This post is for all the beauty-lovers amongst us. If you like to pamper yourself with luxurious products, we know just the perfect spot for you: Skins Cosmetics, with not only a store in Amsterdam but also in Rotterdam, Breda and Groningen.

Skins is the ultimate go-to for unique and exclusive perfumes, skincare and make-up. They import stuff from the most beautiful brands from all over the world, such as Laura Mercier, Aqua di Parma and E. Coudray. We love to go here on a Saturday, glance at all these amazing fragrances and lotions and eventually spend way more than we wanted to. And if we’re really in the mood for it, we spoil ourselves with a special beauty treatment in their salon.

You can find Skins Amsterdam in the Runstraat in the 9 Streets area, click here for more info, other addresses and their webshop.

The weather is still a bit unpredictable in Amsterdam, so a practical (yet good-looking) jacket is essential. This week, we chose this stylish Maison Scotch raincoat as our Favourite of the Week.

It is the perfect throw-on-and-go jacket for the weeekend, no matter what the occasion is. Whether you’re running errands in the city, spending the day at the park or actually going on a little nautical trip. It will add a classic twist to your outfit and protect you from some accidental raindrops, while its colour matches pretty much everything. And for those of you not really into the nautical theme; check out our other Maison Scotch jackets here!

Thanks to the national ‘Hemelvaart’ holiday tomorrow, we’ll have an extra long weekend. There are quite some nice events during this holiday, one of them ‘Het Weekend van de Rollende Keukens’ (which means ‘rolling kitchens’) at the Westergasfabriek. Dozens of mobile restaurants will gather here to create one big open-air restaurant, cooking the most delicious things for you.

Expect gastronomic pizza wagons, eccentric barbeque campers and soup carts, as well as drinks and music. What’s not to like? You can easily spend the entire weekend there, all we have to do is keep our fingers crossed for the weather!

‘Het Weekend van de Rollende Keukens’ takes place Thursday 17^th – Sunday 20^th from 13-23hr.

Hooray, it’s that time of the year again! The 65^th Cannes Film Festival will start tomorrow, so prepare for new must-see’s, celebs, dresses and awards.

It looks like we’ll be having a small American take-over this year, with new masterpieces from names like David Cronenberg, Wes Anderson and Jeff Nichols and the group of actors that will come with. As for the dresses, the best-dressed title will probably go to Reese Witherspoon, Marion Cotillard or Kirsten Dunst, while we also have high hopes for frenchie Juliette Binoche.

A film we’re looking forward to in particular is Wes Anderson’s ‘Moonrise Kingdom’, opening the festival. The film, starring Bruce Willis and Bill Murray, portrays two young lovers in the sixties who decide to run away. But they already had us at Bill Murray.

Keep an eye on the website for updates and pictures!

We know it’s only Monday, but aren’t we all secretly already thinking about the weekend? This Saturday, the Reflex Gallery in Amsterdam is hosting an exciting event: the opening of the solo-exhibition 'Journey for Something' of renowned Japanese photographer Daido Moriyama, where old and new work will be showed prior to a big exhibition he’ll be part of later this year in the Tate Modern in London. Mister Moriyama himself will also make an appearance and sign his new monograph.

Moriyama’s characteristic black and white pictures are known to show his love for Shinjuku, a busy Tokyo neighbourhood where businessmen, tourists, prostitutes and hipsters wander the streets. The images show a mix of rawness and power, trying to have a certain impact on your gut feeling. We can’t wait to experience this.

The opening event is this Saturday the 19^th and we’re giving away 5 invitations! Send an email to social@scotch-soda.com and let us know why you would like to attend.
The exhibition will run until the 28^th of July, click here for more info.


[Image Daido Moriyama, courtesy Reflex Amsterdam]

From this Monday the 14^th, it will be all about the music in Amsterdam. During the 10-day festival Indiestad, over 70 bands will perform on several locations in the city, such as Paradiso, De Balie and the Amstel Church. Some of them are already quite famous, others not yet. Amsterdam is seen as a great starting point for bands that want to make it in Europe, so prepare for a lot of new talent.

An important part of the festival is the Spring edition of mini-festival London Calling in Paradiso. Twice a year the coolest indie bands come to London Calling and play their latest tunes in our “Temple of Pop”, which is the ultimate place for a festival like this.

On www.indiestad.nl you can find all the info you need about the festival, tickets and locations. See you there?

Speaking of Summertime, we’re back with the Favourite of the Week with this pair of eye-popping neon coloured swimshorts! It comes in a wide range of colours, so you can pick your favourite. We strongly advise you to go for a bright one, neon is só this season. Because they’re not too short, you can also wear them on a warm day in the city or during sultry summer evenings on the terrace. Choose a basic tee to pair it up with, preferably in a matching bright colour (although one can never go wrong with a plain white tee).

The rest of our swimwear collection is now online available too, check it out here and make your Summer wardrobe beach-proof

One of our favourite museums is definitely the MOMA in New York, always hosting a great variety of interesting exhibitions. Today, we would like to point out something other than an exhibition; the “I went to MOMA and…” project.

The idea is really simple: after you’ve visited the MOMA, you can complete the sentence “I went to MOMA and…” on a piece of paper, which is directly shared on an interactive wall in the museum and on the website. This way, the museum creates awareness about what a museum can do for someone and how every person experiences it in a different way. We’d love to hop on a plane to participate, but just going through all the entries online is already so much fun! Initiatives like these are exactly what makes MOMA more than just another museum, check out their website for more info.

Summer can’t seem to find its way to Amsterdam, with too much grey skies and rain for this time of the year – even for Dutch standards. On grey days like today, we love to daydream about our next holiday destination. While we were browsing the web for inspiration, we stumbled upon this app that shows us the most beautiful places in the world: TRVL.

TRVL is (free!) travel magazine for the iPad that offers a blend of stunning photography and interesting stories about places all around the world. Whether you want to know more about Bali, Iceland, Kenya or San Francisco, TRVL’s got it covered. They now have 53 magazines available, and trust us: you’ll have a giant travel-wishlist after checking them out.

Guys, Summertime is officially around the corner so it’s time to add the perfect pair of beach-proof swimshorts to your Summer wardrobe! We now have a wide range of swimshorts online, consisting a variety of comfy fits, exciting colours and summery prints. Find you favourite style to match your sun-filled holidays and pair them with a classic polo shirt or one of our comfy vintage tees.

We also have an exciting swimshort collection for the little fellas. From short bleached shorts in tropical colours to printed cargo’s, you will definitely find him a cool pair of swimshorts for a beach day full of fun!

Ready to get in the mood? Click on the image to watch the video we shot in the beautiful Cannes.

Remember Madri from ‘A City Full Of Colour’? You can find her at one of our favourite stores in Amsterdam; the Lomography Gallery Store at the corner of the Wolvenstraat in the 9 Streets area. It is the place to be for the most eye-popping analogue cameras and accessories and also your must-go for inspiration and meeting fellow lomo addicts. Make sure you check out their event calendar as well; all activities sound like a lot of fun.

While we were there during our photoshoot, we just couldn’t stop drooling over all the camera’s. We noticed some colourful new models that would match our summer outfits perfectly. One model in particular happened to catch our eye: the Fisheye 2 Faded Denim from the brand new Monochrome Editions. This doesn’t need a further explanation right?

We have exciting news for you: you can win the Fisheye 2 Faded Denim! Send an email to social@scotch-soda.com and let us know where you’ll be taking you Faded Denim camera this Summer.

Shooting 'A City Full Of Colour' was an amazing experience for us. Not just because we got to shoot in our very own city, but also because these people were all so nice and inspiring. Click on the image and have a peek behind the scenes!

If you’re travelling to Amsterdam soon and looking for a fancy place to stay; this is the new hotspot in town. The Conservatorium Hotel, located in the museum district of Amsterdam, is a high-end luxury lifestyle concept with beautiful rooms and fantastic bar and restaurant areas (accessible for everyone).

The hotel is located in the building of Amsterdam’s former Sweelinck music conservatory, originally built in the 19^th century and designed by renowned Dutch architect Daniel Knuttel as a bank. Back then, Knuttel was praised for the mix of simplicity and functionality he created and the hotel as it is now still holds these key elements.

A room in the Conservatorium Hotel is definitely not cheap but hey, you only live once. And why not go there to just peek around and have a cocktail? Visit the website for more info.

This is something you don’t want to miss: in the Old Church in Amsterdam you can now visit the World Press Photo exhibition. The winning images from the world’s most prestigious annual photography contests begin their world tour on this amazing location in the heart of the city.

Some of the images will be heavy, showing horrible things that unfortunately still happen in the world, but most of them will be stunning – showing the beauty of nature, sports, art and science.
The exhibition will run until the 17^th of June, make sure you go there! Visit www.worldpressphoto.org for more info.

Even though things can’t be blue enough for us, we’re very happy our city (and the rest of the Netherlands) will turn orange this weekend! Queensday will take place on Monday, which means the entire weekend will be filled with fun parties and other activities. And with honouring our Queen, of course.

Amsterdam will be one big melting pot of events, from flea markets to festivals. Our friends at Iamsterdam.com made the perfect overview of everything that’s happening, so check it out.

We’ll start hunting for vintage treasures early in the morning, which is a common thing to do on Queensday. Since there will be street sales all over town, we predict it will get very busy. Snooze and you loose! After that, we’ll stroll through the city to find the best party in town. There are countless options, so it’s easy to do a party-marathon. Our plans so far:

• Watch the lucky people that arranged a boat to cruise the canals
• Catch up with the gays in the Reguliersdwarsstraat
• Take a special Scotch & Soda Queensday picture in front of our Heiligweg store
• Do a little dance on the Amstelveld
• Have drinks with friends in the always vibrant Jordaan area
• Head to Hanneke’s Boom to party until the sun goes down

Enjoy Queensday everybody, cheers!

We can’t believe we’ve already launched the last interviews today! ‘A city full of colour’ has been extremely exciting for us and we hope you’re enjoying it just as much as we do.

One of the last persons we’d like to tell you more about, is Orpheo. Together with a group of AMFI (Amsterdam Fashion Institute) students he runs the By AMFI statement store, creating concepts and products that reflect on the zeitgeist at school and in society, working closely with Amsterdam’s creative industry. Every four months they “recreate” the concept, in order to stay dynamic and innovative. According to Orpheo it’s very inspiring to work with these passionate students, who make this store an outstanding initiative that colours the city. They will present a new concept next week, so keep them on your radar!  Find Orpheo and the By AMFI store right around the corner of our Heiligeweg store, on the Spui square.

We’d like you to meet Arend and Kelly today – who are also part of our project.

Kelly is the Fashion Host of our beautiful store in the Huidenstraat. We like to call this store the ‘Scotch Gallery’, because it looks like much more than a store. We pick the most beautiful items to present there, using custom-made and furniture with characteristic vintage elements. Kelly and her team of Stylists will put all their effort into helping you find something that fits your personal style, so don’t hesitate to come in if you’re in the neighbourhood!

‘Guy-next-door’ Arend works at one of our favourite places in Amsterdam, Bar Moustache. Read more about this lovely café in the Utrechtsestraat here, but more important: make sure you go there soon to have a cosy cup of coffee or a tasty lunch!

Boy oh boy, do we have some nice new people to show you this Friday.  Our ‘A city full of colour’ project has been live for a couple of days now and the responses we got are truly overwhelming, thanks to all of you!

Ana, Oliver, Gunifort and Koen are today’s faces. Ana and Oliver both work at the Scotch & Soda headquarters in Amsterdam: Ana is a designer for our kid’s collections, while Oliver is responsible for the production of the Maison Scotch Collection. We can imagine you want to dress just like them; check out the special section in our webstore for these coloured favourites!

Koen is the Fashion Host of our Amsterdams Blauw store. Together with his team of Stylists, he provides every customer with a unique denim experience. Right next door, you can find creative bookstore Mendo. This is where our fourth face, Gunifort, works – selling the most beautiful books while dressed in neatly styled outfits.

We’ll be back on Monday with two new faces!

Meet Philip, Miguel and Maarten, the owners of Bar Boca’s in Amsterdam. At this bar, the Dutch “borrelen” (having drinks & bites and catch up) is what it’s all about. Ever since these guys opened Boca’s, the place has been packed. In a good way, because the atmosphere is always vibrant and friendly.

So, what about the most important part – the food? If you like to eat a lot of different things, this is the place to be. Based on the Spanish principle of the Bocadillos, you can order a variety of  tasty bites. From small burgers and soups to mini-lasagna; you can easily compose your own menu. No matter what you choose, we guarantee it will be delicious.  

Boca’s is located on the Westerstraat, in our beloved Jordaan area. We strongly advise you to give these guys a call to make sure you have a table!

We’ve launched 4 new faces and their interviews today on our special ‘Amsterdam – A city full of colour’ page. One of them is Jan, who owns a little supermarket on the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam.

Even though it is a tiny store, Jan and his supermarket are quite famous in his neighbourhood. Overtime, Jan has clearly bonded with his customers: everyone (apart from some occasional tourists) knows him by his first name and is interested in how he’s doing. The real regulars can buy on credit, which is Jan’s way of showing his appreciation to these loyal customers. If you’re ever in the neighbourhood, this is your go-to for small groceries, a nice chat and a friendly smile.

We proudly present to you: Amsterdam – A city full of colour! It is a new and exciting interview project, showing you our beloved city of Amsterdam and its colourful people. You can discover new people and their looks every day, so keep us on your radar!

Today, we’d like to tell you more about hair stylist Tommy. The first thing you notice about him is his messy hair; not exactly what you would expect from a person with this particular profession. But anyone who’s been in his chair knows he doesn’t really care about other people’s expectations. Waving at everyone passing by his salon and creating hair styles that fit each client’s personality prove he’s an energetic guy, driven by his open personality and creativity.

Together with Jelmer from Amsterdams Blauw, Tommy will kick off our project. Click to see their looks and interviews!

We're about to launch a very exciting new project! It's still a bit of a secret, but we can tell you it involves inspiring people from Amsterdam. Did we get your attention yet? Then come back tomorrow to see more!

We have some happy news for you on this Friday the 13^th: it is Dutch Museum Weekend and this means you can visit almost every museum for 1 euro! Over 500 museums nationwide will open their doors and organise additional events and activities. Sounds like the perfect opportunity to do something different and dive into our country’s rich cultural heritage.

Our picks? The brand new Eye Film Museum and the beautiful Maritime Museum, both located in the beautiful harbour area of Amsterdam. But why not grab this chance and do a big Museum marathon the whole weekend? Click here for more info.

We’re pretty sure every woman loves silk. It’s soft, it’s luxurious and it looks beautiful. Our Favourite of the Week is this washed silk top, available in three different colours.

On a warm Summer day, a comfortable outfit is just as important as a good-looking one. A loose, silk top like this is definitely comfy and breezy, and at the same time it adds a chic twist to your outfit. The embroidered details and ruffles make is one of those special pieces Maison Scotch designs for us every season. Pair with a denim short for a day at the beach or with your favourite loose pants for a sultry summer night.

Hooray for Google! Since last week, we can visit basically any museum we want without leaving our house. Of course nothing beats a real-life museum experience, but this is a great alternative when it’s raining cats and dogs outside. Or if you’re not exactly able to visit the Hong Kong Museum of Art for the weekend.

The updated Google Art Project allows you to have a look inside 150 different museums all around the world, with a total of approximately 30,000 pieces. Some of the finest museums of Amsterdam are included as well, so if you always wanted to check out our Rijksmuseum or the Royal Palace – this is your chance! You can wander around, see all the different rooms and zoom in on the masterpieces on the wall. We hereby found new hobby for rainy Sundays!

Woody Allen’s new film ‘To Rome with Love’ won’t be in theaters before Summer, yet the trailer has just been released and we’re already very excited about this one. After enjoying ‘Midnight in Paris’, Allen takes us to another amazing European city. Not only do talents like Alec Baldwin, Penelope Cruz, Roberto Benigni and Ellen page star in this film, mister Woody Allen himself has also returned to acting. After five films of directing-only, we’re very happy to welcome him back as an actor – watch the trailer (by clicking on the image) to get a sneak peek!

Tomorrow, we’re not supposed to wear shoes. We know, it is not exactly the kind of weather for bare feet yet, but this isn’t about fashion. It’s about raising awareness for the countless children all around the world that have to live without shoes due to poverty.

The day is initiated by TOMS shoes, hosting events in Tokyo, Seoul, Los Angeles, New York, London and Amsterdam. All around the world, people will take off their shoes, share their experiences and see what it is like not to wear shoes. Millions of children have to live without footwear, risking infections and other diseases. TOMS shoes is based on the concept of giving a pair of shoes to one of those children every time someone purchases a pair of TOMS.

Lovely initiative, everyone should participate! Read more about it here.

This weekend, we’re celebrating Easter. We can imagine you don’t want to be spending two days eating eggs, so have a look at our Easter-to-do-list and see if you want to join us.

• On both Sunday and Monday, the Artis Zoo in Amsterdam will host an Easter egg hunt. During this hunt, you’ll learn all about animals that lay eggs, accompanied by fun questions and drawings. Sounds like the perfect activity to entertain the little ones.

• In Amsterdam North, the IJhallen flea market will take place. From clothing to furniture; this is the place to be for some serious vintage shopping. Including real vintage prices (we love the 1 euro piles!).
  
  
  
• If you haven’t seen ‘Les Intouchables’ yet, grab your chance this weekend. It’s French, it’s funny (and touching at the same time) and it’s based on a true story. What’s not to like! Check out the trailer here if you still need to be convinced.

Happy Easter everyone!

You must have noticed by now we’re over-the-top happy about the rising temperatures in Amsterdam, as Spring is definitely our favourite season. One of the reasons we love Spring so much is because we get to wear shorts again, and this week we picked these denim chino shorts as our Favourite of the Week.

A denim chino gives you best of both worlds: the all time favourite and comfy chino model - made of ultra-cool blue denim. What more can a boy ask for on a sunny Spring day? We love to sport a preppy look, combining the shorts with a checkered shirt and a gentleman’s hat for example. Going for a day full of fun on the playground? Just pair your shorts with a colourful tee and some flipflops and you’re good to go!

And for all of you big boys out there: we also have the denim chino shorts in our Amsterdams Blauw collection for men!

Jeans: a word you probably use on a regular base – but where does it come from? Back in the 1500s, Genoa (Italy) was the most important port in Italy. The sailors that worked there wore sturdy cotton pants that were made of a strong, blue denim fabric – perfect for a day of hard work in the harbour and on the ships that came in and out. Because they were so strong, the pants from Genoa became popular trading items. The name of these popular pants? ‘Blue de Genes’. We guess we don't need to explain any further, do we?

While the historical definition implies that all jeans are made from denim, jeans as we know them today basically just refer to pants with five pockets – some of them made from denim, others from denim-like fabrics like corduroy or plain cotton. As you know, prefer the word denim over jeans, simply because we love (and use) the real deal denim fabric!

Every now and then we show you some of the pictures we take during our inspiration trips to places like New York, L.A., Tokyo and Paris. Not only do we take pictures, we also visit flea markets, local shops and the latest hotspots. Postcards, clothing, napkins, music, art, and sometimes even furniture; everything we think is inspiring comes back with us to our design office in Amsterdam.

So, what happens next? We isolate ourselves from the outside world for a couple of weeks and basically design the entire collection. Right now, we’re creating our Spring Summer 2013 collection and we couldn’t be more exciting about it. Unfortunately we can’t show you anything yet, but click on the image to see some snapshots we made in our office today.

Eye Amsterdam, formerly known as the Film Museum, will open the doors of its new location this Wednesday.  Eye has always been located in a beautiful monumental building in the Vondel Park, but they’re now moving to a cool futuristic venue in the harbor area in the North of Amsterdam.

We’re very excited to see what Eye will offer apart from great films. They’re kicking off with an opening festival from 5-11 April, with exclusive premiers, live music, a special day for kids and a film quiz (oh how we love quizzes!). So they’ve already scored their first bonus points.

The Dutch Queen herself will officially open the new building, visit Eye’s website for more info.

If you’re still searching for the perfect spot in Amsterdam to spend your sunny Saturday afternoon, look no further. We made a top 3 of our favourite hang-outs, just outside of the overcrowded city (where you’ll have to fight for a chair), which will make you feel as if you’re on a mini-holiday. Fresh drinks, tasty bites, open space, and a great vibe – they all have it, so make your pick!

