Michael Akira West is the Owner and Creative Director of 686 Technical Apparel. The following are some of his experiences inside and out of the industry across the globe. *Add Comments at Bottom of Page!
The Mad Ones March 30, 2012
Fresh off our 686 European Team trip, senior photog, Liam Gallagher introduces his web based video series titled “the Mad Ones.” His latest is all about 686 team general, Pat McCarthy and his Northwest roots.
Since I’m hanging with crew from Toyota, why not immerse into Japanese food culture. I’ve been to ramen houses all over the world and I can’t believe I’ve never been to this place?! Just cuz I like you, I’ll tell you the name of the joint in Japanese
To top it off, I have to check out the Karage. Ok, it passes my test. One of my top 3 ramen places to date
FR-S March 26, 2012
What does the world’s first boxer engine with D-4S, lightweight design and an affordable pricing tag all mean? To the tuner world, a whole lot of, as Scion officially announces the details of their first compact sports car. The team at Toyota asked me to roll by to get their “opinion” on something. In a nutshell, they're looking to “expand” the 686 concept car we did with them this season. Details will follow, but when I was there, the newly FR-S was on hand as it was measuring day. Measuring day is when they invite the aftermarket industry to spec the car so all the goodies can be made just in time for y’all to spend more $ to customize your joints. My style is more oldie but I understand why the heads at Scion are excited about this thing. For some reason it brings me back to my Prelude days. That was yesterday so check out what today has to offer, but first remember to
Cherry
Measure away
Stock
Take a seat
Nice
686 Euro Team Trip Mar. 22, 2012
Last week, the 686 marketing crew lead by Kristin and Pat took off to the Austrian Alps in Europe for our bi-annual team trip. The posse ran deep with the global pro/am team and photogs with the likes of Pat, Forest, Marco, Ryan, Atsushi, Ryan, Sebi, Ben, Sebi #2, Mario, Vanessa and Liam. Powder x Rails x Jaeger x Cheese x Good Times. Get the full story at 686
Since 1922 Mar. 21 2012
I’ll let you in on something-something Coming September 2012, 686 is proud to collaborate with the workwear giant, the Williamson Dickies manufacturing company on a capsule outerwear collection. In preparation for the new line, I made quick trip to their HQ in Fort Worth, Texas.
Don’t mess with Texas
I don’t want to ruin the surprise, so you’re gonna have to deal with some hints of what’s to come, starting with the tools of the trade
Dickies is the true originator of classic workwear and has been around since 1922. I love their vintage ad campaigns. You might just see something familiar come Fall . . .
Made to work (stay tuned)
Smoke and Mirrors March 20, 2012
Footwear stockiest, Kurt Geiger recently opened his new flagship concept in East London. I think they have the largest selection of goods in the world, or at least it seems to be
Holy Jim March 19, 2012
Before the rainy weekend here in LA, I managed to get outside and get my hike on. YES, I’m about to embark on a once in a lifetime journey towards the end of August to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa (more to come later). My homies tell me I better start getting my ass in shape and get outside. One hour away from my pad in the Trabuco Canyon, I arrive at the Holy Jim trail
Mr. Jim
Thanks for reminding me
7:30am: I’m ready to go
Yes, I’m still in Cali
Firestarter
16 miles of this, ain’t no thang?
I think this is the most snow I've seen all season
Upper where?
Almost there
At the top of the mountain, I feel like I’m either getting way too much radiation or about to meet ET
I hate to rewind, but on my way back from Asia, I made a pit stop in Honolulu to check out my friend's gig-POW WOW. Aloha
This is POW WOW’s second coming with over 50 artists from across the country doing there thang in the streets of downtown Honolulu. Come see it with me.
POW WOW creator and mastermind, Jasper Wong is one dirty dude. Thank you for being you
Smile Mar. 12, 2012
. . . . . . it's only clothing
The Boneyards Mar. 9, 2012
What does Retna, Shepard, Tuscon, Nose Cones and Cockpits have in common? Not much unless your referring to the ongoing Boneyards Project at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tuscon, AZ. Photos courtesy of flopbox. If you like what you see, check out PIMA for more.
Hoods of Norway Mar. 7, 2012
Our partners in Norway (Icon) exported there boyz to Northstar this season. Check the ruckus they've been causing
The master of disaster, the original original, the s-double, Mr. Shawn Stussy has been all over the world and back. If you want to see what he's been up to, check it HERE
Rising Sun: neither here nor there March 2, 2012
As much as I have an incredible crew, I like to travel by myself. It's really the only time I have time to think and reflect without interruption. I put on the headphones and roll to my own beat. Japan is one of those magical countries that have so much to offer, but only if you can find it. All over the place or only in one place, it's neither here nor there, but everywhere. Here’s a mix of random mashes from my last day here. I’m still lookin'
Blue Achieve were exhibiting at the SBJ/Interstyle trade show in Yokohama.
They know I’m not your tradeshow type of guy, however Hiro told me that their crew built this company timeline of our products in Japan over the past 20 years. Of course I wanted to check it out!
The hallway to my past
So many cool things I don’t even remember what we’ve done. I had this leather kick close to 10 years ago that everything I wanted to do was leather this and that
Mammoth ruler, Charlie Morace showing how its done
The Leather down jacket
About 9 years ago, our old marketing director, Brice had this idea of doing a “throwback” of 80’s garb which we called “Gaper.” It was basically a fun way on showing what we use to do (and some that still have no idea). We developed one pieces with silly color blocking and even started a website called gaperhunter that allowed kids to upload their own gaper moments. It was a joke that surprisingly a lot of people liked.
Fanny pack included
Towards the turn of the millennium, I had this idea of bringing denim inspired fabrications into shredding. 686 was the first to do this on a full scale and at the time, people flipped out
Years later, we teamed up with the kingpin of denim. The Levis Strauss Company on a cool capsule collection
We followed that with a few other partners like our friends at KR3W
Our first collaboration that changed a lot how people looked at things
Check out the old catalogs
This was during my TECH COLORBLOCKING design phase
The Band and Tri-Pipe pant?
This jacket could almost work today
The 10 year special SIA issue with some dork on the cover
E-Tree was the Sofa-King Scenester
I remember this ad we did with Gaetan at Jumbo’s Clown Room in Hollywood. The ad looks weird here, as the mag censored a lot what Gaetan was looking at
Lets bring it back, way back. Before it was 686, we were called Jib 686. Here’s my first ad in 1992
Our old logo
Street-Snow style
Wanna see something real funny? Check out our early winter outerwear designs. Talk about boxy--short fits. Classic and hilarious.
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