Begg x Co Knitwear | Made in Scotland

 

Bi Coloured Beanie in Yellow + Natural | Shadow Rib Beanie Navy Asphalt | Slub Crew Sweater

I'm not a love story kind of guy. Generally if I've loved visiting a place I don't tend to feel the urge to return unless I missed something that I really wanted to see. Not in a "been-there-done-that" kind of way, it's more from a curiosity of experiencing things I haven't experienced before. 

But Scotland is an exception to this rule; pass this guy a stamp and envelope, because I'm about to mail my first love letter.

The air, the open roads, the sweet smell of distilling, the fly fishing, the friendly faces, the commitment to tradition, the silence in the hills, the feeling of belonging even as a visitor: that's my Scotland. Manufacturing is another I'd add to that list, as the majority of people I know from up North work in design and craft, in some way or form.

Orwell Ordon Scarf | Arran Vicuna Scarf 

Begg x Co is a small knitwear label based on the southwest coast of Scotland, in the town of Ayr. Lamsbwool and cashmere are used in such a way that feels familiar, yet special in every sense; with jumpers, scarfs and accessories all seen in colours inspired by and taken from the Scottish landscape. Begg x Co have fun with it - with vibrant cashmere hats sitting along side more traditional patterned cashmere scarfs and men's crew neck sweaters, and even the odd splash of added camouflage, catching eyes from every-which-way.

Let's book that train ticket shall we.

Photography by Jordan Bunker.

Copenhagen: A Few Days In The City

It’s been a little while since we spent a few days over in Copenhagen, but I’m still thinking back to it two months later, which is a strong sign.

In fact, there was plenty of positive points about our visit; the inspiring interiors, outfit inspiration on every street corner, good food and drink combos, and the great company for sure. Me and Jord had both made a few connections in the city via social media over the past few years, and it was nice to finally turn those into real life buddies. One of the most rewarding things to come from “being online” is the real life relationships that come from it - and may I hope that continues.

An extended chinwag to the staff down at Mikkeller, a shared tasting menu of new receipes at Sidecar with local designers Monica and Alona of Mero Studio, a shared appreciation for considered menswear at Goods co, or even the late night jocularity with Jord back at the hotel. Honesty, it’s all excellent stuff.

But enough chatting now, here's some things that caught my eye:

ARKET Puffer Jacket | Oliver Spencer Jumper (gift) | Universal Works Trousers | Converse 70s Renew (gift)

Places we visited:

Coffee

Prolog Coffee

Coffee Collective 

CUB Coffee

Food + Drink

Grod Breakfast

Mikkeller + Friends 

Apollo Bar

Ski Peders Bageri 

Gasoline Grill

Sidecar   

Shop

Goods Menswear

Yonobi Studio 

Frama

Han Kjobenhavn

Samsoe and Samsoe Outlet

Culture

SMK

Where We Stayed

SP34

I've got one last blog post from Copenhagen planned...then maybe I go back for more?

Copenhagen: Han Kjobenhavn Store

When visiting a new place or old I'll always reach out to the people with their fingers on the pulse for suggestions for new cafe openings, freshly drawn up menus, visiting exhibitions and other general cool stuff. I truly believe great things stuff can be found anywhere, and that's probably due to my definition of coooool being pretty broad. I get excited about loads of stuff - and that general steams from other people's passion for what they do (for example; a vintage wrestling figure collector, a dude that does ace things with ceramics or a bakery playing around with unusual combinations). These quirks are there to be found and to be enjoyed.

I had high hopes for our recent 4-day trip to Copenhagen, because on my first visit to the city I was left wondering, "I'm not sure what all the fuss is about". Circumstance hey, turns out I now know what I was missing the first time around. 

One trustworthy looking chap on Instagram mentioned that Danish menswear brand Han Kjobenhavn had recently renovated their stand-alone store, right in the centre of town. Without even looking it up I added in to our Google Map and pencilled in a visit for when we were close. As soon as we caught a glimpse through the traditional mahogany wood doors we knew we were in for a treat.

