Outfit | GANT Opens at Victoria Gate, Leeds

Black Field Jacket by GANT | Black Gilet by GANT |  White Oxford Shirt by GANT

I have always called the North of England my home. People love to say "it's grim up north", but, if I'm honest, that has to be one of the daftest sayings going – it's anything but. For me, the brand new Victoria Gate building in Leeds sums my feelings up perfectly: out of the dark comes the light.

The imposing, angular and slightly eerie facade of this modern shopping arcade plays on the perpetually changing climes of Leeds city centre. With each bolt of light effecting your viewing pleasure, Victoria Gate's modern design proves there's more to the north that has-been cliches.

It's a funny looking place for sure; a little space-age, a tad modernist and slightly surreal, but the Eastgate Quarters isn't all front. Designed by architect Friedrich Ludewig, the space is home to some fantastic new retailers, including one of America's most loved sports-casual brands, GANT.

Lambswool-Cashmere Jumper by GANT | White T-Shirt by GANT

For the opening the new store we've teamed up with GANT to share two looks from their Fall '16 collection. I mean, damn, this just falls right into my wheelhouse, don't you reckon?! American prep, classic sportwear, timeless smart-casual tailoring – the majority of the collection would fit seamlessly into my wardrobe.

For the first outfit I choose a monochrome look, which was a little out on my comfort zone, but I think the overall feel works well. I'm wearing the black Down Collarless Gillet over a classic white Oxford Shirt, with their (very appropriate) black waterproof Field Jacket.

The second look brings in my love of colour and classic Americana together, with the bright blue chunky lambswool-cashmere jumper, plain white t-shirt, classic fit navy chinos and off-white Converse 70s. It may be getting colder, but I haven't seen the last of my sneakers just yet.

Leeds is a city packed with interesting places and creative people. If you have a day to explore make sure you also stop by Northern Monk Brewery for their delicious Mocha Porter, Bellgrave Music Hall for £1 pizza slices and La Bottega Milanese for your coffee hit.

The new GANT store opens 20th October, at Victoria Gate shopping centre, Leeds, LS2 7JL.

Photography by Jake Millers.

This post is in partnership with GANT. Thank you for taking the time to support the brands + businesses that make this blog happen.

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Buckets & Spades x ohw? Collaboration

I'm really excited to share something that I've been working on for a while now. Myself and the design team at British footwear brand ohw? first got together in early 2014, and set about putting the wheels in motion to create our very own collaboration release together. Months of ongoing ideas, design meetings and sample orders led us to this - the ohw? x Buckets & Spades three-eyelet Moccasin in Sea Blue, Aquamarine + Orange!

I chose these colours because I feel they represent myself as an individual and the blog really well. We decided to go with a fully suede upper, with the added addition of the heal tab, complete with the Buckets & Spades logo. That's the bit I'm most proud of! The moccasin is finished off with contrasting reflective orange hiking laces and pyramid sole.

Wearing - Buckets & Spades x OHW? Louis Boot | ASOS Flannel Shirt | Harry Stedman Tee | Universal Works Trousers + Socks | Filson Cap | Shore Projects Watch

The boots themselves are full of cool details, which is something that initially drew me towards ohw? back in 2013, at menswear trade show Jacket Required. Colour plays a big role in my life, and with ohw? being keen to try out interesting colour combinations in their existing collection - while also giving me control over our design – made it an easy decision to want to work with them. 

The notches on at the top are known as "size markers", the original way shoemakers signified what size shoe it was  – the big notch represents five, and the small each mean one. Neat touch!

It's been very rewarding seeing my design come together over these past few months, and hopefully this is a sign of things to come, or maybe even a new direction? I've been toying with product ideas for a couple of years now, so maybe 2015 is the year I finally seize that opportunity. 

The ohw? x Buckets & Spades SS15 collaboration goes on sale 1st April exclusively online at ohw?'s store and in-store and at men's lifestyle retailer Yeuk. What do you think folks, did I go over the top with the colour or does it represent us well? Would love your feedback!

Thanks for visiting,
Mat

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Palladium x Oi Polloi | Boot Explorer Series in Manchester

Boot Explorers is an on-going campaign by footwear brand Palladium; which sees them travel to 10 international locations, each with different cultural stories to tell. For the next part in the series Palladium visited Manchester, England to collaborate with iconic menswear store Oi Polloi. Filmed in the heart of the Northern Quarter, store owner Steve Sanderson discusses music, football, Manchester's textile history and why each played such a huge role in what finally became Oi Polloi.

Worn throughout this part of the Explorers campaign is the Pampa Hi in Indigo\Black. For more details click here.

  
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6th Birthday GIVEAWAY - Clarks £80 Vouchers!

It's Buckets & Spades's 6th Anniversary, I can hardly believe it! The blog has grown into something I'm extremely proud of, but the concept of sharing I'm passionate about has never changed. Never in a million years would I have thought I could actually have a go at doing this full time! To celebrate our 6th Anniversary we've partnered up with some great brands to bring you some cracking giveaways. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for reading, commenting, emailing and sharing, I'm met some amazing people along the way and I don't think that would have been possible without this space on the internet.

This week's giveaway - You could win £80 Clarks Vouchers to spend in-store!