• If you’ve been to the Westerpark before, you know there’s always a warm and friendly atmosphere. This also applies to Pacific Park, right next to the park. Open every day, big terrace, and a lot of sun during the day. They often have bands playing there in the weekends, which will make you stick around till late.
  
  
• Roest, in the East of Amsterdam, is a bit more arty and edgy. Located in a former industrial area, the place is very open and spacious. They also created a little beach area, sand and beach chairs included. Keep an eye on Roest for cool creative events, parties, theatre and more.
  
  
• Hannekes Boom has recently joined our city and is definitely here to stay. Just a couple of minutes from Central Station, but yet it feels like you’re far away from the city rush. It is next to the water, and accessible by foot, bike and boat. Everything is easy and comfortable at Hanneke, and the food is delicious! Make sure you enjoy the view on the city too!

We love colour and we love denim, you must know that by now. And since Spring is definitely in the air, these bright coloured denims for girls are our Favourite of the Week.

It is so easy to sweeten up your day with this season’s fresh and pretty pants! Team your pink skinnies with a basic white tee or a pair of candylicious shorts with a comfy sweater, and you’re ready for a day full of fun. For the boys, we advise these minty green denims; you’ll be too cool for school!

Without indigo, denim wouldn’t be anything like it is today so we figured it’s about time to tell you more about this lifesaver.

Indigo is a pigment, originally extracted from plants, that is used to give denims their authentic and luminous blue colour. History tells us indigo was imported from India (India-Indigo, see the connection here?) and used by Europeans for painting as well as medicinal use. People even believed it had healing powers, partially because of its special colour.

In the early 1500’s, Indigo was known as "the most valuable of all spices” and the largest emporia that imported this commodity were London and Amsterdam (we saw this one coming). Overtime, indigo went through quite a transformation and from the 19^th century it was accessible for everyone thanks to the production of denim.

We hereby would like to officially thank indigo for being here, giving our jeans the colour we love more than anything: blue!

* During our research, we used this amazing ‘Indigo’ book we found in Tokyo. A must-read for all of you denim aficionados out there.

To warm up for Spring and gather new inspiration for next summer’s collections, our designers flew to Los Angeles. We came back all warmed up and with lots of cool new ideas. And a palm tree obsession, which you’ll notice when you click on the image to see a slideshow of the pictures we took.

Now this is what we call a perfect combination: a New York Times Magazine exhibition, in Amsterdam! New York Times Magazine is well-known for its stunning photography, so an exhibition with a selection of it makes sense.

The exhibit will not only show a set of nice pictures, it also explains the roles photography and print magazines play these days. This is done through eleven different modules, each focusing on a different project that has been published. Together they give a great impression of NYTM’s eclectic and visual character.“The New York Times Magazine Photographs” is hosted by Foam (no surprise there, right?) and runs till the 30^th of May.

We’re giving away 2x2 tickets! Email to social@scotch-soda.com and let us know why you would like to go.

When it comes to us talking about people that are really into denim (which obviously includes ourselves), we use the term ‘denim aficionado’ a lot. You might not be too familiar with this word, so let’s see what the dictionary has to say about it: 

a·fi·cio·na·do [uh-fish-yuh-nah-doh; Sp. [ah-fee-thyaw-nah-thaw] an ardent devotee; fan, enthusiast.
Origin: 1835–45; Spanish; amateur, past participle in -ado -ate of aficionar  to engender affection, equivalent to afición affection.

In other words, a fan with a great enthusiasm for something. A denim aficionado is someone who sees his or her denims as more than a pair of trousers; they want it to be something special and personal. To pursue that, the aficionado does remarkable things. Taking a hot bath with their jeans on for example (your denims will shrink to a perfect fit), or going into the ocean and roll in the sand with it afterwards.  Laying in the snow for a while will do the trick as well. Our Amsterdams Blauw denims fit this aficionado-kind-of-life perfectly; they’re more than ready for you to go all out and add some extra character to them! Are you ready to become an aficionado?

A checkered shirt is something every man must have in his wardrobe. This Spring, we’re very much into the bright colour tones for men, so we picked this shirt as our favourite of the week.

The classic tailored look keeps warming our hearts, and this season we love to sport a more colourful variant. Inspired by the characteristic Italian “Pitti Uomo” (big fashion fair in Florence) style, this sophisticated look is a favourite– preferably to make a very normal day less ordinary. Combine it with a pair of coloured chinos to make it extra speciale.

Last night, something big happened in Amsterdam: Dutch Vogue was launched. Ever since the arrival of it got announced a couple of months ago, there has been a big buzz about it. Who will be the editor in chief, who will shine on the first cover, and most important: will it be any good?

The party was obviously very well taken care of: food, drinks, music, fashion - it was all there. The thing we were really anxious about was to finally flip through it. Most of the content is created by Dutch talents from the industry, which is something we can appreciate. The 290 pages are filled with beautiful images, inspirational shoots (the ‘New Look in Amsterdam’ shoot is definitely a highlight) and great articles. Everything breathes the classic Vogue style, with a refined Dutch edge. And that’s what will distinguish our Vogue from the others, right?

Vogue Nederland will be in stores tomorrow, visit the website for their online experience.

This might come as a surprise to you, but we do leave Amsterdam every once in a while to visit other Dutch cities. Last weekend, Groningen (in the North-East of Holland) was on the agenda.

One of the best gems of Groningen, is the Groninger Museum – right in the centre of the city (on its very own island!). The museum currently hosts an exhibition we were really looking forward to: “Azzedine Alaïa in the 21^st Century”  - about the extraordinary couturier and his creations.

The exhibition was displayed in a beautiful yet simple way, putting extra emphasis on Alaïa’s designs. The pieces themselves were stunningly intricate and we could get close enough to see the amazing details and craftsmanship. Although we probably won’t get into haute couture ourselves any time soon, this was definitely very inspiring! The exhibit runs till the 6^th of May, it’s worth the trip!

So we were walking around in our favourite bookstore again, and immediately fell in love with “Foto”, by Dutch photographer David Mentzel. Since Mentzel worked in journalism as well, Foto shows an overview of 40 years of history through his portraits of remarkable people.

The book clearly points out he is a genius when it comes to creating intimate, personal portraits; whether they’re of members of the royal family or young and upcoming actresses. Our favourite picture is by far the one of our Queen Beatrix on the cover. Something with a picture and a thousand words…

If you’re not visiting Mendo any time soon (which would be a pity), you can also order your copy here.

As Spring is coming closer (welcome back in Amsterdam, dear Sun!), we feel the need to dress more colourfully. The women in our office are really stepping up their game, sporting happy floral prints in bright colours. That’s why this week, our Favourite of the Week is the Hawaii shirt from the Maison Scotch SS12 collection.

Who would have thought the Hawaii shirt would make a come-back? We certainly didn’t, until we saw this one popping up in the new collection. The shirt has a cool and trendy boxy fit, meaning is it slightly cropped and a bit wider than a normal shirt. Made from a super soft silk-cotton mix and available in 4 colours, this shirt will instantly get you in the tropical holiday mood!

Paradiso is by far one of our favourite places in Amsterdam when it comes to concerts and clubbing. We reckon there’s something magical about this “temple of pop”, and the makers of this documentary agree with us.

‘Paradiso’ (catchy title) describes a day in the life of Paradiso, narrated by a couple of great names from the industry. Beautiful shots, music, and a hint of Paradiso’s magic are all part of this documentary. Click on the image to watch the trailer and to understand why this is a must-see. The documentary is shown in Cineville’s Kriterion in Amsterdam.

Our design team went to Paris to do some research (read: shopping), eat croissants and feast over the real Parisian style we love so much. During these inspiration trips, we take hundreds of pictures. Some of them end up on our moodboards while creating the new collection, some of them are just funny snapshots or sweet memories.

Click on the image to see a selection of the pictures we took in le wonderful Paris.

And if you’re in Paris soon, make sure you drop by at ‘Le 404’ and ‘Derriere’; both very nice restaurants. At ‘Le 404’ you can eat the most delicious couscous (in style of course) and at ‘Derriere’ (which means ‘behind’) you can choose from a variety of rooms to sit in during lunch or dinner, as if you’re in someone’s house. Très cool!

For those of you who are fans of the tall latte’s, skinny mocha’s and caramel frappucino’s; there is a new hotspot in town! This weekend, Starbucks opened its doors at the Rembrandt Square. It’s not just a regular Starbucks, it’s a “concept store”. And it’s huge!

The 430 square meters venue is designed by 35 different artists and craftsmen and is filled with references to the Dutch (coffee) culture, with ‘speculaas’ (traditional Dutch cookie), Delft Blue tiles and recycled oak wood. The coffee bar is about 17 meters long, making sure you get your favourite coffee as soon as possible, preferably accompanied by a homemade cookie.

Even if you’re not really into the mass-coffee-culture, you should pay a visit to experience this amazing location. Open from 7AM-10PM every day.

If you’re looking for an original activity for the weekend, we suggest you pay a visit to Amsterdam’s Vondelpark. Make sure you do it when it’s dark, because you’ll be in for a treat. The Stedelijk Museum presents “Blues Before Sunrise”, a project by Amsterdam-based artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen.

So what is there to see? McQueen has put blue lights in all of the 275 streetlamps, so the entire Vondelpark will be blue at night. According to the artist himself, light can completely change the atmosphere and people’s perception of a place. Since we’re into basically anything that’s blue, we’re truly amazed by this art project. It will be in the Vondelpark till the 25^th of March, go check it out!

A boy has to look cool at all times, whether he’s on the playground, at school, or riding his bike with friends. That’s why we think this worked-out college sweat jacket is one of the eye-catchers from our Scotch Shrunk collection and an ultimate must-have for boys.

You know we love to add special details to our garments, so you’ll find a lot of them on this item as well. The embroideries and badges provide a smart college look, yet perfectly sized down for him. While this jacket is cool, tough and very boyish, it also has a soft side: the jersey sweat fabric, which makes it super comfortable! Combine it with a basic tee or a classic denim shirt; instant coolness is guaranteed.

You may have noticed by now we love denim. Ever since we started our Amsterdams Blauw line, we’re completely addicted to the blue lifestyle. To spread the love and to make you a bit more familiar with our denim-geek-ism, we’re going to explain some of the terms we often use. Today, we’d like to tell you more about LOT 22.

LOT 22 is a part of the Amsterdams Blauw men’s collection and holds a premium selection of denims. This collection is specially laundered in Italy, using the most premium fabrics. Washes, repairs and other cool effects are all done by hand. LOT 22 is the metaphorical denim laboratory for the design team; an experimental project that allows us to test new ideas. One of the cornerstones of LOT 22 is the Dean style, recognizable by its innovation in fabric qualities, wash effects and hand repairs. A very special experiment is the Selvedge Rail Bang: a radiant 14oz green cast dry Japanese selvedge denim, not to be washed (and if you do, please follow these rules) until summer 2013!

Some things are simply something you have to have. Like a decent phone case. Nowadays, your phone basically holds your entire life and at the same time they’re more fragile than ever.

To take care of your phone in style, we made these beautiful leather cases in a range of colours. What colour matches your lifestyle? Pick your favourite here!

Imagine this: British duo The XX, performing their song ‘Crystallised’, acoustic, on a bridge in Amsterdam. Sounds amazing, right? If it does to you, you’re going to love Amsterdam Acoustics. This initiative organises pop-up performances of well known and not-so-well known artists on beautiful locations (or funny, like in the tram) in Amsterdam. Our favourites? Besides The XX on a bridge, you simply must watch Kings of Convenience’s Erlend Øye in tram 5 and The Asteroids Galaxy Tour on a roof terrace.

It’s that time of the year again! Electronic music & art festival 5 Days Off is about to hit Amsterdam again, from 7-11 March to be exact. During these days, our favourite venues Paradiso and the Melkweg will be taken over by renowned artist from around the world, spinning their tunes as if their lives depend on it (which is a good thing).

We suggest you take a couple of days off, maybe even all five, because this is going to be one hell of a party. Dub-step, house, techno, electro, drum-n-bass, minimal; every niche of the wonderful world of electronic music will be represented. Visit the festival’s website for more info and tickets.

PS. As part of the festival, Melkweg cinema hosts a pre-screening of ‘Anton Corbijn Inside Out’ on the 9^th. Make sure you put that one in your agenda too!

Denim items are a must, always. Whether it’s your umpteenth pair of denims or a chambray shirt, they always complete your outfit. This week, we chose this girl’s denim jacket as our favourite of the week.

A denim jacket is an item that comes in very handy on a chilly spring day. Perfect to play outside with all day long, looking cool as ever. It’s a typical throw-on-and-go item that will make you look effortlessly stylish. This washed denim jacket comes with an exclusive Scotch R’Belle bandana, an accessory that happens to be the ultimate must-have this season. As for the jacket, we’re very happy it’s also in the Amsterdams Blauw collection for men, boys and women.

Meet Sibella Court, Sydney-based interior stylist, writer, creative director and owner of The Society Inc. store - in other words; a very inspiring person. After living in New York for 15 years (jealous much!) she decided to write a book about it, ‘The Stylist’s Guide to NYC’, and reveal every little stylish thing she knows about this city. Which is a lot!

A nice-to-know-fact is that she did almost all the photography herself, whilst exploring New York on her bicycle. Stores, café’s, galleries, restaurants, gardens, and what not; it’s all in there. The book is extra light-weight, holds a fold-out map and a back pocket for the little souvenirs you’ll gather on your way. You can imagine it went straight to the top of our wishlist. Our very own copy is on its way as we speak, you can order yours here.

We already told you about how we love to go to Foam every now and then to check out new talent and photography. Last month, Foam opened a new concept and we like it. &Foam is a unique store, selling magazines, books, prints and other photography- and design-related products.

Foam's in-house gallery, Foam Editions, has been moved to &Foam too, which makes it something way more than just another good-looking creative store. The large gallery space will not only be a source of inspiration, you can also get limited editions of prints by leading photographers and young talent at “attractive” prices.

&Foam currently presents ‘Fashion&Foam’, emphasizing the interface between fashion and photography through the exhibition in the Editions gallery (in cooperation with the Rietveld Fashion Academy) and an extra range of fashion books and accessories. Music&Foam, Design&Foam and Film&Foam are planned for later on this year.

You can find &Foam at Vijzelstraat 78 in Amsterdam.

Our Maison Scotch design team went to Tokyo on an inspiration trip. This time, the trip was all about finding new treasures and ideas for our new Spring / Summer 2013 collection. Sounds far, far away but we’ll start designing it very soon!

If you’re lucky enough to visit Tokyo in the near future, make sure you visit the Daikanyama neighbourhood, which offers a nice combination of nature and shops and café’s.  It’s easy to spend a full day here, shopping for vintage finds and drinking coffee with animal prints on it.

If you’re on the look for a cool restaurant, ‘Gonpachi’ is your go-to. This is where a part of Kill Bill was shot, which is already reason enough to check it out, right? No worries, the food was de-licious as well.

Click on the image to watch some of the pictures we took.

It must be pretty clear by now we like films, so you can image how excited we are about this Sunday, when the 84^th edition of the Oscars will take place. Who will go home with one (or more) of those coveted golden statuettes, who will cry during his or her speech and what’s everyone wearing? Remote? Check. Popcorn? Check. Seen every film? Not yet!

Luckily enough, newspaper Parool and Pathé de Munt cinema in Amsterdam will host an Oscar weekend. You can spend the whole weekend watching the nominated films, so you’ll know exactly what they’re talking about during the show and decide whether you agree with the judges.

Enjoy your film weekend!

You probably already spotted this tee in some of our SS12 campaign images; needless to say we’re very much into it. The Breton stripe is something you have to have in your wardrobe anyway, and for Spring a red edition is a must. Just to brighten up your look a bit.

We like this tee in particular because of its vintage sun-faded effect, which makes it look like it has already been your favourite for years. Layer with a cool denim jacket on those chilly Spring days, or pair it with shorts on a sultry Summer evening.

It’s always great to hear inspiring people telling about themselves and what drives them. We came across this series of videos, One Minute Wonders, which presents seven “people who live within a moment in time that we define as the Present Plus”. In sixty seconds, they talk about what they do for a living, their vision and future goals. Very inspiring, check it our here.

Today, we would like to introduce another one of our favourite places in Amsterdam. If you’re a fan of design, interior and coffee – you’ll like it here too. Friday Next is a so-called concept store, bringing together a café with an interior design store.

We love to drop by, enjoy a delicious latte and glance over the furniture they offer, imagining what our dream house would look like. If you’re not immediately inspired by the furniture itself, you can always have a look at the “coffee table” books Friday Next sells. And for those of you who really want to step up their game; you can hire them for some personal interior advice.

You can find the store on Overtoom 31 in Amsterdam.

We stumbled upon this series of photographs and we just had to share it with you. Photographer Irina Werning re-enacted people’s photos from the past, copying every single detail. It’s sharp, it’s touching, it’s admirable, and most of all: it’s hilarious.

Click here to see what we mean. Nice to know: you can participate in this project yourself!

This week, the Berlinale (the Berlin Film Festival) takes place, which is one of the biggest film festivals in Europe. Like any other year, there will be lots of premiers, cool cult film and awards – which you know we love.

One premier in particular caught our attention: ‘Anton Corbijn Inside Out’, a documentary about Dutch multi-talent Corbijn. The film will show us who the man behind the amazing photography (he had Bono, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Waits in front of his lens), film and design is, recorded by Klaartje Quirijns. It will be in Dutch cinemas from the 22^nd of March, we can’t wait!

London is definitely one of our favourite cities, and since London Fashion Week is starting tomorrow - the city is on our radar again. You’re probably not part of the invitees for the big fashion shows either, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grab this chance and visit London to spot the fashion crowd and visit cool new places.

London Fashion Week’s website happens to be the place to be when it comes to finding the crème-de-la-crème of London’s hotspots. Whether you’re looking for the best place for snacking, a top 5 of must-visit London stores or the most recently opened bars; you will find what you’re looking for.

London here we come!

We would like to welcome you to our new section; the Favourite of the Week, where we will tell you more about our personal favourites from the SS12 collection.

We’re hitting it off with this picture perfect fashion blazer, one of the eye-catchers of the Maison Scotch collection. It is a typical Maison item, made from a mix of special materials and full of details. Finished with raw edges, coloured beads and cuffs for a tough-chic edge, this blazer is a must-have to spice up any outfit and give it a hot spring-2012-bohemian touch.

2011 was a good year when it comes to films. For those of you who have been living under a rock (or if you just want to see them again): Melkweg Cinema is your go-to. This month, they will show some of the best films of 2011, selected by cinema.nl.

Melkweg Cinema, on the top floor of the Melkweg nightclub, is a perfect place to watch a film – and maybe even grab a party downstairs afterwards. So if you haven’t seen Lars von Trier’s ‘Melancholia’, ‘Drive’ with Ryan Gosling exactly how we want to see him (dark, silent and mysterious) or other masterpieces from last year, this is your chance!

You know we’re not into the really cheesy stuff, but on Valentine’s day – anything goes. It’s just that one day you’re allowed to do as romantic as you want.

Our friends at iamsterdam.com made a top 14 of thing to do in Amsterdam around Valentine. Not all of those fourteen ideas would be on our list, but there are some really nice ones on it which we might try ourselves! Our picks? The Wed & Walk, where you’ll get married for just one day, and “dreamy postmodern romantic pop”-band ‘The Secret Love Parade’ performing in Paradiso that night.

Visit the website for the list and details.

One of the advantages of living in a big city like Amsterdam, is the amount of nice new shops opening every once in a while. Stylescout is one of those new boutiques recently added to our city. They sell a variety of unique labels, mainly offering lots of cool (some of them one-off) accessories and other fashion must-haves.

We’re planning on going there to spoil ourselves with some Ladurée (yes, the one from the Parisian macaroons) goodies, like perfumed candles and home fragrances. Who doesn’t want a home smelling like pralines, glazed chestnuts or mimosas?

After already being present online for a while, Stylescout is now open at Elandsgracht 91 in Amsterdam.

Today on Wash of the Week: the Salt Lake Blue wash, applied on the Ralston. While these denims are very light and bright, you can still see the residue of the original blue colour on the seams and pockets. The bleaching was done by hand to provide a natural worn-out look.

To hold on to the 3D effect, a resin (a light coating) treatment is applied on the “cross hatch indigo”, which is a broken twill fabric with a beautiful construction that adds body to this Ralston. Through scraping and destructing the vintage look of the Salt Lake Blue wash is completed.

