West 38th Street, NYC
words/images Judith Ecochard
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| Jett Boot $385 @ Cloak and Dagger NYC |
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| Jett-in fun Spring colors... |
USA based performance wear and gear makers that we write about...never underestimate the value of
made in the USA label-especially since so many companies rely on the must be made in this country--- US military orders- for significant chunks of their income.
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| Bloggers Dylana + Natalie Suerez co-designed several styles including the brightly hued chukkas-pumpkin orange and fuchsia pink suede $264-at Cloak and Dagger NYC |
The fashion footwear industry-however-has shifted practically all manufacturing overseas-and even mass marketed "luxury" brands-are made in China...not in Italy, for example-and don't seem to experience a degradation in the brand's DNA... maybe.
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| Benni Tuscan-hand painted |
BUT---a highlight at recent pr agency preview we attended---was easily the trendy and daring-stylish shoes and boots by new brand
Modern Vice-that's all made in NYC-smack dab in the middle of the garment district on West 38th street.
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| Yellow Mickie-black leather w/neon colored studs hidden wedge sneaker high top-and WildCowgirl fringe bootie w/ studded side detail and matching neon outsole |
The collection, designed by shoe prodigies- Jordan and Jensen Adoni---is crafted by some 100 talented laborers, in a Manhattan area that still offers up some of the support materials/hardware that goes into shoe production too (bonus,bonus)...and in this instance-still has the human know-how, mercifully ...as the Modern Vice label shares its DNA with ice skating brand, Klingbell Ice Skates- that custom crafts skates for Olympic Gold medal winners like Sasha Cohen.
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| very fun-pumped up kicks |
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| Jett Jodpur-rugged safari veg leather-equestrian style strap, full grain inner/outer sole-men's available exclusively at OAK NYC |
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| -classic cut moccasin on a dress sole w/cushion insole. Casual luxury! On right-Sydney boat shoe style-hand stitched tubular construction, raw hide lace, welted leather sole, suede and rattlesnake embossed leather |
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| Fitzgerald Python-exotic skins-classic piped mocassin- on a dress sole w/cushion insole |
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| lace-ups get jazzy with exotic skins |
A few weeks later-lucky us-we got the invite to actually see the West 38th street atelier...where the Adoni Group (parent company-of Modern Vice..and other brands) and its employees-hosted a packed house of well-wishers.
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| inspiration board |
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| Costello-chukka sneaker on espadrille wrapped bottom, raw hide laces in contrasting colors. |
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| side zip easy on off-J |
This was an enthusiastic crowd ---and no wonder. The new Fall looks from scion Jay Adoni's luxury footwear collection had our jaws dropped (a later review)...drop-dead gorgeous.
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| western buckles...love this |
And we also got a nifty tour ...where the white lab coats attired employees -(just like in Italy, fyi)...were clearly clocking in overtime.
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| wedge sneakers like we've never seen |
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| pretty Spring colors Jett Boots |
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| string trio---we figure-just for that night, clearly |
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| Modern Vice Boots |
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| shelves full of Italian leather skins-aromatic-reminded us of men's colognes |
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| this shoulder bag-in the process of being finished-will be as big a seller as the shoes, imo |
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| in the middle-American Flag Wellie-limited edition-hand painted |
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| Luis-in charge! |
How
this all began is quite the story---as Jay Adoni ---who immigrated to this company and pretty much opened his own NYC factory at the ripe old age of 18...and then went on to a very successful career, founding L.I. Simone in the 1970's and more recently the shoe brand Pour La Victoire in 2007.
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| checking the finish.... |
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| sweet-hand made suede bracelets customized with grommets, rivets... |
A true believer in giving back and the trickle down/up effect of gainfully employed workers---AND a firm believer also in the disasterously negative effects of unemployment in this country...Jay Adoni has launched what he calls 3/97 Initiative...to bring back 3% of footwear manufacturing back into the USA...
At first-seemingly a modest goal---but in reality-a big deal!!!! And frankly-we think smart-as there is more control over quality, re-orders get filled in a timely fashion, and hot trends can be materialized a lot faster. And lower carbon footprint because shipping routes are localized-not oceans' wide---an eco plus too.
Each area has a targeted function-step by step (by step....).
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| roomful of lasts |
Other brands we saw include Giraffe Walk-also made here...love these woven flats
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| Klingbell Ice Skates |
INFO: http://www.modernvice.com
