21ème Arrondissement

Seattle has an exciting new fashion blog, "21ème Arrondissement", started by one of Blackbird's favorite customers! Our buddy, Adam Sinding, started his blog last October as a creative outlet, and has been adding to his archive of Seattle style ever since. (What's with the funky title? It's an homage to Adam's time spent living in Paris...) According to Adam, 21ème Arrondissement distinguishes itself by focusing on subjects who convey personal style and character rather than showcasing the latest fashion cliches and hip trends. His own fashion influences range from other blogs such as "The Sartorialist", to his girlfriend, who is Assistant Manager of Collectors at Nordstrom (aaaaw...).

Check out his blog at 21arrondissement.blogspot.com and say hello to him on myspace!

Adam Sinding
(photo provided by 21ème Arrondissement)

Spring/Summer '08 Common Projects

Spring/Summer Common Projects are here!
Sizes are going fast so get them while you can.

(Leather Court Shoe in black, pictured with dust bag)

Common Projects - Leather Court Shoe
black leather
sizes 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 or 44
$312

(side view)

Common Projects - Perforated Low Top
white perforated leather
sizes 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 or 45
$336

(side view)

Common Projects - Perforated Low Top
black perforated leather
sizes 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 or 45
$336

(side view)

(detail of perforated leather)

Common Projects - Mid-Top
white leather
sizes 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45
$324

(side view)

Common Projects - Desert Boot
grey Italian nappa suede leather
sizes 41, 42, 43 or 44

$324

(side view)

Wings + Horns

(drumroll please...)

In the thick of Seattle's first Spring snow, Blackbird has received our first shipment of Spring/Summer Wings + Horns. We're having some camera issues this week so the photos are a little dark, but here they are:

This season's organic cotton tees and tanks come in these handsome black boxes. They are the perfect lightweight layering shirts for this season. Cool!

Wings + Horns - U-Neck Tank
100% cotton in natural
sizes XS, S or M
$

Wings + Horns - 2 x Crewneck Tee
100% organic cotton in natural
these shirts are sold two per box
sizes S, M or XL
$108

Wings + Horns - U-Neck Tee
100% organic cotton in natural
sizes S or M

$72

Wings + Horns - Long-Sleeve Recycled U-Neck Tee
100% recycled cotton in Sand/White
(we have no idea how they recycle cotton up in Canada but it sure feels nice)
sizes XS, S or M
$120

Wings + Horns - Short-Sleeve Recycled V-Neck Tee
100% recycled cotton in Grey/Charcoal
sizes S, M or XL

$96

Wings + Horns - Vintage 5-Pocket Slim
100% cotton denim in vintage indigo
sizes 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36
$276

(back view)

Wings + Horns - 5-Pocket Slim Fit
100% cotton denim in grey
sizes 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36
$216

(back view)

Wings + Horns - Gingham Shorts

100% cotton in black
sizes 28, 30, 32, 34, 36
$180

(back view)

(front pocket and button detail)

Wings + Horns - Sweatshorts
100% cotton twill terry in oak brown
sizes 28, 30, 32, 34, 36
$168

(back view)

(button detail)

Wings + Horns - Leather Service Boot
in black leather
Wings + Horns soaked these black leather boots, tied them in a tight ball, and allowed them to dry, giving them a totally unique texture and shape
sizes 42, 43, 43.5, 44 or 44.5 (Sold out)

(detail)

Wings + Horns - Recycled Stripe Scarf
100% recycled cotton in gray/charcoal
pictured folded and stacked, with the top scarf unfolded and laid in its tube form - may be worn around the neck or partially pulled over the head
one size
$60

Wings + Horns - Recycled Stripe Scarf
100% recycled cotton in sand/charcoal
pictured folded and stacked, with the top scarf unfolded and laid in its tube form - may be worn around the neck or partially pulled over the head
one size
$60

Spring Fashion Event

Mark your calendars!
Blackbird will be showcasing our key Spring looks via the runway at a Pravda Studio Party.
This fun, fashionable (and free!) event will showcase some of Seattle's top
local boutiques and designers as well as imagery provided by Northwest Film Forum.
Doors will open at 6pm on Friday, April 11th, see below for details.
Hope to see you there!

Lova

Lova sent us our first shipment from L.A. just in time for the first weekend of Spring. Check out their bio featured in the New York Times Magazine, and be sure to watch their video shot with Roman Polanski's 8mm camera that showcases the aesthetic of one of Spring's newest brands. Here's a sample of what we have in so far:

Lova - Micro Collar Short Sleeve
100% cotton in pink check
button-down collar with cuffed short sleeves and side pleats on the back
sizes S, M, or L
$187

(collar detail)

Lova - Military Shirt
100% cotton in charcoal
mid-weight fabric, sleeves may be rolled and fastened at mid-arm
sizes XS, S, M, L or XL
$214

Lova - Classic Shirt
100% cotton in wine stripe
Lova's take on a classic collared shirt in subtle striped cotton with center pleats on the back
sizes S, M or L
$214

Easter Hours

We will be open from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm on Easter Sunday.

