Hoover

Colloquial synonyms. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the act of intertwining a brand name with an entire industry is a very close second. And when that brand name transcends into a verb, it truly reaches an unprecedented echelon. Digest this and let the dust settle where it may, but that dust won’t settle for too long; After-all, the world has been Hoovering their carpets for over a century.

It seems illogical, possessing showroom quality floors and carpets in homes and buildings that have proudly stood tall for generations, in some cases longer than our great nation has existed. Oddly enough, we owe it all to one man’s asthma. In 1907, Canton, Ohio, department store janitor James Murray Spangler had had enough of his ailment and the culprit, as he saw it, was the primitive carpet sweeper upon which he plied his trade. With a soap box, electric motor, pillow case and broom handle (and American ingenuity), the “Electric Suction Sweeper” began its ascent into perhaps the most integral tool ever known to achieving an immaculate, healthy home.

Spangler’s revolutionary patent, combined with the innovative entrepreneurial acumen of his cousin’s husband, W.H. “Boss” Hoover, led to a reimagining of the then greatly suffering Home Care products industry, a vision that has ceased to blur in modern times. A simultaneous juggernaut in R&D and Branding, Hoover has not merely cleaned the collective American fabric; it has become a part of it. Whether implementing the groundwork for an oft mimicked national dealer network, offering a free trial period for customers in the early days via nostalgia darling/national gem the Saturday Evening Post, or ceasing factory operations to aid the WWII effort, Hoover’s growth as a company has mirrored our evolution as a nation.

Hoovers Billboard Circa 1925

Like a thoroughbred that charges out of the gates and never relinquishes his lead in a derby, Hoover continues to set and exceed the highest standards of Home Care Products. Parented by Techtronic Industries Co. LTD (TTI), the Hoover brand remains, thankfully, as somewhat of an enigma to common sense: though the vacuum cleaner is industrial and utilitarian by definition, the art of vacuuming is often a cathartic experience. No better savant exists than Marie Barone, Raymond’s doting mother and overall sage from Everybody Loves Raymond, who expounded this point in a most poetic way:

“Vacuums don’t clean houses. People clean houses.”

Who could argue with Mrs.B?

Hoover has turned into a colloquial synonym. Hoover has turned into a verb. And only a Hoover can turn what should be a mundane task into an experience.

Story, JMA

Fine Paints of Europe

Don’t be fooled by the name. Fine Paints Of Europe is an American company that parralels many of us; nephews of Uncle Sam, with European roots.

It began with founder John Lahey’s frustration. Seeking high quality paint to use on his family’s eighteenth-century home, he was reminded of the depth of the colors and the gorgeous finishes he witnessed overseas. In search of European quality, he found no answers in stateside products. He discovered a culture within the industry that promoted price over quality-and he would have none of it. His quest took him to the mecca of paint, Holland, and their 300 years of mastery in the genre inspired him to start a company that catered to discerning American homeowners like him.

That vision has served Fine Paints Of Europe well. Since 1987 the company has forged an indellible bond with the American public that is both in our faces and unheralded. We’ll brag for them. The elite paints of Fine Paints Of Europe are a humongous source of pride, covering such important landmarks as the Mount Vernon Estate, the President Lincoln and Soldier’s Home Monument, and Dodona Manor. And while the Vermont based company initially serviced historical restorations, as witnessed above, the privately held brand has branched out into commercial and residential applications. Which means that now, even our three bedroom cottages and fixer-uppers can be treated to the same fanfare of a national treasure. And the aesthetic brilliance is worth every penny.

As they like to say, “There is nothing more expensive than cheap paint.”

