Postcards From Italy

Free/man is a website that I think everyone should know about, regardless of gender (even if it IS a menswear blog). I thought I'd take a break from the cosmetic and womens' fashion posts to to mention a friend's work and personal favourite brand of mine; Free/Man. Albeit yes, it's a menswear blog so not the usual subject matter for this site, but definately one to look out for, with many exciting posts coming soon. Free/Man works as a joint venture between founder Darian Hocking, and new brit arrival and editor Johnny Ridley, acting as a cross Atlantic bridge of taste and quality.

 I asked one of their editors Johnny, a chirpy Geordie chap and all round good guy for some background on the brand and was pointed in the direction of their website, where a page states in great detail the origins and inception of the project, as well as where they're going in the future.  Below is an excerpt from their site's 'about' page;

The inception of FREE/MAN happened back in early 2009, as a site creating conversation in men’s style. We have quickly grown into an evolving point of reference for our readers as we shift our focus forward as a brand. We are inspired by life, craftsmanship and by the impact of keeping quality alive. This family image of Walter Bane the Huntsman has been an inspiration to us, as well it serves as a constant reminder of what we wish to present to you. At FREE/MAN we are passionate about helping people define their style through our offering of original content. We have also become a voice for our fellow Canadian labels in lifestyle and are proud of this heritage. From our daily posts we create stories, interviews and a connection to you through our journey as our agency expands.

I love reading through the latest posts on Free/man.  They're well written and inspiring, going further into the origins of clothing items and collections than the typical clothing blogs, and giving a deeper view into what takes their fancy in the wide world of menswear.  As their website tagline suggests;  "There's a story here".  My personal favourites have to be their recent documentation of the new Edwin and Ben Sherman originals collections, and the Curatory visits and interviews with bespoke denim label Raleigh.  Absolutely beautiful stuff!

I look forward to many more interesting posts and coverage from Free/man in the future.  And wish Darian and Johnny good luck in this venture.  You can contact the guys on twitter at @FreeManBrand and @Ridlej individually. 

www.freemanbrand.com

Note;  All images property of Free/Man and respective owners.