bluer than indigo

juxtapose

2012-03-09T19:43:00.001-08:00

I just love the juxtaposition of these two elements. Each one makes the other seam even more beautiful in a way that I would have never expected. Juxtaposition is one of my favorite ideas in art and life. The more unexpected the more interesting...

gold coast

2012-02-24T19:30:00.004-08:00

I grew up surfing the local Santa Barbara breaks from Rincon to Jalama. This is a map of where my friends and i spent most of our time when we were not in school or at work. The water was clean, the air was cool and crisp, the waves were great and the friendships were amazing. Some of the best and most beautiful days of my life...

my buddy

2012-01-26T18:50:00.000-08:00

There is no symbol of American denim culture more iconic than a vintage Buddy Lee doll. Only a vintage Levi's western banner or a pair of Big E's come close. I have been in love with Cowboy Buddy since the first time I saw him when I was a kid. I have wanted one since I re-discovered him in Japanese Denim magazines in the early '90's. This one is in my home and came to me through my friend David who is a vintage dealer & collector. He is in perfect condition with beautiful raw denim, copper burrs and rivets, scarf and cowboy hat.

ferrari craft

2012-01-22T20:31:00.000-08:00

Last summer I was in Italy with my family and we decided to visit the Ferrari Museum. This exhibit to me was one of the most interesting. In the design process of a Ferrari, first a clay model is sculpted into the exact shape of the desired car. Then a wire frame, as the one shown, is constructed based on the model. Then sheet metal is wrapped around the frame to create the shape of the car in metal and this becomes the foundation of the geometry of the chassis. Each one of the wire frames are made entirely by hand with to the exact specification of the engineer. The level of skill and perfection required to make this wire frame is almost unimaginable. True artistry that the Italians are so brilliant at.

plate 67

2012-01-12T07:13:00.000-08:00

There is just something a about strong, beautiful and intelligent woman that I find irresistible. (Duh... check out Lauren). Dressed in black leather and on a hot bike only adds to the formula. Make that bike a classic Italian cafe racer puts it over the top. Putting the number "67" (my old plate) is just too much for me to handle. Now you see why I find this photo so inspirational.

forbidden fruit

2012-01-04T21:01:00.000-08:00

All great brands must start somewhere. Usually it's the result of some need that an innovator finds the first solution to. Some of the best brands were started by serendipitous luck. Others after years of research. Apple was started in a garage by two renegade kids named Steve in California. One was in a genius engineer who wanted to give their product away. The other was a "once a century" visionary who wanted to sell a million of them at crazy high prices. Regardless of what they intended the Apple 1 and Apple 2 were a huge hits that propelled apple through years of non winners including Lisa and early Mac. Personal Computers started with this Apple 1 computer, eh board... input device and output device sold separately. Woz called this a "thing of beauty". Jobs was already dreaming of iPads...

true love

2011-12-30T19:39:00.000-08:00

I have owned and driven many outstanding automobiles and motorcycles in my life. Over time, the novelty and excitement wanes, the spell wears off and the car is traded or sold. True love is when the spark doesn't fade and the love and appreciation gets stronger over time. My first true love is my wife Lauren. My second is my Golden Retriever "Sweetie" (I love you too Ziggy!). My other true love is my blue beast. Lauren won't let me post of photo of her so you are stuck having to look at my Audi. Happy New Year.

blue christmas

2011-12-20T19:39:00.000-08:00

In the denim world there are lots of different types of companies and designers. Most, unfortunately, lack real creativity and are simply making a product at a target price and it happens to be indigo blue. Some are in love with a historical period or a historical reference and simply copy it. Some are inspired by the past and based on those references create their version or interpretation of it. Then there are those creatives who make something and call it a blue jean but it is far from it! The best designers are part tailor, part artist, part inventor and part craftsman. They live in laundries, fit sessions, libraries and fabric mills researching ideas to make a wonderful product that moves our industry forward. Very few are true visionaries and icons of our industry. People and companies I put in this elite class are Francois Girbaud [Girbaud], Adriano Goldschmeid [Goldsign], Pierre Morisette [G-Star], Jacob Davis & Levi Strauss (Levi's] , Renzo Rosso [Diesel] and Panos Sofianos [Denim Valley]. There are a few more at this level but not many. Panos is the fabric designer of the Denim Valley line of Royo, located in Spain. He is a master innovator who embraces all the available tools to move forward on sustainability [organic cotton, recycled cotton, lyocel, recycled polyester] while at the same creating authentic and wonderful denim. This photo is Denim Valley's holiday card. Happy Holidays!

