Last MAGIC, I got to meet Todd Nisbet, the manager at Frank’s Chop Shop. He invited me to come through and get a cut, but I’ve been busy – I finally made time to swing by as we’re now neighbors. The Chop Shop is the long-overdue physical realization of Frank151 magazine, a NYC mainstay for years… the barbershop extension of the brand opened over a year ago. Customers can come through to get a haircut or a shave, or peruse their selection of fitted hats for sale. To me there are two men’s indulgences that are slowly dying – one is the shoe shine, and the other is the straight razor shave. I’m glad Frank’s is keeping the latter alive.

Frank’s Chop Shop has an old-world feel, from the lighting to the exposed brick walls. The vintage barbershop chairs, which they had to hunt down for quite some time, add to the charm. The back wall has a gallery of barbershop pictures from prominent photographers.

Mr. Bee, the head barber at Frank’s Chop Shop.

Frank’s Chop Shop also serves as a showcase for their in-house fitted hats and their FDL hats that are done in collaboration with brands. They also stock fitted hat offerings from other companies – upon quick glance I saw pieces from the Hundreds, Reason, Mishka, Huf and others.

Frank’s Chop Shop
19 Essex Street
New York, NY 10002

We are proud to announce the long-awaited release of our “Ready To Die” fitted caps, masterfully produced by Elm Company. This limited release features a two-tone raised embroidery across the front, our signature embroidered on the side, and the bow and arrow icon on the back – over 20,000 stitches in total. We were also blessed with the opportunity to chat with StrictlyFitteds.com recently about this particular cap – its construction, implementation, and inspiration. You can read the interview here.

The black melton wool version will release Saturday, January 26th at five of the nation’s finest boutiques:

- Fitted Hawaii (Honolulu)
- 5 & A Dime (San Diego)
- El Mercado (Los Angeles)
- Bodega (Boston)
- The Reed Space (New York)

The grey melton version will be sold exclusively through our online shop and will release at Noon EST on Saturday, and is limited to 50 units. Good luck and thanks for your support!

For anyone with delusions of grandeur for the world of fashion…

Sometimes the heat in our office doesnt turn on. It’s connected to the building’s heating system so we have absolutely no control over it. The big glass doors really don’t help the cause either… any remaining warmth in the building seeps right out. We are left to fend for ourselves and often resort to grabbing whatever loose clothing is lying around the office and piling it on to stay warm.

If you’re in the neighborhood, bring us a hot cup of coffee. Please.
(And some tea and crumpets for Matt – coffee is beneath him.)

And so the season begins yet again. We’ve got all our samples in and are gearing up for weeks of long workdays and sleepless nights. Our schedule begins tomorrow at the United Tradeshow, continues on to Agenda San Diego for the remainder of the week, and resumes once again mid-February in Las Vegas. If you are in the area AND you are allowed to see our line (i.e. buyers and press), come thru and see what we’ve been toiling over. The rest of you will have to wait 6 months to see, as DJ would say, what’s goin down.

This is Jos.

When he’s not editing stupid videos for Heavy.com, he comes by on occasion and drinks beers at our office. Sometimes he leaves cute surprise messages on my desk after I’ve left for the day.

The worst part is that it was my money. I had to HAND that to homeboy at the bodega today to buy my lunch. Thank God he doesn’t know my name.

So that you don’t find this blog to be a complete waste of time, here are some pictures of a little something that arrived today. It’ll be going up in our webstore soon enough… more on this later.