The new year's eve Lovers

It's the last day of the year and by the picture sent by Flo it looks like winter in Barcelona is not that cold yet. So if Flo will show off her brand new HIDI Trunky Landlovers edition during her crazy partying in the Ciudad Condal, where will you be heading to?
Just another opportunity for Sartorialbag to wish you all the best for 2011, enjoy it as as much as you can!

Special service at Christmas

With this article we would like to start writing about the importance of feeling pampered at restaurants. If you go out for dinner often maybe you already know where to go, what food to order and what wine to match, but still, it's so hard to get a trained maitre that advises and threats you well.

Some days ago a couple of our favourite SartorialBag writers went for a Xmas dinner in an italian restaurant. From entering the room, through listening to the menu, choosing the wine and tasting the free gifted second plate of pasta they were impressed by the kindness of the owner, even watching him cooking the chosen meat directly in the chimney in front of them. Amazing.

Adding to this there were only two more guests, the perfect ambient for a relaxed romantic night out.


What do we get out of this? That service is so important it can turn a good food moment into a fantastic experience.

Remember of this during the next 31st celebration, and, why not, during all the incoming 2011.
The SartorialBag wishes you the best for Christmas vacation and a happy new year!



* For info: Le Tre Fonti - Via Rodeghieri 182 Asiago - Italia Tel. +39 0424 462601

Denim Doctors jeans repair

Denim Doctors is the source for any and every type of denim alteration or Denim repair, doing business in Los Angeles since 1994. Specialized in vintage collectable denim and all high end repro denim as well as your favorite every day pair. Another way to "sartorize" your jeans or better keep them alive throughout the years. Do you have a big collections of vintage denim? Now you know where to go...

Take a look at the reviews of some happy customers: Denim Doctors

Bespoke cachemere with Ballantyne

Bespoke suits, bespoke shoes, bespoke cachemere... This is what Ballantyne, leading brand in the precious wool products, used to propose years ago through the ‘Combine the uncombinable’ service at the Ballantyne Boutique in 153 New Bond Street in the heart of London’s Mayfair district.
Clients could ‘compose’ their own jumper using 1 ply or 2 ply cashmere yarns,`perfect for those who decide to indulge in the softness and preciousness of Scottish cashmere with the chance of adding a touch of personal ‘eccentricity’ by choosing the colours of the diamonds. Waiting for this luxury choice to be offered again, take a look at Ballantyne's limited edition in collaboration with Philippe Stark.

Personalized Allround hits the world

Here we are with the first picture of a personalized HIDI Allround bag. Its happy owner decided to choose the classic "english" style of green-brown-white with his AZ monograms, and then sent us a nice shot. "A" reports that the bag has already travelled to Middle East, Russia and USA making it through all the airports check-in without any size or weight issues.
For your own one please go to myHIDI

A cocktail a la carte, without la carte

A new concept of pampering is served at La Marmita, in Madrid. The bartender will not show any menu, just ask for your favourite cocktail or talk about your drink sensation of the moment, a special glass filled with fresh seasonal fruit and alcohol will be prepared only for you. It looks like whisky and maracuja is a hit. The real luxury is the time taken by the barman to explain how the drink is prepared and what's the best liquor association.
Enjoy it at: LA MARMITA, Calle Maudes, 37.

HIDI online

HIDI, the first brand offering custom and personalized leather bags, purses and accessories is finally online.

HIDI presents elegant, everyday (and night) bags  with clean lines and eye-catching shades.  For the "su misura" lovers take a look at myHIDI: the newest way  to create your own personalized bag in four easy steps.
hidi.it

Deus ex machina

"Deus is a completely different kind of motorcycle company. While focussing on the design and construction of custom motorcycles, Deus promotes and celebrates a custom motorcycle culture that first appeared in Europe and America in the 1940s which has recently been revived by groups of young enthusiasts in Japan, America and Australia." This is how Deus' website opens the "about us" page.
To us Deus is just more than another motorcycle brand. Stylish, researched and well refined custom pieces of artwork, this is what it's all about.  Just spend some minutes surfing DEUS and their GALLERY.

