Rivulet Industries is ripe with emotion with regards to our latest T-shirt project.  We have been working on this effort for over a year.  Inspired by a National Geographic photo of a mud-caked pair of size nine combat boots is among the latest World War I I artifacts to emerge from Germany’s Hürtgen Forest, scene of a bloody battle that saw some 31,000 U.S. casualties. Found with the boots last summer (2008) were the bones of two soldiers. The task of identifying the men falls to the Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), established in 2003 to consolidate Pentagon efforts to find missing military personnel, including 84,711 soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines from World War I I onward whose fates remain uncertain.



The wonderful artist rendering was illustrated by close friend and former art teacher, Marie Stevenson.  I am honored that Marie donated her talents to this project.  Marie has long been an inspiration to me, from teacher to spiritual shaman. She has always been there for me with candid, thoughtful advice.  Needless to say, Marie has been the rock plug to myself and many others throughout her teaching tenure and I am very proud to call her my friend.

Marie grew up in the Bozeman, Montana area and currently resides in Livingston, Montana with her husband Rich.  Her family owned and operated Teslow Grain Elevators.  Marie is a certified art teacher and has earned three degrees including a B.A. in Fine Arts from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota.  She earned her teacher certification from Montana State University – Bozeman and has taught Art and adult education in the Livingston area the past 15 years.

“The Fallen” shirts available in our store.

A very special thanks to Jeff at Choke Shirt Co & Printing.  Jeff has been a tremendous support in our printing and design efforts.  Thank you, Jeff.

Please share a little about your Childhood and School Days?  Besides the famous heirlooms that have traveled with The Bray brothers are there specifics of your childhood that you can identify that brought you to where Kirk and yourself are today?

Chris: We grew up in an artistic, creative home and there is no doubt that
that helped shape what was to become. There was always a workshop in
our garage and plenty of encouragement to build things. We built forts, BMX
bike jumps, 1/4 half pipes, nun-chucks, metal throwing stars, leather knife
sheaths, stained glass pieces, multiple Pine Wood Derby cars, refinished old
mirrors and furniture, the list goes on and on. I remember when I was in 3rd
grade I got to pick out my wallpaper, bedding and curtains. It was all red, white
and blue and sport themed. Then when I turned 15 or 16 I got to redo it in
what I would describe as a old man library/study. Chair rail, valances, rich
colors of evergreen, beige and mahogany and brass accents. Not much has
changed. In fact, when my wife first saw my Los Angeles bachelor pad for the
first time in 1998 she thought I lived with my grandfather. At the time it was full
of heirlooms from my family and vintage pieces were strewn all over. I have
since taken on a more minimalist outlook mostly due to two young children
running amok.

Chris: We also grew up fishing, hunting and camping and most of the gear when we were first starting out was usually our fathers and a few sizes to big. I will never forget the materials and construction of those garments and bags.  The smell, the texture, horn buttons, the heavy zippers are all fond thoughts of my youth.

Kirk: I think when we are designing memories of that gear creeps into our psyche because we always tend to design with utility, function and wear-ability in mind. These are the very characteristics that embody most outdoor gear from the 60’s and 70’s and continue to be the bed-rock of all of our designs.

Can you talk about “The Bray Family heritage?”  (This question is guised around the statement that Billykirk makes products that last – per The Scout video)

Kirk: Our family heritage on both sides is at least 5-6 generation American.  Sadly, most of the real old records from the 1600’s and 1700’s are nearly impossible to dig up. Our father recently found a record that lists one of our relatives as one of the first 5000 to come across from England. Our Great, Great, Great Uncle, George Henry Thomas, was a General in the Civil War so our heritage here is rooted about as deep as you can get.

Chris: We are also both at the age where we have witnessed the USA’s manufacturing sector slowly dwindle and fade away. We have heard story after story of businesses closing or moving operations overseas because they just could not compete with the cheap labor costs of other countries.  This begins to tug at your heart especially since we are entrenched into the accessories/garment industry.

Chris: I think these cheaply made, throw-away, soulless items that most big box retailers are stocking are beginning to “wear thin.’ Sure, there may be some initial satisfaction with saving a few bucks but in the end the garment or tool or frying pan begins to fail or fall apart. This is also having an affect on landfills from cheap office supplies to cheap toasters and cheap clothing.  When will we wake up?

Kirk: Hell, our grandparents had the same toaster for I bet 30 years and it worked perfect. They certainly didn’t feel the lure of the new flashy looking toaster.

Chris: Yea, they came from the era where if it wasn’t broke then why get a new one.

Kirk: True, but we are all guilty of buying the new, freshly designed appliance or electronic gadget and simply dropping the used one off at Good Will without a thought. My stainless steel appliances already look dated to me.

Chris: Perhaps it’s time to bring back “almond?”

