Thirty years ago, a company was established to counteract the increasingly unhealthy habits of consumer society. The initial idea was to be environmentally conscious, minimalist, and with “no brand.”

Today, MUJI is certainly recognizable. And, most would agree that the establishment of initial goals are now well and truly grounded.

MUJI, releasing on October 26, 2010, from Rizzoli, is a delightful brand book. Essays from designer Jasper Morrison and John C. Jay bring the growth of the brand into firm perspective. They write gracefully, but without the back patting celebration one might expect. They are, like the brand itself, matter of fact. Their tone is reflective of the publication as a whole – one that honestly presents three decades of advertising, product, and unique retail space. © MUJI, Rizzoli New York, 2010

Pre-order now from Amazon.

Select images from MUJI after the jump.

The Moses Sweater from Carin Wester is a black simple 50/50 acrylic/cotton mix which sits loose and it cropped high on the waist. Not your normal sweater, but you may accomplish the same effect with some shrinkage and pulling on an old sweater sitting in your closet. Consider this one professionally made. H&C has them.

More looks at the Carin Wester The Moses Sweater after the click.

The Schaefer brand introduces the Durango Vest, weather-proof vest that is made of “full grain American cowhide” and “is set on the collar and front/back western yoke which is all one piece for a weatherproof seal. The shell is constructed of 11 oz. Fenceline™ canvas with a DWR finish to repel wind and moisture.” This vest also incorporates “solid brass logo snaps with scalloped back kidney flap.” One of a few “proudly made in the usa” pieces that you can still find. Get the vest here Schaefer Ranchwear. (gb)

Columnist, Aaron Panone, and I have been going back and forth a little on the world of camera bags. He is a man of the classics and has pointed me at a bag which many photographers may be familiar with from the Domke family. The Domke F-5XB “rudggedwear” bag not only fit perfectly in title to this site but also in function. The Domke fits two lenses nicely with your D/SLR body as well. It is also a nice shoulder bag in general. Made in the U.S.A. as well (for those that care). Amazon sells them. (photo: Justin Qian)

It’s rare we get sent a worthy new collection from our inbox, but Braille is one collection that we felt good enough to share with you fine folks. What struck us about this collection is that although it’s wearable and masculine in that near-meaningless manner, it’s gone down a different route to the ‘going to the woods in my Junya’ look that’s permeated the menswear world over the last few months. And it’s all the better for it.

Take a look at some more pieces after the leap.

Through October 30, 2010, Richmond, VA’s Phil Nesmith’s fine photographs hang at Irvine Contemporary. The Washington, DC, gallery is showing a selection of Nesmith’s work entitled Flow. There is a suburb vintage feel about the images, both in aesthetic and subject.

Irvine Contemporary is located at 1412 14th St., NW, near P St., in the 14th Street Arts Corridor and Logan Circle area of Washington, DC.

More examples of Nesmith’s work at Curated.

Here’s one for the all black everything gang. Passarella recently made their first ready-to-wear collection and here’s our pick of the bunch. Sleek, dark and minimal are all adjectives that we feel we should be using when describing this piece. Our favourite detail on this piece however – not that you can see it in this picture – is the zipped cuffs, which gives it just enough of a unique feel to separate it from the hundreds of varsities available right now. Oh, and the sleeves are a buttery soft Japanese drum dyed leather, which is a big plus for any varsity.  Available only at Selfridges (on the mens contemporary floor).

Fashion designer turned photographer Hedi Slimane was commissioned by TheCorner.com to produce a short film. A teaser of the film has released now and it is entitled “I Love USA”.

“»I LOVE USA« is Slimane’s idealistic vision of the United States through the prism of the idyllic Californian lifestyle. The premise is simple: Sidney and Wolf are two teenagers who meet for the first time in Venice beach. The teens in the film were both scouted by Slimane at the Coachella rock festival, in 2009 and 2010, respectively; they meet for the first time on the set.

The title comes from the nickname Slimane gave to Sidney ›USA‹, who has appeared in many of his diary’s photographs, after he decided that she was the iconic embodiment of the California girl and the aesthetic representation of all-American beauty.

This exclusive video is an improvisation exercise (like ›Improvisation 1‹, with the royal Ballet of Copenhagen) that highlights the naїvety, the innocence of Sidney and Wolf, and features themes that have made the designer famous throughout the world: the representation of a generation, the diaphanous beauty of Sidney, and the very slim silhouette of Wolf project the intimate emotional atmosphere of a couple of teenagers in California.

Sidney improvises a chaotic cheerleader, far from the sweet imagery of cheerleading in American culture, and Wolf is a teen indie transposed in an ›indie‹ representation of »Peter and the Wolf«. He accompanies Sidney on his out of tune cello, in a wolf mask. Behind, a fleet-worn American flag belonging to Slimane is visible, a recurring image seen in several of his artistic works.”

Enjoy!

Some sportsmen have all the fun. Take Jarno Trulli, the Formula 1 racer. This man just got the king of all chrono’s from the Audemars Piguet house. While her may not the be the first to receive a signature watch, he does hold the seat of having one of the finest. “Celebrating the partnership established between Audemars Piguet and the Italian champion in 2008, the new Royal Oak Offshore Jarno Trulli Chronograph embodies the values shared by the racing driver and the Manufacture: a passion for perfection and precision, coupled with an obstinate determination to maintain high standards. For Jarno Trulli, these values are conveyed through the excellence he displays in his career as a racing driver, a daily experience that leaves no room for rough estimates, but is instead governed by the rigorous precision that makes all the difference.”

Japan looks to get this one before the rest of the world  (available now). 500 total units were produced. (tz)

More looks at the Audemars Piguet “Royal Oak Offshore Jarno Trulli” Chronograph after the click.

SOTO carries sweatpants from Han. They may not be as detailed as those Band of Outsiders sweats from yesterday but still quality all around. “Han’s heavy and thick 50’s chino sweatpants look good either at home, the gym or even combined with a nice button down shirt. They fit loose on the top and fit slim around the ankle. Great pants for the upcoming cold days, weeks, months.”

More looks at the Han Sweatpants after the click.