Pierre Morisset

my blue life

2011-12-13T21:26:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I was researching my family and discovered that my “Shafer” name was neither Jewish nor Polish but was changed at Ellis Island upon my great grandfather's entry into the USA. Doing more research, I found a website that that took American names and derived their Polish origin. The site suggested that my family name was “Szafir”. I shared this with an uncle who confirmed that our family name was indeed, Szafir. I met a Polish women on an jet and asked her the meaning of the word Szafir and she replied “sapphire”. Not only is blue my favorite color in the world but also the color of my work (indigo), the color of my car, the color of my favorite shoes, the color of the stone on my watch and stone on my wedding ring but it is also MY NAME. I think these indigo dyed orchids on display at the Orta booth at PV Denim are pretty awesome too...

neiman marcus

2011-12-08T07:24:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while a "big thing" happens in the history of a brand. One of those big things just happened. Agave's women's collection is now being sold by Neiman Marcus at their Dallas store. For us this is huge because growing our women's collection, now designed by my wife Lauren Shafer, is our #1 priority. Congratulations to the entire team at Agave and our partner suppliers but special congrats and thanks to Lauren, Marc, Kerri, Andy, Alberto & the Caitac crew for always believing and never giving up!

city of light-blue

2011-11-30T15:22:00.000-08:00

For creatives it might be MacWorld, for SciFi nerds the StarTrek convention, but for denim geeks like me it's a trade show dedicated entirely to jeans called Denim by Premiere Vision. Held twice a year in Paris it is all about jeans. Yarn, weaving, denim, dying, tailoring, cutting, sewing, washing and trimming... the uniform of the human race. It's not a huge show but it is amazing. Vendors are all denim-heads and come from all over the planet. Denim is our common language. Today I worked with people from Spain, Italy, Turkey, Japan, Belgium, Greece, USA, France, England and other countries. Many of these people have been my friend and/or trading partner for years but we have never met face to face. Incredible! The photo here is of a hand operated loom that was weaving denim all day. A thing of beauty. Very Zen. One of the days highlights was being in the trenches with Adriano Goldschmied and having him acknowledge me and my work. I am not talking about the company that purchased and uses his name but the man himself, the master.

say hello

2011-11-19T12:32:00.000-08:00

I got a new iPhone 4S and this is a test of the camera. It was taken by Lauren at my desk in our studio in Ridgefield, WA.

wild steelhead

2011-10-29T05:47:00.000-07:00

I have always been a fisherman. Catching fish is a Shafer family tradition. I switched from salt water to fly fishing in fresh water when I went to Northern Arizona University for college. Catching a steelhead on a spey rod using a classic streamer is an incredible challenge. This fish taken on the Deschutes River in Oregon is a wild fish. It was born in the river, lived there for one year, then moved to the Pacific Ocean. It came back to the river to reproduce and will then go back out to sea. Catching this wild animal was an honor. It was released unharmed. Our guide Matt McCrary was amazing.

dia de los muertos

2011-10-23T12:09:00.000-07:00

I have always loved the mexican holiday "Dia de los Muertos". The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. Last month when I was traveling in Stockholm is visited a super cool shop selling a blend of vintage and new clothing. This display was being finalized as I walked in. How cool is this...

blue barrels

2011-10-06T12:20:00.000-07:00

I grew up in Southern California in the 70's. I had to surf every day or I just didn't feel "right". My range was Baja California to Point Conception with Jalama being my favorite for "lefts" and Rincon for "rights". Surfing is the one of the greatest expressions of the human soul. Submerged in nature and creating the perfect balance with it. My favorite color is blue... all shades but especially ocean blue and indigo blue. Waves and denim share the same color palette. The fact that I love them both is no coincidence. They make me very happy.