Due to the combination of treatments and the way they were applied, these denims have a natural faded look; as if you’ve been wearing them all summer. This might just become your all-day-every-day summer denim!

Some of you already noticed we shot our Spring/Summer campaign in the lovely Cannes in the south of France. Needless to say we had a great time there; it is such a beautiful city with such a great, warm atmosphere. A perfect setting to capture our new collection. And of course to enjoy the Mediterranean coast, eat croissants and spot the rich & famous of the Côte d’Azur on their yachts. Click on the image to see some behind the scenes snapshots.

A big thanks goes out to the city of Cannes: merci beaucoup Cannes!

Valentine’s Day is almost here! Are you planning on surprising your lover? As we’re counting the days till the 14^th, we’ll provide you with a 5-day gift guide. Just to make sure it will be a special day. Keep an eye on our webstore, as there will be new ideas every day.

Love from Amsterdam,

Scotch & Soda

To celebrate the launch of our SS12 collections, we organised a fashion show to present the highlights to special guests. The event took place at the Westergasfabriek, one of our favourite venues in Amsterdam. Models, clothes, stylists, photographers; it was one busy day! Click on the image for the official backstage snapshots.

Whenever we go on a trip, we feel the need to buy souvenirs. Preferably the really cheesy ones, like Colosseum-shaped ashtrays and Big Ben fridge magnets. For the ones who actually want to get something nice (and maybe even useful) as a souvenir from Amsterdam, we found the perfect place.

‘Thinking of Holland’ is a souvenir shop, offering cool Dutch Design gifts. From storm umbrellas to wine-racks and jewellery – it’s all there, and not looking cheesy whatsoever.  Everything’s made by Dutch design labels and designers; you can even find Dick Bruna’s Miffy! The store is located in the Passenger Terminal on Piet Heinkade 23 in Amsterdam. They also have an online shop, in case you’re not visiting Amsterdam any time soon.

The Dust till Dawn is another outstanding wash, which you can find on the Cinq P, one of our timeless favourites with a straight leg and comfy fit. The fabric has a soft hand feel and due to a hint of stretch it has a good ‘recovery’. This means it won’t loose its shape and recovers every time its gets stretched out. The fabric has a characteristic deep blue colour, by applying scraping techniques is gets even more deep, almost looking three-dimensional. The dark blue shades are easy to combine with other colours; just throw on a cool tee or fancy top and you’re good to go.

The Cinq P is one of our core styles and an essential in every collection. It has a couple of characteristic details, such as the cotton backpatch, a twisted beltloop on the back and a leather welt on the coin pocket. Also look for the all-over Dandelion print on the inside, representing the Maison Scotch logo. This pair of Amsterdams Blauw jeans is dynamic, classic and will in no time become your favourite!

What happens if you park your bike on a busy street in New York? The makers of this nice little video chained a bike to a post in the middle of Soho and made a picture of it every single day. We were quite surprised by how long the bike managed to stay there. Are people in the Big Apple not so much into (stealing) bikes as in Amsterdam? Click on the image to watch the video.

Our kid’s design team went on an inspiration trip to Los Angeles to see what’s hot and happening over there. L.A. is so much more than the glamorous Hollywood we all know. We drove around, visited flea markets and enjoyed tasty burgers at cool diners. Click on the image to see some snapshots!

Now this is an album we’ve been looking forward to. Lana del Rey immediately caught our attention when we first heard Video Games, and after seeing what she looks like (stunning) we were fans.

We guess you already know Video Games, where you got to meet her soft voice with that mysterious raw edge. We stumbled upon new song Born to Die a little while ago and we were completely sold again. The voice, the music, the video! Her album is in stores now – we say, go get it.

We love food, especially when it’s organic. Luckily for us, Amsterdam is a place where you can find lots of places to get yourself some yummy ecological delights. Iamsterdam.com, an essential website for anyone who likes our city, made a top 10 of best places for organic food and drinks. Our favourites? Fresh sourdough loafs from the Vlaamsch Broodhuys with cheese from the Kaaskamer. Have a look at the list, start watering over it and dive into the city!

This weekend, we’ll leave Amsterdam for another big city: Rotterdam. Until the 5^th of February, the International Film Festival Rotterdam will take place. Apart from the newest films and documentaries, there will also be music, talk shows and parties.

We’re looking forward to the Tiger Awards in particular, where new talents from all over the world show their film in hopes to win the award. Fifteen films have been nominated and eight of them will have their world premiere at the festival. Expect great films from all over the world, from directors who might be the next Nanni Moretti or Lars von Trier.

Visit the website for more info.

From today, Amsterdam will be all about fashion for a couple of days. Yes, we also have our very own Fashion Week. Not only is there a variety of fashion shows for the fashion in-crowd, there will also be a more accessible and creative programme, called Fashion Week Downtown.

During the Downtown event, you can visit lots of expo’s, see inspiring fashion films and get yourself a new wardrobe at special sales. There will be countless events, so have a look here and create your personal Downtown schedule.

Last week, the Bread & Butter fair took place in Berlin. Bread & Butter is one of the biggest fashion trade fairs in the world and of course, Scotch was there too. We showed our new a/w collection, met interesting new people and had lots of fun. Berlin is such a cool and inspiring city!

Today, the Chinese new year has officially begun. It is one of the most important events for the Chinese and since there are a lot of them living in Amsterdam, this festivity won’t go unnoticed.

On Sunday the 29^th, in our very own Chinatown around the Zeedijk area, the year of the Dragon will be kicked off. Expect fire, traditional dancing and a lot of food. Of course we’re very much interested in the food part, and luckily enough there will be a giant Asian food market on the Nieuwmarkt.

While you’re there, make sure you have a look at the Fo Guang Shan temple as well.
Gong Xi Fa Cai (happy new year)!

From this Sunday the 22^nd you can find the ‘Neighbourfood Market’ on the Westergasterrein every third Sunday of the month. It will be an event where food-lovers can eat, meet and discover new products and dishes. Organic farmers, top caterers, bakers, butchers, cheese makers, and what not offer you countless delights, made with love. Sitting at long tables with your friends, while trying as much delicious treats as possible; doesn’t that sound like the ultimate Sunday? You’ll have to bring your own plate and cutlery, so we’ll act a bit ecologically responsible at the same time. Love that idea!

Today on Wash of the Week: the Blue Triumph, to be found on the Dean. It is a high quality 12oz denim, made in Italy. The fabric of this Dean can be described as a red cast indigo. To give it an extra tough look, techniques like 3D, whiskering and scraping were applied. These tricks make the denim subtly look as if it has been worn for years. Through scraping, the light shades on the thighs fade into different tones of indigo, eventually flowing into the dark base colour; like a path of (blue) triumph.

Since this Dean is part of the exclusive Lot22 line of Amsterdams Blauw, you can find special details like a cool logo print on the inside, as well as a lucky wooden coin and a ‘hickory stripe’ patch on the back pocket. Just another unique denim. What’s not to like?

Since we’re big fans of Daniel Craig (and he’s a fan of our Ralston denims), we’re very excited to see this new film; “The girl with the dragon tattoo”.

This is the first one of Stieg Larsson’s best-selling trilogy, telling the story of journalist Blomkvist who’s assigned to investigate the disappearance of a wealthy girl. Expect mystery, action, drama and great acting from Daniel Craig and rising star Rooney Mara. In Dutch cinemas from tomorrow.

Click on the image to watch the trailer!

Did you know we also sell Amsterdams Blauw for boys and girls? We shot this cute video for the SS12 collection to show you some eye catchers from the collection. We went into the woods, made ourselves a cool hang-out and did fun stuff al day long - just like any perfect spring day should be. Click on the image to watch the video.

See more of our SS12 videos on our video channel.

So, did you watch the big show last night? Apart from best actor and actress (big hooray for Meryl and George) we we’re very excited which film would win Best Motion Picture.

Of course we had our personal favourites too, although it was impossible for us to choose one particular winner. Some of us really liked ‘Hugo’, the first 3D family film by Martin Scorsese and a typical British adventurous feel-good film. Other people in the office (read: ladies) were more fund of ‘The Ides of March’. George Clooney and Ryan Gosling, the two most-wanted men in Hollywood, together in one film. Need we say more? ‘The Help’ definitely caught our eye as well; honest, sharp, funny and great acting from rising star Emma Stone. Ironically, ‘The Descendants’ (the winner) hasn’t been released in the Netherlands yet. But since it involves George Clooney and Hawaii, we probably agree with the judges.

Check out http://www.goldenglobes.org/ for winners, videos and more.

…and go to style.com for an overview of the dresses.

In the ‘9 Straatjes’ neighbourhood, which is by far our favourite shopping area in Amsterdam, there is one store in particular we just can’t get enough of: bookstore Mendo.

Mendo is specialised in creative books; fans of interior design, fashion, architecture and photography will feel as if they’re in heaven. The store itself is b-e-a-utiful, with lots of dark furniture and industrial elements. Mendo doesn’t have an online store, simply because they believe browsing the shelves in an inspiring surrounding is an essential they can’t withhold from you. Just another excuse for you to visit Amsterdam, right? You can find Mendo at Berenstraat 11, don’t forget to drop by at our Denim Deli when you’re there!

Since it is Friday the 13^th today, we thought you could use some positive energy. After seeing this video you might be more motivated to hold on to those new year’s resolutions, and useful advices like “when you eat, appreciate every last bite” will remind you of enjoying life as much as you can. We know, we know, it’s a tiny little bit cheesy. But we found out the Holstee Manifesto has been hanging in our office for months! And there are lots of bicycles in the video.

Yesterday, we celebrated fashion at the Elle Style Awards. There were a couple of prices to win; the Personal Style award, the Belle of the Balle award and the Stylist award. It was really great to see all these Dutch talents and the show was just one big spectacle on a stunning location. The theme of the night was ‘Roaring Twenties’ and people dressed up in a way we never saw before. And to make it complete, there were dancers and a fan-tas-tic jazz band.

Click on the image to see a slideshow of this eventful night!

This week, our favourite denim wash is the Pebbles, which you can find on the La Parisienne skinny from the new Amsterdams Blauw women’s collection.

The Pebbles is a bleached wash, and the original colour of this denim was a soft grey tone. In the pockets you can still see this “residue”; a typical characteristic of bleached and washed denim. The bleaching of this one was done in a subtle way, so the grey base is also still visible on the seams and the cut and sewn details around the waistband. We reckon this gives the denim something different, something special.

The fabric itself has a soft and smooth hand-feel with just a hint of stretch in it to make it extra comfy. The structure, with a bit of a slub, is subtle as well – it fits the wash perfectly and gives this piece of denim even more character.

Get your own La Parisienne Pebbles here.

Foam, the museum of photography in Amsterdam, is a place we drop by on a regular basis. There are always interesting exhibitions, from very well-known photography legends to up & coming artists, and the coffee is not too bad either.

Foam currently hosts an exhibition of Joel Sternfeld, one of the pioneers of colour photography. “Color Photographs since 1970” shows a selection of a couple of his series, offering us a look into American daily life and how Sternfeld’s exceptional feeling for colour is a part of that. After seeing so many black and white pictures these days, this colourful exhibit is quite refreshing!
Read more about Foam and this expo on www.foam.org.

We hope you’ve already had a chance to take a look at our brand new video channel. One of our favourite SS12 videos is a behind the scenes video of the Amsterdams Blauw SS12 shoot. In this video, Christian Göran (you know, your favourite beard-guy) talks about his life and passions. This man is much more than just a pretty face! Click on the image to see the video.

Whenever we go on a city trip, we feel the need to do out-of-the-ordinary things, preferably inspired by what the locals do and not so much by what other tourists do. With Gidsy, this has become a lot easier.

Gidsy is an online marketplace for authentic experiences, offered and organised by locals. From a dumpling tour through New York’s Chinatown to “sightjogging” in Amsterdam; the most original activities are to be found on their website. After selecting one (or more of course), you can easy peasy invite your friends through Facebook. Gidsy is now here for Amsterdam, Berlin and New York, let’s hope other cities will follow soon!

Survived the first week of 2012? Time to celebrate! Here are some of our favourite Amsterdam spots where you can find us this weekend.

We’ll start with drinks at Proust, a cosy bar on the Noordermarkt. It does happen every now and then we stay there for dinner as well, which is not bad at all. If we do manage to go to the next place, we love to go to Brandstof; a bar/restaurant with a great menu. Including very tasty (and super thin) pizzas. It is possible to stay there the rest of the night, since they’ll spin some danceable tunes till late. If you’re up for some serious clubbing, go to Paradiso. A real party night is guaranteed in this “temple of pop”.

Hope you have a good one, enjoy!

We have another beautiful denim wash we’d like to tell you more about. This week: the Bonneville Blend, applied on the Mailer and part of the brand new Amsterdams Blauw collection.

This pair of jeans is made of authentic ring slub denim, something the denim-lovers amongst us will appreciate. When washing the fabric, it usually has a deep, blue indigo colour at first. With the ‘washdown’ of this denim we used scraping, a technique that gives the fabric a fresh, light and cloudy look & feel. Another interesting fact: all repairs (like the patches on the left leg) are done by hand.

This combination of authentic fabric, special wash-technique and man-made hand repairs makes it another piece of denim we’re proud of!

You know we love bikes, especially when there’s design involved. No surprise we’re head over heels about this Cyclepedia iPad App, which offers an interactive collection of 100 bicycles that changed cycling history.

With Cyclepedia, you can browse through bikes (by name, year, style, manufacturer, etc.), watch videos and learn more about their history. Even if you’re not the biggest bike fan, we guarantee you’ll be amazed by this beautiful app. Hey, you might even want to ride your bicycle more often.  And did we mention it looks stunning? Watch this video to see what we mean and get the app here.

There’s a new magazine in town and we like it! Park, the “first journalistic glossy”, is a Dutch magazine that offers a mix of interesting stories, culture and lifestyle. Interviews with remarkable people, inspiring fashion spreads and images from international photographers like Bruce Weber and Anton Corbijn make Park a very good read.

It distinguishes itself from other magazines by a very wide range of topics, interesting for both men and women. Plus: a total of 170 pages and little ads, so you won’t be done within the hour. Park is in stores now, have a look at the website to get an impression.

Happy new year everybody!
New year, new website, new collection. Enjoy!

In Holland, New Year’s Eve means eating ‘oliebollen’ all day long. Instead of writing down the recipe for you, we thought it might be more practical to show you a video of how it’s done. If you are in a hurry, watch this one. If you got plenty of time on your hands, you should watch this video.

THANK YOU!

Before we leave you for the new year, we would like to thank you for this great year and all of your love, support and feedback. We’re looking forward to the next year, where more exciting things will come up. So keep a close eye on our blog. For now, have a great New Year’s Eve with lots of champagne, see you in 2012!

Love,
Scotch & Soda

This will be the last chapter of the Holiday To Do’s, we hope we gave you enough inspiration to survive your Christmas holiday!

A must-do before the end of the year is compose a list of New Year’s resolutions. At the Scotch & Soda office we’re already in the middle of it, here’s our list (draft version) in case you need some input.

- Eat more
- Drink lots of fresh ginger tea (good for your everything!)
- More fun
- Visit a restaurant of every different kitchen
- Watch more art-house films
- Explore the world
- When in doubt, always go for it
- Get a puppy
- Cook more
- Eat more chocolate (for the feromones!)
- Visit more concerts
- Learn to surf
- Be on time for Lowlands Festival tickets

The Nemo Science Centre in Amsterdam has a special holiday programme, with lots of cool activities. You can test your Christmas dinner left-over’s, make your own toys and learn how to make or stop a fire. It’s actually meant for children, but we bet it’s fun (and educative) for everyone. Visit Nemo’s website for more info.

Tonight, you can find us at the Melkweg in Amsterdam, where New Cool Collective will perform. If you haven’t seen them play before, don’t miss this! With a mix of jazz, dance, latin, salsa, afrobeat and boogaloo they’ll make sure we want to dance non-stop.

We hope you enjoyed yesterday’s tips. For today we have another trio of ultimate holiday activities, have fun!

A little while ago, Dutch tattoo-hero Henk “Hanky Panky” Schiffmacher opened the Amsterdam Tattoo Museum. Tattoo machines and hand tools, photographs, flash, drawings, statues and even human tattooed flesh (!) are part of the grande collection. We bet you’ll want some ink too after visiting. Go to amsterdamtattoomuseum.com for more info.

In the mood for some ice-skating? In the Westergasbriek in Amsterdam there will be a 500m2 rink where you can perform (or practice on) your moves. There will also be drinks, cheese fondue and live music. Meet you there? Go to the website for more info.

If you’re looking for indoor entertainment, organise a tv-show marathon! Definitely something we will be doing. Some of our favourite series: Dexter, Gossip Girl, the Killing, Fringe, New Girl, the Walking Death, Mad Men, the Wire, Modern Family, Homeland, Game of Thrones, Californication and Sex and the City (even if that will be the 73rd time we see it). Did we forget one?

This week, we’ll provide you with a couple of fun holiday activities - some of them more active than others. We hope you’ll like it, enjoy!

A film we’ve been looking forward to is ‘Carnage’, the latest masterpiece by Roman Polanski. Four great actors, one set, and a lot of conversation. This movie promises to include humor, insanity and violence. We can’t wait! Watch the trailer here.

To burn a few of those Christmas calories, go to Tango Magia, the 14th international tango festival in Amsterdam, which will transform the city into “Buenos Aires on the Amstel”. The festival offers workshops for all levels, live performances and a Tango Café. Visit the website for more info.

And for those of you who prefer to stay in and be a true couch potato: we have the perfect activity where couch, being lazy and a semi-social activity are combined. Wordfeud! We’re totally hooked, are you?

Christmas Eve (the 24^th) is the perfect night to open gifts and eat lots of (read: too much) meat, but some of us just prefer to go out and do something. Amsterdam hosts a couple of very nice events, which might be somewhat nicer than dinner with your parents in law.

Artis, the one and only Amsterdam Zoo, will host a special Winter Night. From 17:00 there will be tours in the dark, where guides will tell about the animals’ sleeping rituals and share stories about the nocturnal animals. We reckon it will be amazing to see the zoo by night! They will serve hot chocolate, gluhwein and ‘stamppot’ as well to keep you warm.

For dinner & disco, the must-go spot in town will be Club Canvas. During dinner, special hosts will narrate nostalgic Christmas stories and two mystery guests will play live music. After dinner, it’s time to dance! Note: there will be an empty Christmas-tree: bring your own decorations!

If you’re still on the hunt for the perfect Christmas ideas, it’s probably unnecessary to say you’re a bit late. However, we do want to provide you with some last minute gift-inspiration.

For guys, we say a bottle of Barfly is essential. It’s fresh, it’s musky, it’s a fragrance must-have. 
For the ladies, one can never go wrong with some jewelry, like a statement ring. Although a warm knitted beanie is definitely a winter must-have as well.

For more items to surprise him or her with, visit our special gift pages in our Webstore.

As Christmas is coming closer, we seriously can’t stop thinking about it. From the best music to play during dinner till what movie classics we should watch the day after (Home Alone I, duh).

If you’re in the middle of these annual mental preparations too, you can probably use some distraction-slash-inspiration. If you didn’t know Kirstie Allsopp yet, we’re happy to introduce her to you now. “Crafty Kirstie” shows us how to create the perfect Christmas experience at home; from decorations to turkey. We’re fans! Watch the one of Kirstie’s videos here.

Tomorrow, the Winter Parade will hit the city. From the 21^st till the 26^th of December, you can enjoy the perfect combination of dinner and theatre while sitting at a 120m long table in the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam.

The ‘Table of the Idea’ will be the stage of actors, dancers, musicians and poets. They’ll make sure you have plenty of entertainment during dinner, so it definitely won’t be a candle-light style dinner with possible awkward silences. Theatre-chef André Amaro prepares a delicious Italian farmer’s meal, which is exactly what we need on a cold winter’s day.

On the 26^th , the Winter Parade will host a kid’s day, including a Silent Disco. Sounds like a fun family activity for Boxing Day, even if you don’t actually have kids. Go to www.winterparade.nl for info and tickets.

Our designers visit the factories every now and then, to make sure everything is made exactly how we they imagined it. They’re located at the most inspiring places around the world, from India to Italy. We thought it would be nice for you to have a little look behind the scenes of Scotch & Soda and get an impression of those visits.

At the Maison Scotch design office, there are quite some women. So sometimes it’s inevitable to end up talking about girly things, like nail polish. Check out what’s been buzzing around at the HQ’s this week.