The punchy hi-shine powder blue floor, perfectly panelled oak wood walls and the swooshing white ceiling was equally matched with mid-century furniture, signature Scandinavian globe-like light fixtures and custom-build clothing rails which mirrored the pleasing shape of the store's layout. Phwoah! Mirrored panels both made you notice details that may have been missed at first glace, and the green tiles seen on the central display evoked a sense of the brand's identity.

For me what makes the Han Kjobenhavn shop so special is the jux between the store design and the clothes themselves; they have an edge, a self-awareness and youth about them, and sat within the mature and meticulous feel of the store-fit is what makes this gaff so memorable.

Han Kjobenhavn: Vognmagergade 7, 1120 København, Denmark

Teamwork

In Edinburgh | Outfit all by Oliver Spencer (gifted for a paid project)

Well this was unplanned...I've just realised that it's been waaaaay over a month since my last blog post. Honestly, I hadn't even thought too much about blogging for a while. It's not that I've fallen out of love with it as such, it's more, other things have taken priority and the projects that I have been working on have either not required any blog action, or the fact they've not left much time for me to put energy towards these pages.

My reasons for blogging have always been the same; to share things I think are cool - be that parts of my creative process, travel diaries and other bits I've found from around the internet. That will never change. Through blogging I've met many inspiring people, and some which have become best buddies. Work buddies, travel buddies, life buddies I reckon. The people who will offer constructive feedback, help out very last minute with no questions asked, chat for an hour on the phone about everything and nothing...even better when you get to work together and it just doesn't feel like work at all.

If there's a positive takeaway from my absence from blogging, it will be because I've been busy building meaningful friendships. And thank you to Jordan for being that guy.

24 Hours in Barcelona | City Guide

In partnership with Joseph

Blocking three days out of our week to visit Barcelona for the first time sounded pretty ace. With my case packed with a selection of my favourite pieces from the SS19 collection by Joseph, and some cheap fights booked, we were all set to see the city with fresh eyes.

Sometimes those cheap flights have you arriving into a city quite late and force you to leave wayyyyy too early - but hey, that's what we signed up for. Our "three days" ended up really just being one, but you can really shift pavement when you're under a tight time restriction.

Armed with a handy list of recommendations from folks on Instagram + Twitter, we launched into our 24 hours exploring a new city with an early rise and a solid planned mapped out. The early bird catches the siesta, or something like that...

On our agenda; architecture, coffee, food and craft beer:

 

 Breton Top by Joseph | Perfect T Shirt by Joseph | Trousers by Arket | Sneakers by Converse | Sunglasses by Moscot

 Maxime Twill Bicoloured Jacket by Joseph | Socks by Margaret Howell

Walden7

Ctra. Reial, 106, 08960 Sant Just Desvern, Barcelona

What a way to start the day! This mind-bender of a building was suggested by our mate Jordan Bunker. Created from the genius mind of Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill, Walden 7 is a super surreal looking housing development on the west side of the city, which has become a much-loved icon of the city. The otherworldly labyrinth-like passageways, stairwells and jutting balconies of this place made for a slightly off-balancing yet unforgettable experience

It's the kind of place you see on the internet but never have a clue as to where it actually is. Being a private housing development means access isn't easy to come by - I'm told that there are regular tours, but we made our way inside behind some happy looking locals who had no qualms with us being there when we showed them our cameras. Worth the risk!

Syra Coffee

Carrer de la Mare de Déu dels Desemparats, 8, 08012 Barcelona

Ain't it amazing what you can do when you're under restriction. I'm constantly impressed with the design solutions people come up with when coming up against issues such as space, money and time. Syra Coffee is a perfectly example of this how to create a inviting and wholesome place inside a tiny unit, located in the middle of the city's vibrant Vila de Gracia district.

I didn't realise how affordable good coffee and very good cakes can be in Barcelona - 4 Euros for a tasty flat white + a locally made ginger and white chocolate cookie is a 10/10 every day of the week. Syra was definitely a highlight from my day. I just loved how this place looked, the geezer making the brews was really friendly and there was even room for a small Japanese photography exhibition at the back.

