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