Both my brothers Jon and Brad also surf. Brad works with me at Agave and Jon lives in Santa Barbara. He still surfs (lucky for him) but he is also the amazing photographer who took this picture. If you click on "blue barrels" you will be taken to his site www.santabarbarasurfer.com where he is the photographer, publisher and editor. Check it out.

amon adonai santos de araújo tobin

2011-09-30T09:33:00.000-07:00

Music inspires me. The sound track of life is the music you listen to. I love all music but none more than electronic. Amon Tobin has been an inspiration since I discovered his music in Vancouver, BC some 10 years ago. With his ISAM project he has changed the world. Check this out by clicking his on his name above.

paris cafe

2011-09-22T11:16:00.000-07:00

Guys that love bikes usually gravitate to one type or another. Some love Harleys and cruisers, some love the vintage British variety, some love crotch rockets, some love the exotic Italians, some love the BMW's. One style making a HUGE comeback is the Cafe Racer. Often a Triumph or a Honda but just as good as a BMW or a Moto Guzzi it always involves finding an old and beaten classic and putting a personal twist on it. This not only appeals to the guys that like classics and custom builders but also guys that are into REPURPOSING and using assorted old parts to make a ONE OF A KIND, PERSONALIZED CUSTOM MACHINES. I found this one in Paris. To most this will look like a heap. To me it is a wonder. What do you think?

premiere vision

2011-09-16T07:26:00.000-07:00

I am off to Europe to attend the Premiere Vision show in Paris and to shop stores in London, Paris, Stockholm and Amsterdam. This is my first time to PV since the economy collapsed in 2007. This show is the largest textile show in the world with all the finest mills in the world representing. Being a fabric geek means that it will be very inspirational and exciting. Hopefully I will find some wonderful things to include in our Agave Fall/Winter 2012 collection which is our 10 year anniversary. ~ Bon Voyage!

agavewood

2011-08-30T16:35:00.000-07:00

In the early days of Agave I attended the Surf Expo show in Orlando, Florida. Directly across the hall from me was board shaper Gary Linden (shown above) of Linden Surfboards, Oceanside, Cal. Gary wash selling standard foam and resin boards but he was also displaying his agave wood boards. Each one hand made from hand cut dead agave plants that grow naturally on the California coast. I instantly fell in love with the boards. I had always been a huge fan of the surf icon Linden. We became friends and he offered to make boards for Agave with our logo. So far he has made about a dozen boards which hang in our retail partners accounts. The boards are GORGEOUS and completely surf worthy. He developed the concept for BIG WAVE surfing as these boards are stronger than foam. To me they are the ultimate expression of Agave. Thank you Gary.

cinque terre

2011-08-01T06:02:00.000-07:00

These Agave plants have made their way from the California coast to the Italian Riviera. It is said that the Spanish brought them back a shortly after their first trip to America. These Agaves have done well and reproduced and become part of the natural landscape. I doubt anybody knows that these are California tourists.

bc road trip 2011

2011-07-09T16:41:00.000-07:00

Six years ago my family and I decided to move from Topanga Canyon, CA to Camas, WA. At that time I was in the process of buying a new toy (motorcycle). I was after a stylish Ducati "Monster" when the decision to move was finalized. Instead of getting the Monster I opted for a Multistrada. The "ugly Duc" is a cross between a track bike and a touring rig mostly by eliminating the clip-ons and adding moto-cross bars. I envisioned exploring the Pacific Northwest on the machine. Five years later I made my first trip long trip with my good friend Kent. We rode 1500 miles in 5 days from PDX to Nelson, BC. We stayed off the interstates and hunted for the twisty-ist back roads possible. I can't even begin to tell you how awesome the trip was! Some of the most beautiful mountains, rivers, lakes, valleys, glaciers in the world. We stayed in funky motels and took plenty of H2O breaks. WOW. I can't believe I waited 5 years to do this... Kent rode the Harley. Both bikes in red and black but ooh so different. One bike a hot moody italian and the other a bourbon loving american hog.

