New Balance Made In The UK - Three Peaks Pack

A new week brings a new trainer release. New Balance has just released this season's limited edition set, the Three Peaks Pack. The pack pays homage to one of the toughest races in the UK, the Three Peaks Challenge. To climb all three of the UK's tallest mountains in 24 hours, Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Peak, including travel to-and-from each would be an amazing achievement, but if you're after taking a quick route to this accolade then this pack is for you.

Made in Flimby, Cumbria, each trainer comes in its own unique colourway and with an embroidered Union Jack on the heel. Also see the New Balance "Tea Pack".

New Balance "Three Peaks" Pack available at Togs + Clogs.

Have you entered the Made In These Isles Giveaway yet? Win an exclusive leather glasses card by British brand Small Castle.

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Grenson x Togs + Clogs G-Lab Archie

 

Today I'm very pleased to share with you the Grenson x Togs + Clogs G-Lab collaboration. You may remember a few weeks back I posted about my visit to the Grenson Shoe Factory, well the main reason for our visit down to Northampton was to watch the filming of Hypebeast's Process: Crafting The Togs + Clogs x Grenson film. Featured in the video above is the G-Lab Archie Brogue with electric blue welt, limited to 12 pairs.

Above is a concise look into how the shoes were produced. Documenting each process, from start to finish, showing just how many skilled hands it takes to create something pretty special indeed. Filmed by videographer Santiago Arbelaez and commentated by Grenson's Creative Director Tim Little. Enjoy.

Read Hypebeast's full story here.

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Togs + Clogs's Classic Dog Moments

 

The team at where I work have been beavering away and have recently released the Togs + Clogs Spring/Summer 13 photoshoot, entitled Classic Dog Moments. Taken in various locations around Ancoats, Manchester this season's theme revolved around man's best friend and those quality times they share together. But this isn't just any old woofer, he's a patterned woofer! Along with the model, Gerald the Dog is wearing several patterns which feature on garments from this season's collection. He's sporting pieces from Universal Works, Armor Lux, Anerkdjent, Uniforms for the Dedicated and I Love Ugly.

Everyone is extremely pleased with the way the shoot has turned out and I'm pleased as punch to be apart of it. Who says never to work with animals! What do you guys think?

Togs + Clogs Classic Dog Moments

Photographer - Tom Cockram

Styling - John-Paul Cassidy

Gerald the Dog - Lazerian

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Shop By Pattern @ Togs + Clogs

Lee 101 Everyman shirt /  Obey Ottoman vest / Uniforms for the Dedicated The Seducer shirt / Universal Works paisley t-shirt / Vanishing Elephant Bates shirt / The Quite Life cap / Carhartt Hayden jacket / Eastpak Orbit backpack / Universal Works gingham shirt

One of my jobs is working at menswear store Togs + Clogs, we've recently added a new section where you can shop the products by Pattern. I reckon it's pretty cool way to browse the current collection and it's a great way for us to show off the variety in patterns and colours we have. Above are some of my favourites pieces in the shop right now. 

Come payday that Universal Works gingham/polka-dot shirt in mine...Anything taking your fancy?

Shop by Pattern at Togs + Clogs

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Instant Round-Up #3

1. Wearing Farah Vintage jacket*, Albam shirt, Levi's 511, Clarks Desert Trek, Burlington socks, Johnstons scarf 2. Spotted this classic Morris Minor 3. New pair of Nudie Thin Finn* w/ Northern Goods Co. Key Fob and bandana 4 & 5 Snaps from work at Togs + Clogs, New Balance latest drop and a bit of styling 6. Coffee reading, latest copy ofAesthetica Magazine 7. Messing with your melon  8. Hollie enjoying Scampi & Chips at The Queen's in Lytham // *Items c/o Urban Outfitters

Here's a few of my favorite images I've taken on Instagram of late. I've not taken as many photos as I'd like to over the past couple of months but I'm slow getting back into it. Incidentally I've been thinking about buying a new compact; only thinking mind as one of my main priorities at the moment is saving for our Orlando trip pt.2. You may remember we had to cut our first trip early due to a death in the family.

We're all booked for June and this time the road trip we planned to embark on the first time is definitely on. Our loose plan right now is to drive up to Savannah, Georgia then on to Charleston, South Carolina with the finally destination being something within the Blue Ridge Mountains and staying over in some Ralph Lauren style log cabin. Sounds good to me, have any of you guys been around those areas?

Let me know your Instagram handle and I'll get following. Find me at @mat_buckets.

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On Holiday

Wearing - Navy pea coat, Levi's Commuter 511, Uniqlo sock, Grenson brogues (Xmas present from Togs + Clogs) and Hollie's trusty DMs.

We're going away on Friday for a couple of weeks so the blog will be quiet 'till after then. I can't wait, seriously can't wait for a break from the stress of juggling umpteen jobs. Not complaining of course but it will be nice to wake up and not have to figure out what town to be in on what day.

This time it's Orlando with the possibility of a massive detour to New Orleans and a few other stops on the way back. That's the plan anyway, we'll see! I'm bound to come back with a shed load of photos like last time.