Clarks is known for their timeless styles but also the ease in which they re-invent their classic shapes. The Desert Boot, notable for being one of their most iconic models, has featured in most men's wardrobe at some point in their lives, but their popularity over the last 10 years has seen their Originals range flourish. The Women's Originals range is also really strong this season. The Desert Trek have been a firm favourite of mine (See here, here, here) since my late teens, but over the past couple of seasons Clarks have been delving further into their archive and bringing back some cult classics. Playing around with new shapes and collaborating with a bunch of established companies is something else they love to do. My current favourites are the Seam Trek.

How to Enter

To be in with a chance of winning £80 Clarks Vouchers (can be used on any product in-store) you must be a subscriber of Buckets & Spades Blog. Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter. The more ways you follow, the more chances of winning you have. You can come back and enter this giveaway daily! This giveaway is open to UK only, winning vouchers can only be spent in-store.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Image source - Stuarts London

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GIVEAWAY REMINDER - Win A Pair of Trainers From size?

Just a quick reminder about the size? Giveaway, to win a pair of trainers of your choice up to the value of £100! We're always through so you've all got plenty of time to get your entries in. Remember, you can enter the giveaway daily, have a gander at the rules below.

How to Enter

To win a pair of trainers or shoes of your choice from size? you must be a subscriber of Buckets & Spades Blog. There are several ways you can do this, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter. The more ways you follow, the more chances of winning. Remember, if you follow, you can come back and enter this giveaway daily! This giveaway is open worldwide, back of the net. If you have any questions or would like to know further rules of the contest please email/tweet me.

Good luck once again.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Stumptown by Danner

   

This is the coolest thing I've heard in ages. In 2013 best buds, James and Jordan embarked on one heck of a journey from British Columbia all the way down to Patagonia, on their custom-built bikes. Both fellas featured in Danner's new video, Stumptown which was created to promote their new range of boots for AW13. Watching this video just makes me what to move to American just that little bit more, I just need to find a way. Amongst other projects the guys have been documenting their travels on West America. Enjoy.

You can follow their epic journey on Instagram and read more about the project here.

Blog sponsors Stuarts London have had a complete redesign on their website, and are now getting new deliveries each day. For 10% off use code "BUCKETS10".

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Reef Footwear - Surf + Turf

Another post on the trainer front today, this time coming from the Surfwear aficionados and all round easy-living folk at Reef* clothing. Reef is a proper blast from the past for me, they're a brand that I was always aware of when I was growing up and even something I wore without realising.

My mum would buy me big baggy t-shirts and patterned shorts from Reef and other skate/surf brands, to make sure I looked the part when I was pretending to be a skater. Ok technically she chose the wrong sport in surfwear but the thought was sweet. It worked too, I felt like the coolest 11 year old on the block, off I went with my surf's-up-dude clothing, rollerblades and my 5-strong crew of pals, ready to conquer the local skatepark. It was meant to be all about the skating but I was never that good at it. I did a lot of standing around, trying to look aloof in the hope that someone would think, "hey he's pretty cool." That's all I wanted but in reality it didn't work, an 11 year old Northern kid can try and look like Weezer till the cows come home, but never going to happen.

Fast forward a few years and it turns out Reef are still producing really wearable casual surf clothing. As well as both men's and women's apparel the brand have shifted focus onto their footwear. With styles ranging from simple canvas lace-ups and slip-on deck shoes to the Hawaiian print Cruisers, the more refined full grain leather Reef Cloudbreak and even trying their hand at a smarter alternative with the Reef Kudu desert boot. Above are a few of my favourite styles from their current AW range, you can just tell their insoles would be a dream to walk on.

For more information visit Reef.com

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Nike Free Woven 4.0

I'm pretty sure I like these/I totally hate them. Ok they flipping rock, well actually I can't make up my mind. By the time I've finished writing this I will have decided which side of the fence I fall on. All I know for sure is that they're a really interestingly designed piece of footwear, something which usually has its own glass cabinet The Nike Free Woven 4.0's upper is woven with thread in several tonal shades, which ends up creating a close fitting supportive sock. Perfect for running as much as they are for down the pub.

One part retirement slipper to two parts madman, they're definitely a marmite trainer. Well I've convinced myself, I bloody love them.

Nike Free Woven 4.0 available at oki-ni.

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A Visit To...Grenson Shoe Factory

Back in May I had the opportunity to visit the Grenson Shoe Factory along with  Togs + Clogs and Hypebeast videographer Santiago Arbelaez. Filming was taking place for a collaboration coming this AW. My iPhone alarm was set for 4 am the night before, I anticipated it was going to be a long old trek down the Rushden, Northamptonshire but I also knew that this was not an opportunity to be missed.

We arrived in Rushden at around 10:30 am in what seemed like a regular English town, with no obvious factories to be seen. A few whacks of the sat-nav later we stumbled right into shoemaker's-central. Nestled between rows of residential housing and several other prestigious footwear factories up pops the humble, red bricked building that is the Grenson Shoe Factory.

Grenson Shoe Factory, Rushden, Northamptonshire. The "Good Shoe" Since 1866.

We spend hours in awe around the factory, being shown the whole shoe-making process from start to finish. Designer's sketches to the finished product and everything in between. It really was a wonderful process to witness, with such a high level of craftsmanship and love for the company. I have a memory card chock-a-block full of photos but hopefully the few that I chosen to share explain the process of a Great British Shoemarker.

 A big thank you to Grenson for inviting me to have a look around. I hope you enjoyed this post as much I as did putting it together. 

Have a great weekend folk, any exciting plans?

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