Blog: The Coveteur offers a look in to the (sometimes over the top) stylish homes of people working in the fashion and lifestyle industry. On this blog, you can endlessly feast on great design furniture in New York lofts and to-die-for fashion items. Warning: it’s addictive.

Art: This street art project in Reykjavik (Iceland) gave us instant happy feelings. Danish artist Theresa Himmer makes graffiti-ish installations with countless sequins, that become simply stunning once the sun shines on them. 

Music: The new album of Florence and the Machine is some serious ear candy. It’s beautiful, it’s raw, it’s romantic, it’s on repeat! 

Beauty: We just can’t get enough of Essie’s winter collection. Even if you’re not a big fan of nail polish, you’d want these bottles for their funny names, such as ‘Bangle Jangles’ or ‘Size Matters’.
Must. Have. Every. Colour.

If you ask us, boots are the perfect items to match with your Amsterdams Blauw denim. One of our favourite got-to’s for a pair of decent, stylish, leather boots, is Red Wing.

Red Wing is a brand that’s already here for over 100 years, founded in 1905 by an American shoe merchant whose goal was to create a better work boot, with leather, buckles and laces for a strong and secure fit. Today, it’s not only a strong and secure shoe; it’s an essential for the denim aficionados.

The Amsterdam store is located in the Nine Streets, a characteristic shopping area where you can also find our Amsterdams Blauw denim store. So while you’re in the neighbourhood to get that perfect pair of Amsterdams Blauw denims, also get that perfect pair of boots.

Make sure you have a look at their blog too, it’s pretty interesting.

Up next on the denim details series is ‘selvedge’. Selvedge is the type of denim fabric that forms a natural edge during the weaving process, so the edge doesn’t unravel. The selvedge denim is made on shuttle looms, which weave the fabric with a continuous cross thread that is passed back and forth all the way down the length of the bolt. As the weft loops back into the edge of the denim it creates this “self-edge”.

This might sound a little bit too technical, but the selvedge technique definitely gives your denim something exclusive and basically the best quality you can get. Regular denim fabrics get cut off at the ends during the weaving process, so they’re not as strong as the selvedge ones. The real denim lovers amongst us will instantly notice a pair of jeans made from selvedge denim and wear them with the cuffs rolled up. In the current Amsterdams Blauw collection we have a few selvedge denims, check them out here or visit one of our stores to get to know more about these denim stunners.

Today on Wash of the Week: the ‘Sacre Bleu’ wash. It’s applied on a few denims from the Amsterdams Blauw women’s collection, including the new Constructed Cropped Chino.

The luminous effect you see on these comfy denims, is created with scraping and shading; two techniques that add depth to the wash. The whiskers on the thighs and knees provide the Chino with natural wear patterns, as if you’ve already been wearing your jeans for months. As you may know, our designers sometimes want to add a little edge to the garments - so you’ll see some paint splatters on this denim.

The Constructed Cropped Chino is a tough but comfortable model, distinct from the classic chino by its characteristic wash and constructed details. A great piece of denim, which might just become your favourite this season!

When we saw this “Hero” video, we just couldn’t stop looking at it. It’s pure craftsmanship, with beautiful details. And that’s our thing, if you hadn’t noticed yet. Artist Miguel Endara made a portrait of his father, composed out of 3.2 million ink dots - which took him 210 hours. In-cre-di-ble, don’t you think? Watch the video here.

This month, the new Scotch Shrunk and Scotch R’Belle collections will hit the stores. An important theme in these collections is ‘Let’s go bananas!’ and our designers went all out on that one, taking it with some items more literally than with others. From eye-popping colours and fruity all-over printed pants to surfy summer tones and comfy tees; it’s all there.

Click on the image to see more.

A couple of weeks ago, our design team went to Tokyo to soak up some Japanese style and culture. Turns out Tokyo has a lot more to offer besides sushi, harajuku girls and skyscrapers. Click on the image to see what we mean.

Sometimes we wish we were visiting Amsterdam as tourists. The Exchange Hotel has opened its doors last week, and it looks very promising. It is a fashion-inspired hotel and the rooms are designed by students of the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, each with a different view on fashion and interior. There is for example a room completely devoted to the romantic style of French Marie-Antoinette, including a huge dress that covers the wall and the bed. We all need a some kitsch in our lives every now and then, don’t we?

You can choose from 61 different rooms, ranging from 1 to 5 stars. Some of them with a great view on the downtown city centre of Amsterdam, some of them with a not so great view but with a lot of character. As an opening promotion you get 50% of each room, so if you were about to plan a trip to Amsterdam you know where to stay. And make sure you also visit their ‘Options!’ store for a little design souvenir.

Go to www.exchangeamsterdam.com for more info.

When it comes to finding the perfect vintage treasures, the Noordermarkt in Amsterdam is the place to be. Every Monday from 9:00 to 14:00 there is a flea market here, with everything you could possibly need to sport that Amsterdam vintage style. Apart from clothes, you’ll find special antiques and second hand furniture here as well. On Saturday (9:00-16:00), a bio-market takes place with yummie products from local farmers.

The Noordermarkt is located in the Jordaan area, where you can also find the Scotch & Soda office. With great places to have coffee, dinner or drinks and stores with out-of-the-ordinary stuff, the Noordermarkt and its surrounding streets is definitely on our list of favourite places.

Some of our fixie friends have had the chance to wear the Merckxxx for a couple of months. We’re naturally so very curious to find out what they have to say about the jeans we developed especially for them. Our next rendezvous is with poet-cum-bartender and one of Amsterdam’s very first fixed-gear pundits and cycle couriers, Martijn den Bakker.

The bike you ride today features a couple of decent brakes. Tell us a bit about your cycle history.

‘I started back in 1996, riding fixed gear as a courier through wind, rain and storm for years on end. I set up a courier company called ‘De Versnelling’ with some good friends, which I had to give up when I went to live in the US. That’s where I rapidly got the hang of serious cycling: I faced thick packs of snow in Minneapolis and the steep slopes of San Francisco. Racing down a hill at 50 to 60 kilometres per hour definitely pushes your boundaries. These days, cycling is still a great part of my life; I cover at least 20 km every day. I’m more aware of the risks now, so I ride a single speed race bike with brakes.’

Your Merckxxx jeans seem a perfect fit. How do you like them so far?

‘Their best feature beyond doubt is the high rise at the back. More jeans should be like this. Normally you end up sitting on your belt with your butt crack showing, that’s no good at all. Also, the reflecting patterns round the ankles actually got me out of paying a police fine when I once forgot my bike-lights. Those deep, reinforced back pockets are great because they hold a U-lock of course, but also a microphone: very handy for my live performances. I’m wearing them out now, so I’ll come get some new ones soon!’

Note: Click on the image for a (if we may say so) very nice slideshow.

After seeing the docu on fashion icon Diana Vreeland (ex-editor in chief of US Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar) at the IDFA last week, we we’re very happy to find out there’s also a book about her. In ‘Diana Vreeland: The eye has to travel’, her great granddaughter Lisa Immordina Vreeland looks back on the never-out-of-style life of this “high priestess of fashion”.

Old interviews, memoires and spreads from magazines Vreeland worked for show that she was a controversial visionary with great taste. Driven by her talent in writing and her ability of always discovering the latest fashion talents, designers and photographers, she definitely marked her territory in the fashion business. This is a must-have for your coffee table: get it or regret it!

It’s no secret we’re into wine. Very much. So we love this new concept as well: a pop-up wine bar. The bar has just opened its doors in the city centre of Amsterdam and will stay with us for about 4 weeks. This magnificent place has 41 different wines to choose from, with prices per glass from €3,50 to €350. We’d love to try them all but at a certain point it does get a bit too expensive.

To create a hous-ish environment, the bar is divided into different areas. A comfy couch, a large kitchen table, a bedroom and even a bubblebath (!): it’s all there. And to prevent you from not remembering all this the day after, they serve a variety of snacks, such as cheese, sushi and French charcuterie.

The Pop-Up Wine Bar is located at Marnixstraat 429 in Amsterdam. You know where to find us this weekend!

A piece of exciting news: our new Amsterdams Blauw Spring/Summer collection will arrive in stores from the 15^th of December onwards! The Mademoiselle in ‘Latte Macchiato’ wash is one of the eye catchers of the Maison Scotch denim collection.

The ‘Latte Macchiato’ is inspired by the smell of a fresh cup of coffee with a Saturday morning; the time of the week when you’re free to do anything you want. It has a dirt spray on the insides as well as on the waistband. The effect of the spray reminds us of a milky, delicious latte macchiato and it makes the denim look like your everyday, worn-in jeans; perfect for some road tripping.

This Mademoiselle sparks an instant rock ‘n roll feeling, while the light pink stitching gives it a feminine touch. Finish your look with a nice top and you’re ready for a beach party! We know, it’s only the beginning of December, but don’t we all look forward to summer again?

A little while ago, our creative team went to the Big Apple on an inspiration trip, and thankfully they made a bunch of photos. Since this metropolis offers a complete overdose of inspiration, it turned out to be a big bunch. From ah-ma-zing street art to cute corner café’s, the camera just kept on snapping. Click the image for a slideshow.

You might have noticed the logo of the Maison Scotch collection holds a dandelion. The dandelion seeds of the logo are a symbol for the journey of creating a collection, as they get carried away by the wind and travel like tiny parachutes around the world.

No surprise this dandelion art project immediately caught our eye. German artist Regine Ramseier collected over 2,000 dandelions and made a stunning installation in a plain white room. Astonishing, if you ask us! Click on the photo to see it for yourself.

And we couldn’t be more happy about that! Taking a photo and instantly having a copy of it in your hands is something a fancy mirror-reflex camera (or an iPhone for that matter) simply can’t give us. Polaroid has a new range of instant camera’s -digital as well as analogue- which make it possible again to capture and print immediately, just like the old school Polaroid camera.

Our favourite is the 300 Instant Camera, the analogue version, which takes the classic no-nonsense, small photos and has an automatic flash. If you’re more into an advanced and digital one, you should get your hands on the ‘Z340’, with lots of extra features and editing options.

Visit Polaroid.com for more information, the camera’s and the ‘Movement’ platform for inspiration.

We’re hitting this new series of ‘Wash of the week’ posts off with the Paris Texas wash. It is a signature denim wash within the Amsterdams Blauw Autumn/Winter collection, inspired by the iconic movie ‘Paris, Texas’, by German director Wim Wenders.

Story-wise, the wash refers to the characters who have to solve problems each in their own way, as each pair of this denim is broken and hand re-repaired differently (by craftsmen, don’t worry). This includes painter spot accents and re-patched pockets.

Our designers also used visual elements of the film, with dusty tinting and L.A.-inspired bright stitching colours. So this is definitely not just a pair of denims; it’s the story that makes wearing them something special. Get your hands on the Ralston Paris Texas here.

We thought it would be nice to share one of our favourite places in Amsterdam: Bar Moustache. We love to go here for a cup of coffee (accompanied by one of the magazines lying around), a late weekend breakfast or a tasty Italian-style dinner. The interior isn’t too bad either; a combination of vintage chairs and little design treasures makes us feel like we’re at home. Except the food is way better.

The café is located in a nice neighbourhood as well, surrounded by fancy boutiques, vintage stores and galleries. You can find Bar Moustache at Utrechtsestraat 141, visit the website for more info.

Have you already tried Barfly, our very own signature fragrance? Much like our clothes, the perfume has its own character and is full of details. With top notes of citrus-herb, middle notes of lavender, jasmine and outspoken elements of sandal and cedar wood and a musky vanilla base note it’s an extraordinary and surprising scent. Not just a must-have for yourself, but also a perfect gift for the holiday season!

Like us on Facebook to receive your personal Barfly sample, or purchase a bottle in our webstore.

Shuffler.fm is an online music magazine where visitors can listen to almost any song in any genre by channel surfing through music blogs. You can either select a music genre, search for a specific track or listen to recommended (new) songs. Since Shuffler already makes a selection, it is the perfect medium to stumble upon music you probably wouldn’t find yourself.

The website has now also launched its iPad App. Wherever you are; you can browse through the coolest new music and read interesting background info from the blogs while listening. It works on Airplay as well, so you can play these tunes over a stereo system wirelessly. In other words, as loud as you want: a full music experience is guaranteed. Get the App here.

We have another sneak preview of our new Amsterdams Blauw denim collection for you: this week we’d like to tell a bit more about the Brewer in the Blue Ray wash.

It is going to be the perfect season to wear your light-weight 10½ oz Brewer, with or without the smart suspender belts that come with this pair of comfy denims. The Brewer has a tapered carpenter fit with a low crotch. It’s made of red cast, a traditional dyed and pure fabric that has a beautiful shade.

The Blue Ray wash is created with a slightly transparent coating, which lights up in a very special way due to the red cast. The result? A clear and luminous, crispy blue wash. This will be your perfect and versatile everyday denim.

A clock is an essential, whether it’s in your living room, in the office or at the gym. Estonian designer Pavel Sidorenko created ‘Cities’, a collection of fifteen wall clocks, inspired by different cities. Always nice to see an everyday product in a very cool design. Old records are cut by Sidorenko and show silhouettes of buildings and other iconic characteristics of the cities.

The Amsterdam clock for example shows a windmill and a bike, how surprising! Our personal favourite is the Rio, which gives us an instant warm summer vibe. Pick your favourite and buy one here, they’ll cost you 32 euro. And if you’re not really into the cities, you can also go for a teapot or rabbit-shaped vinyl clock.

Design duo and husband and wife Charles and Ray Eames are widely regarded as America’s most important designers and probably best known for their chairs. Apart from that, they made a wide range of other furniture, graphics, film, toys and even splints for wounded soldiers during WWII.

Today, ‘Eames: The Architect and the Painter’ will be released; a documentary about the Eames. The film, narrated by James Franco, tells the story about the personal lives of these creative geniuses, as well as their influence on the American life during the mid twentieth century. And of course about the chairs. We reckon it’s a must-see! Watch the trailer here.

Now this is a good excuse to pay a little visit to London. The Victoria and Albert Museum is hosting an expo about the popular and controversial Postmodernism, with the pretty self-explanatory name ‘Postmodernism – Style and subversion 1970-1990’. Magazine covers, cool photography and work from the great Andy Warhol are all part of this major exhibition.

After a visit to this Postmodernism expo you’ll know everything about this experimental art & design movement and where it came from, not to mention you saw some amazing and very versatile artwork. Fashion, architecture and design; there will be an interesting mix of all of that.

The expo runs until the 15^th of January 2012, read more about it on the website.

As it gets really really cold outside and we start prepping for winter, we’re figuring it isn’t all that bad. An advantage of it is gathering a new wardrobe, preferably with lots of knits. Cardigans, sweaters, scarves, beanies; we just love knits. Click the image above for a selection of our woolly favourites and find them in our webstore.

Winter also means warm and cosy nights with friends in front of the fireplace, wearing a comfy knitted sweater, obviously, and eating as much “stamppot” as we can.  For the best stamppot in town, we advise you to go to ‘Stamppotje’ in Amsterdam, where they cook this Dutch dish as if our grandmother made it (which is a good thing).

Imagine this incredibly busy day, you write down little reminders on the back of your hand, but at the end of the day all there’s left is blue stains. Sounds familiar? We stumbled upon these post-it watches and immediately ordered a family-pack.

French designer Doriane Favre came up with this idea, so simple but so brilliant! Just wrap it around your wrist, et voilà; the perfect reminder is on a spot you’ll glance at anyway. Of course you can also write something sweet on the watch and put it on your friend’s wrist, or put a magical time on it (like 11:11) so you can make wishes all day.

For € 9,80 you’ll receive 100 watches, get them here.

Coming Wednesday the 16^th, the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam will hit the city again. It is one of the biggest and most versatile film festivals of the world, with premiers of a broad range of documentaries. Some of them very refreshing and innovative, others tell about current social topics and some of them are just stunning.

This year, IDFA will also show a variety of music docs in cooperation with Play, a music festival that will take place at the same time in the Melkweg venue in Amsterdam. A couple of very nice supporting live performances will be part of that, in the Melkweg as well as on the different IDFA locations. Download the IDFA app for iPhone and Android to get a complete overview of the festival, or visit the website.

We’re always in for a little shopping-spree, especially when it involves designers and sale. Tomorrow (Saturday the 12^th) Rotterdam will host the Mode Marché, a creative stock sample sale with clothing and accessories from lots of different up and coming (Dutch) fashion designers.

A good thing is that the event will take place in the museum area in Rotterdam, so you can combine your shopping with some culture. Looks like a win-win. Part of the event is actually housed in the renowned Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, which will also host related exhibitions, including work of the nominees of the Rotterdam Design Awards 2011. Prepare for a “Rotterdamse” fashion experience and visit the Mode Marché website here.

In December, the new Amsterdams Blauw collection will hit the stores. Since we’re over the top excited about this, we thought it would be nice to share a little something with you. So we hereby present you a little sneak peek, hope you’re as excited as we are!

Still a bit in denial about summer being over? We found just the perfect tool to have a cosy outdoor-night without completely freezing to death. And yes, it includes a bonfire. It’s always a hassle to set one up, but with this Prairie Campfire mould it gets much easier.

All you have to do is put some good (dry!) wood in the shaped template, which indicates exactly how you should place it. Your bonfire will also be placed on small legs, so you won’t burn the surface underneath it. Looks like an essential for all of you glampers out there!

This video is simply a must-see. A girl in Paris and a guy in New York; worlds apart but connected by their synchronized day in a metropolis. Check this beauty out for yourself here. Funny detail: the movie is shot with the Nokia N8 phone, didn’t we see that before?

Dry till you die. At least, when it comes to your dry denim. One of our very enthusiastic co-workers has been wearing his pair of Amsterdams Blauw jeans for over six months; every single day, without washing it. We told you about how to take care of your dry denim, and he sure did take those tips seriously.

Walking, working, cycling, partying; there’s not much he didn’t do with it. See how beautifully his pair of jeans aged on denimarchive.com, a blog for the real denim-obsessed amongst us. Got tempted yet? Get your very own pair of Amsterdams Blauw here.

We already spotted some wild knits in Berlin and Amsterdam, but San Francisco is really taking it to the next level with this green chic Plantbombing project. “Guerilla gardener” Derek Powazek and “urban knitter” Heather Powazek Champ make these cute plant pockets and place them all over the city. That sure sounds like a fun and inventive gesture that adds some colour to the urban environment.

The way these eco-artists do it is super easy to do yourself, although you might have to sign up for a beginner’s knitting class first. Just make a yarn-pot, add some soil and a weather-resistant plant and place it on a spot that can use a colourful, smile-inducing touch. Find a how-to with photos on Powazek’s 'plantgasm' website.

Remember all the denim details from Amsterdams Blauw we told you about? We made a video to make it all a bit more visual. We hope you like it, check it out here!

Paris-based freelance reporter and photographer and avid cyclist Pierre Sautelet has tried out our Merckxxx cyclist jeans, and we caught up with him for a chat about bikes and jeans over a Paris coffee.

While mounting a bicycle in the French capital was once a practice of dare devils only, the city now has a successful public cycle-hire scheme and motorists are learning to cope with increasing numbers of two wheeled road occupants.

‘I’ve been cycling in Paris for ages, but I’m certainly no longer the exception. The mayor, Bertrand Delanoë, successfully restructured traffic in favour of cyclists some years ago. We now have cycle lanes and the Velib, a cycle hire scheme. I think it works well because it’s affordable and it makes city transport in general much more flexible.’

We see you are sporting our special Merckxxx jeans. How do you like them?

‘They’re great actually. For me, they’re a perfect fit and terribly comfortable on a bicycle. I guess the best feature is that while they’re great for cycling, they’re also perfectly wearable on a night out: the Merckxxx goes with anything. I got quite some compliments about them already and the championship coloured back patch attracts a lot of attention.’

What can you tell us about your bicycle?

‘I ride a MBK Mirage Pro now. It used to belong to my trainer when I was in a cycle club as a kid and we made it fixed-gear. Since then, I reckon this bike has covered about 50.000 km in its lifetime. I’ve been using a fixie in the city since 2006!’

Planning a trip to Amsterdam? Then take this city guide with you. The ‘Inspirational Guide for Cosmopolitan Travellers’ shows Amsterdam and its best kept secrets with inside tips from 15 local contributors who work in fashion, design and media. They tell about their favourite bars, shopping places and club nights, so a nice variety of hot spots is guaranteed.