being frank in santa barbara

2011-07-02T07:59:00.000-07:00

My family moved to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles while I was in high school. I went to San Marcos High and City College before graduating from UCSB. I consider Santa Barbara my home town and a lot of my family still lives there. About five years ago Kevin Frank, who was a buyer at Pitkin County Dry Goods in Aspen, got married and decided to move with his bride Katie to Santa Barbara and open a store together on State Street. Over the past few months I have been working with Kevin and Katie to open an Agave In-store shop. This is amazing because not only is it our first Agave shop but it is in my home town and we did it with two of the nicest and most talented people in the industry.
I just got the news that they sold a ton of Agave and had the best June ever!
If you are ever in Santa Barbara please check out K Frank!

sasquatch 2011

2011-06-02T12:19:00.000-07:00

Music is a giant part of both mine and my family's life and therefore the Agave lifestyle. For the past 3 years we have all gone to the Sasquatch Music Festival held at the Gorge Amphitheater in eastern Washington State. The venue is beautiful beyond words, the collection of music is amazing, the experience for our family is epic. Each year the listed artists bring a slightly different and unique crowd. This year my favorites were Death Cab for Cutie, Local Natives and Bonobo. If you ever have the chance to go... you should not miss this. Think Coachella with a river as the backdrop but without the heat, dust and LA attitude.

fish story

2011-05-26T21:42:00.000-07:00

When I was 7 years old I caught a marlin off San Diego. I wanted to catch a marlin soooo bad. Once the fish took my bait and I was hooked up we realized the rod was too big. My parents sawed off the butt section. After about 15 minutes I was exhausted and wanted to quit. My dad grabbed a scissors and said he would cut off the fucking fish if anyone touched the rod. My mom held me by the scruff of my shorts and handed me an ice cold Olympia mini. That was my first beer. After 40 minutes the fish came to the boat and I landed it. It was the best day ever. I still love to fish but prefer the serenity of a stream or river. Also, I release what I catch.

on any sunday

2011-05-15T20:09:00.000-07:00

Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen on his Husky. Bare-chested, khakis and lace up boots riding the California desert. This is the image that was ingrained in my adolescent mind of a real man. I watched On Any Sunday 18 times. The closing seen of Steve, Mert (Lawwill) and Malcolm (Smith) riding the sand dunes is like going to heaven.

telsa roadster

2011-05-07T07:38:00.000-07:00

Tesla Roadster

In 2008, Agave was contacted by executives at Tesla Motors to provide Agave jeans and knits as "uniforms" for showroom floor employees. They felt that Agave was the perfect brand and the perfect product to represent the ethos of Tesla to their customers. Since then, Agave and its best retailers have held "Agave Denim & Telsa Roadster" event's all across the USA whereby store customers can either test ride or test drive a roadster and have me hand pack the perfect jean for them. I am very proud to be part of the early history of Tesla and the green transportation movement and I LOVE TESLA CARS! With the new Model S sedan on its way the auto world has been changed forever!

positano

2011-05-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

Sweet Ride.

The Italians have it right when it comes to life and style. One of my favorite places in Italy is Positano. I visited this Amalfi Coast jewel last summer with my family. We rented "Casa Lorenzo" which was the converted maids quarters of an old villa. It was amazing! Beautiful, quaint, charming with a wonderful view and perfect location. There is no need to drive in the city as you walk everywhere. If you did drive this mini car would be a great way to roll. We walked by it every day and it has become the icon of our stay there. I wore my Patron's in Sun Baked Gray and Gringo's in Sand N Sea. I love the flowers on the dash and the wicker basket in the drivers seat.

