DESIGNER BIOGRAPHY - GIORGIO ARMANI

The signature clothing collections of Giorgio Armani, who is arguably the most famous fashion designer in the world and certainly the most successful to come out of Italy, have been proudly featured in our lineup since the late 1970's. We are the second retail door to do so in the United States, and have always admired Mr. Armani's masterful balance of soft, comfortable clothing and elegant professional fashion. 

Mr. Armani started his design work in the early 1960's, and did his first major designs for the house of Nino Cerruti. During the 1970's he freelanced for companies like Gibo' and Bagutta, before opening his own design house in 1975, producing his first collections for men and women for the spring/summer season of 1976. 

Armani quickly became notable for his signature style which continues today - soft, easy to wear fabrics, in elegantly simple cuts. His suits were among the first to remove significant amounts of padding and canvas from shoulders and chest, favoring a more body-conscious look. 

During the 1980's and 1990's the brand became the global fashion powerhouse it is today, with forays into casual sportswear, children's clothing, home furnishings, and gifts available in over 35 different countries around the world. 

Mr. Armani's Collezioni line is available at Butch Blum - a carefully edited collection of tailored clothing and casual selections ideal for the Pacific Northwest man. 

CIVIDINI PRESS RELEASE

Piero and Miriam Cividini

"Innovation, research, top quality and at the same time respect of its style are the key words of the Cividini brand.

Behind the scenes Miriam and Piero Cividini, partners in business and life: They transfer into each item their personalities, ideas, and their way of life and above all, their product knowledge based on a clever mix of handcraft and modern technology.

The small production of knitwear cashmere collection of the first days has grown into a complete ready-to-wear collection including leather accessories. The Cividini Collection meets the needs of its ideal woman, who is modern, cultured, independant from trends, strong, and satisfied with her life and choices as a woman. Refined, clean and firm design, luxurious materials and precise manufacture are the key elements of the Cividini philosophy since the beginning."

INTRODUCING EIDOS

A shot from the GQ article introducing Eidos

Eidos is a mid-priced label launched by the creative minds at Isaia, in conjunction with designer Anthony Ciongoli, formerly of Michael Bastien.  The collection features soft, washed textures - seersucker, denim, canvas, and garment-dyed wool - as well as a traditionally Neapolitan cut.  

Come check out the brand GQ magazine described as "...so Italian that the clothes ought to come with a Fellini poster and a bottle of Barolo" in store this week! 

DESIGNER BIO- LUCIANO BARBERA

Luciano Barbera began his design career in the 1960's, when a Uomo Vogue photographer captured a photo of a young Barbera wearing a suit of his own design, made of fabric from his father Carlo's mills. The photo was seen by fashion icon and founder of the legendary Louis Boston store, Murray Pearlstein, who encouraged the young Italian to produce his own clothing. 

The young Luciano Barbera

The Barbera brand has always been for the man or woman "who believe in individuality and intelligence" - people who care more about the garment and its functionality than trends or labels, yet always cut a stylish silhouette.  Barbera's wool and cashmere fabrics are considered some of the finest in the industry, achieving their signature drape and softness from a secret process which includes aging the yarn before it is woven in subterranean caverns in order to maintain the wool's natural moisture levels. Every Barbera suit is entirely made from Carlo Barbera fabric, woven from Italian yarn in the Barbera factory in Biella, Italy.

Our Luciano Barbera shipments for Spring 2014 have just started to arrive - look for fabulous neckwear, ultra-soft leathers, and some incredible knits, with lots more to come! 

DESIGNER BIOGRAPHY - CULTURATA

Founded in 2008, Culturata is one of our favorite vendors; a shirt that is Made In Italy of Italian fabrics - often organic cottons - and rarely retailing for over $195.  Compared to "Designer" products featured elsewhere composed of similar fabrics and constructed in eastern Europe, which retail for $295+, this company is an outstanding value.

Culturata always features an ecologically minded construction, which is surprisingly rare in the fashion industry. Dying and printing can consume vast amounts of water and chemicals, and release pollutants into local atmosphere and water tables. Culturata only works with textile manufacturers committed to earth-friendly production, and never outsources its construction, choosing to make all of its outstanding clothing in Italy.

Come check out the huge collection of sport and dress shirts at Butch Blum, available in trend-right styling for a young professional's budget.

DESIGNER BIO - FUZZI

Since 1954,  Fuzzi has produced some of the best in Italian fashion sportswear for men and women. Specializing in jersey fabrics (particularly the house's signature stretch sheer tulle) they consistently push the boundaries of fashion while maintaining a chic, timeless feel.