A fun part of this booklet is the 14-step checklist to see if you’re a real ‘Amsterdammer’ (as the inhabitants are called), pointing at the number of bikes that got stolen from you and whether you ever went to the red light district or not. Looks like it’s a nice guide to add to our own book collection as well! Let’s hope copies of other cities will come out soon, get your Amsterdam ‘Inspirational Guide for Cosmopolitan Travellers’ here.

As some of you might have guessed, we opened a brand new store in Cologne, Germany! We know we have a lot of German friends, so we feel very welcome and more than happy with our newest home away from home. The store is located on the Ehrenstraße, a characteristic “Kölner” shopping street in the city centre, with a nice variety of stores and a warm village-ish atmosphere. The new store sells Scotch & Soda and Maison Scotch, so both men and women can drop by for some retail therapy. We already noticed Cologne has a lot to offer besides shopping; so while you’re there, why not visit the impressive Kölner Dom or the Chocolate Museum?

Find our new Cologne store at Ehrenstraße no. 61-63, open Monday to Saturday 10:00-20:00.

Origami is usually something that involves grandma’s and floral tablecloths, but we’re sure Jeff Nishinaka will blow your mind with his outstanding paper art. From tigers to flower bouquets, this man folds it all. When looking at it, you wouldn’t even notice at first the sculptures are made of paper; Nishinaka plays with light and shadow in a genius way.

He has a pretty wide resume, with commercial work for huge brands like French Galeries Lafayette and Coca Cola on it, as well as large installations for art shows. Considering the fact he only uses one medium and one colour, we say that’s quite impressive. Funny detail: actor Jackie Chan is the owner of the largest Nishinaka collection. See why Chan (and we) are such big fans of this master-folder here.

This week, you can watch the most successful movies of the year at the Amsterdam Film Week (1-6 November). Together with big hits from the Oscars and Golden Globes, they’ll show winning movies of film festivals like Cannes, Venice and TriBeCa. We assume you’ve already seen blockbusters like ‘Black Swan’ and ‘The King’s Speech’; but what about hidden gems like Sofia Coppola’s ‘Somewhere’ or Dutch drama ‘Black Butterflies’? Grab a bucket of popcorn and enjoy this movie experience.

Also part of the program is a design contest, where artists show their own creative visions on film posters through a couple of set guidelines. The result: a very nice range of matching posters. The nominated ones will be exhibited at De Balie in Amsterdam, across different Dutch train stations and here.

Sometimes a relaxing weekend full of couch surfing and doing nothing else is all you need on Autumn days. To make your ‘me-time’ even more comfortable, dress up in the easy jerseys from our Home Alone collection for men.

The heavy slub tees, American navy style joggers and hooded zip up sweater will make your girlfriend glance at it jealously. We’re pretty sure they will look good on her as well!
All items can be picked effortless, just the way you we like it. And why not wear them outdoors too? Throw on a denim jacket and a pair of sneakers and you’re all good to go to the gym, a quick beer or a food feast grocery stop. With all of these items, autumn isn’t that bad at all.

Unfortunately life can’t always be glamorous, and doing your laundry is definitely part of that non-glam side. This new concept definitely makes it a lot less like something mandatory. At the Wash & Coffee in Amsterdam, you can enjoy a cup of coffee, fresh food and free WiFi while waiting on your clean stuff. This cool hang-out makes you looking forward to doing your laundry on a lazy Saturday.

The whole place is eco-friendly as well, with energy efficient machines, ecological detergent and helpful staff. If you do have a washing machine at home, there’s still a good reason to visit Wash & Coffee: the course “washing & ironing for dummies”. Perfectly cleaned and smooth clothes will be this close.

You can find Wash & Coffee in Amsterdam and Munich.

There is a new camera, called the Lytro, and we think it is pretty revolutionary. Unlike the conventional ones, this pocket-size camera captures the colour, intensity and direction of all the light in front of the lens. After the capture, you can choose the focus point. Whether that’s your friend making a funny face in the front, or the beautiful tree standing behind him. You can focus and re-focus anywhere and anytime, enabling you to create the perfect photo; just as you had in mind.

With the Lytro desktop application you can import the pictures to your computer, edit them and share them afterwards. And get this: by sharing your photos through Facebook, Twitter, blogs or as links in emails, your friends can do the re-focusing too and experience the scene as if they were there. Check out Lytro’s picture gallery to see this completely new way of photography for yourself!

The Amsterdam-based artist Parra is starting to get more and more success abroad. With his latest exhibition “The How Original Show” he definitely marked his territory in infamous Los Angeles.
At this expo Parra shows new work, all easy recognisable by his signature colourful drawings.

The drawings and paintings he makes are known for the curved imagery, highly saturated colours, surreal characters and hand drawn letters.  Not only has Parra made numerous of his eclectic artworks, he also designed album covers and sneakers. Apparently this guy is multi-talented, so we expect more great things from him!

If you’re in L.A, have a peek at these fine pieces of art at the HVW8 Art + Design Gallery. The expo runs until the 6^th of November.

If you’re a food-lover and about to start your search for the perfect agenda for next year, look no further. ‘EAT! Design with Food’ is an inspirational diary, showing you a fun combination of food and design, which will instantly make you hungry. The book is designed by Eiga, a Hamburg-based design agency.

‘EAT! Design with Food’ shows different aspects of food culture, with cool photography, culinary installations and new products. Everything is served by artists, architects and designers, and shows you how you can be more aware of what you eat in a visual and creative way. With recipes, decoration ideas and every week a new food-theme this book will make you crave throughout the year.

You can buy the book here. Enjoy!

From this weekend onwards, the Dutch city of Eindhoven will host the 10th edition of the Dutch Design Week. During this week (22-30 October) visitors can experience design from different perspectives. Four selected areas in Eindhoven will host different programs, with lectures, expo’s and studio’s where you can indulge yourself with everything related to Dutch design.

The real must-see is the graduation show of the Design Academy Eindhoven where a 150 young and upcoming designers will show their conceptual artwork and ideas. Another part we’re looking forward to is the grande exhibition in the ‘Klokgebouw’ (one of DDW’s hotspots), with work by both established and new designers and manufacturing companies.

Organizers promise a week full of experimental, surprising and stimulating highlights, so make sure you’ll be there! Visit  www.ddw.nl for more info.

Picture this: a hotel with indoor wooden cabins and caravans, in Berlin. Sounds über cool, doesn’t it? Hotel Hüttenpalast in Berlin city centre has multiple caravans and cabins in one big hall, where you can spend the night in. Each hang-out has its own design, whether you like it clean and Scandinavian or cosy retro.  They also have a bio-café, where you can enjoy home-made food and really good coffee.

The idea behind this new concept was to offer a unique space for creative exchange, where ‘people from all over the world can meet, sleep and feel good’, so they say.

Staying in this creative camping space is not expensive at all: a night in one of the caravans will cost you 60 Euros. Visit www.huettenpalast.de for more info.

(photos by Jan Brockhaus)

A little black dress is pretty much all you need when you want to dress up, but with some good accessorising you can complete your outfit and look stunning! Check out these styling tips for a perfect dressy look.

1. Jewellery
   Add some sparkle to your outfit! When wearing classics like the Grace or Coco, a statement necklace will be all you need to finish off your timeless chic look. Going for a more bohemian style? Some chunky rings, bracelets and eye-catching earrings will do the trick for you.
2. Clutch
   A clutch is not only a statement accessory, it also comes in super handy when you want to bring essentials like your phone and lipstick! We say, go wild and choose one in a bright colour.
3. Shoes
   When it comes to picking the right shoes: go for heels.
4. Blazer
   You’re definitely going to need something warm in these winter months. A matching black blazer is always sophisticated, but why not go for a sparkling silver one?

We’re always in the mood for something delicious like a cookie, but these glazed creations also qualify as eye candy! Japanese ‘Cookie Boy’ makes a wide variety of cookies, inspired by things like animals, shoes and camera’s. Whether you want to surprise your lover or have an original treat on your birthday, this arty baker has a lot to offer. It’s also possible to hand in your own design; Cookie Boy will turn it into a delicious masterpiece. Good gift-idea we reckon!

Unfortunately his cookies are only available in Japan, but if you’re there you should definitely try to get some. Get inspired to do some creative baking yourself at cookieboy.net.

You might have noticed we’re very much into black lately, so you won’t be surprised we want to get our hands on a Miir water bottle.

The bottles already look pretty good, but there’s also the possibility to design your own skin. On the website, you can choose from 100’s of designs or create your own with a customizer tool. The makers didn’t forget about functionality either; a Miir is easy to carry, dishwasher safe and has an ‘optimal’ drinking opening.

Not only are they handy and good-looking, buying a Miir is for a good cause as well; one dollar of every bottle you purchase provides one person with clean drinking water for a year. Not to mention they’re a 100% recyclable. Coming to think of it, there’s really nothing we don’t like about the Miir bottle. Get yours at www.miir.com!

When we say LBD, the real fashionista will know we’re talking about a true fashion icon. A must-have in every woman’s closet. Looking at the LBD’s history, the origin of the dress lies in the 1920s, when Coco Chanel designed it. She wanted to create a dress that was timeless, affordable, versatile, a neutral colour and accessible to every woman. Et voilà!

Back then, black was still considered a colour of mourning, but when a picture of Chanel’s LBD was published in American Vogue, it reached instant hero status. In the fifties, Hollywood’s femmes fatales took it to the next level, wearing sexy black dresses in virtually every film. When Audrey Hepburn wore a copy in the movie ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ in 1960, both she and the LBD became legendary. Today, the LBD is an essential and simply inseparable from fashion. Thanks Coco!

Whether you like the music is up to you, but this new Björk app is amazing. Biophilia is a multimedia fusion of music, nature and technology, composed by the musician. For this extraordinary app, Björk collaborated with designers, scientists, writers and even instrument builders. The app enables you to explore the universe and its components, mixed with music elements.

It’s almost impossible to explain, but we’ll give it a go. Biophilia offers multiple experiences that show you the connections between musical structures and nature, from the atomic to the cosmic. So you can use the app to find out about cosmic phenomena, to make your own music and learn about it or to just listen to Björk’s latest album. We suggest you go experience it yourself, it’s simply awesome! Click here to get it.

From the heart of our beloved city Amsterdam, we proudly present to you our latest favourites: Ten Black Dresses. As part of the Autumn/Winter 2011 collection, we designed a line of stunning evening dresses, inspired by ten exceptional women who developed their own signature style and pure grace. We offer you ten dresses in all of our favourite moods: French ‘belles du jour’, 60’s Hollywood glamour and 70’s bohemian chic. Ten dresses, ten styles, ten essentials.

This week, we will introduce all of the dresses to you, give you an insight on the heritage of the classic LBD (little black dress) and provide you with styling tips & tricks. In our stores and webstore we created a special and inspirational section for the dresses, including a variety of Maison Scotch accessories to complete the look. Follow our blog and Facebook page to get the latest ins and outs on this style invasion!

If you’re in Amsterdam this week, you should definitely visit the Go Gallery. This gallery is hosting a group-exhibition from different influential street artists, called ‘Something for all the family’, composed by artist duo The London Police.

You’ll find work from guys like Logan Hicks, Joe Holbrook, Swanski, Will Barras and Shepard Fairey. Shepard Fairey (a.k.a. Obey the Giant) is seen as one of the most influential street artists of the moment and he’s already showcased his pieces in MoMa New York. You might know him from the ‘Hope’ poster he made of Barack Obama, which Obama himself eventually used during his presidential campaign.

The expo runs until the 16^th of October and you can find the Go Gallery in the Jordaan neighbourhood in Amsterdam, on Prinsengracht 64.

We’re leaving you with some eye candy for the weekend. A short movie we shot for our Amsterdams Blauw jeans, which will show you why they’re such amazing pieces of denim. In Amsterdam, autumn is on its way and temperatures are dropping every day; this video presents you just the perfect warm and layered autumn look, don’t you think?

Enjoy watching!

Now this is an interesting form of art. Robert Montgomery, artist and associate publisher of Dazed & Confused magazine, makes a provocative statement with the artwork he creates on the streets.

He pretty much hijacks billboards and other advertisement spaces in the city and replaces them with his own creations. Montgomery covers billboards with big posters and makes sculptures that convert sunlight to neon bright letters with solar cells. With poetic texts he tries to send out messages, often about advertising influencing the world and how we should enjoy life more.

You can watch these textual masterpieces at the 12^th Istanbul Biennal (runs until the 13^th of November) or at www.robertmontgomery.org.

Another denim detail we would like to tell you more about. You probably noticed your Amsterdams Blauw jeans has lots of details on the inside, like the pocket print. For example, the limited edition Merckxxx has a mix of bike parts printed on the pockets and the Lot22 denims show you the logo with an anchor, which refers to the origin of denim: sailors in the 16^th century.

In the women’s jeans, little anchors and the signature dandelion can often be found on the pockets of models like La Parisienne and the Cinq P. The dandelion seeds are a symbol for the journey the designers make when they’re creating a collection. The seeds are carried away by the wind and travel like tiny parachutes around the world, collecting inspiration from everywhere.

We want our denims to be just as interesting on the inside as on the outside, so you’ll find some other special personal messages inside your denim too.

A game of karaoke in a candy-coloured cabin in a park? Yes you can, in the Shanghai Bailianjing Park. These pavilions were initially built as an art installation for Shanghai’s World Expo in 2010, but due to their success amongst the city’s residents they’re still there. The idea behind these little candy look-a-likes was to offer an alternative way of public recreation, supporting people to enjoy outdoor park life.

Designed by Shanghai based Taranta Creations, each pavilion can be used for different activities; most of them typical Chinese, like tai chi, a game of mahjong or karaoke. For example, there is a sculpture that houses microphones and a screen, one that has a fridge to keep your drinks cold and even a mini-disco in the ‘jukebox’ cabin. Now this is how we would like to spend a day at the park. And to top it off: the wind turbines on top of the pavilions provide the electricity, so they’re sustainable as well.

We just love blue stuff and this ‘Virtue of Blue’ lamp has become a favourite. This solar chandelier, designed by Dutch designer Jeroen Verhoeven, is made of 500 butterflies that collect the sun’s energy during the day to illuminate the lamp at night. The butterflies are made of sapphire blue solar panel cells and flutter around in a glass bulb, which is amazing to see. You can imagine how stunning this lamp will be once the butterflies light up!

Verhoeven’s Virtue of Blue was shown at his solo exhibit ‘The Curious Image’ at the London Gallery, together with other famous designs. We’re always enthusiastic when it comes to design combined with sustainability, so this piece of innovation is definitely on our wish list. Check out www.demakersvan.com for more info and images.

Are you creative and have you always dreamed of realising your own products? Then you have to go to the Dutch city Utrecht. Here you can find ProtoSpace, a public laboratory.

This is how it works: you bring your digital draft to the lab, the computer converts your file and a 3D printer will make it an actual product. Whether you want to make a pair of earrings, a fluo water gun or your own action doll, everything is possible. You don’t have to pay for using the lab, just for your own material. So what’s the catch? ProtoSpace wants you to share your knowledge with the other designers at the lab. Looks like a win-win situation to us, since you’ll end up with your very own product and some extra knowledge as well!

Visit www.protospace.nl for all the info you need, including an introduction video.

We’re in the middle of Paris Fashion Week, the ultimate high end fashion week with shows from all the big French fashion houses. You probably know attending the Paris shows is almost impossible, but apart from that there will be lots of other hip events and amazing places to go.

We found this hotspot you should definitely visit: Club Silencio. Yes, as in Club Silencio from David Lynch’s movie Mulholland Drive. The interior is designed by Lynch himself and inspired by his remarkable movie, including a live stage, intimate rooms and a cinema. With a visit to this club, an exceptional experience is guaranteed. You can find Club Silencio at 142 Rue Montmartre.

If you’re planning a trip to an Italian city like Rome, Verona or Florence, you just have to get this new guidebook. Whaiwhai offers you an unconventional adventure as you explore the city in a game scenario. Each book contains different short stories, which you can only read after you solve enigmas and send your answers by text messages.

The game gives you a completely different take on the historical Italian cities, compared to other guides that only take you to the standard touristic places. You will get to know the unique character of the cities, while diving into the history and magical ambiance of them. With the Whaiwhai book you can start at any time and you can play with as many friends as you like.
By the way: they recently added New York, including an iPhone App! We sure hope there are more cities to come.

Today, www.scotch-soda.com will be ‘site of the day’ on thefwa.com. FWA stands for Favourite Website Awards, an industry recognised internet award program and inspirational portal. It is the most visited website award program in the history of the internet, with over 140 million site visits as of July 2011. We are very proud to be site of the day and we hope you love it as much as they do!

At the Osaka Station in Japan, there is a very functional fountain: one that tells you what time it is. This magical display is made from the fountain’s water which forms a digital clock every minute. Between time views, the water is flowing in amazing floral patterns and other interesting shapes. The fountain is controlled by a system that converts digital images to water droplets which form liquid images. The clock is pretty intriguing, so you have to make sure you don’t miss your train because of this impressive piece of technology!

Watch a video of the fountain here.

If you’re looking for a cultural activity for the weekend, look no further. This weekend Amsterdam will host two different art events: Meesterlijk and Elle Inside Design.

Meesterlijk is a design and applied arts fair in the Amsterdam Rai Conference Centre, where designers will present you their latest creations with furniture, fashion, ceramics and textiles.
Designer Karim Rashid will also be at Meesterlijk with his own expo. He will show a couple of his awarded masterpieces, which have also been shown in MOMA New York and Centre Pompidou in Paris. Expect hyper modern furniture and colourful art objects.
The fair will be open from 24 September – 2 October. Visit www.meesterlijk.nu for more info.

At Elle Inside Design, IJburg island will be the stage of a variety of activities. Experience design through the newest furniture, architecture and inspiring presentations. And while you’re there, try to get a fresh drink or a delicious meal at must-see design hotel Lloyd!
Elle Inside design will take place on the 23^rd, 24^th and 25^th of September, check www.elle.nl/inside_design for more info.

Designer Carolina Herrera and international cult magazine editor Luis Venegas have joined forces and created a book, called ‘I know you from New York’. The book shows what the city that never sleeps is all about, through stunning photographs. Celebrities, top models and basically everybody that matters in New York’s nightlife is caught on camera, partying and celebrating life.

A variety of people worked on the book, such as photographers Jeremy Kost, Hanuk and J.D. Ferguson, as well as writer Derek Blasberg. They’re all part of this ultra cool party-crowd and show you the most exclusive parties and hotspots.
You might not be able to visit an exclusive Herrera boutique to catch one of the 1.500 copies, but www.iknowyoufromnewyork.com provides you with a lot of inspiration, including photos and videos.

Another signature denim detail of the Amsterdams Blauw denim is the suspenders. Amsterdams Blauw is not afraid to experiment and express creativity in details that we know will make the difference. Winking at the denim gentleman, which is an important look when it comes to our latest denim line, the suspenders give the jeans a special and original twist.

When we look at the history of the suspenders, we see that they were considered as an upper class item, made to be attached to button-up trousers only. It was a fashion faux-pas to wear both suspenders and a belt, some people even considered suspenders to be underwear that should never be seen at all. A waistcoat or a jumper was worn to cover up the suspenders. After WWII, men began removing jackets in public and visible suspenders started to become acceptable. For now, we think suspenders are a nice accessory to give your denim a nonchalant look, and of course to keep them from falling down!

Our Amsterdams Blauw jeans have buttons to attach the tabs of the suspenders and also a slightly higher back with a fishtail-shape. You can find suspenders on the Mademoiselle Plus jeans for the ladies and the Brewer for men.

A brand new book-Walhalla has opened its doors! The Taschen flagship store is the place to be when you’re looking for creative books on topics like fashion, art, music or architecture.  Two floors are filled with the entire line of wonderful books that Taschen has become known for. Our personal favourite is Helmut Newton’s new book ‘Polaroids’, with a huge collection of artistic test polaroids shot by the legendary fashion photographer.

Together with capitals like Los Angeles, Berlin and London, Amsterdam is now the home to one of these inspiring places to find the perfect ‘coffee table book’. You can find the store in the Amsterdam city centre on P.C. Hooftstraat 44.