Personalized sandals

One of the most interesting initiatives we could see this year at Feria del Calzado in Madrid was at the Ipanema stand. Famous Gisele Bundchen's sandals were available and both base and straps could be chosen amongst 8 colours. A dancing brazilian artesan took then care of mounting the two pieces to provide you with your own sandals. Nice uh? Looking on the internet (www.giselebundchen.com) it's not yet available for purchase, let's wait and see.

Cakes Haute Couture

There are plenty of pastry shops that can make a cake by order. The point is how appealing, and good, it will be. We have been honestly impressed by Cakes Haute Couture, a spanish company lead by
Patricia Arribálzaga who is also a well known artist who designs extraordinary edible works of art.
Just take a look to their press references and, better or sweeter, to their amazing products.
Unfortunately you can try and order your favourite one only by appointment.
cakeshautecouture.com

HIDI, soon to come

HIDI is the newcomer in leather bags, purses and accessories and it has been created to find the uniqueness that truly characterises who we are.
HIDI is the acronym for “Hey I Did It” meaning that you choose and create your own leather carry-all to make your HIDentity stand out. Italian leather with nearly seamless construction, HIDI’s fall collection pops with charming design and inventive functionality, giving the wayward adventurer plenty of options for  roaming about town. HIDI presents elegant, everyday (and night) bags with clean lines and eye-catching shades. 
myHIDI is the newest way to personalize your favourite accessories offering you
the opportunity to create your own personalized bag in four  easy steps.
Cannot wait for the ultimate Sartorialbag? The new website will be landing in less than a week.

A very personal fingerprint

Is there anything more personal than your own fingerprint?
How would you share it with someone? We found a very original way to say "I love you" and bring with you, or better on your hand, your partner's fingerprint. Brent Williams's firm, from Maine, has a long list of customizable rings following your taste and pocket.
Time to get married!

Make it unique

Amongst the fashion brands Jean Paul Gaultier is for sure the one that never stops surprising us. Buying online its fabulous perfumes was not enough. Now you can choose your JPG fragrance and make it unique by writing on the bottle your favourite sentence just by clicking on the engrave option. Give it a try,  it will be the perfect gift for incoming Christmas time: jeanpaulgaultier.com

Push the Concierge button

Vertu is currenty considered as the leader brand in the luxury handphone world. Their cellphones are elegant, poshy and can be ordered even in the golden version. But what we love the most is that one of the services acquired with a Vertu mobile is a year's free concierge service called Vertu Concierge. Operated by Ten Lifestyle Management worldwide, it is accessed through a special button, the "Concierge key", on the side of every phone.
This hot button puts the user through to a team of lifestyle managers who can book services such as gourmet dining, luxury travel or accommodation around the clock, 24 hours a day.
A good way to feel special whenever you need it!
Vertu Concierge

Urban spectacles

Is it possible to have your own pair of glasses? Well it looks easy as any optician can provide you a pair of graduated lenses... But today we are talking about custom made frames and Urban Spectacles is one of the first brands producing them. The most interesting aspect is that the main involved material is wood, a natural, renewable and even trendy resource.
Scott Urban himself, sculptor, designer, and owner of the brand will take care of your special order.
Check it out at: http://urbanspectacles.com/

Italian custom bikes

Probably the biggest customized sector is the motorbikes one. But today we will mention the no polluting bikes. The trend in NY and Tokio, and lately in Milan, is riding a fixed bike (no gears) to go to work, stylish dressed and keeping an eye on the environment.
Amongst the huge offer we suggest to take a look to Bressan bikes, a brand based in Verona, dedicated to special orders since 1942. Ready to get yours?
http://www.bressanbike.com/

An exclusive haircut

Can there be a haircut "su misura"? Isn't it that everytime you go to your hairdresser your style will be unique and renovated? Well it depends on you, of course, but not only.

Hairstylist Massato is a genius born in Japan but currently working in Paris. A very long experience and know-how that are focused on individual, comfortable convenient hair styles, advices based not only on your facial characteristics and nature of you hair but also on the way you dress. He can spend long time looking at you and your face sizes before starting a new piece of work. 