The brand produces clothing for both men and women - their menswear designs are sold under the names 'Fiume' and 'Nanibon.' In 1983, Fuzzi began their first licensing deal with Jean-Paul Gaultier, a partnership that continues to this day. They continued their growth in 2007, when they signed a partnership with designer Pier Antonio Gaspari - a minimalist Italian designer known for his innovative use of mixed media - leather, knit and woven in the same garments.

Find the best from Fuzzi and their partnerships with Jean Paul Gaultier and Pier Antonio Gaspari at Butch Blum, where we cherry-pick all their collections for the best every season.  Check out the latest from Fuzzi Donna for Spring 2014, in store now!

DESIGNER BIO - BLUMARINE

Blumarine was founded in 1977 by Anna Molinari and her late husband Gianpaolo Tarabini. The label's name refers to her and her husband's favorite color and their love of the sea. Since the 1990's her daughter Rossella Tarabini has assisted her in the design process, as well as designing the Anna Molinari luxury line.

A hit since its inception, Blumarine was described by journalist Laura Craik as [designed for] "...that brand of Italian miss for whom no dress is too small nor diamond too big." Integral to the brand's DNA is their fascination (almost fetishization) of flashy, dominant florals, animal prints, fur, lace, and above all conspicuously luxurious fabrics - which include precious furs, silks, ultrafine wool and cashmere. This combination gives the brand an eye-catching and thoroughly feminine look.

Look for Blumarine and its younger sister Blugirl in our Fall lineup - we have some incredible pieces in stock and more on the way!

DESIGNER BIO - FABIANA FILIPPI

Fabiana Filippi's story is exemplary of classic Italian luxury...a company that is profoundly tied to its home and to the people whose passion inspired its creation.

In 1985, Fabiana Filippi started a small fashion company in the center of Umbria, a region in the center of the "boot" of Italy and the only region in its area completely landlocked. She began her company with an emphasis on quality and classic style, rather than the "fast-fashions" which were so common at the time.  The company quickly became known for their reliance on noble yarns, particularly cashmere - which at the time was predominantly either classic and staid, or extremely trendy, but of lower quality.

After 25 years the company still remains in its original headquarters, and pursues a boutique-oriented client, rather than a large department-store distribution. Their "entirely made in Italy" approach to fashion remains unique in a market that favors offshore production over local craftsmanship. We are very proud to have this unique brand in our roster of designers, and encourage professional, stylish women to come try their beautiful clothing - any garment or accessory from this company will remain a beautiful addition to your wardrobe for years to come.

Come see the latest from this incredible design house in store now, exclusively at Butch Blum in Seattle. 

DESIGNER BIO - MARTIN MARGIELA

The famous Margiela label. The number indicates the collection, in this case 14 - the luxury collection of menswear.

Belgian designer Martin Margiela is one of the world's most hermitic and mysterious fashion figures. He has never been photographed in either the fashion press or in-house publications, preferring to focus attention on the house itself. The designer refuses to grant personal interviews, instead conducting interviews by fax and signing "Maison Martin Margiela," exemplary of his holistic approach to fashion. There is frequently an air of surreal mystery in the collection, and slightly unnerving details like a buttonhole sewn closed, a tailored jacket without a breast pocket, a classic sweater shrunken or blown up to gigantic proportions.

Martin Margiela started his career in the early 1980's, working for Jean-Paul Gaultier before showing his first collection under his own name in 1989.  He is closely associated, though not officially a part of, the Antwerp Six - a group of designers from Antwerp, Belgium that showed their first collections in London in the 1980's. His unusual first collections heavily featured copies of vintage garments, so closely reproduced that the Margiela garment credits its country and year of origin on an unobtrusive tag inside. This practice still continues today, with inspiration as diverse as a French knitting bag from 1940, to an entire collection of clothes copied from Mattel's Barbie and Ken dolls, their proportions unchanged (even to the comparative size of snaps and velcro) for the actual person wearing them. This approach creates a timelessness to Margiela's clothing, adding to the investment value for the wearer.

What sets Maison Martin Margiela apart from other Avant-Garde designers is the brand's committment to wearability in everyday life. For every jacket made entirely from wigs there are ten beautiful basic jackets, featuring outrageously soft superfine wool or cashmere and innovative detail work. You can always find both the ridiculous and the sublime, courtesy of Martin Margiela and available at Butch Blum in Seattle - new arrivals for Fall/Winter 2013/14 in store now!