Nythan James Bespoke Trunk Series

Designer Nythan James & Michael Allen at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, NYC

Stereotypes are quite the affliction to one’s identity, and prove to be an exacting stain to remove. In recent years, courtesy of the unreal reality fed to us all by networks that formerly showcased music, anyone west of the Hudson River might be inclined to believe that New Jersey is little more than a haven of intricately gelled coifs and overly tanned beefcake physiques. No cameras or editing were needed to blow this unmerited generality out of the water. All we had to do was look in house at our talented roster to prove what we knew all along-inspired design is unbound of imaginary lines or zip codes. The Garden State produced the man who has recreated the classic art of American craftsmanship with a worldly vision. The aforementioned stereotype can hit the bricks.

When we first introduced you to our collaborator and friend NyThan James, we summarized his talents with a simple phrase; NyThan James is a creative-period. Our favorite Jersey boy once again is backing up our boastful proclamation with the unleashing of his Trunk Series. How he takes something that was once fiercely utilitarian and turns it into something that is downright pretty is beyond our comprehension, but he pulls off this feat and we ask no questions. Much like Houdini levitating through the atmosphere, we simply gaze in awe. And smile.

NyThan designs the rugged, street ready Trunks one piece at a time, sourcing all leathers, fabrics and hardware personally. Brass, chrome, choice of seven color hides, James approaches each work with an unrivaled flair of individuality, an alliance between the inspired purveyor and his client. The Trunks, available in the 24 or 72 hour variety, are proudly American made, hand crafted by artisans in NYC.

Bespoke only. Timeless always.

Brooklyn Brine Company

This is not your Grandmother’s pickling.

That is said that necessity is the mother of invention, and although in our most minimal state it can be argued that we don’t need Fennel Beets, Chipotle Carrots, Garlic Scapes or Minted Eggplant, to name a few, after a taste or two of these…well, much like beauty, necessity is in the eyes of the beholder. At Brooklyn Brine Company, where tattoos and preserving run concurrent with one another, a twist on the art of pickling, one that is as fresh as their product, has turned an ambitious startup into a growing enterprise. Featured wherever seasoned palates might feast throughout the crowded city of Gotham, and now nationwide through Williams-Sonoma and numerous other food commerce chains, Brooklyn Brine Co. and their upgrade to an age old American undertaking are slowly rebooting what was once banal and mundane and rebranding it with a hipster edge. Imaging aside, their next generation vegetarian delicacies simply taste phenomenal.

Brooklyn Brine Company lives with a bold mission statement: We make “Damn Fine Pickles”. A declaration, sans colorful hype and circus style marketing. A simple statement, about a product crafted of simple ingredients, yet a potent punch to what indie cuisine and small business can be.

If ever caught in a pickle, cross your fingers it’s from Brooklyn Brine Co.

Brooklyn Brine http://www.brooklynbrine.com/

Optimo Fine Hats

Image, Tadd Myers

Blame it on the 70’s.

From the early 1900’s until the 1960’s, a gentleman’s hat was as important to his dynamic as a firm handshake and a proper necktie. Then the various revolutions took root, and floppy unkempt hair began to replace the timeless styles of the homburg and the fedora.

In Chicago, arguably the genesis of polished head wear, a rebirth has thankfully taken place. Optimo Fine Hats, anchored on the South Side, has spurred a Phoenix-esque rising of the vital menswear centerpiece, one that should have never vanished in the first place. Graham Thompson and the gang, with their felt or straw materials, have revisited the art of hand crafted hat making with a fervor that would make Sinatra smile. In fact, it’s safe to assume that Ol’ Blue Eyes himself might have been a regular at Optimo.

Discriminating, indulgent, and absolutely necessary, whether fabricating The Trilby, The Manhattan, or The Chicago, Thompson and co. are not only recreating pride in a man’s presentation to the world, they are serving notice to the old notion that fashion runs in sprints. With their timeless hats, they are proving that some old relics are better suited for a marathon. Sentiments aside, Optimo Fine Hats are simply suave, which is reason enough for the seasoned and the young alike to embrace this shared heritage.

As Optimo says themselves, Life’s better in a great hat.

Optimo Hats http://www.optimohats.com/

Story, JMA