Like every year at the Dutch Film Festival in Utrecht, you can watch the newest Dutch movies, meet cool people from the industry and see which movies will be sent to the oh so famous Academy Awards. We are very fond of The Monster of Nix, a short animation by Dutch artist and director Rosto. This little masterpiece, with overwhelming visuals (and Tom Waits’ voice!), has been sent to the Oscars in hope that it will be nominated for Best Animated Short Film. Watch the trailer here. Fingers crossed…

Looking for another special event during the Film Festival? Then go to One Night Stand, a mini festival on Sunday the 25^th where they will show 8 short movies from new and upcoming directors. Every single one of them will be sharp, touching and funny, so make sure you don’t have a boring Sunday and go check them out.

The Film Festival is from 21 - 30 September, check www.filmfestival.nl for more info.

If you’re still in New York for the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, then hurry to the W Hotel on Times Square. Dutch fashion photographer Annemarieke van Drimmelen exhibits her ‘Between us, a model’s life’ photo project, with spherical black and white photos of some of the most successful models of the moment.

The photos are shot at the homes of the models, in cities like New York and Paris and they show the relationship between a photographer and the model in a pure and intimate way. If you’re not one of the fashion folks wondering around in New York this weekend, check www.annemariekevandrimmelen.com to see a selection of the photos.

You know we love our lomo so you can imagine how excited we were about the Lomography Gallery Store opening in Amsterdam this week. In a 3-story canal house in the ‘9 Straatjes’ neighbourhood (where you can also find three S&S stores) you’re surrounded by all the different must-have cameras and some of the nicest photos that make you want to buy a Diana or Sprocket Rocket and start shooting immediately. They also sell books, like the Lomo City Guide, and the so-called Sidekick bags.

Check it out at Herengracht 298 in Amsterdam or visit www.lomography.com for more info.

The fourth Amsterdams Blauw denim detail tells you more about the signature coin pocket.

This little pocket that basically sits inside the front pocket is also called the watch pocket. It usually has quite a tight fit, but it definitely keeps your loose coins from rattling around all the time. On our Amsterdams Blauw jeans, the coin pocket carries a special lucky wooden coin for its owner. Our denim design team noticed that the coin pocket is often forgotten about, so they wanted to do something nice to give it some extra attention.

The wooden coin was already used in America in the 19^th century. During the multiple gold rushes people used wooden coins as actual money. The lucky coins you’ll find in your Amsterdams Blauw jeans have messages on them, such as ‘Denims Advocate’ on our special Lot22 coins and ‘Use & Abuse’ (and the signature world championship colours) on the Merckxxx coins.

Just a little something from Amsterdams Blauw to make your denim even more special!

If you ask us, this new gadget is here to stay. The Dot is a camera you can attach to your iPhone 4 and take 360 videos with. Isn’t that an impressive new app? You can click the lightweight polycarbonate plastic camera on to your iPhone’s lens and start shooting instantly, without using any extra battery power.

Something that makes it special is that you can put your phone facedown on the table without having to hold it and keep track of what you’re filming. ‘Dot’ is filming everything that happens around you and afterwards you can share it with your friends through social media. This way, nobody‘s going to miss what you’re up to. Check this video for some inspiration.

The Dot will cost you around 60 euros. Get it at www.kogeto.com.

There's a new kind of bicycle in town and it's called Roetz! Why we're so happy about it? Well, besides that the bicycle is simply the best way to get around town, these bikes are sustainable. Roetz use as many recycled parts as possible, and the new parts are all environment friendly. On top of this goodness, the Roetz bikes are super durable, high quality and very pretty too.

The Roetz bicycles were born in the capital of cycling: Amsterdam. the Dutch buy over a million new bicycles every year, just imagine how many spare parts of old cast offs that creates. But the rest of the world is steadily catching on: some of the greatest bicycle promoters of the world are the mayors of London, Paris and New York. That can mean only very good news: sustainable bicycles are the next big city thing.

One of the more refreshing and buzzing fashion weeks, the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York, has kicked off yesterday, showing the newest and hippest collections to fashion’s elite. Thank heavens for the World Wide Web, because on Fashion Week’s website you can watch all the shows, even live. And there’s more: feast on backstage material, follow the latest news, check for other fashion happenings and see what the it-crowd is up to. It will almost be as if you’re actually there.

So indulge yourself with New York-inspired fashion, MBFW will be around until the 15^th of September.

There's something of a mysterious haze around the name Martin Margiela. This visionary Belgian fashion designer is infamously secretive about who he is. His latest project however allows us all to admire the interior of this lush and gorgeous Paris hide-out, as he designed the prestigious boutique hotel la Maison Champs Élysées.

The converted town-house, once a home to Viennese royalty, now breathes a perfect symbiosis between the classical and high-tech modernity. Margiella created a magical and poetical world, full of shimmering futuristic mirrors that reflect decors from days long passed. Faux-baroque meets purist minimalism topped off with some technological surprises. Margiella's Maison of course houses one of the best restaurants in central Paris and also has a great green garden for leisurely al-fresco moments. If you're looking for a luxurious escape, this certainly must be it.

Most of Europe may have had more rain than shine this summer, but we have very high hopes for September - and so does Fatboy. They invented a new type of knapsack and we believe it might be the ultimate picnic gadget.

The fabric unfolds into a circle in a single movement. When all the eating, drinking, and fun on your picnic spread comes to an end, simply gather all your stuff in the middle, pull the string, and the knapsack packs it all up in one go, ready for you to fling it casually over your shoulder. Yes, it comes with nostalgic stick attached which might make you want to whistle a tune as you parade it through the park.

Look carefully and you'll discover this 3D book art is genuinely hand-folded and cut all the way through. Although we do hope artist Isaac G. Salazar didn't use one of your favourite novels to create his masterpieces, this sure is an impressive art.

The self-taught book-origami master Salazar admits that his craft takes immense patience as well as time. Creating one piece takes him anywhere between a couple of days and a number of weeks. He says his latest ambition is to re-create brand logos he likes. Well, Scotch & Soda is sure keeping a close eye on this one...

There are numerous special treatments for your favourite denim clothes to make them last much longer. Real denim pundits may choose not to wash their jeans to make the colour hold. Hey, bacteria stops accumulating after two weeks of wearing anyway, so why not? You can also freeze your dry denim overnight for crisp morning freshness, or your girlfriend may ask you to hang your trousers outside; it has happened before!

Extensive experimenting has however taught us that hot weather and long distance cycling will make you want to give your beloved denim garment a good rinse. Here’s how you do it: lay your dry denim flat when washing it to prevent the colour assembling around the creases formed when crumpled. We recommend then carefully washing your dry denim using any of the following methods:

-          Give a (luke)warm bath in vinegar for about an hour before machine washing your jeans. The vinegar prevents colour fading.

-          Lay flat in a cold salty bath.

-          Give it a plain sea water dip if you’re anywhere near the sea.

-          Lay flat in a bath tub with your favourite hair conditioner (which makes your denim smell splendid).

One last bit of dry denim advice: buy too tight rather than to loose. Like genuine leather, dry denim takes the unique shape of its owner. We say dry denim ‘grows on you’.

An international crowd of creative and fashion aficionados flocked to Amsterdam’s Berenstraat – one of the famous Nine Little Streets (Negen Straatjes) - last Thursday to celebrate the launch of the one and only Amsterdams Blauw Denim Deli in town.

Upon entering the brand new shop it’s immediately clear that this is an effort to change the way we buy clothes. Comfy denim-blue seats fill unexpected corners, the espresso machine awaits your order and the men’s changing rooms boldly state: denim has patience. This is no place for hasty decisions: the denim deli is meant to relax.

Berenstraat used to be famous for its many specialised delis. This brand new Denim Deli took its inspiration from the traditional Amsterdam specialist shop in its details, as well as its mentality: look out for original Dutch tiles in unexpected corners, but also approach the Amsterdams Blauw staff with any question you may have. The Denim Deli truly brings back the love for authenticity and specialist knowledge.

The design team clearly realised that changing rooms are nobody’s favourite aspect of shopping. With this in mind, they came up with some state of the art gems in changing room design indeed. Come and visit to see what we mean.

And remember: Your choice deserves its time. Denim is patient.

The third detail in this series on Amsterdams Blauw denim details, is the signature XXX stitching on our back pockets. Why so special? As you might have guessed from the name, the Scotch & Soda denim collection was born and raised in the city of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Here, everything from churches to trash cans and street poles are decorated with the three crosses symbol.

Don’t expect anything raunchy though; the symbol was first used in the fifteenth century and has since become the symbol of the city, hence it’s prominent spot on the Amsterdam weapon of arms (link: wikipedia).

In denim, the X-stitching is traditionally used for reinforcement, instead of the rivet. We like to use it as a finishing touch on the back pocket. Two in blind stitching, one visible. Search, and you will find!

Some of our bicycle courier friends have had the chance to wear the Merckxxx for a couple of weeks. We’re naturally so very curious to find out what they have to say about the jeans we developed especially for them.

Our next expert is Jur74, cycle courier since 1996. His humble abode just beside Amsterdam’s famous Vondelpark is full of bicycles, special parts and competition trophies and paraphernalia. There’s no mistaking that this guy has a passion for his work.

You have participated in quite some cycle courier competitions. Can you tell us more about them?

“Yes, I’ve travelled the world for them, and I won quite a few too. I might have done more than a hundred competitions by now. I love it because the route is a surprise every time. Every city brings a new adventure. One of the most challenging cities to tackle was Tokyo because it’s terribly hectic and busy. But the great thing is that, unlike in Amsterdam, you don’t need to share the roads with other cyclists.”

How do the Merckxxx jeans serve you so far?

“I hadn’t worn jeans for quite some time until I tried these. Canvas shorts suited me fine. But I must say, the Merckxxx might have brought back my love for jeans.

For couriers, clothing needs to be multi-purpose: both for sport and leisure. I think these jeans do quite well; they’re not too tight and they have some very useful features like the reflecting print at the ankles and the key chain, which I’m steadily wearing out. If the Merckxxx would also be available as shorts, I’d be even more thrilled.”

We do love our blue, and so does Chanel: the ultimate designer brand will launch a brand new nail polish line inspired by the colours of denim on 8 September. This couldn’t get any better.

The three dainty blues have been christened Blue Rebel, Coco Blue and Blue Boy – and they sure finish any denim inspired outfit perfectly. But these exclusive little bottles of blue are announced to be on sale in September only: better be swift than sorry if you fancy one!

Denimu, a British artist residing in Sweden, has cherished a passionate devotion to all things denim since his early teens. When his mum would make him wear corduroy, he’d long for the comfort of his blue jeans. And it didn’t stop there: Denimu realised that denim was so much a part of his life, that he could use it as a means of expression.

Now Denimu is perhaps the only artist in the world to create all his art from bits of cut up denim. Entire landscapes, derelict urban sites with graffiti adorned building, portraits that resemble graphic novel drawings and tributes to pop icons: there’s nothing this man can’t make from denim.

Denimu’s next exhibition will run from 27 August till 11 September in Gallery Jäger & Jannson in Lund, Sweden.

Los Angeles is a magnet to life, light and entertainment. Colin Rich spent six months capturing his city’s electric radiance at night. The video, accompanied by the warm and soothing sounds of Cinematic Orchestra, glides through the dazzling effect a city as promising as LA has on so many hoping to fulfil their dreams.

LA’s charm is hard to resist and it keeps on seducing new big city lovers. Meanwhile, it’s is the most populous city in the US after New York and it’s expanding so rapidly that this high-rise paradise is becoming harder to maintain by the day. LA Light is an ode to the city of the stars. Watch it in full screen for the best experience.

These guys made the largest ever stop-motion character animation in the world. It took a very large crew and a very high crane to get there, but they did. Animators Sumo Science and Aardman (the makers of Wallace and Gromit) packed up and set off to Pendine Beach in South Wales (UK). The scene stretched over 11 thousand square feet (3,4 KM²). It was shot with three Nokia N8 smartphones, from high above the beach. This is the second world record they break: they made the tiniest stop-motion film in history last year, and it got them in the Guinness Book of World Records. Dot was also shot with a camera phone and a specially designed microscope.

Gulp is a short animation film about a fisherman going about his daily catching business – or so he thinks. This fisherman’s adventure cost five days and an entire night to create, as the sand artists had to shape every new movement in the sand with stencils for every single shot. And isn’t the end product worth it! The Making of Gulp is at least as spectacular as the final product, don’t miss it.

If you've given up hope of ever stumbling upon Banksy art 'in the wild', we have big news: the Banksy iPhone app tells you were to find art work from the hands of this contemporary street art legend anywhere in the world.

The notoriously anonymous Bristol-born Banksy, known since the 1980s for his satirical and political murals, has inspired so many graffiti artists worldwide, it's sometimes even hard to spot the real deal. This new app guides you towards famous works and hidden treasures in for example New Orleans, London and the Israeli West Bank barrier.

The iPhone app should update any spotted new Banksy work and any exhibition (though they're mostly unauthorised) featuring his work. After Banksy's remarkable and hilarious documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop was nominated for an Academy Award in 2010, there's no telling what this modern art rebel genius will do next.

The 1960s were a brilliant decade of rebellion and general cultural naughtiness. As in many other European countries, the Dutch government prohibited commercial radio and television. But the people wanted to watch hit series like Zorro, Mr Ed and The Saint. The founders of the pirate station TV Noordzee (North Sea) figured they couldn't be caught if they'd broadcast from sea, just outside of territorial waters. And so they sent their signal from a 100 metre high mast, rising from a steel construct 9 km off the coast.

It lasted for just a couple of months because the infuriated government hastily passed legislation to shut them down. in 2006 the construction was brought to shore and in March 2011, Restaurant REM Eiland opened its doors, located in the Amsterdam Houthavens, a new urban area to the city's west. It has an enormous rooftop terrace with stupendous city views 22 metres above the Amsterdam IJ lake. They serve affordable French cuisine, and the late weekend opening hours (till 3am) suggest it's a nice place for drinks too.

Some of our fixie friends have had the chance to wear the Merckxxx for a couple of weeks. We’re naturally so very curious to find out what they have to say about the jeans we developed especially for them.

Today we speak with Sam Dirksz, counterpart of last week’s honourable fixie pundit Gijs: Sam is co-founder of specialist fixed-gear bicycle shop Pristine.

How long have you been into fixed-gear bicycles, and do you get enough practice despite running your own shop?

‘I’d say about four years now. I stared devoting time to this hobby in Rotterdam, where I lived before I moved to Amsterdam. I’d like to ride my bike a lot more than I do, of course, but I still manage at least one long distance trip a week. That’s anything between twenty and sixty kilometres.’

How do you like the Merckxxx jeans?

‘I like the feel of the material. The deep pockets are a good feature; they prevent stuff from falling out all the time. And it’s a very good thing that these jeans have a high rise at the back.’

Any reason to recommend it to regular cyclists?

‘I’d mainly recommend it for fashion. Much thought went into the details: the stitching, the lining and the use of the world championship colours. Also, the fact that it’s sustainable could be a reason to choose these jeans.’

Your bicycle is called Loes, what can you tell us about it?

‘It’s quite a special bike, which was actually made for someone called Loes. It’s an original Presto frame; it must be about thirty years old and it was made as a professional race bike. It was for sale, but since this bike suits me so well and nobody else seemed too keen to buy it, I though I’d better make good use of it.’

The new school year is approaching. A time for new notebooks, pens, diaries and books. But where to put them? Here’s where the Scotch & Soda’s Boys and Girls departments come in.

Boys will be all set for the season sporting the heavy quality cotton Scotch Shrunk backpack. Available in denim blue, army or rust, with a contrast bottom, featuring America inspired print and badge. This fashionable A-quality bag is perfect in and outside the classroom.

For the more professional student look Scotch & Soda offers young lads the heavy washed canvas Library Bag in two colours: educated green tea or pensive dawn. It features leather straps, a cotton scarf to fend off chilly draughts and a distinctive Scotch print.

Girls can strut into the classroom in style carrying the Scotch R’Belle printed leather look handbag. This bag is for the fashionable feminine yet tough young lady. It’s made of special paper quality and features leather details and a unique overall print.

The heavy cotton mini shopper fits all a girl needs and is available in four of this season’s colours: nature, mauve, pirate black and tea rose. Its pure and honest design makes this bag ideal to combine with any outfit and occasion.

Scotch & Soda wishes you a fashionable new school year!

Photographer Jeroen Swolfs has been travelling the world to capture the essence of 194 capital cities on the planet. His mission, called Streets of the World, started two years ago. Great ambition and determination already got him passed two obstacles: the impenetrable capital Pyongyang of North-Korea and the extremely dangerous Papua, New Guinea where Jeroen needed five bodyguards just to take photos on a market.

The 36 year old Amsterdam photo journalist says he attempts to show that however different cultures may seem, in the core, all people everywhere in the world want the same thing: a better life for them and their children. He says his project, personally, is also about making your dreams come true: if you’re truly motivated, you can make things happen. Whether he’s able to complete the project, he says, depends on not getting shot along the way. Follow Jeroen’s adventures here: http://www.streetsoftheworld.com/journal

Scotch & Soda’s fresh denim-only label Amsterdams Blauw is getting its very own Amsterdam shop. Home is where the heart is, that’s why the first Amsterdams Blauw shop is located where the label was born and raised: in the heart of the Jordaan area – the Amsterdam counterpart of Le Marais in Paris and Soho in NYC. While the area is bustling with life, we welcome a slower pace in our shop. Escape the normally hectic shopping experience: come over for a chat, relax and have a yummy cup of coffee while you ease through our most recent men’s, women’s or children’s collections. We like to think of our new shop as a Denim Deli.

The shop can’t be overlooked: it’s in a monumental building with a historical wooden facade and – here it comes – it’s painted Amsterdams Blauw signature blue from top to bottom. Step inside and the interior is fresh and light, adorned with rich materials like hand-made tiles, an antique wooden castle floor, brick walls, historically ornamented ceilings and custom made wooden cabinets.

We can’t wait to welcome you in our new shop!

As mentioned last week some of our fixie friends have had the chance to wear the Merckxxx for a couple of weeks. We’re so very curious to find out what they have to say about the jeans we developed especially for them.

First up is co-founder of the exclusive Amsterdam fixed-gear bicycle shop Pristine, Gijs van Amelsvoort.

On entering Pristine, it’s immediately apparent that this is more than a bicycle shop: it’s a hub for the fixed gear community. Shiny new fixies and all imaginable parts downstairs, cosy cupcake and coffee place upstairs. Gijs makes a very decent cup of coffee as well as exceptional bicycles.

How much do you get to cycle these days?

‘Not as much as I’d like to. I still cycle daily, but with the shop to run, long distance trips aren’t as frequent as I’d like them to be.’

You’ve been wearing the Merckxxx jeans. What’s the verdict so far?

‘They’re very comfortable; I’ve enjoyed wearing them actually. I’d say that the reinforced back pocket is its best feature. Aesthetically I like that you can see every detail has been thought of. The world championship coloured stripes give that finishing touch.’

Any reason to recommend it to regular cyclists?

‘Yes: the back pockets that hold a lock, the reflecting elements for night time. And jeans should be appealing to the eye as well as comfortable; these are.’

Can you tell us a bit more about that special looking seat on your bike?

Last year we helped organise the Bicycle Film Festival at the Tuschinski Theater and we met the guys from San Marco. That's how it all started and we decided it would be radical to do a collaboration. We made a white perforated version of their classic Concor Supercorsa saddle. In my eyes the most iconic saddle in cycling history, one that has often been imitated but never equalled. We decided to keep it clean and simple (pristine, if you will) and made it out of perforated Microfeel material instead of leather. Which is why it's called the Concor X, the label San Marco uses for their vegan saddles. It's limited to 200 pieces worldwide and we couldn't be happier with it. It's quite an honour for a young shop like ours to be able to team up with an Italian legend like San Marco.

Is there anything else Scotch & Soda should make for you?

‘Water-resistant jeans would be great. And while you’re at it, why not a water-resistant jacket too? It should be a bit longer at the back, as the lower back is more exposed when you’re on a bike.’

Thank you, we’ve noted it.

The second detail to highlight on denim and its ins and outs, is the fly button. This buzzing detail is carefully hidden below a thick layer of denim, leaving only the wearer in the know. Many Amsterdams Blauw denims have been decorated with this tongue-in-cheek approach to what is traditionally called the ‘fly button’. The idea came from a flea market in Japan, where the design team searched for inspiration. Under a pile of dust, they found a vintage fly-brooch. When designing the final button, they naturally went with the image of a Blue Bottle fly. And to give you a small preview: the original fly brooch as found in Japan, will pop up on denim top garments in the new season...