goldenstate selvage

2011-04-28T14:42:00.000-07:00

Japanese Shuttle Loom Selvage

I have always been obsessed with shuttle loom selvage denim. I first became familiar with it while scouring the Pasadena Rose Bowl swap meet back in 1993. While shopping for cool vintage pieces for BC Ethic, I noticed a big demand from Japanese buyers for vintage Levi's red lines with both small "e" and big "E" tab labels. In 1994, I went to Tokyo and Osaka and visited many vintage Levi's stores selling both vintage and replications. Agave has offered selvage since 2005 but separated it out as the sub-brand Agave Goldenstate in 2008. Our selvages included a hemp blend, a classic indigo and a railroad stripe. All variants were shipped inside-out with a fun screen print on the inside leg. Many of our retail collectors have these jeans on display in their stores today. In 2008, another company in LA started using the name Goldenstate and I decided not to protect the mark. Instead I chose Agave Gold Collection and it is a big part of Agave today.

field of dreams

2011-04-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

Helicopter Ride

I was invited to visit the Boswell farm and see how Supima cotton was grown and processed. The only way to really see it was from a helicopter. The view was incredible. Huge plots of land one mile wide by one mile long. All fields were cultivated by machines guided by GPS. Accuracy to one inch. Piloted by women as they are more reliable and do not tend to fall asleep or engage in unauthorized conduct. Duh.

outward bound

2011-03-03T22:20:00.000-08:00

Mt. Clark, WA 1976

When I was 16 years old I did a 21 day Outward Bound course in the Cascades east of Bellingham, WA. To say it was enormously influential on my life is a major understatement. I came back with a profound love and appreciation for wilderness and for the Pacific Northwest. This picture was my group after climbing Mt. Clark in Glacier Peak Wilderness. Pay no attention to the boy in the Ray Ban aviators, yellow rain jacket, red bandana scarf and Filson "Whipcord" climbing kickers. Say no more! Thirty years later I moved from Topanga Canyon to Southwest Washington State. Go figure.

cowboys & indians

2011-02-27T20:42:00.000-08:00

Indian MX-74

Although this is not my bike, mine was very similar but in classic Indian yellow. It was bought second hand from Chad McQueen, Steve's son. I went up to Steve and made the deal even though my dad paid as I was 12 years old. He was my idol at the time, not because of his dramatic work, but because he was the star and producer of On Any Sunday. It was very fast and I loved riding it. Meeting Steve McQueen is one of the highlights of my childhood. He is still one of my idols today, not because of his acting but because of his personal style and how he lived his life...

bluer than indigo

2011-02-20T12:46:00.000-08:00

This Japanese character means both the color indigo and the plant, Chinese indigo. Literally "blue that is bluer than indigo" although indigo dye is used to bring out the color blue. This term used to admire a student who surpasses his teacher.

a nectar collection

2011-02-17T19:51:00.000-08:00

Nectar Fall 2011

The FW2011 Nectar Collection is the first Agave line designed by my wife Lauren. It is also the first line she has created in 16 years since stepping away from fashion design to raise our boys. Building on a solid foundation of established fits she has created something fabulous. She made all the first patterns and sewed the first samples too. I'm really proud. Lauren was a co-founder of BC Ethic and on the original design teams of Yes Clothing and It's Malke back in the day...

fantasy island

2011-02-14T07:09:00.000-08:00

Encore at Vegas

My 20 year anniversary of coming to Vegas for MAGIC and trade-shows. This place freaks me out. Always makes me question what I am doing here and the meaning of life... Thats Brad. Always in the boat too. Taken on my iPhone 3.

my first taco

2011-02-06T08:53:00.000-08:00

magic carpet

For some boys it was baseball glove. For others it was train set or a be be gun. For me it was a mini bike. Back in the late 1960's, a Los Angeles based company called Steens created a mini bike called a "taco". I begged my dad every day for one and being a convincing little bastard who never gave up I finally got one. It was magical. It made me feel like I was.... Clever thing naming it a taco. This began my lifelong love affair with the two wheeled variety of the iron horse.

pretty flowers

2011-02-05T18:08:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite flowers.

king pins

2011-01-26T23:29:00.000-08:00

Very exciting day today. Herb and I saw a lot of really amazing developments in denim as well as old friends. Andew Olah puts on an amazing event for our industry. Our Sustenance Mfg label will get new denim fabrications made of banana fiber, milk protein and charcoal. Freakin' amazing!