Until next time I'll leave you with some links my previous Orlando Photo Posts, Part 1 & Part 2. See you guys on the other side.

Marshall Artist Sailing Jacket & Urbanears Giveaway Winners

Whoa there, fruit pastel outerwear alert! To say this multi-coloured jacket by Marshall Artist caught my eye is an understatement. I'm always in the market for jackets and I'm a massive fan of colours in the Autumn so this sort of fits all the bills. "Would I wear it?" I'm glad you asked, yes of course, I love the idea of it but I reckon I'd get too stressed out with what to wear it with and I'd end up in one of my infamous huffs. One of those "I'm not sure about it on me but I can imagine it looking good on x.....". It's a right bobby dazzler.

Available at Togs + Clogs

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Urbanears Giveaway Winners!

Thank you for all your entries for the Urbanears Giveaway and following me in a non-stalker/groupie kind of way. Without further ado I can reveal the winners;

1st Prize - Zinken headphones in Forest Green - 

Michelle of Mizhenka

Runners Up - Bagis headphones in your colour of choice -

Daniel Young

Chuck of Chuck's Miscellany

Dan Coultas

Krystal of Village

Kelly Munnery

Well done to all your lucky folks. I'll get it touch with you shortly, or if you see this first just email, comment on this post or tweet me. The runners up get to choose which colour Bagis they would like but you'll have to be quick to get your first choice.

Enjoy your weekend guys.

Nice Things #1 - J.R Watkins Hand Soap

J.R Watkins Aloe & Green Tea Hand Soap

You know when someone knows you when they arrive home from a holiday with your favorite hand soap. I love this stuff, J.R Watkins (I've posted about them before here) make some top notch natural products with lovely packaging to boot. But it's not a case of fake old times, this is the proper stuff. Hollie jets off the Florida a couple of times a year and always brings back ace stuff. Along with this she bought me a load of American chocolate bars and a book of old army slang, see. I've not tried the Aloe & Green Tea before but I suspect I'm in for a right treat.

I'm a no frills kind of guy, it's small stuff makes me happy. I firmly believe that lots of good small things makes the bigger more stressful things in life that much easier deal with. Whose with me?

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this yet but I've started interning at menswear store Togs + Clogs, been there for about 2 months now and everything is going good. I'm an unpaid marketing assistant right now but hopefully I can make a real difference and turn it into a paid position. You can follow my progress on their Facebook page if you wish.

Tea Total

Tick Tock's Rooibos tea goodness

Straight outta Manchester, Mr Scruff's Make us a Brew

 Teapigs Jasmine Pearls c/o Togs & Clogs

I don't know what's happened to me, 6 months ago if someone offered me a cup of tea I would have said "no thank you sir" but somehow I've become pretty obsessed with the stuff. I maxing out at about 6 cups a day at the moment, too much perhaps. I most definitely used to be a coffee guy but I don't know, I've got a bit bored of the same thing every day, tea seems to much more refreshing. So I've been trying a few different types out over the past few months, I started off with Twinings peppermint and swiftly moved on to a few more interesting blends.

- By far my favourite is Tick Tock's Rooibos tea, which was a recommendation from Daisy of the aptly named Pretty Green Tea. I've seen the packaging tonnes of times when I've been in the supermarket as it's pretty striking, now that I've found out it tastes awesome too. 

- Next up is Mr Scruff's Make us a Brew mint & chili tea, which is coming at us straight from Manchester. Sweet, fun packaging with a cracking cartoon and humours text. Love this one, really refreshing if that floats ye boat.

- Finally is Teapig's Jasmine Pearls, which the chaps from Togs & Clogs sent over a few months back. This was the one that got me right into it, super flavoursome and has quite a kick to it. Great if you're not in a rush. Again really nice packaging and comes in triangular shaped bags.

I'm not swearing off coffee altogether but lets just say I'm branching out. I would really like to hear what you guys drink and if you have any recommendations they would be more than welcome.

Nice Things @ Togs & Clogs #2

Osma shaving soap - I bet this smells like the old times

Grenson Sid brogues - Best brogues I've come across in a while

London Undercover umbrella - Stay dry and be seen. Handmade in London

Fats Domino singles collection - Just cool

Field Notes pencils - For all you stationery bods

Togs & Clogs x A Few Fine Things iPad sleeve - Cracking piece this

It's Togs & Clogs back again with some cracking products. If you have been reading my blog for a while you may remember me featuring the Manchester based online store, in a post last October. The  store has been open a good few month now and they have some fresh stock in so I thought I'd pick out a few bits for you. As I mentioned last time it's not just the products that appeal to me, it's the way they are shot. Clear and simple is all we really need isn't it? The iPad sleeve is pretty interesting, they've collaborated with A Few Fine Things for this one, using a really nice green tweed and with brown leather edges. They have four different styles of iPad sleeves and they're made in Manchester, England none the less.

Togs & Clogs are also currently running a competition through their Facebook page to win £500 worth of Humor clothing. All you have to do is "like" them and click comps on the left hand side. You've got till this Sunday to enter.