Turn any random corner in East London and you might find a paper crafted horse literally jumping out at you, from the wall. If this isn’t the most creative way to adorn a Metropolis and promote a band, we don’t know what is.

Award winning art directors and graphic designers Phil Clandilon and Steve Milbourne along with their talented intern Xavier Barrade initiated this project for the latest East-London sensation: the band Dry the River. The makers designed the B0 size horses using Google Sketch Up, after which they printed the separate components and hand-assembled them. Each horse structure took about 35 hours to complete, they say.

Listen & download Dry the River here: http://www.drytheriver.net/music/

It’s creative, it’s spontaneous, it serves cocktails and it’s in East London: what’s not to love?

Stav B – a London visual artist originally from Athens – does arts and music events and film screenings all over London: in public toilets, children’s bookshops, abandoned police stations, you name it. Time Out London says she’s ‘a creative force to be reckoned with’.

The temporary Stav B’s Liquor bar is ‘a speakeasy, prohibition style bar, where ideas spark, projects materialise and exquisite liquid is consumed’. It’s exclusively open on Friday and Saturday evenings (7pm-1am), and only till the end of August. This great Hackney location is a great place to meet up with some of London’s international creative crowd whilst sipping an exquisite cocktail. But if you can’t make it in time, don’t despair: Stav B will keep popping up  in unexpected places. Keep an eye out.

Address: Gallery 5A, Regent Studios, 8 Andrews Road (enter via Ada Street), E8 4QN, London, UK

If you own one, you will know: Amsterdams Blauw denims are full of both visible and hidden little details. From the back patch to the inside pocket printing - we aim to make denims that are so well constructed, you could almost wear them inside out. In the hope you are as big of a denim head as us, we’d like to highlight the small details we take pride in making. Starting with the back patch...

#1 BACK PATCH

The most noticeable detail on our denims, is likely to be the back patch with the Amsterdams Blauw logo. When scanning through the collection, you will come across different sizes and colours. It always starts with a high quality thick leather patch in different shades of brown or printed over in a  shade of Amsterdams Blauw blue. All the premium denims within our Lot 22 line can be recognized by the anchor-embossed rivet punched through the patch. In case of a white back patch, we like to use bright purple stitching, as a nod to the colour’s luxury connotation within the fashion industry. Check out the images to learn more or, better yet, drop by a store near you to see for yourself!

The revolutionary and influential German modern dance legend Pina Bausch died just two days before she was meant to start shooting with director Wim Wenders.The director changed his plans and created this ode to Pina Bausch using 3D technique, which is perhaps as controversial to film as Pina Bausch was once controversial to dance.

The film is quite ground-breaking because 3D is used to show dance in an entirely different way. The intensity of a live performance may be less, but Wenders pulls the viewer onto the the stage, leaving you a mere virtual nose-length away from the dancers.

The world of professional dance has been a secret to most of us for a very long time, but those days are over: Dance is back. As an exceptional art form, as fun to look at and as a very tough and technical career, too. This film shows everything there is to love about Pina Bausch and her talented dancers. It seems to fly through all her choreographies, making it near impossible not to appreciate Pina’s style, even if it isn’t yours.  It’s an amazing film about a legendary devoted artist, who respected the human body and human emotions like only a true dancer can.

What has a pair of Merckxxx jeans got to do with cycles? Everything. They were designed especially for anyone who spends lots of time on a bicycle. That’s why it’s named after the world famous and renowned cyclist Eddie Mercks. The Merckxxx is made of green selvedge dry denim. This production process is more sustainable and environment friendly. The fading and whiskering depend entirely on the life cycle of your Merckxxx: how you wear, wash and handle it. It’s your masterpiece.

The design is a tribute to the international community of fixed gear pundits and bicycle couriers. The best Italian manufacturers stitched reinforced back pockets which easily hold a U-lock. The slim-fit model has a high rise at the back and low rise at the front for cycle comfort as well as reflecting elements at the bottom of each leg to ensure night time visibility. The seams, label and handy key chain don the colours of the Tour de France.

The Merckxxx is made for our fixie-courier friends. We celebrate this community’s passion and style and wish to share it with all of you, across the globe. Starting with the founders of the exclusive Amsterdam fixed-gear bicycle shop Pristine. We have given our friends Gijs van Amelsvoort and Sam Dirksz the chance to wear the Merckxxx for a couple of weeks. Stay tuned to read about their experiences.

Not to worry. Apple services our nostalgic dreams of that old-fashioned landline phone on your desk. Only it looks prettier. The Desk Phone Dock not only revives memories of the olden days: it charges your iPhone when cradled, it has a USB port for syncing your iPhone with your computer and it has a speaker function which doubles up as a music speaker.

If you’re a proud iPhone owner likely to head down retro road, we’d like to offer some words of caution: after a heated office conversation with your landline look-a-like, don’t slam down the receiver. You need to slide the virtual unlock bar on your iPhone like you normally would. We know it’s one of the greatest pleasures of an old-fashioned desk phone, but the Desk Phone Dock will automatically switch to speakerphone rather than disconnect.

Bring your own drink (BYO) to FOAM’s (photography museum Amsterdam) pop-in shop just off Museumplein on any Friday afternoon this summer. FOAM and Red Light Radio joined forces to create an artistically inspiring way to begin your weekend. Amsterdam radio pioneers Red Light Radio haven’t even been around for a year, and already the city can’t do without them. They’re certainly the nation’s most versatile music radio station, and now their collaboration with FOAM creates support for young photographers.

The weekly Friday afternoon Artist Talks invite keen, inspirational young photographers to shed light on their work. Of course, Red Light Radio provides the music. Amongst the artists popping in this summer are Elza Jo, Wild/Folded (Downtown Fashion Week) and Yvonne Lacet. Early weekend celebrations have never been this inspirational.

Fridays from 5-7 PM.

This theatre festival on wheels has been touring the four largest cities in the Netherlands; Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Amsterdam, for over twenty years now. The festival grounds have the feel of a circus and it features many elements of an old-fashioned fairground, complete with giant’s stride (not just for the kids) and many extravagantly dressed actors literally parading about.

De Parade is a perfect sultry summer evening hide-out. Be sure to taste a bit of Amaro’s extraordinary cooking (that’s where the longest queue probably is), have some fruity sangria at The Juicy’s and make your own typically Dutch poffertjes (very little puffy pancakes) after the show. Theatre shows range from extremely silly to highly artistic and experimental. Be sure to catch theatre group Orkater/The Sadists’ post-apocalyptic frantic fairytale Rockabilly Roadkill.

PS. don’t wear your best shoes if it’s (been) raining!

The Texan born Wes Anderson isn’t just any film director; this man is known for involving himself with just about every process of film making in its entirety: directing, writing, producing, production design and music. One of his best known films, The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) is exemplary for recurring themes in much of his work: unobtainable love, distorted family relationships, suicide and failure.

What makes any good storyteller truly exceptional is being able to deal with these most depressing aspects of human life without making you want to down a bottle of Prozac chased by several shots of vodka. Quite the contrary: they’re all a brilliant cocktail of dry humour and gripping flawed characters. Anderson shares this quality with one of his story-telling heroes, Roald Dahl. This director’s film of Dahl’s tale The Fantastic Mr Fox (2009) doubtlessly proves this. Now we eagerly anticipate Anderson’s upcoming film: Moonrise Kingdom, starring Bill Murray and Bruce Willis, to be released in 2012.

This band has rocketed itself into being sensational even before its youngest member left high school. Jungle by Night are a party of nine white lads between the ages of 16-22 from Amsterdam. You wouldn’t say though, because they sound anything but teen-aged and Caucasian: they rock a mixture of Nigerian Afrobeat and Ethiopian Jazz. And when we say they rock, we mean just that.

Kindred Spirits released their first EP on Vinyl and after being on national television and playing throughout the Netherlands, Jungle by Night is crossing borders. This inspirational young collective is a denim design team favourite! Be sure to catch them live some time.

The beautiful city of Florence hosts the most important menswear and denim trade fair in Europe, presenting almost a thousand collections this year, and Amsterdams Blauw was there, proudly presenting our men’s denim collection as well as offering a sneak preview of our women’s denim collection.

The theme of this Pitti Uomo was travel – and the famous French duo Antoine+Manuel transformed the forecourt of the Fortezza into a special place where you could experience a trip into the world’s contemporary lifestyles and fashions with the help of the duo’s graphic and computer design creations.

Also, the new Pitti Shop, designed by Patricia Urquiola, sold limited edition United Arrows t-shirts and shopping bags by Andrea Incontri. Proceeds from their sales went to aid Japan’s earthquake and tsunami victims.

Amsterdams Blauw will be present at every winter and summer edition of this exceptional fair. For the retail, as much as for the renowned baristas they invited to concoct delicious Italian coffee.

Have you ever noticed the little messages we include in our garments? We give special attention to the details, just to show you that we put all our creativity, devotion and effort into all the aspects of designing and manufacturing Scotch & Soda clothing: the lining, the pockets and indeed, the labels.

Have a peek inside the collar of your shirt, or your trouser pocket, and you may find that it carries a dainty message about that special garment for you. We celebrate the beauty in life that is found in the detail. We applaud your unique taste and sense of style by including little hidden treasures in our garments. Consider it a genuine ‘Thank You’ from everyone who contributed to the cardigan, dress, jacket or pair of jeans that you chose to take home with you.

We are delighted to announce that the Scotch & Soda as well as the Maison Scotch fall/winter collections will hit the shops in July. Ladies as well as gentlemen may look forward to our unprecedented effort to wrap you up warm in impeccable style this winter. Yes: lots of coats, parkas and jackets coming up. Pied-de-poule, herringbone and tweeds amongst the men’s wear and for women we introduce some super new qualities in a variety of wool textures, coated twills and durable nylons to help fend off unfriendly weather.

Scotch&Soda makes an effort to dress the outdoorsy boys in timeless, utilitarian garments this winter. The brand new fall/winter collection blends authentic British checks, nostalgic Fair Isle knits, waxed jackets, and woolly ‘granddads’ with corduroy trousers . Look forward to warm autumnal colours like ochre, raspberry, cinnamon and plum.

Maison Scotch anticipates winter celebrations with dresses in all our favourite moods: French ‘belles du jour’, 60s Hollywood glamour and 70s bohemian chic. A beautiful feather hair band, bow broche, clutch and black stockings are perfect compliments to your elegant evening frock.

Corbijn is positively the Netherlands’ most accomplished contemporary photographer. He’s said to always have built an intimate relationship with his subjects, making his portraits of David Bowie, Miles Davis, Tom Waits and others world famous. Many of us know Corbijn’s music videos for Nirvana, Johnny Cash and Coldplay and he has recently expanded his artistic capacities by directing the feature films Control (2007) and The American (2010).

The exhibition inwards and onwards currently on display at FOAM (photography museum Amsterdam) proudly presents a broad array of Corbijn’s work. Gaze into the eyes of some of this remarkable artist’s favourite subjects: Alexander McQueen, Damien Hirst, Anselm Kiefer, Karel Appel and many more.

Foam. Keizersgracht 609, Amsterdam. www.foam.org. 23 June - 1 September 2011

Need some creative input? Plenty of fresh ideas are floating around in the world’s metropolises – and New York just has it all. It’s a great big melting pot of people from all over the globe, attracting the most innovative and creative minds.

The denim design team had a delicious Arabian/Mediterranean lunch at Cafe Gitane in the lower east-side. They strolled through the neighbourhood to find the unique vintage London Soho affiliated barber shop Tommy Guns and got the best haircut in Manhattan. Another luscious experience was satisfying the appetite with some Michelin star rated pub-grub along with a cool pint of draught beer in the lower west-side at the Spotted Pig. Manhattan is also the home of the incredibly versatile DJ Spinna. Catch one of his memorable Stevie Wonder tribute nights at any of the city’s best venues if you can. Prepare to queue for a bit; it’s worth the wait.

Melt isn’t just what you do around Berlin in summer, it’s also certainly one of Europe’s finest festivals, offering the cream of the crop of electronic-meets-rock music since 1997. Get ready for the Melt! Selektor Stage, where Modeselektor is promising stuff of future music legend. After their spectacular live set with Bonaparte in 2010, the Berlin-based Gernot and Szary will top last year's show with a never before seen and heard techno super group.

There are too many acts and bands at MELT to highlight, so let’s just mention a favourite: The Drums. They’re from Brooklyn, they won the Philip Hall Radar award at the NME Awards in 2010, and it’s said that they’re one of the most exciting new young bands to come out of New York this century. Their crisp ‘n fresh upbeat electro-indie tunes are very likely to make you move your feet.

Reinventing oneself is a crucial part of keeping creativity bubbling. There’s no time to stand still: we constantly seek innovation and creativity. We keep tweaking and exploring new possibilities.

This new Scotch & Soda on-line platform was created to optimise user-friendliness for you: our customer. The html website facilitates your search needs, both at home and on the road. We also aim to surprise you with a completely new visual experience of our website.

If you’re pondering places to explore this August, look no further than the pulsing heart of Europe: Budapest. This city has it all: an amazing Scotch & Soda store, the Danube River ánd one of the best festivals in the world. So, don’t forget to pack your camping kit, ‘cause Sziget festival takes over from 8 till 15 August and it’s hosting around a thousand of the freshest global pop acts on an island right in the city.

Sziget festival and Budapest are pleasantly affordable and the sun is bound to be brilliantly hot. Pack flip-flops, sun screen and your swim suit – oh, and something more fashionable in case you need a break from the masses and prefer a night on the magical historical town.

Check http://szigetfest.eu/en for more info.

Need it be mentioned that Bread and Butter 2011 takes place in Berlin? It’s beyond doubt the most inspiring European city of the moment and Bread and Butter is in this European capital to stay. The renowned retail tradeshow celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and calls it the Bread & Butter SUPERSHOW.

As every year, Scotch & Soda is represented at this trade show extraordinaire, amongst their exclusive array of contemporary labels. Coming up on B&B are the Spring/Summer collections 2012 of Maison Scotch, Scotch & Soda and Amsterdams Blauw.

Lomography is unpredictable, incredibly creative and we dare say, a bit life-altering. It’s all about the unexpected snapshot, and yes; it’s analogue. This fresh and brand new lomography camera line, La Sardina, inspired by sardine cans, comes in any colour mismatching anything you were planning to wear, making it an obviously perfect accessory.

These smart 35mm cameras are equipped with a wide-angle lens, multiple exposure capabilities, and – wait for it - a rewind dial (don’t you miss that sound?). As for the result of your snapshot efforts; over-saturated colours, blurring, slightly awry exposure and small accidents are all part of lomography. Sport a Scotch & Soda’s Constructed Trucker Jacket with the La Sardina El Capitan featuring Fritz the Blitz flash. Oh yes: forget digital: go lomo.

If anything defines post-20th Century casual wear, it must be denim. Besides looking terrific on your coffee table, the Denim Bible is "a comprehensive guide to the history and world to denim and jeans wear" and the sparkly new reincarnation of the 1992 Jeans Encyclopaedia.

The Denim Bible is a visual treat, as the pages fly through the history of these famous blue trousers. Designers, brands, advertisements, the manufacturing process and most importantly, denim’s intriguing history. Ever want to find out what denim, Genoa (Italy), Nimes (France) and Dongari Killa (India) have to do with each other? Or perhaps you wonder why jeans were deemed so suitable for sailors, and then for soldiers? When did teenagers start wearing jeans in the first place, and are jeans American or do we simply assume so?

Denim lovers: you can get all your answers at Mendo, Berenstraat 11, Amsterdam or shop online.

Summers can get hot in Berlin, and that calls for breezy roof-top getaways. This particular one promises nothing less than passionate chefs serving candle-lit dinners and plenty opportunity to dance the night away at weekends.  The cocktails are quite spectacular and expect Berlin’s fun loving and creative people to gather here.

Truth be told, there isn’t a nicer way to flirt the sunset away than high above the bustling city in a deck-chair, cocktail in hand. 

Ressort can be found @ Invalidenstraße 50/51 
Hinterm Hamburger Bahnhof direkt am Spandauer Schifffahrtskanal 10557 Berlin

This shop is the perfect opposite of mass-produced high-street consumerism: an honest little shop in the centre of Amsterdam selling unique, hand made or limited edition items by approximately 25 young designers.  Some make bags, some cushions or cutlery.

RESTORED is very diverse and inspirational – if even idealistic: ‘To Restore means to give an object its original form and purpose back. Some designers do just that; they make old stuff new again. But RESTORED is bigger. It refers to our belief in the world needing beauty. Beautiful things can heal the soul. That’s why all our products are carefully composed by hand,’ so say owners Petra van Roon en Marijke Hukema.

These two ladies do more than run RESTORED: they consult on interior design and provide styling for various events too. Pop by some time to restore your inspiration.

Address: Haarlemmerdijk 39, Amsterdam or shop online .

This weekend, a new exhibit by acclaimed American photographer Ryan McGinley will open at Galerie Gabriel Rolt in Amsterdam. This is McGinley's second exhibition in Scotch & Soda's hometown, the first one was at the FOAM museum in 2007.

"Youth, liberation and the joy of losing yourself in the moment are elements that feature throughout Ryan McGinley's work, from his early roots in documenting the urban adventures of his downtown Manhattan friends to his subsequent cross-country travels in utopian environments throughout America to his most recent studio portraits."

'Somewhere Place', as this exhibit is called, shows a brand new series of photographs. If you're in or around Amsterdam, pop by Rolt's. It will be worth the effort.

Dutch Elle magazine recently published its first Stylebible: a 260 page shopping guide of all there is to want and love in this season's collections. Several items of the Maison Scotch Spring/Summer 2011 collection are quoted as the absolute must-haves! And well, who are we to disagree? If it is written in the Great Book, it shall be.

Leafing through this issue, confirms our suspicion that sunny spring is just around the corner. Think Maison bikinis, printed Maison printed dresses and light weight linen trousers with ethnical prints.

So you know what to do: either pick up a copy of the Stylebible for inspiration, or visit our web store to shop these breezy spring styles right away!

Maison Scotch is on this month's cover of Sportswear International! The model wears a Maison shirt with bow tie, from our Spring/Summer 2011 collection. Like it? This style is available in stores and online now! The bowtie comes with the shirt.

Several more  Maison Scotch garments are featured in the cover shoot inside. Also, you can read all about our Amsterdams Blauw denim collection in a full page article. So be sure to pick up a copy of Sportswear at your local bookstore to get in the know!

We changed our website over the past few weeks! The campaign images of the new Spring/Summer 2011 collection are online now, and the items are available in the web store. New features make navigation fast and easier.

One of the new features we love, is the new video channel. This features all our new campaign video's for Amsterdams Blauw, Barfly, men, women and kids of this season. Enjoy!

We have some great news for our German crowd! On 5 March, we opened the doors to a new store in Hamburg; our very first store in Germany. You can shop all the different Scotch collections here: men, women, kids and denim.

The new store is located on the corner of Neuer Wall and Bleichenbrücke; Hamburg's upscale designer shopping area, most similar to London's Bond Street or Madison Avenue in NYC. We are particularly excited about the beautifully designed interior of the store, with sleek glass cabinetry, white and tiled floors and brick walls. We hope you enjoy it just as much, so please drop by our new Hamburg store sometime soon to see it yourself!

Kid's WearThis month, Scotch & Soda's kids collections were featured in two editorial shoots in Kid'sWear magazine. The little models wore both the Scotch Shrunk (boys) and Scotch R'Belle (girls) collection.

Kid's Wear, established in 1995, is an international magazine for children's fashion, lifestyle and culture. The images were were styled by Catrin Hansmerten and photographed by Achim Lippoth.

Get ready for spring with these designer's favourites! The Maison Scotch spring jackets are designed to keep you warm on chilly days, but still fit like a second skin for the use of lovely light weight materials. What makes each garment extra special, is the great attention that is paid to the small details.

The blue jacket on top is a military inspired hooded style, with a leather cord wrapped around the waist, to give you that extra fitted shape. The linen jacket below is nicely detailed with shoulder buttons and a satin waist ribbon. Both styles are available in our web store. Hungry for more? Plenty more styles are yours to pick online and in our stores worldwide...

February 14th is just around the corner. Feeling uninspired about what to buy for Valentine? No worries, Scotch has everything you need to spoil your loved one with. To make things extra easy, all items are available in our webstore. Happy Valentine's day!

