In today's newsletter:

— A Texan menswear gem

— The Good Shoes Directory

— A very young new voice from the LES

— Hiking shoes (and hiking suits?)

BEHIND THE SCENES

It turns out that one of the world's best menswear stores is in... Texas? Meet Namu Shop, a Houston-based but online-only boutique offering a tightly curated mix of Japanese and European labels. 

The shop, which is run by husband and wife duo James and Jessie Kang, has become something of an open secret among menswear heads for the past decade or so, especially thanks to the endorsement of labels like Document and Kaptain Sunshine, who got on board when the Kangs were first building Namu out. 

"Namu is something of an internet phenomenon in menswear circles, so probably no surprise I first heard about it online — I believe it was through this Discord group (PBS) that I was invited to one or two years ago," explains writer Lukas Mauve. "Someone shared photos of Namu’s clean styling of what I remember to be a Yoko Sakamoto outfit on the group’s 'clothes-talk' channel." 

Inspired, Lukas sat down with the Kangs to talk about how they've built out their business and roster of top-tier labels away from the usual fashion capitals. As Jessie Kang puts it: "This city is home for us. It’s not Tokyo or New York, but that’s what we like about it — just being surrounded by regular people like ourselves. It gives us a steady place to think about what we like, on our own terms.” 

STYLE AGENDA

GOOD POINT

— Rapper (and literal New York City high schooler) Judah Weston 
on creating "the sound of the future"

SHOPPER SELECT

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES

YOUR FEET DESERVE SLUTTY LITTLE SANDALS

Strappy, stripped-down sandals are the next logical step in the primal urge for bare-basics footwear.

THESE DESIGNERS ARE REDEFINING WHAT BERLIN FASHION IS

Berlin Fashion Week saw a promising cohort of young and old brands nurturing a solid sartorial vision of their own.

GRAPHPAPER IS MAKING THE CASE FOR HIKING IN SUITS
The “FIELDWORK” collection is built on creative director Takayuki Minami's six-month research dive into workwear and military clothing. 

YOUR HOME SHOULD SMELL LIKE THE WORLD
Blackbird Spyplane's founders curate their favorite scents, incense holders, and fragrance tags from all over the globe.

ALSO...
We hear Michael Stewart's Standing Ground is the breakout star of Couture  Week (Harper's Bazaar); Jonathan Anderson enters his bridal Dior era (NYT); and the finance guys are sticking to their dress code, despite the heat (GQ).