HERNO: WHERE DOES YOUR OUTERWEAR COME FROM?

When you're purchasing a garment, do you ever really ask "Where did this come from?" "Why does this cost what it costs?" "Is this the only one of its kind, or am I spending good money on something I'm going to see on other people?" As consumers we are often entranced by the allure of a designer garment, with all the runway shows, the fragrances, the glossy ads in fashion magazines et al. All these things contribute to a certain glamor, which itself often contributes to our decision to purchase a designer garment - but how much is that designer garment really WORTH? At Butch Blum, it's always our goal to not only make sure you're buying an incredibly well made, stylish garment, but also that you're buying the best value in a garment's class. With that aim in mind, we are proud to carry outerwear garments by Herno.

An Italian company founded in the 1940's, Herno has been an outerwear specialist since its inception, creating innovative impermeable garments entirely in Italy from distinctive materials, while maintaining a fashion-conscious edge. Herno's standards are well known throughout the fashion industry, which is why they have partnered with name brand designers like Prada, Jil Sander, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and more since the 1990's. Designers like these are ill-equipped to produce outerwear (most of them started as leather manufacturers) and have contracts with Herno to produce designs for them under license.

It becomes very obvious when you compare prices why it's smarter to buy garments with a manufacturer's label, rather than buy the designer-labeled iteration. A Prada Linea Rossa nylon jacket typically costs between $1195 and $1995, depending on fabric, trim, length, etc. A similar style from Herno (using the same quality construction, fabric, fastenings etc) may cost as little as $895-1495. Which do YOU care about - the label inside the garment, or how the garment looks, feels and most importantly - lasts? That extra $300-500 in your wallet left over from purchasing your new favorite coat is a great reminder that you can be stylish AND savvy.

Look for new arrivals from Herno this fall, exclusively at Butch Blum in Seattle.

AMERICA'S BEST SHIRT

Since 1883 the Hamilton family has been crafting America's finest men's shirts. Each is made in the workshop in Houston, where every detail is overseen by skilled technicians. Every Hamilton shirt is hand cut according to a paper pattern, custom drawn for each individual client. Fabrics are sourced from the finest mills in Switzerland and Italy, and include sumptuous long-staple cotton, summery linen, and cotton/linen blend materials perfect for any season. Hamilton's unique collars and cuffs feature captive canvas inserts with no fusible interfacing (glue used to stiffen most shirt collars), which helps prevent shrinkage. 

Hamilton's library of thousands of patterns

Hamilton Bespoke
Butch Blum is proud to feature Hamilton Shirts' bespoke product, their most custom, labor-intensive shirt. Butch Blum staff will photograph you in one or more sample shirts, and make notes about the fit. The photos and notes are sent to Hamilton's master pattern maker, who draws a custom pattern to your specifications. Bring us your style ideas for the perfect shirt, and Hamilton can often make them happen - right down to copying a favorite shirt, or using details from something that you've seen in a magazine. 

Hundreds of fabric options

For more information, or to make an appointment with one of our skilled made-to-measure specialists, please call 206-622-5760 or email promotions@BUTCHBLUM.com.

DESIGNER BIO - CITIZENS OF HUMANITY

Citizens of Humanity’s head designer, Jerome Dahan, began his career in Los Angeles in the 1980’s with Guess Jeans - then at the top of the ‘designer denim’ game.  He developed the brand into a modern Levi’s - a classic brand wearable by men and women that still maintains a strong fashion bent. 

In 1999, Dahan began Seven for All Mankind, a designer denim label that would re-invent the industry in much the same way that Guess Jeans had some 20 years before. Dahan left Seven for All Mankind in 2002 after disagreements with the design team, and went on to found Citizens of Humanity - bringing together the best fabrics and the fashion-oriented direction the label is known for today. 

In 2007, Dahan would again make news with the company when he merged C of H with Adriano Goldschmied’s brand "Goldsign," which incorporated Goldschmied’s legendary skills with denim washes and finishes. Dahan attributes his success to loving what he does - “If you’re not pure of heart and have a motive other than being passionate and extremely creative, my advice is you better start running, and you better run fast, very fast, because any good fortune you receive will not last for long.” 

Butch Blum is proud to carry the men’s collection of denim bottoms from Citizens of Humanity in both classic “blue jean” washes, and non-denim fashion fabrics. Check out the latest from this terrific label, in store now. 