Taylor will be working all day so stop by and say, "hi" on your afternoon stroll. Or... since he loves candy so much, bring him the extras from your baskets. Don't worry, he brushes his teeth three times a day! Amazing, no?

Tim Hamilton - 2nd Shipment/Part 2

Tim Hamilton - Reverse Bomber Shell
100% polamide in blue
classic bomber jacket with zipped cuff, single pocket on chest
sizes S, M or L
$1,080

may also be worn reversed; this side has a waist pocket on each side

(zipper detail)

Tim Hamilton - Long Snorkel Shell Jacket
charcoal metallic with leather ties
sizes XS, S, or M
$1,056

Adam, our stock guy, shows off the zipped hood and side flap pockets

(back view)

Tim Hamilton - 2nd Shipment/Part 1

Soft Shirts Hatching

Tim Hamilton - Deconstructed Fine Poplin Shirt
100% cotton in blue stripe
sizes S, M, L or XL
$317

Tim Hamilton - Solid Japanese Chambray Shirt
100% Cotton in red
sizes XS, S, M, L
$324

NEW ARRIVALS

We received too much good stuff this week. Here's the quick list:

Acne
B.Son
Band of Outsiders
Billykirk
Brixton
Brown Sound
Common Projects - perforated and cap toe sneakers in black
Endovanera (NEW!)
Harmon
Henrik Vibskov
Jack Spade
Lova
Obedient Sons
Orthodox
Paul Frank
Rag & Bone
RVCA
Schmoove (New!)
Seize sur Vingt
Shipley & Halmos
Tim Hamilton
Wrath Arcane

Wrath Arcane

Live from Cleveland Ohio! Please welcome Wrath Arcane.

Wrath Arcane - Extra Pockets Button Up
15 oz. French terry in black
Extra long body and sleeves with angled sleeve seams, extra long cuffs and 4 functioning pockets for your crap.
sizes S, M or L
$164

Wrath Arcane - Concept Hoodie in light grey
15 oz. French terry zipped hoodie with optional space age fashion panel! (we made that up)
sizes XS, S, M, L or XL
$168

(back view)

(back graphic detail)


Wrath Arcane - StrVp ShVrt (= Stripe Shirt) in lavender plaid
100% cotton with optional collar
The collar is attached with tiny buttons and extends across the back of the shirt, over the shoulder blades, to the shoulders like epaulets, where they attach again with tiny buttons. This all can be removed and the shirt can be worn collarless.
sizes XS, S, M, L or XL
$156


(collar detail)

B.SON Mesh but not Mesh Tank

Double Layer Tank in light weight white Japanese jersey, with fine black mesh overlayer
sizes XS, S or M
$104

(close up detail of mesh over jersey)

Easter Weekend Sale (in-store only)

SomeBUNNY loves you!

Receive 20% off* all full priced items this weekend
Saturday 3/22 and Sunday 3/23

*Offer can not be combined with any other discounts or promotions and is available for in-store purchases only. No price adjustments will be made for items purchased before or after these dates.

Henrik Vibskov

It's our first shipment from Denmark!

All Henrik Vibskov mens items are considered unisex and truly look great on both girls and boys.

Henrik Vibskov - Tongue Jacket
pink and blue horizontal stripe linen lined blazer with no vent and funny pockets
sizes S or M
$565

(hip pocket detail)

(tongue pocket detail)

Henrik Vivskov - Dyken Shorts in Black & Blue Stripe
100% cotton drop crotch shorts with fun pockets and buttons on the cuff
sizes XS, S or M
$195

Henrik Vivskov - Dyken Shorts in Black

100% cotton drop crotch shorts with fun pockets and buttons on the cuff
sizes XS, S or M
$195

Henrik Vibskov - Big Tee in Thomas Stripe
80% cotton/20% rayon v-neck with horizontal stripes and side pockets
sizes S or M
$295

(Adam, our stock guy, being silly with the Big T)

(side pocket detail)

Henrik Vibskov - New Tee in black Helsinki print
100% cotton
sizes S, M or L
$125

Henrik Vibskov - Bicycle Bacteria T in White
100% Cotton
sizes S or M
$118

Henrik Vibskov - Triangle Scarf
100% Viscose in either pink or turquoise
(40in. x 40in.)
$166 each

Henrik Vibskov - Space Pigs Scarf
(sold out)

Henrik Vibskov - Helsinki Sock
$35

Henrik Vibskov - Sporty Sock
in pink in either long (shown) or short (not shown) lengths
$35

MARCH VACATIONS

Quite a few of us at Blackbird are heading out into the world this month. Both Leo and Adam are going on tour with their respective bands while Nicole, Leah, and myself are off to Japan. Due to these absences, there will be an amount of time where the main e-mail account will not be checked and mail orders will not be able to get sent out.