Chris: Seriously though, I am beginning to see a real renewed sense of pride in ownership out there. Similar to what our parents might have felt when they bought a new American made car, washer & dryer, or a quality set off tools.
Sure, the Walmarts of the worlds will still exist but a growing number of us are staring to question pedigree and ethics in manufacturing. Furthermore, many are also realizing the satisfying notion that if they do spend a bit more on a quality made item, made with quality materials that they will likely get years of use out of it and pass it down to their children one of these days.

Does each of your individual style(s) / characteristics find their way into the  pieces you create?  If so, can you talk about an example?

Chris: Over the last 6-7 years we have essentially designed a bag for every occasion that fits our needs and aesthetic.  There were either holes in the market where that particular style and size of bag just didn’t exist or if it did it was cheaply made or had too many bells and whistles.

Kirk: A flashy bright, cheap zipper or snaps is a deal breaker on most bags for me.

Chris: We have been working on the next round of designs for Sebago and I always lean to the more classic color combination where as Kirk wants to modernize things as bit more. That goes for a lot of our bags and canvas accessories as well. He dials it up then I dial it down and we usually meet somewhere in-between.

Kirk: I designed a few looks this year that called for some colored leather.  For example, there are a couple bags for Spring 2011 that get dark green leather with olive herringbone that Chris had trouble with at first but I think he is beginning to come around on.

Chris: It’s subtle enough and works quite well actually. I was concerned about the navy leather and navy waxed canvas we did a couple of season ago but it sold quite well.

Favorite piece of wardrobe?  Do Kirk and yourself each have something that finds it’s way into your ensemble more than anything else?

Chris: During the summer months we both primarily live in plain v-neck or crew neck t-shirts. These come from Steven Alan, Gap, Saved Khaki, Earnest Sewn or thrift stores. We both have dozens.

Kirk: I am a shoe horse. I have an embarrassingly large amount of shoes. Just in the last month ½ I have purchased shoes from, Vans, Spring Court, 2 pairs from Generic Man, Nike’s and some custom Jack Purcell’s.

Chris: My uncle gave me his Vietnam jump and jungle boots in the mid 90′s and starting in the Fall they are my go-to boot. They fit and look great + I am a sucker for family heirlooms. I also don’t leave the house without my vintage sterling locket with my girl’s photos inside. Yes, it’s a locket. Once you get past the word locket most guys, particularly dads should be cool with it. I would suggest, however, getting a real plain one without all the etched detailing and make sure it’s no bigger than 3/4″ tall.

What is currently in rotation (music) at the workshop?

The National / Mumford & Sons / Beach House / The Soft Pack / Midlake / New Willie Nelson / Morning Benders / Other Lives

I would like to give my thanks to Chris & Kirk for their time and candid remarks –  It has been a tremendous honor getting to know these men.  I admire their passion for family, friends, style, and steadfast commitment to a quality product that lives through the generations – leather-work that we can pass down – our grandchildren’s heirlooms.

Please take some time and look for Chris’s contributions to Selectism or check-in with the latest Bray going-ons on their web store front/ blog.

Front Page Photo: Rose Callahan
Childhood Photo: Bray Family Photo

Rivulet Gives Back

For each “LPC” { Little Princess Cupcake} T-shirt sold Rivulet Industries will donate $5.00 to Books To Prisoners (BTP)

Get your Bill Brown illustrated LPC T-shirt in our store

Peter Rex Bragg of Shutt VR sporting the best socks in the world à la our store photo. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to secure a pair for yourself and buy some for  your friends as well. For each purchase Riv donates $4 to Donate Life Today.

jl.clark

thanks beard-e

Founded in 2009 during a ride in the Yorkshire Dales by avid cyclists Alex Raistrick and Simon Warren, Shutt Velo Rapide’s mission is simple; to create their own brand of well designed, high quality cycling garments in Sportwool that do not cost a fortune.

Shutt Velo Rapide sources all its materials from British manufacturers to create the very best in British-made cycling clothing.

Using traditional cycling jerseys as its inspiration, Shutt Velo Rapide has created a mixture of cycling wear from sporty to casual, feature rich and designed in complimentary colours. We source almost all of our materials from British manufacturers, truly enabling us to create the best in British made cycling clothes. We are extremely proud that each of our garments has been designed and manufactured by hand in the UK.

Sold – That was merely the first three paragraphs from their ‘About Shutt’ page.  They go on to tell you more about their target market and the general strategy that is behind their product set.  What is not obvious is the people that are behind the brand the pride that is obviously deeply rooted in this small Yorkshire company.  It became apparent when I moved a couple items into my cart and then neglected to check out.  Only a few hours later, to my surprise, I received an email from Shutt VR’s Sales & Marketing Director – Peter Bragg.  He was inquiring if any help was needed and to ensure that the site was working properly.  I am sure to Peter’s relief it was merely a user interface error. If there is one thing that we know in the eCommerce space – Customer Service is king.  His simple gesture to reach out and ensure things were okay led to a series of emails that helped us electronically introduce ourselves.  This included his wife helping with decisions on items to order based on my Pacific Northwest local before finally retiring for the evening.  It should be pointed out that Yorkshire Dales is 8 hours ahead of PST.