DESIGNER BIOGRAPHY - MOSCHINO

Since 1983,  Italian fashion superstar Moschino has provided a quirky but luxurious view of fashion.  Moschino reinterprets classic silhouettes through their unique surrealist viewpoint, using everyday objects like teacups, buttons, peace signs, bows and flowers in innovative ways, both as tiny details and as the focus of entire garments (a memorable vintage Moschino dress eschewed traditional fur trim in favor of a garland of Teddy Bears circling the neck).

A major component of Moschino's history has also been the brand's activist standpoint, with issues as diverse as the AIDS virus and eating disorders in the fashion industry. Moschino also has a diverse range of projects under the company umbrella, from designing costumes for Kylie Minogue and Madonna to the creation of a Moschino brand hotel - the Maison Moschino. Since the untimely death of founder Franco Moschino in 1994, Moschino's designs and image have been overseen by Rossella Jardini, Moschino's former assistant.

Look for new arrivals from Moschino (and sister label Moschino Cheap and Chic) at Butch Blum this Spring/Summer and grab yourself a little piece of a fabulous fashion legacy.

DESIGNER BIO - JOHN VARVATOS

A look from Varvatos' S/S 2013 collection

A Greek-American hailing from the suburbs of Detroit, John Varvatos credits his early obsession with Motor City rock and roll for his interest in fashion, and it is clearly a unifying theme in his design.

Varvatos turned heads early on in his fashion career, serving as head of menswear design at Calvin Klein and later at Ralph Lauren where he created the successful Polo Jeans Company. In 1999 he opened his own fashion house, which debuted its first line in late 2000. The original “black-less collection” of casual-cool suiting garnered critical acclaim and a CFDA New Talent award, followed by a Designer of the Year title in 2001.

The brand has grown into a lifestyle, including a line of footwear for Converse, handbags, eyewear, and luxury skincare and fragrances, all unified by the John Varvatos musical sensibility and sophisticated touch.

Varvatos boasts a boutique at 315 Bowery in New York, the space that formerly housed seminal underground music club CBGB. Seventies audio equipment, vinyl albums, and electric guitars are sold side by side with the designer's minimalist menswear. Memorable ad campaigns for his collection have featured legendary icons Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper, Velvet Revolver, and Green Day among others.

Look for new arrivals from John Varvatos at Butch Blum now.

DESIGNER BIO - STEFANIA CARRERA

Since 1983, Stefania Carrera has been called  “The fashion designer of the Milanese woman.” Her story begins every season with her selection of incredible fibers, woven in subtle colors or printed with lyrical images and patterns.  

She initially began designing accessories under her own exclusive label, but has enjoyed close collaborations with fashion houses such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Trussardi, Erreuno, Lange, Max Mara, Mila Schön and others.

Stefania Carrera's inspiration comes from all over the world, especially from her interaction with innovative Japanese textile manufacturers. She is a design consultant as well as a traditional fashion designer, choosing fabrics and conceiving the overall image of a collection in addition to sketching out individual silhouettes and crafting patterns for garments. She expresses her strong appreciation of beauty by giving importance to small details - a fringe here, a subtle color there, a unique detail in every garment and accessory. 

Come see the accessories collection by Stefania Carrera, exclusively at Butch Blum in the Northwest, and see why this incredible designer is one of our favorite resources for scarves, belts, and more. 

DESIGNER BIOGRAPHY - LUCIANO BARBERA

Luciano Barbera began his design career in the 1960's, when a Uomo Vogue photographer captured a photo of a young Barbera wearing a suit of his own design, made of fabric from his father Carlo's mills. The photo was seen by fashion icon and founder of the legendary Louis Boston store, Murray Pearlstein, who encouraged the young Italian to produce his own clothing. 

The young Luciano Barbera

The Barbera brand has always been for the man or woman "who believe in individuality and intelligence" - people who care more about the garment and its functionality than trends or labels, yet always cut a stylish silhouette.  Barbera's wool and cashmere fabrics are considered some of the finest in the industry, achieving their signature drape and softness from a secret process which includes aging the yarn before it is woven in subterranean caverns in order to maintain the wool's natural moisture levels. Every Barbera suit is entirely made from Carlo Barbera fabric, woven from Italian yarn in the Barbera factory in Biella, Italy.

Look for Barbera garments for men and women at Butch Blum, where we share Sr. Barbera's passion for individuality and intelligence, not to mention beautifully made Italian clothing.