From approximately Wednesday March 5th until Thursday March 13th, info@blackbirdballard.com will go largely unchecked. During this time, please call the store at 206 547-2524 for any inquiries. Please understand also that packages will not be able go out during this time. Operations will return as normal in the middle of the month. Thanks!

** Check below this post for regular updates.

JAPAN

We are having a great time in Japan so far. We have been doing quite a lot of walking and shopping and yesterday were happy to see a great performance by Maher Shalal Hash Baz at Ueno Park. Tomorrow begins a long string of appointments with brands and we can't wait to see some great new clothes!

Facebook

You are invited to join us on Facebook too. We've created a fan page where you can post pictures of yourself wearing clothes from Blackbird, write reviews and experience a more candid Blackbird. LINK

Swan Boats at Ueno Park, Tokyo

BAND OF OUTSIDERS

A-body long sleeve pique cotton shirt in black ($279)
Sizes: S, M, L

HARMON

Our first delivery from Harmon finally arrived! As you may remember there were some delays due to unfortunate circumstances, but Andrew Harmon was finally able to get his pieces ready. These clothes are an example of beautiful art which is simply fun to wear!

"Fishermen Pants" in black (price coming soon)
Sizes: 1*
* this size 1 could easily be considered one size fits all. The waist measures very large and ties in perfectly to accommodate pretty much any body type.


Parka in white (price coming soon)
Sizes: 1, 2

BLACKBIRD IS NOW HIRING!

Sales/Customer Care

Blackbird is a locally based retailer that is looking to hire people excited to participate in our growing community. Our customers travel from their homes in Ballard, apartments in Tokyo and farms in Walla Walla, Washington. We want to ensure that they feel at home, find what they are looking for and can't wait for their next trip back to Blackbird.

Primary Responsibilities:

* Use product knowledge and selection to provide exceptional service to customers

* Build relationships with customers; provide one-on-one personal shopping and wardrobe consultation

* Make direct contact with personal customers to suggest new merchandise and remind them of upcoming events

* You will perform merchandising tasks, such as stock, re-merchandising, display, price markdowns and cleaning

* Work as a team to ensure a clean, pleasant and safe shopping environment for our customers

Qualifications:

* Self motivated with an ability to deliver superior service

* Demonstrated ability to develop relationships with customers and co-workers of diverse backgrounds

* Able to work well as a team player

* Proven ability to plan, set and achieve goals

* Strong organizational and follow-up skills

* Excellent verbal and interpersonal skills

* Presents a professional image in appearance, words and actions

* Be a self-starter and use good judgment in all situations

*Experience a plus

This is a Full Time position only and candidates must be available to work a flexible schedule that includes daytime, evening, weekend, and holiday shifts.
Blackbird offers assistance with medical insurance and a generous employee discount.

To apply, please send your resume to elena@blackbirdballard.com or drop it off in person at Blackbird.

Photo Credit: Adam Sinding http://21arrondissement.blogspot.com/

TIM HAMILTON IN MEN'S NON-NO MARCH 2008

We have just received our first shipment from Tim Hamilton's spring/summer collection and are working to get some pictures on the blog. Until then, check out the following article from the March 2008 issue of Men's Non-no. Tim Hamilton has been a huge hit wherever he appears and Japan is no exception.


"Tom Brown, Scott Sternberg, Adam Camel and Michael Bastian are all popular new American traditional style brands in the New York fashion scene; however, one brand, with its original coloring and very selective material use, mixes for a modern and classic balance, making the brand stand out from these other brands in the scene. This brand is Tim Hamilton.

"There are many designers who arrange Ivy and preppy styles but mine is not like them at all. I don't think the brand should be grouped with American Traditional style, moreover, I intended to make my brand to be more than just American traditional style. We make our clothes mostly in Italy and Japan."

His own brand officially launched in 2007 with a spring/summer collection. New York's famous Bergdorf Goodman carried a small amount of his limited items.

"I don't intend to make my business bigger than I need to get support from my sponsors.　I just want to independently make whatever I like. I don't want to change that independent stance, though I need to work much harder to keep it that way. I feel very thankful that my brand is approved by people. I really like Japan and even want to move there in future; I feel really grateful to see my brand being so supported by Japan (laughs)."

In this season, following a fresh trend, the collection is using vivid colors, as well as short pants. For the formal business scene, the collection also has a luxurious and high-end business style.

"In March, the collaboration with Uniqlo, as a capsule collection, will come out. It is reasonably priced and will let many people try my designs. It is a very exciting corporation. Surely, we want people to check my main collection and hopefully get them interested enough for it to join your wardrobe (laughs).""