes to conclude with a promise: WE MAKE THESE CLOTHES AND JUST KNOW YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE THEM.

Nowadays the products are being sold in cool local fashion stores in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, UK, USA and Sweden. In the Netherlands you can find these products by looking at Locals United and through stores Cledingraad-Groningen, Fifty Six-more stores in the North of Holland, Mix-Noordwijkerhout, Deep-Soest, Brothers-Dronten, Samplestore-Leiderdorp, Blauwe Shop-Hardenberg, Mac Young-Zutphen, Sack Time-Zandvoort, Paul Jacobs-Weert and of course at the Magasin Dstrezzed store in Antwerp.

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Technology changes the look of this amazing Volvorii Timeless fashion high heels

Nowadays technology plays an important role in our lives, smartphones, laptops and tablets are being used for work, pleasure, shopping and more.Can you imagine investing once in high fashion heels that can be changed by the way they look using Bluetooth technology combined with an app? 

Lithuania based Ishuu Tech announce Indiego campaign for world’s first interactive i-shoe, the Volvorii Timeless smart shoe offers chameleon style shoes with embedded e-ink side panels which can be changed to suit your mood and outfit via Bluetooth.Mr Johnson Lee, president of e-ink, world leader in electrophoretic ink technology widely used in products such as kindle style e-books, smart watches and cell phones, has pre-ordered the Volvorii Timeless Smart shoe and opened the door to endless opportunities for collaborations in i-clothing projects with Ishuu Tech in the future.“We would love to collaborate with e-Ink on a range of products and technologies that will make vivid full color e-paper displays play a significant role in wearables beyond smart watches.”Wallen Mphepo, Co-founder and CEO, Ishuu Tech.

The shoes are available in black and white and boast electrophoretic ink panels which offer user the ability to change the color and pattern of the shoe´s side panels at the click of a button.The shoe also has fasteners on the front and back that allow the user to attach accessories, such as bows and flowers and further personalize their shoes to match their mood and character.Gone are the days of spending hundreds of dollars on shoes for each new outfit, or pulling your hair out trying to decide which pair of shoes go best with your new dress.The Volvorii was created with high fashion in mind, as part of the prestigious Louis Vuitton prize concept competition.Users can choose between a range of patterns and color options, and the e-ink technology allows for endless updates and additional patterns to be added in the future.

Check the Indie Gogo campaign from Volvorii to check the Youtube movie and see how the technology works.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/volvorii-timeless

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G-Star Raw - Raw for the Oceans - denim from recycled ocean plastic #rawfortheoceans #fortheoceans

“I have a connection with the ocean. It yields so much lifeincluding our own.So we owe it” - Pharrell Williams

@G-StarRAW joined the @Parley for the Oceans movement and collaborates with bionicyarn and its creative director Pharrell Williams to transform Ocean Plastic in the denim collection ‘RAW for the Oceans’. #rawfortheoceans

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Roetz bikes,re-used,redesigned and rebuild bikes from the Netherlands

Last week I met with the guys of Roetz bikes which is a young bicycle brand with a mission.Based in Amsterdam West.At Roetz bikes they believe that it is possible to make beautiful, robust bikes in an environmental friendly way.A Roetz-Bike is a sustainable bike for several reasons.

Each year in the Netherlands more than one million bikes are sold.However, the side-effect is that just as many bikes are thrown away.Did you know that only in Amsterdam there are more than 881.000 bikes and less inhabitants in the city of Amsterdam?By recycling as many components as possible,Roetz bikes are reducing the mountain of waste.Nevertheless some components cannot be recycled for a Roetz-Bike.As replacements, they use as many natural materials as possible, like their wooden mudguards (FSC).They always are aware of the origin of the materials,so they can limit the damage for mankind and the environment.