Needless to say, my first buying experience is one to remember and as part of our conversation Peter mentioned the latest summer jerseys that were officially being introduced the following Monday (today).  This line includes full zip and summer weight material for the dog days of summer.  I am excited for my shipment to arrive and to put my new Shutt VR kit through the paces.

Here are a few other tidbits that Peter passed onto me that helped confirm what a great little company Shutt VR is.

• Involvement with Orbea-For Goodness Shakes! Pro Team came from a chance meeting at their launch this year when the day before their clothing sponsor pulled out and we stepped in to provide the team with kit for their training camp and races within 2 weeks of signing the deal.
• Orbea asked for a race gilet and the development and subsequent manufacturing saved a UK factory from closing down, we outsource our synthetic garment manufacturing.
• Since we have relaunched the website we have also taken on 3 new machinist in our own factory in Bradford.
• We have always provided real kit for Women and Juniors to the same quality as the mens since we formed the company.
• We manufacture all our products in the UK.

A small company that has worked hard for their core values that includes local jobs, women in cycling, and the junior programs – great stuff.  Please take some time and review the growing line up from Shutt Velo Rapide Limited.

All I need now is to ride that gorgeous Yorkshire Dales country side.

]]> http://rivuletindustries.com/cycling/shutt-velo-rapide-limited/feed 1 http://rivuletindustries.com/music/rogue-wave http://rivuletindustries.com/music/rogue-wave#comments Thu, 29 Apr 2010 01:54:18 +0000 jl.clark http://rivuletindustries.com/?p=1444 Pat Sturgeon needed a kidney. This wasn’t new news for Pat and other members of Rogue Wave, he’s been dealing with his pre-existing condition most of his life. After the success of his first kidney transplant 13 years ago, the kidney started to fail just as Rogue Wave started to take off…

The below video is the trailer for the award-winning feature-length documentary that chronicles Pat Spurgeon’s search for a living organ donor and the challenges associated with finding a viable match.

I was especially excited to see Pat and R/W featured on last.fm doing well with his new kidney and perusing his passion. Take some time to watch the full documentary, a beautifully captured film about how those in need and those who donate can be the one sitting next to you.

D tour | A rock ‘n roll film about life, death and bodily functions.

D tour – Movie Page
Rogue Wave

Father’s Day is coming up – remember the hero in your life.  Just as we did this past weekend with Mom

Thanks “Hi Matt” for the photos and sharing your adventures with True, Luca, and LPC.

We have some socks left and are going to put them on mark down leading up to the holiday.  Get your dad some original rivulet industries socks for $15 with free shipping.

Rachel Sussman, recently surfaced such an idea.  Her project to photograph The Oldest Living Things in the World
Here is an excerpt from her Kickstarter campaign:  (Which she is using to fund the below trips)

On a conceptual level, I’m developing this unique index of living organisms with exceptional longevity at a critical juncture in our collective trajectory: how will the natural world fare in the face of climate change? Part art, part science, part philosophy, I hope to tease out themes of longevity, sustainability, the natural sublime and mortality through the work.

On the practical side, I have around 10 more organisms on my list to find and photograph before turning the project into the book. Where do I need to go, and what do I want to photograph, you ask? The biggest trips include:

• Searching the Antarctic Peninsula by boat for 5,000-year-old moss
• Backpacking in Tasmania and mainland Australia in search of several clonal shrubs in ranging from 10,000 to 43,000 years old
• Visiting a sacred site in Sri Lanka for a nearly 2,300-year-old Banyan Fig tree
• SCUBA diving in Spain to find the 100,000-year-old clonal sea grass

Please consider supporting her efforts.

I am often asked, “Why?, Why Donate Life Today!?, Why the philanthropic effort?”  These are all valid questions with an easy answer.

Alicia Foss

Alicia Foss was five weeks old when she was diagnosed with cancer.  Almost immediately she received chemotherapy to help fight these malignant cells.  This harsh treatment on her fragile body contributed to the partial collapse of one of her lungs.   With the collapse of Alicia’s lung she would need a double lung transplant.  Almost four years ago Alicia was placed on the transplant waiting list.  She was still waiting – until last week.

Excerpt from the Tri-City Herald

Finally, after four years of waiting and praying, Alicia Foss got her new lungs Wednesday.

The 27-year-old daughter of Jim and Diane Foss of Kennewick was in recovery Wednesday evening after five hours of surgery at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.

“It’s an incredible gift (the donor’s) family has given to us,” Diane Foss said earlier by telephone as she waited out the surgery with a half-dozen other family members at the hospital.

Despite having only 10 percent lung capacity, the 105-pound, 5-foot-tall Alicia was exceptionally fit to undergo the double-lung transplant.

“The fact that she is going into this strong and in a healthy state is a major advantage,” her mother said minutes after Alicia went into surgery.

A Thank You

Enjoy.

Phoenix – 1901 – A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Phoenix – Lizstomania / One time too many – A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Phoenix – Long distance call – A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.