We have some good news for kids (or rather their parents) in and around Maastricht. On 15 February, a brand new kids store will open its doors on Muntstraat 1. Both the Scotch Shrunk and Scotch R'belle collection will be sold here!

Are you in the Netherlands, but not in Maastricht? You can also find the kids collections in the basement of the Scotch & Soda store in Breda: Houtmarkt 1, or in the beautiful kids store at Wolvenstraat 14 in Amsterdam. We hope to welcome you there soon! Scotch R'belle and Scotch Shrunk are also available in our webstore.

WAD (We Are Different) magazine published a nice feature on about the new Scotch & Soda Spring/Summer 2011 mens collection on their blog. We love their concise definition of the collection:

'The Scotch brand DNA, old school with a spicy twist and love for detailing, is recognizable in each garment. Influences from all over the world are taken to achieve a diverse look which is characteristic for their collections.'

Scotch & Soda just got back from Bread & Butter. Twice each year, this Berlin-based 'tradeshow for selected brands', is the place to be for fashion brands to present their new collections to buyers, traders and representatives from the textile industry press. It's been a fun and inspiring week! For this winter edition, our guests got a sneak peak of the new Fall/Winter 2011/2012 collections for Scotch & Soda, Maison Scotch and Amsterdams Blauw.

We would like to share the happy news that Scotch & Soda won the award for Best Fashion at the Sports- wear International Fashion Awards (SIFAs). We kindly use this opportunity to thank all the voters for nominating us, and the jury for granting us the award.Some of the winners in the other categories were Vivienne Westwood for Lee in Best Denim, Adidas Originals vs. Burton in Best Sport/Street and Nike in Best Sneaker.

A jury of 18 internationally renowned retailers and buyers voted for Scotch & Soda Best Fashion "for its vision, design, brand strength and potential". The photo above is our winning image.

This months favorite press clipping is a lovely feature on Maison Scotch, published in the Dutch edition of ELLE magazine. ELLE dedicated a page of their January issue to the style and story of our women's collection. Maison Scotch is greatly described as classic with an edge, and authentic with an artistic French touch. Head of Design Marieke:

'The Dandelion-seeds of our logo are carried away by the wind and travel like tiny parachutes. Like the journey of the seeds, creating a collection feels like making a road trip...'

Make sure to pick up a copy at your local bookstore.

It's been freezing for weeks now, and the winter has only just begun. We can think of only two good reasons to withstand the cold: to travel to a warmer place, or to buy some proper winter goods to keep you warm. Too bad more people had that idea, and the shop racks for gloves and scarves are all emptied out.

Here's an idea. Stay inside, light the fireplace, make yourself some hot chocolate and get cuddly on the couch with your laptop. We have plenty of lovely winter accessories in stock in for men, women and kids, and we deliver all the goods right to your doorstep.

Enter December, month of unavoidable decreases in temperature and light, and on the up side, all the snug celebrations to go with that. At Scotch & Soda we are not with the 'I hate Christmas' army so we welcome the season with open arms.

In the Netherlands, we start on the 5th of December with the birthday of Sinterklaas: Amsterdam's patron saint and a children's favourite for giving presents on his birthday in exchange for good-natured behaviour, some original DIY creativity and fun rhymes.

To fill the void between Sinterklaas and Santa, we then start attending as much 'try-out-your-Christmas-outfit' get-togethers as possible. Every date that involves great company, great food and drinks in some nice decorum, is a reason to dress our individual best. So here's an idea; put our best December party styles on Sint's or Santa's wish lists quick before it's all gone. Scotch just wants you to feel great at looking awesome.

After successfully launching the Maison Scotch women's collection last year, we couldn't resist the temptation to design a girl's collection, too. No sooner said than done, Scotch R'belle was born.

We're exited to announce that the first spring/summer collection will be in stores worldwide, from the beginning of 2011. R'belle will be an extensive Scotch-feel girls collection, with touches of rock, pirates, sailors and a romantic hippy vibe. So keep an eye on your local Scotch & Soda store this January! R'belle will also be sold online.

At the end of each month we will post our 'press clipping of the month' and our favourite for November is JFK. We're proud that 'Barfly', our debut into the world of fragrance, got such a grand review in JFK's Greatest Man 2010 issue. This successful Dutch men's glossie heralds real life males not only for their sense of style but for their individuality, creativity, personality, sense of humour and over all cool factor. Our feel exactly. 

Photographer Annemarieke van Drimmelen, who has been shooting absolutely enthralling mood and collection images for Scotch & Soda for several seasons, and artist Anouk Griffioen, known for her wall covering photorealistic illustrations, engaged in an exciting art project called 'Sophie'.

Annemarieke and Anouk collaborated on a series of portraits of model Sophie Vlaming for about a year, perfectly merging and questioning both their disciplines; can we capture reality in imagery? The final result, an impressive series of giant yet intimate and fragmented portraits of Sophie is showcased in Magazijn 153� on November 27 and 28 only, open between noon and 5PM.

After this brief debut, the project will start travelling with its first stop in Stedelijk Museum Zwolle in 2011.

Ready for the 23rd International Documentary Festival Amsterdam? From 17 to 28 November the very best of reality caught on film will be screened in Amsterdam's most stylish cinema Tuschinski, as well as around the corner Pathe de Munt and, surprisingly, at Amsterdam's main library.

The rubbing of shoulders with the international documentary jet set will take place at De Brakke Grond. Making your must see pick from the exhaustive program, blocking the timeslots in your agenda and then getting the desired tickets is a higher art in itself but getting a MyIDFA account helps.Our recommendations? Wear your easiest and most comfy outfit and try to go see:

• All we ever wanted (Dutch)
• Another Side of David Bailey (English)
• Position of the stars (English)
• Waste Land (English)

The temperature is dropping and the leaves are falling. Guess what, autumn just arrived! Bundle up with a long woolen coat from Maison Scotch's collection pair it with a mohair scarf, take a stroll through the city and be mesmerised by the glow of illuminated bridges. It makes you realise what a beautiful city Amsterdam actually is.

Autumn also marks the return of the cultural season in Amsterdam, with amazing events like Museumnight, also known as n8. The 11th edition of this cultural night is held in 40 museums around Amsterdam on the 6th of November from 07.00 pm-2.00 am.

All locations offer something extra, like music, film & performance art on top of their regular exhibitions. Not in the mood for a night out? Just stay home and make it like the Dutch say 'gezellig' a typical Dutch word that best describes a cosy atmosphere, have friends around, eat nice food and watch a movie in the comfort of your own home.

Last month Eindhoven hosted the Dutch Design week. The event started nine years ago and is well known internationally.

A high light of the event was The Ducth Design Awards, this was not only a competition, but also an exhibition which shows off the work of the finalists and winners of the awards.Besides that all the graduates of The Design Academy get their first acquaintance with the public in a graduate exhibition.Eindhoven is renowned for fashion and design, so make sure you visit the Scotch & Soda store, just a month old but full of the AW 2010 collection.

And if you didn't manage to attend The Dutch Design week then be sure to pick up the Dutch Design Yearbook 2010 which is available in stores now.

Scotch & Soda is opening stores all around the world with NYC, Toronto, Madrid and Budapest being the most recent.Over the last few months not only was the Scotch & Soda webstore relaunched but almost 6 retail stores have opened in Holland these being Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Groningen, Arnhem and Maastricht and we haven't finished yet! More are to follow in 2011 keep your eyes open in your home town!

Just around the corner of the Scotch & Soda head office, the legendary Club Mazzo reopened its doors last week. The former club is now a restaurant.The restaurant has a living room aesthetic, a relaxed space where you can have an expresso & paper in the morning wearing your favorite sweater or have a casual dinner at night with friends to enjoy the Mazzo's Italian flavour.

The interior was designed by Concrete. they brought back the industrial elements of the old club and added new flavour of the 'Jordaan'. The restaurant has an open view to the kitchen, a separate room for private diners and a bar.

Amsterdam Dance event, one of the biggest music conferences and dance events of Europe starts its 15th edition today. ADE provides the international electronic music industry with an extensive platform where they can share their knowledge, spot trends and absorb new techniques. The festival is also for new talent, who have the opportunity to shine in front of a large audience.

The festival is starting today and will continue for the next 4 days. The majority of nightclubs in Amsterdam will be participating which means 165 events and 44 different locations. In 1996 this event started small but has grown into a large event where, in 2009, 90,000 people visited.

This month our design team travelled to Tokyo for an inspiration trip. Japan is a country where a rich history meets the new hectic digital era.

Preferring to experience the real Tokyo, to see new things and collect original new ideas we also travelled to the outskirts of the city to discover new areas we have not explored before. Our trip was only short but left us full of inspiration and fantastic ideas. Check out some of our top tips below.

To Eat: Cafe Liberty and Bombay Bazar

To See: Tsukiji fish market ( make sure you are early !)

To Shop: Head to Oriental Bazaar one of the biggest sourvenior shops in Harajuku.

Barfly, the new fragrance of Scotch & Soda will hit the stores in December just in time for the festive season, a perfect gift for Christmas.After a lot interest in the new fragrance, we currently have testers in stores for you to try. Much like Scotch clothing, the scent is intense and full of details. The first reviews are in and reactions have been very positive. Curious? Go over to one of the Dutch stores and test it out for yourself!�

At the Scotch & Soda headquarters its a busy time for the design team, they are working towards the deadline for the Autumn / Winter 2011 collection. Unfortunately today they are suffering a little with plaid overload !

It's going to be a busy few months leading up to "buying season" but all worth it when we've got an amazing collection sat in our showroom. Stay tuned!

Did you know we have a kids store in Amsterdam ?

Scotch & Soda recently opened a Scotch Shrunk store in the Wolvenstraat Amterdam. To generate more awareness around the opening of our kids store , we rented an old Italian ice cart and gave kids around the area complimentary ice cream. If the kids had a winning star on the bottom of their ice cup they could go with their parents to the store and choose a free T-shirt or baseball cap. More pictures available at our Facebook fan page.

Don't forget to join us on Facebook.

Like us on Facebook and become a fan. You will stay up to date on the latest news about Scotch & Soda which includes: new stores, new collections, sales, events and much more. Besides that, we like to hear your opinions, and to receive your pictures.

Hope to see you there !

Our designers favorite of the week: Maison Scotch wool blazer

Favorite because: the blazer has been a key item in every girls wardrobe ever since the idea of masculine chic was invented. Everything looks good with a classic blazer thrown over it, even if you are just wearing jeans and a tee.The blazer is a slim fit, made from soft wool fabric with brown suede elbow patches also accessorised with a silk pochette. The all over star print lining is the finishing touch to this special jacket.

The Cut, NYmag online, paid visit to our store in NYC and made their selection of key items, the blazer was their no.1 item, check out the rest of their top picks here.

GLAMOUR celebrates its 5th birthday with their biggest issue ever!

Besides their regular fashion shoots and shopping pages, there is a Glamour lookbook which features upcoming Dutch models, interviews with (inter)national celebrities, the latest trends in fashion & beauty, glamour living, lifestyle and traveling. The travel section for the birthday issue features its hometown Amsterdam with an array of great suggestions for shopping, (cultural) entertainment, food and places to stay. It's a great reference for any trip to Amsterdam.

Lastly if you happen to be having lunch in Buffet van Odette then you're already in the renowned shopping zone known as the Nine Streets. Don't forget to pass by the Scotch & Soda stores located within this area!Glamour #10 is available in stores now.

Scotch & Soda has arrived in New York! The first USA flagship store opened its doors last week. The store is located at 273 Lafayette Street, which is in the popular Nolita area, home to many other popular brands. Much like our flagship stores in Amsterdam, this boutique boasts a unique interior combining warm wood tones with clear glass and clever lighting. Both our women's line, Maison Scotch and Men's line Scotch are available in this store. Some first impressions at Racked NY.

Summer's drawing to a close, so it's that time of year again: the season for back-to-school shopping and where better to start than at Scotch Shrunk.

The Winter 2010 Scotch Shrunk Collection is all about travelling, places, times and galaxies, so gear up and start your adventures today. Here are some of the highlights from the collection:Be the king of your castle, sophisticated and smooth, just like a dandy. We love bow ties and tailored jackets.Find rough denims and mix them up with light pastels.Be rebellious, be an anti hero, find action graphics and photo prints on tees and pulls.Get the perfect match with checked cowboy shirts and chunky knits.

If you happen to be in Amsterdam why not visit our new Scotch Shrunk store.

The last weekend of August is tradionally 'Uitmarkt' in Amsterdam. The Uitmarkt is the national opening of the cultural season and the largest cultural festival in the Netherlands. Over the years, the Uitmarkt has evolved into a festival attracting 500,000 visitors and featuring around 1,600 performers at more than 30 venues. And it's all free.

The program gives visitors a sneakpeak into the coming cultural season. The types of shows range from classical Ballet to hiphop and drama to jazz. Famous Dutch and international artists like Waylon, De Staat, Candy Dulfer, Monks Avenue and Fernando Lameirinhas will be performing this weekend. Different shows, different styles, dress casual but smart!

Visit the Uitmarkt website for more information.

Thank you all for voting! Scotch & Soda is proud to inform you that we've been nominated for this year's SIFA (Sports International Fashion Award).

SIFA is a prestigious annual award for fashion brands. Scotch & Soda is nominated in the category 'Best Fashion', which could be described as: 'The most impressive, salable, exciting and fashionable collection that is not primarily jeans-based'.Besides Best fashion, there are 5 other categories, Best Denim, Best Sneakers, Best Footwear, Best Sport/Street and Best Newcomer. The winners will be chosen by a premier panel of judges representing international retailers, we hope the jury is just as excited about the brand as you are! SI magazine will announce the winners in each in category in their 'Who's Who' edition, which will be available in stores November 2010.

In the past few weeks Amsterdam, and the most of Europe have been completely covered in rain. How is this possible for the end of this lovely summer?

Our hopes are high that the weather for this weekend will be bright & sunny, not only for visitors of Lowlands (the music festival in Biddinghuizen NL), but also for the visitors of SAIL, a big nautical event held in Amsterdam once every five years. In addition to the renowned tall ships, a unique collection of about 500 ships from the Dutch sailing heritage fleet, naval ships, various replicas and modern ships will be moored in and around the IJ river. Other nautical highlights will include the Ceremonial Salute, the Naval Review, a safety and rescue demonstrations, the Crew Parade through the city centre and much more.

Find out more about the event and its program on Sail2010.nlFor all you people out and about this weekend, make sure to bring a rain coat just in case. If you have a sunny mindset and are going to SAIL or Lowlands, make sure you rock it in style and check glamour.nl for tips.

At this year's Bread & Butter trade fair we presented a first glimpse at Amsterdams Blauw, the new Scotch & Soda denim line. To celebrate the occasion, CODE magazine made a short movie with Alex Jaspers (Brand Manager) who proudly presents the Spring 2011 collection.

Alex explains the background behind the brand, which draws inspiration from Amsterdam, the denim capital of the world. He shows us some of the collection pieces and highlights their finest details. Amsterdams Blauw will be available in stores Spring 2011.Production/Camera: Maxi MeissnerEditing: Bjoern Vollbrecht

Attention music lovers! Everybody here in Holland is warming up for yet another edition of "A Flight to Lowlands Paradise". We are blessed with some of the best festivals in the world. But Lowlands is undoubtedly a league of its own.

It's one of those rare events that sell out long before the line-up is announced, with visitors attracted by what they commonly refer to as "the Lowlands feeling." As the biggest 3 day music festival in the Netherlands, with about 60.000 visitors and over 200 acts Lowlands is the place to get your kicks. If you're going to Lowlands this year (and managed to get a ticket), make sure you rock it in style!Glamour magazine is featuring weekly Lowlands shopping ideas to make you fashionable and festival-proof during the 3 days of music madness! Their current look is à la Isabel Marant: with lots of colors, prints, fringe, and accessories like belts and bracelets.

Head over to Glamour.nl and check out the latest Lowlands shopping tips!A Flight to Lowlands Paradise is held 20, 21 and 22nd of August, more info at www.lowlands.nl

Scotch & Soda continues to grow season after season. Next year we will add a new collection to our kids line and launch R'Belle specially for girls.

Scotch Shrunk for boys has already been a huge success, so it was a natural step to launch a girl's collection.The collection is designed for girls between 4-14 years old. It is delicate and cool at the same time, just like her adult sister Maison Scotch. Influences from all around the globe are used to define the characteristics of Scotch R'Belle, giving extra attention to the little details that make each garment special.The R'Belle collection is set to be a huge success when it hits the stores January 2011.

After several years of building and expanding their brand, the creative team at Scotch & Soda have realised a long lived dream and proudly present their first men's fragrance entitled BARFLY.

Terms like intense but simple, young and transparent had to be translated into a scent.

Much like our clothing, the perfume has its own character and is full of details. The creative team had a strong idea about how Barfly should smell and the feeling it had to evoke. Terms like intense but simple, young and transparent had to be translated into a scent.Barfly will be in stores December 2010.

Bread and Butter is one of the most important fashion trade fairs in Europe. After making Barcelona its home for several years, it now moves back to its roots in Berlin.

The old 'Tempelhof Flughafen' was the perfect setting for the summer trade show with the theme 'Premier League', which of course had a slight reference to the World Championship Football held at the same time.

For us, it was an edition of new lines. We were not only present with Maison Scotch and Scotch & Soda, but we also introduced our new denim line, Amsterdams Blauw and our new scent, Barfly. Check out the video to give you some behind the scenes impressions.Video credits: daumenkino.com Sound: "God Don't Pay" by Jesey Budd (Snowhite)

Amsterdams Blauw is our ambitious young denim project that draws inspiration from American denim aesthetics. Furthermore, we focus on details from Japanese workmanship which gives us that tongue in cheek appeal in our collection.

Nevertheless, we are Dutch and we are in the denim capital of the world, Amsterdam. We are constantly inspired by our great city which allows us to be more free in our approach of things. We want to play the maverick card and be the new and fresh alternative for the Denim establishment. We are going to portray the Scotch & Soda Amsterdams Blauw collection as THE CHALLENGER brand.The collection of Amsterdams Blauw will be available in stores fall 2010.

A new design season, a fresh new start. To get inspired our design team flies all over the world to seek inspiration for the new collection. This month it was New York City.

During a research trip not only do we explore museums, galleries and book stores but we love to explore the city, finding its hidden treasures. We prefer to experience the real New York, meet new people, see new things and collect original new ideas.

Throughout this trip we have been visiting lots of spots from Manhattan to Brooklyn. Our trip was only short but left us eager to return in the near future. We love NYC !

Since we love the city we would like to share with you our special experiences. Check out our short visual overview of the trip. The following list shows our: must sees, must taste, must look, must stay and must visit:

Look at: FAILE Jonathan Levine Gallery Wooster Collective Museum of Natural History The Guggenheim The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Eat at: Fette Sau Taco Chulo Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs Katz's Deli Butter Juliet Supper Club
Drink at: Hotel Delmano
Stay at: Ace Hotel NYC
Visit: Coney Island

In the Dutch Elle of April 2010, our head designer of Maison Scotch, Marieke Meulendijks was interviewed. Marieke is the head designer of Maison Scotch and fanatic collector. Both of her passions find expression in her studio in an old canal house in Amsterdam, designed by architect Diederik Dam.

One of her collector's items is an illustration of Dalí with a dandelion. "This flower has something evanescent. Seeds that fly into the world to bloom somewhere else; it's like making a collection." After restyling the flower, the logo of Maison Scotch was born. "I have always had an idea of what my collection should look like: though, self-confident, cool, with humor.

"Maison Scotch is a mix of me and Scotch & Soda. 'La femme selon Marie', the underline of Scotch & Soda, means 'the woman considering the eyes of Marie' - that's how my friends call me." Marieke describes her style as 'somewhat soft and somewhat rough.' I am very constant. I like timelessness; trends are hard for me to hold on to." Her favorite garment is a boyfriend jeans of Abercrombie & Fitch, which she bought six years ago in New York. "I hope it works the same for Maison Scotch, in that "people buy our collection and will wear it for years."

"Classic with an edge and that typical French subtleness."

The decoration of her house is a mixed style of old and new. "I have got many old pillows, paintings and kelims, handmade carpets from the Middle East. But all these old objects are combined with a set couch and a lot of black and white."Her biggest pride is a shirt with a printed picture of her parents as a young couple in love. Marieke: "It is a honoring. My parents have always supported me in everything. I am very happy with the success of Maison Scotch; as it has really found it's own way!"Read here the full article of Marieke in Elle.