Parking Pizza - Parking Pita

Passeig de Sant Joan, 56, 08009 Barcelona

Food - the heart and soul of every city visit. Torn between a list of 10 cafes and restaurants to decide from, we ended up choosing a place that served more than one speciality. Mega looking pizzas and absolutely packed pitas. Communal benches promote sharing and unexpected conversation, and the open-plan setting allowed the midday sun light to flood in via well placed skylights. As for the food, the falafel pita takes the winnings // Parking Pizza - Pita

 Mer Parachute Shirt by Joseph | Breton Top by Joseph | Plage Linen Shorts by Joseph | Vans OG Slip

Skye Coffee at Espacio88

Carrer de Pamplona, 88, 08018 Barcelona

Just look at this place! I don't associate converted industrial warehouse spaces with Barcelona at all, in fact, Jake commented that the whole El Poblenou district of the city felt similar to San Francisco. Agreed. Along with Cloudstreet Bakery, Skye Coffee's resident coffee truck can be found inside Espacio88; a multi-faceted architectural space used for experiential events, workshops, creative talks and home to one of the city's most striking coffee outposts. Serving speciality coffee from a restored 1972 Citoën HY to locals and visitors looking for a truly unique experience. For more about Barcelona's coffee culture see Kaffeine Kick.

Mikkeller Bar 

Carrer de València, 202, 08011 Barcelona

It's become a tradition of ours to end a city break with a beer at a local Mikkeller bar. With 40+ locations now, these guys are becoming easier to find as the years go by, and while they're not Barcelona-local they have found their place within the city's booming craft beer scene. Natty doodles anywhere you put your eyes are wrestling against vertical wood panelling (a theme through their bars), marmalade orange pendant lights, a sea blue hi-shine floor which could throw up some issues after a few IPAs, and tap list covering all bases from 2.5% easy goers to face-melting 12% imperial stouts. Sounds over the top, but it works so well.

My favourite piece from the Joseph collection, the Plage Linen Shorts. Photography by Jake Millers

Thanks for reading,

Mat.

This post is a paid partnership with Joseph, but all travel + activities above was paid for by me. Your support of the brands + businesses we work with helps make this blog happen.

Ace Hotel, Shoreditch, London

January was a weird month. Chugging along at a snail's pace, paid opportunities were few and far between, and it felt like every day was an admin day. But saying that, I did manage to travel around to the usually cities a few times (London, Manchester and Liverpool) - seeing friends, meetings with potential clients and generally trying to make things happen for myself.

You know I'm not a negative person, far from it, I don't tend to dwell on the slower times. If anything I make good use of them. Two weeks in to 2019 and I managed to tick off one of the goals I set myself this year; to run 10k without stopping. Nailed it!

On a round trip to London last week I booked myself in for an overnight at Ace Hotel in Shoreditch, as I was visiting for an event just up the road. It was a decent experience, with everything I need from a couple of hours of laptop club, a short but solid kip and comfortable surroundings. Tbh a highlight for me was the patchwork denim APC blanket, which can be seen adorned across each low-set king size bed in the hotel. True, a blanket doesn't make the hotel, but it did stick in my mind as being one of the more memorable features (along with the army green storage cabinet at the side of the bed, I dig).

Maybe I've been spoilt by the quality of design (especially for the price) at Whitworth Locke in Manchester, because for me, the rooms at Ace were lacking something. It has got some major ups though; the Shoreditch Highstreet location is pretty spot on for local restaurants, cafes etc, it's two mins walk from Redchurch St, and Ace's own restaurant Hoi Polloi is stone cold stunner.

So to sum up, would I recommend Ace Hotel? Yes, but only if you can get a decent deal.

