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Mission Statement: The New York- based brand has made the sights, scandals and scenesters of turn-of-the-century New York City a must-have in any hipster's closet using original screenprints, collectibles and historical subject matter as inspiration for their collection of tees, pants, wovens, outerwear and accessories. Designed by brothers Michael and Daniel Casarella, the duo launched their line in 2002 and soon they were being lauded by Barneys and other A-list retail accounts. Bringing back a sense of story and history to menswear, Barking Irons caught the eye of many cool kids and nearly caused fashionista fight clubs on the racks.
Trends & Inspiration: For the first time since the inception of Barking Irons, Michael and Daniel Casarella are taking one great theme, that of Walt Whitman, through two seasons. The lure of Walt Whitman was a natural one. His love of New York and wild antics personifies the ethos of Barking Irons to a "T".
Born and raised in New York, Walt spent much of his youth on the Bowery watching vaudeville shows and writing. Later he moved to the then rural farmlands of Brooklyn where he perfected his penmanship and was inspired by the beauty of nature.
Barking Irons follows this development of character from urban dandy to America's first hippie through both seasons.
Spring
Whitman's halcyon hippie days as an established poet and Victorian eccentric have influenced Spring '08. Everything is looser, lighter and washed out. A more relaxed look can be found in the spring shirting with sleeves and Nehru collars in natural colors.
The popular polo launched last season is back with bib and tuxedo collar detailing.
As a nod to the current wave of maximum color in streetwear, Barking Irons has injected some neon colors into the mix. Even though Barking Irons has a gritty and industrial image, they felt they could get away with a splash of neon because they reflect the light hearted and spiritual tone of the Whitman poems emblazoned on the tees.
New to the line is the denim program. Both the 12 ounce fabric and the jeans are made just as they were in the early days of denim. 100% American made in Kentucky, the collection includes waxed denim, heavy washed pieces (creating the grey denim) and welt backed pockets, unique for a denim pocket.
Official Website: www.barkingirons.com
