Coat of Arms - Street Wear Culture

Brian Procell and Naghman Chaudry’s Coat of Arms, opened May 4th, and aims to be the premier location for high end fitted caps in New York. The 400 square foot retail space is brought to life by 70’s vintage flocked demask wallpaper, Ralph Lauren Studio Purple paint and mahogany shelving with brass accents. The store plans to carry its own brand of custom fitted caps as well as a mix of street wear and fashion brands such as WESC, Eriffs, Secret Destiny, Evisu, Freemont and Subscript. In addition they will stock 80’s deadstock Starter, The North Face, and Obermeyer jackets and a selection of collectible toys. As well, they will also soon be acquiring some extensive vintage collections of Polo Sport USA.

While we are seeing a proliferation of stores and companies with similar ideas (especially in the fitted cap market) that seem to be competing for the same clientele there obviously seems to be a market for this as despite constant closures and fierce competition many companies continue to thrive in an already cluttered market. Partially buoyed by hip-hop/sneakerhead culture and partially buoyed by Japanese street culture obsession it seems as if these stores will continue to exist until the next big cultural wave comes. However, in some respects it seems like these stores might be around to stay for a long while yet as fitted hats are blowing up, as can be witnessed by the meteoric rise of the now ubiquitous New Era fitted cap which is now present in not just hip-hop culture, but skate culture, and other youth cultures. As well, with the cultural cross-overs and hybridizations, such as hip-hop/skate (look to Lupe Fiasco, Pharell, etc. or even at many young hip-hop kids skating around Manhattan) many staples and trademarks of one culture are spreading to the other and brands from one culture are collaborating with the other such as the DC/New Era collaborations. On the other hand the turn to the 80s and 90s in sneakerhead culture is keeping demand for classic deadstock high as Nike and other companies continue to release kicks with colorways one can only describe as reminiscent or definitive of eras past. Come on, I dare you, just try finding some gear released this season to go with those hot pink and neon yellow Air Max’s you just copped.

COAT OF ARMS
43 Clinton St (Between Stanton & Rivington)
New York, NY
Hours: 11am - 8pm, 7 days a week

Optimus Prime Voice Changer Mask

It’s really a shame, but even if my current situation gets better, I think I’m destined to be broke. Every time you think you’ve seen or bought the dopest thing you just have to have, the next thing comes out. Right now, my current obsession is the Optimus Prime Voice Changer helmet. The design is from the new Michael Bay movie which means its 10 times “slicker” than the cartoon (not to upset any purists), but everyone knows slicker doesn’t necessarily mean better and either way, simply put, the helmet is badass.

As sketch as I must have looked wandering around Times Square’s Toys ‘R’ Us trying to find this helmet and the Optimash Prime Mister Potato Head (see above post) I really couldn’t care less because this thing is hot to death. With a demo, on and off mode and 3 buttons, one for the transformation sound, one that issues one of 5 phrases such as “The DECEPTICONS must be stopped” and “AUTOBOTS…roll out!” as well as the kicker, a button that makes your voice sound like OPTIMUS PRIME’s radness is bound to ensue. As much as I hate biting and people rolling out in the same thing I’ve got to say I can only look forward to the day when I see a posse of people rolling down the street in Optimus Prime helmets.

http://www.hasbro.com/default.cfm?page=browse&product_id=19455