Ace Hotel, 100 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JQ

Three Small Businesses to Visit in Manchester

This post is in partnership with SKAGEN Denmark

Anyone who grew up in a small town will tell you that it's either beautiful and quaint, or dreadfully dull with not a lot going on. My town falls in between the two - beautiful in parts, with a lot of personality, but if it's well-designed restaurants, non-chain coffee shops + small retailers you're after then you'll have to travel to a local city for it. For me that city is Manchester. 

As part of my on-going partnership with SKAGEN Denmark the brand encouraged me to explore some of my favourite places in my local area. For the past few months I've been using the Falster ll Smartwatch and sharing my progress with the individual features via Instagram. Overall I've found the watch most useful on the days I want to feel a little less reliant on my phone. I do sometimes have to remind myself that my phone plays a huge role in my job - but becoming more hands-free when I'm with friends seems to stimulate the part of my brain that loves to connect with the world around me. The Faster ll's notification system lets me filter out messages so I'm only receiving the most important updates.

As someone who sees Manchester as their second city I've become accustom to many of the friendly faces around town, so it's a pleasure of mine to share a little bit more about some of those places I like to call my favourites.

Trove, Ancoats

Trove is one of those places that got me like, "man, I didn't think it could get much better". From humble beginnings selling chutneys + jams down at Manchester Market, to opening their second cafe in Manchester, the husband & wife team of Marcus and Katy Saide collaborated with Leeds-based design workshop Plaey to create a unique space which raises the bar even higher for the city.

Part bakery, part cafe, Trove has all the right moves in all the right places. From the large modular panel wall system behind the counter, and HAY chairs from the IKEA collection, to the granite-based jesmonite work surfaces which have been mixed with terracotta pigments to create subtle pink tones.  If I had the opportunity to work on a space it would probably end up a lot like this. Let's not forget the food though, an ideal spot for breakfast and lunch.

Visit for: Freshly baked almond cruffins (a cross between a croissant and a muffin) or their poached eggs on molasses bread. Serving Allpress Coffee. 5 Murray St, Manchester M4 6HS

Form Lifestyle, Northern Quarter

You reach a point in your life where you start to become a little bit obsessed with homeware, and less full-throttle on the fashion stuff. Pinterest has a lot to answer for, but I'd say design stores built around a passion for product knowledge and curation - take Form Lifestyle as the perfect example - are excellent examples as to why the homeware market is thriving.

No visit to the city is complete without a trip to see Elly & Harry at Form Lifesftyle store. The converted Victorian terrace - with that instantly recognisable spiral staircase - carries a well-considered range of glassware, ceramics, stationery, small home goods and all-year round gifts ideas. Both the upstairs and basement doubles up as workshop and exhibition space, which is currently showcasing work by artist James Wilson.

Visit for: Really, I want one of everything, but the concrete planters by Studio Noah are beauts. We have two of them in our living room. 6 Bradley St, Manchester M1 1EH

Wearing / A Day's March Jacket | Arket Gilet | YMC Sweatshirt | Paul Smith Trousers | Novesta Sneakers | Topman Hat | Skagen Falster ll Smartwatch

Atkinson's at Mackie Mayor, Northern Quarter

This place has been a firm 5-star of mine ever since it first opened back in late 2017. Atkinsons' roots go back to their hometown of Lancaster, but since setting up shop in the back corner of the converted fruit + veg market of Mackie Mayor these guys have gained a whole new following. Damn, have you ever seen another interior like this one in the UK? I can almost see Jeff Goldblum busting out some of his smooth ditties in the corner. From the brass shelves with individual block lettered menu and the perfect shade of blue on the walls and counter, to the help-ya-self tea apothecary and timeless jazz oozing out of the speakers. With endless roasts on offer, if you're looking for a real coffee experience in Manchester then this is the place. 

Visit for: Their Soa Fransicso house roast as an Americano, the old New York-inspired interior + super friendly baristas (who never seem to get bored of my pointing cameras at them!). 1 Eagle Street, Manchester M4 5BU

To learn more about the Skagen Falster ll Smartwatch visit here.

This post is in partnership with Skagen Denmark. Your support of the brands + businesses we work with helps make this blog happen.