Burkman Brothers & Illustrated Prints by Michael Sanderson

For spring 2011, designers Doug and Ben Burkman fuse their distinctly utilitarian take on classic American menswear and a well-traveled point of view.

Referencing the duality of the relaxed mood of lounging at the beach and the traditional dress and style of fishermen in Sri Lanka, Burkman Bros continue to craft casual, but tailored menswear for comfort and ease.

The collection is now available at Barneys CO-OP nationwide and Barneys CO-OP online as well as Odin New York, Bergdorf Goodman's, Bloomingdales, and Ron Herman Melrose.

To commemorate the collection, Doug and Ben collaborated with artist Michael Sanderson on an exclusive range of illustrated prints inspired by the collection.

There are more fun illustrations here.

Photos Copyright Michael Sanderson, Courtesy Maguire Steele.

Category › Burkman bros , Doug and Ben Burkman , Sri Lanka , US designers

At the Beach in Sri Lankan with the Burkman Brothers

The spring 2011 Burkman Bros collection from designers Doug and Ben Burkman references the duality of the relaxed mood of lounging at the beach and the traditional dress and style of fishermen in Sri Lanka.

The lush beach landscapes in Sri Lanka are not only a tropical destination but also serve as a hub for a thriving fishing trade.

Fusing their distinctly utilitarian take on classic American menswear and their well-traveled point of view, for spring 2011 Burkman Bros continue to craft casual, but tailored menswear for comfort and ease.

From the laid-back villagers perched atop wooden stilts far out into the surf around Galle to the busy fisherman manning the stalls of the seafood markets in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s coasts teem with culture.

The lines and colors of the nets, ropes, bamboo poles, baskets, and the style of open shirts on the fisherman were points of reference when creating the collection.

The vibrant patterns on the Lungi, a traditional sarong-style garment worn by Sri Lankans, influenced the usage of color and prints on the cotton shorts. Handmade shirting in madras and linen chambray add to this relaxed attitude.

Integrating engineered placement yarn dyes and textured dobby fabrics, the collection’s textural component demonstrates the technical complexity of Burkman Bros designs.

Befitting men of the sea, the collection also features bespoke patterns and prints in the shirting and lightweight slub jersey polo shirts and tanks.

Partnering with Miansai on a range of bracelets, which bear an ethnic touch, complements the collection as a whole.

Blending an Eastern influence with masculine American sportswear, the collection is meant to be worn and provide a sense of ease.

For spring 2011, that intersection is the classic Burkman Bros representation of their love of travel and crafting the essentials of a man’s wardrobe.

Check out the collection here.

Photos & text Copyright Burkman Bros, Courtesy Maguire Steele.

Category › Burkman bros , Doug and Ben Burkman , Sri Lanka , US designers

Stringhopper from Sri Lanka—Fit for Breakfast on a Yacht

I have a great friend from Sri Lanka by the name of Jerry, who told me numerous stories about his country, which I have yet to visit.

Sri Lanka used to known as Ceylon, at least before the Seventies, and is home to the Sinhalese, Tamils, and several additional ethnic groups.

The Sinhalese make up the majority of the population with 74%, while the Tamils are the largest minority.

Sri Lanka is rich in tea, coffee, coconut, rubber, and spices, as well as natural tropical beauty of its forests, beaches, and landscape.

Owing to its geographic location, this island has been a strategic naval position in the Indian Ocean, leading to multiple colonisations, such as by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British.

The Portuguese gave Sri Lanka the name Ceylon, or Ceilão, from the Arab name Serendib. In Sanskrit, however, Sri Lanka means ‘venerable island.’

Recently I met another great Sri Lankan, well, at least the menswear label, Stringhopper.

In Sri Lanka, a string hopper (indi-appa) is a spaghetti-like ball—often eaten for breakfast—that is made by forcing rice dough through a sieve and seasoned with curry and sambal.

Equally scrumptious, this ready-to-wear menswear label succeeds in capturing the Sri Lankan way of life—casual and carefree—and coordinates it for the international man, who enjoys a relaxing weekend on a yacht.

Garments are manufactured with organic cotton, as the design teams strives for zero waste.

Respecting child labour laws and workers rights, Stringhopper is emerging as an ethical menswear brand.

Photos Copyright Stringhopper.

Category › Sri Lanka , Sri Lankan designers , Stringhopper