SOMA Magazine SOMA Fall Fashion Issue Oct 15 | Page 53

Feature Bixby, project straightforward vintage optimism with a hipster edge. Some of the most interesting bikes are the limited editions, many of which are never offered for sale, but rather are proudly displayed either at a store, or on the website, as examples of playful ingenuity or as illustrations of the use of novel materials. One of the most covetable of these is a shiny, one-of-a-kind copper bike that uses the Shinola women’s Bixby frame. There were also brilliant nickel, brass, and glow-in-the-dark versions. Anyone lucky enough to own one of these museum-worthy models, or indeed any of Shinola’s elegant bicycles, which range from $1000 to $3000, and come in glossy retro shades such as mauve, teal, light orange, and dark green, would not want to mar their paint job with a pedestrian U-lock. Fortunately, Shinola sells a luxe, leather-covered bike lock. It may sell for a whopping $285, but knowing that it is wrapped in the finest Horween Essex leather, from a family-owned tannery in Chicago, and painstakingly made by Carrboro, NC based Map of Days, lessens the sting. Other fine leather goods offered by Shinola are designed in Detroit by none other than handbag legends Richard Lambertson and John Truex, who once produced a wellregarded eponymous line in addition to their designing stint for Tiffany & Co., and now happen to be the new co-design directors of leather accessories at Shinola. And since this leather is meant to last a lifetime, one can also purchase from Shinola not only the aforementioned tins of shoe polish, but also similarly packaged mink oil and saddle soap, to help clean, protect, and maintain. Often, Shinola’s seemingly high price point actually turns out to be a great deal. Take the watches: most of the straps are made by hand by Hadley-Roma in Largo, Florida, from Horween leather, and can be swapped out for a different look. The actual watch is a fascinating creation: featuring a uniquely American Argonite movement, and made from dozens of Swiss-made parts, plus a sapphire crystal, assembled by highly trained craftspeople right in Shinola’s dedicated space within Detroit’s College for Creative Studies, it provides Swiss quality and luxury at the slightly lower price point of around $650, with the added value of “Made in America” pride. Each watch is individually stamped and numbered, too, and has a lifetime warranty. Design-wise, these pieces expertly meld the retro, the timeless, and the original. The flagship model, the Runwell, is translated into countless permutations, with variations on the case, face, and strap enabling the wearer to choose their own unique look. One of the most arresting versions of the watch incorporates a face made of semi-precious stone: malachite, tiger’s eye, or turquoise, with an elegant coin edge case reminiscent of certain classic Rolex models, and a coordinating leather strap. Several