innovation

2011-01-19T10:15:00.001-08:00

If you aren't failing regularly then you aren't innovating hard enough. ~Someone

catalina mx

2011-01-17T02:36:00.000-08:00

This was from before my time but can you imagine...?

efficient design

2011-01-13T19:26:00.000-08:00

I design from the inside out. To me, it's important to "get right" what you don't see. The core, the inside, the back side, the bottom. If the inside is good then the outside will be good and will endure. Great design should get better with time. Great quality means you can enjoy that design for a long time into the future. That's true efficiency.

metal trees, concrete mountains

2011-01-12T19:49:00.000-08:00

I come to New York City several times a year for trade-shows, to shop stores, visit clients and friends and have great meals. It is in huge contrast to where I live out in the forest of southern Washington state. At home there are no sounds except birds, no lights except stars, few cars, few people and lots of green. New York is the exact opposite... noisy, crazy, dirty, lights, cars, cabs, trucks, bikes and people everywhere. It is a vibrant city full of life though. I love it for short periods of time but it is not for me. Even so, this morning from my 6th story hotel window I saw natures beauty in this city. Taken on my iPhone 3.

cotton boll

2011-01-11T18:27:00.000-08:00

In addition to making jeans, I also love to cook. Making something taste great starts with the quality of the ingredients used. You gotta use the best ingredients. Most people don't realize that cotton is the remanent of a flower. The fibers protect the seeds and provide a medium to catch and hold moisture so the seeds can germinate. The longer the fiber the better for yarn spinning. The finer the fiber the better for fabric softness. The stronger the fiber the better fabric strength and durability. Supima Cotton is a genetic Pima that is superior based up its length, width and strength. Mostly grown in California in the San Joaquin Valley just west of Mt. Whitney, Supima is the foundation of super soft, beautiful and very strong denim. Agave uses Supima Cotton in most of its denim and knit fabrications.

shuttle loom

2011-01-10T19:47:00.000-08:00

Vintage "shuttle" looms were replaced with wider and higher speed modern "power" looms in the 1960's to increase production speed and lower costs. Because the looms ran faster, they were less tolerant of inconsistent yarn sizes. The denim lost its soul but fed America's youth's obsession for jeans. Today, a few makers use the old loom goods and make incredible denim product. Brands making jeans with old loom selvage denim include Nudie, Edwin, Agave (Gold), Edwin, Evisu and RRL to name a few. Agave selvage denim comes from Cone Mill's White Oak (USA) as well as Kaihara and Kuroki (Japan).

stingray

2011-01-08T20:03:00.000-08:00

Although not mine I did have one of these back in the day. Check out the front and rear suspension... The shifter was functional but my fav was the banana seat. Next bike had a sissy bar and fork extensions.

laundry

2011-01-06T20:59:00.000-08:00

Not exactly as glam as a runway show but its how we do.

side show

2011-01-06T07:01:00.001-08:00

Some guys love cars, others love motorcycles. These are not your daddy's side cars.

what a guy

2011-01-05T04:03:00.000-08:00

Ronnie was my very first rep at Agave. He approached me some 8 years ago and gave 100% since day one. He has been an incredible friend and a true inspiration with this commitment to honesty, integrity and friendship. I loved him dearly as everyone did. He lived his life on his terms and was taken early like the best often do. Ronnie brought smiles to the world and in doing so made it a better place. Take care buddy and give my best to Senna.

the smell

2011-01-03T20:56:00.001-08:00

I have often been accused of being "weird" about my sensitivity to the way things smell. A perfect example is how I love the smell of denim production. First there is the smell of the denim fabric as it is rolled out on the table for cutting. Rich and earthy and very distinctive. Raw denim. Then there is a smell on the factory floor which starts with denim but is often mixed with human work odors. Not the prettiest scent but denim was made to go with sweat. Then there is the smell of the laundry. Here the flavor is usually bleach or some variant. You probably think this is weird too. Maybe its an acquired taste.