Just let you go and... trust him.

http://www.massato-paris.com/

Camisas a medida

From Savile Row, London to Spain always passing through customizable products. Camisasamedida.com offers the possibility of creating your own personalized shirt choosing from many different textiles, colors, type of collar, wrist, buttons and sizes. Just try it, it's really fun to have your own tailor on your screen.
http://www.camisasamedida.com

The artisan shoemaker

A couple of years ago i was walking calle Enric Granados in Barcelona when i saw a small inviting shoe shop (un taller in spanish, una bottega in italian) with just one person inside. I popped in, discovered the products, chatted with the lovely owner about my favourite ones, types of leather, finishings. Then i discovered that Norman Vilalta, the artisan, learnt everything in Florence, and that it currently takes more than 200 processes to define and prepare one of his bespoken shoe. Later on i gladly discovered that he is one of the favourite shoemaker for national and international vips and politicians.

http://www.normanvilalta.com/

Custom made menu sensation in Madrid

"We are having our second Champagne glass when the chef-maitre-owner comes to ask us about what we would like to have, or better, feel...."

Iñaki Camba, owner and chef of the restaurant Arce in Madrid, participates directly in the choice of food, drinks and ways of cooking following your suggestions. He will drive you through the selection of the main dish depending on the chosen starters.

Another different but very exclusive way of enjoying food experience.

http://restaurantearce.com/

Bottega Veneta, when your initials are not enough...

Bottega Veneta, the luxury top leathergoods brand designed by Tomas Maier, is also spreading the word about its customization process in the US, where the custom initiative was launched.
Italian representatives who oversee the brand's atelier in Vicenza, Italy, have travelled from Chicago to NY till reaching California to personally offer clients the opportunity to customize a Bottega Veneta bag of their choice - choose the color, skin and treatment of their Bottega bag. In keeping with the mantra of "When Your Own Initials Are Enough," shoppers can create anything from an $800 wallet or $14,500 crocodile portfolio to the brand's most painstakingly-produced $80,000 handbag, all taking between three and six months to craft.

Compromising luxury when reducing size?

Under the concept "tailor fit", CuldeSac™ develops the European launch campaign of the Aston Martin Cygnet, the world's first compact luxury car.

This video jumpstarts the communication campaign announcing that Cygnet today is a reality and will begin production in 2011. In it Aston Martin's CEO Dr. Ulrich Betz and Design Director Marek Reichman explain one-to-one the reason behind the new concept of compact luxury tailor fit car of the new Aston Martin Cygnet. More info: www.astonmartin.com/eng/thecars/cygnet

 

A very exclusive fragrance

They say nothing fits better than a second skin, unless of course you’re wearing a bespoke perfume, custom-made for you and only you. Master perfumers can identify 1500 to 2000 specific smells by nose and can often spend six months to a year developing a single personalized fragrance.
The House of Jean Patou, renowned for inimitable classics offers discerning clients an unforgettable experience in the form of their Parfum-Couture service. Patou’s master perfumer Jean-Michel Duriez will personally oversee your bespoke perfume from conception to creation. 
Presently available only to ladies, Parfum-Couture begins with an appointment with Duriez in the city of Paris. Together, you visit olfactive places such as bakeries and flower and spice markets, and sample pure essences to determine your style and scent preferences. In the months that follow, Duriez crafts three prototypes for you to test, before receiving the samples back and refining the blends to perfection.

Savile Row

Reknowned Savile Row is a shopping street in the Mayfair area, London, famous for its traditional men's bespoke tailoring.  It seems that the term "bespoke" has been originated in Savile Row when cloth for a suit was said to "be spoken for" by customers.
It is currently told also as the "golden mile of tailoring".
Hystorical customers as Winston Churchill, Lord Nelson, Napoleon III and recently David Beckam, Russell Crowe and many of the High Finance district top managers keep on going to Savile Row for their own 2 and especially the 3 pieces tailored suits.
For a reference on the 300 years old association: http://www.savilerowbespoke.com/Home/index.php

Sartorial

sar·to·ri·al

adj.

Of or relating to a tailor, tailoring, or tailored clothing: sartorial elegance.

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[From Late Latin sartor, tailor; see sartorius.]

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Sartorial, what a strange and rarely used word. From now on we will discover this world, trying to understand what's behind the desire of having something personalized, customized and made by hand. We will also present you our favourite products and services, showing you that "sartorial" is not only fashion.