Store Blog

George Gets Curious - Dangerfield

We've brought in a number of new brands this season to Muddy George. Each has their own styling cues, characteristics and beliefs that define them as a brand and collection. Some of the brands you may have heard of, as their a bit more well known. But one brand we certainly didn't know much about before he strolled into the shop to show us the collection (travelling salesman style) was Dangerfield, from Victoria, BC, Canada. Helmed by Alex Davies, Dangerfield aspires to create pieces that last both physically and aesthetically. We've received our fall shipment and we recently spoke with Alex about his collection, living in Victoria and eating pizza.

First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m 23, and Graduated from UVic last year majoring in Economics. I’ve been running Dangerfield for about 4 years now.

Cats or Dogs?
Dogs, I don’t trust cat people.
 
Why did you start Dangerfield?
I just started to make pieces for myself and after people wanted their own, a few boutiques wanted to stock the brand. Not being able to find clothes that I really loved or would wear everyday inspired me to make that first piece. If you’re also really interested in an industry but can’t get hired anywhere, the best thing you can do is start something yourself.
 
Have you ever cried while watching a movie? If yes, which was your first one?
Hahah I don’t think so, at least not that I can remember.

 


What’s the biggest inspiration for the collection?
Whereas some designers might build a collection around a certain theme or idea, the collections I’ve put out so far have been more practical than anything. Each piece has been centered around the concept of well made, versatile pieces that don’t have a very specific demographic. I think in the future, it would be interesting to see how our customers react to having the choice of those classic seasonal pieces as well as collections inspired by something much more specific.
 
What’s your favourite place to grab a bite to eat in Victoria?
Lately I’ve been going to Fiamo a lot, good vibes and a great bar next door (Lucky). I’m down for pizza any day. 
 
What's the first thing that comes to mind to describe your personal style?
Uniform. People make fun of me all the time for almost always wearing the same thing. I also think subtlety is key; wearing those pieces that you enjoy the most especially if it means no one knows what brand you’re rocking.

What types of vacations do you prefer?
Relaxing on the beach, don’t take me on a hike. If I want to get a workout in, I’ll go to New York.

What’s up next for Dangerfield?
We’ve really been working on locking down our supply chain. I think now that it’s at a place I’m happy with, I can really start to explore some different creative avenues which is really the main reason why I wanted to work in this industry. In time for the next Fall buying season, I’d like to have tons of different outerwear options as well as a full line of accessories.
 
How many pillows do you sleep with? Thick or thin pillows?
A couple hahaha. Gotta be thick too. We aren’t camping so why would you choose otherwise?

George Gets Curious - Brennan Michael

Without question, the number one thing we hear in-store is "it smells so good in here". That's because we keep all of our Brennan Michael products right at the front of the store. Brennan drops by pretty frequently so if you haven't have a chance to chat him up in-store, here's your chance to find out a little bit about the man behind the brand. He's just released a new fragrance (dried orange) in his candle and diffuser and they obviously smell amazing! 

 First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Brennan Michael. I’m originally from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. I’ve been a creative since the young age of 5. I’ve performed music, theatre, made short films and sketches with family and friends. I’ve always been inspired by creative industries and arts. I created Brennan Michael in Toronto almost 3 years ago. I have been residing in Toronto off and on since 2008.

Favourite place to hang out in Toronto?

My favourite place in Toronto would probably have to be many places along Ossington between Dundas and Queen. There are so many great spots to enjoy food, drink or frequent shops.

Why did you start Brennan Michael?

I started Brennan Michael because I was intrigued by the personalities of fragrance and how we relate to them. I was determined to mix strong, unique fragrances that can be enjoyed by many.

photo @davidapike

Tea or coffee?

Black coffee. I prefer coffee over tea in most situations. Tea is excellent, but coffee is most times necessary.

In ten words or less, tell us why you love to make.

I love to make to prove it can be done.

Have you ever cried while watching a movie?

Oh yeah! That’s how you know you picked the right movie.

What (if any) other creative hobbies do you have?

I write and record music. I do it mainly to enjoy it myself or with friends. I used to record to promote music to tour with my bands at the time. Occasionally I will release music on SoundCloud and openly licence it for films, video blogs, etc.

What is your most essential appliance?

It’s cliché, but my phone. It really is an extension of me.

What’s up next for Brennan Michael?

I have a few very exciting collaboration releases that have been in the works for months. Also I have my new fragrances on the way as well as new fragrance applications.

In Tic-Tac-Toe, do you prefer O’s or X’s?

X’s because they are most satisfying to scribble!

photo @jclfoto

George Gets Curious - Bon Vivant

A new season and a new George Gets CuriousWe reached out to the designer of one of our newest brands, Jean-Mat Vincent of Bon Vivant. If you didn't get a chance to meet Jean-Mat at the recent Bon Vivant Trunk Show we had at the shop, this is the perfect opportunity to learn a little bit more about the brand and the man behind it...particularly where he goes to eat in Montreal and his absolute fondness for poutine =)

pic c/o skatenewspot.com

First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up skateboarding around the streets of Montreal, which inspired me to do my own thing growing up. I like traveling, biking, coffee, dinner with friends and a good glass of wine.

Favourite place to hang out in Montreal?

I do my pit stop every morning at café Neve. At night I like going to Jardin de Panos where you can bring your own wine. After that, I usually go to my buddy’s new bar called Henrietta in the Mile End.

Why did you start Bon Vivant?

Traveling and working in the industry for a long time inspired me to create my own line. I started my store with the idea to introduce the brand within a year. I really wanted to design my own shirts; fit has always been really important for me and I knew exactly what I wanted so I started by designing The Gino, our signature shirt. Since then I grew the collection slowly to make sure every piece in the collection become a classic. I do a lot of research on fabrics to bring the best quality to make sure my clothes last and improve with wear.

Favourite poutine spot and “flavour”?

I hate poutine.

You’ve been travelling a lot lately…what’s your favourite/most inspiring global city? Why?

I like different cities and places for many different reasons. Sometime I like to be far from the city to get back to the roots and see different cultures, the way people live and their mentality there’s a little bit of bohemian/gipsy inside me. Of course I also love the city I was recently in, Tokyo, probably one of the best places I’ve been. I also love Copenhagen; the lifestyle there is something else, you don’t need a car because the bike system is really on another level. It’s nice to see a big city where people live in a community helping each other…you can really feel that people there are happy.

Beverage of choice (alcoholic or not)?

Coffee, water and red wine

What (if any) other creative hobbies do you have?

I always like sports and my new passion is my road bike! We have the mountain right in the Plateau so I can just go for a ride after work a few times a week. I love it!

Have you ever had any brushes with the law? If yes, elaborate.

I had my problem growing up which I’m not going to elaborate on. Mostly just skate, run, chill, which was part of my lifestyle for 15 years, so I got tickets…probably some that I’ve never paid.

What’s up next for Bon Vivant?

I am currently designing new pieces for the collection. Then I want to export the brand to other countries, specifically in Asia but always keeping it exclusive to a few store and work with people that I like.

How many pillows do you sleep with?

2