The collaboration with sheltered workshops forms an important part of the making of a Roetz-Bike.By doing so they help people to have a useful daytime activity and make bikes to be proud of.So the Roetz bikes are designed and made in the Netherlands.In the opinion of Roetz bikes a bike is only sustainable when it has a long life.Therefore they make a robust bike.This means that for all components they choose for high quality and A-brands.Roetz bikes are made in the Netherlands, giving Dutch bicycles a ‘recycling life’.

Check www.facebook.com/roetzbikes and www.roetz-bikes.com

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How I met Nicolas Kjaer, the founder and owner of Royal Republiq

It must have been somewhere in the spring of 2010 when I met Nicolas Kjaer, the founder and designer of Royal Republiq, at that time he only had a few items and a leather business card. It has gone from 2 items and a business card into a serious collection of footwear, bags, belts, covers, accessoires, black vintage and gloves. Royal Republiq nowadays is available in more than 35 countries worldwide.

His brand represents his style and vision as a person, which resulted in the ‘guidelines for life’ by Royal Republiq.The aim for Royal Republiq is to encourage each person to seek and unfold their full potential.Aims for Life, this is how Royal Republiq navigates through an everchanging world;Dare to Risk, Passion, be proud, take action, have strength, trust, faith, be open and have fun.

We’re on a continuous quest in the creation of long lasting products, with the potential to become “new classics”.Our main material is leather, and we strive to create with respect of the past, and innovation of the present.Our creations takes off in a profound passion for natural and long-lasting materials combined with a deep respect for good craftsmanship.You see clear elements from their Scandinavian roots; silent designs and simplicity. They closely work together with skilled craftsman, who have a sharp eye for detail, and have a shared passion for material, shape, form and function.Their main production sites and tanneries are based in Europe, Portugal.

Rooted in Copenhagen but based in Amsterdam, Royal Republiq is on a continuous quest to create ‘new classic’ pieces with a quality and design that will last for many years.Royal Republiq creates functional and trustworthy products with high-use value products which age with grace, grow character over time, and become an integrated part of the users’ everyday lives.How being passionate, being persistent and believing in his own story have led into a global brand in the men and womenswear business.Keep an eye on Royal Republiq.

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Welcome to Balifornia - Indosole

I got in touch with Kyle Parsons, the President of Indosole, one and a half years ago.He came up with the idea for thecompany Indosole during a surf trip to Indonesia in 2004.During his search for a unique souvenir he came across a pair of sandals made from discarded motorcycle tires that eventually inspired him to create the footwear brand.He launched Indosole in 2010.He now manages the U.S. and Bali Indosole offices and is dedicated to ensuring continued growth as well as environmental accountability and social responsibility.Indosole became a certified B Corporation in 2014 – a natural fit for the brand.Parsons hopes his “soles with soul” will one day save 1 million tires from the rivers and landfills of Indonesia.

Indosole is a brand on a mission to provide its customers with fashionable and functional footwear by making use of tires and other waste materials that would otherwise end up polluting the land or the sea.Every piece of footwear is responsibly made and designed to be comfortable and versatile, marrying the laid-back attitude of California with the bold colors of Bali.Which resulted in combining both names into Balifornia.

“Sandals and shoes have been made from tires for a long time,” says Parsons. “We didn’t invent the concept of using tires for shoe soles, but we have made it a lot better.”

PATHWAYS

CHOOSE THE PATH THAT CALLS TO YOU

Indosole’s Spring 2015 collection “Pathways” is inspired by the patterns found on the handmade ceramics of Native American tribes such as the Navajo. These pieces of beautiful art have withstood generations, and the Pathways collection hopes to embody that spirit of self-expression and creation, encouraging people to distinguish themselves and forge the path necessary to realize their dreams.

Says the designer of Pathways, Alan Gonzalez, “I am inspired by those who are passionate enough to create and strong enough to make their own mark for the world to see.” The Pathways collection is well suited for those with vibrant and active lifestyles.Whether you are in need of something comfortable to wear while running from meeting to meeting, something eye-catching for weekend hang outs, or something versatile to bring when luggage space is limited, Pathways has something for everyone.