Leighton Clarke, Author at Mister Wolf | Timeless timepieces | For the individual
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Discover the Mister Wolf Men’s Copper Collection

Embrace the timeless elegance and excellent durability of Mister Wolf hand-assembled Quartz watches with the subtle Copper collection.

Embrace the timeless elegance and excellent durability of Mister Wolf hand-assembled Quartz watches with the subtle Copper collection. These leather strap watches are versatile and work well with both formal and casual attires. Mister Wolf promises precise quartz movement and accuracy in every watch.

Aesthetic Appeal
Mister Wolf accords high priority to the aesthetic appeal of the hand-assembled watches. The MW139MM Watch Model 179 sports a timeless combination of brown and copper. The embossed sapphire crystals add to the glamour of the piece.

Mister Wolf leather strap watches can add definition to formal looks, casual style, and semi-casual looks. The watches channel strong masculine aesthetics while also appearing soft and gentlemanly.

The MW1 39MM Watch Model 172 is crafted and assembled using fine natural leather—the soft brown tones of leather compliment the stainless steel casing perfectly. The watch follows a contemporary design and is stylish, comfortable, and precise.

The watches are crafted using bespoke, intelligent designs. The designers and assemblers pay individual attention to the tones and overall aesthetics of every product. Additionally, the company uses the highest-quality crystals and stainless steel to craft its entire range.

Durable and Water Resistant

Mister Wolf ensures the highest-quality and prolonged durability of all its timepieces. The company uses high-grade needles, hands, dials, and bands for hand-assembled men’s Quartz watches. The stainless steel cases and leather straps are not susceptible to easy discoloration, disintegration, or tears.

Additionally, the watches are designed to be water-resistant. The MW1 39MM Model 175 offers up to 5ATM water resistance. These models are perfect for wearing in all weather conditions. You can also use these watches while swimming. The water resistance features also prevent damages likely to afflict the watch from sweat absorption.

 

Hand Assembled and Customizable
Mister Wolf’s exquisite leather strap watches are hand-assembled. Therefore, they showcase unique craftsmanship and expertise. The elegant designs and delicate shades of natural leather give these watches a beautiful appearance.

However, Mister Wolf follows a customer-centric approach for all its products. Customers can customize and alter specific features to suit their preferences and tastes. The company allows color changes, design variations, and other minor alterations for specific hand-assembled models.

Additionally, Mister Wolf hand-assembled, Quartz watches for men are reasonably priced. The company also offers a two-year warranty period for all its hand-assembled watches.

The watches are assembled daily in Sydney, and the company attempts to deliver all orders by express delivery in 1-3 business days. The company also offers after-pay options. Mister Wolf allows 14 days to return or exchange unused, unworn, in their original condition.

Leo Greenfield
The endless art of drawing

Leo Greenfield is one of those rare creatives who excels in multiple disciplines. An illustrator first and foremost, his ethereal portraits are drawn completely from memory. His work has featured in everything from Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar to Architectural Digest and The Weekend Australian, often paired with the fruits of his other labour, writing.

Mister Wolf: You’re wide awake and you’ve just thought of something brilliant. Where did your inspiration come from, and does it normally hit in the AM or PM? Can you elaborate on your favourite routine?

Leo : Inspiration can hit at any time, especially if I am out and about walking. My work is all about observing and documenting daily life, and I’ve found that special moments appear when you’re least expecting them.

How did you find your feet in the world of illustration? Did you train professionally?

I have always loved drawing, from as far back as I can remember. When I was very small I’d ask my dad to draw pictures for me, and I remember being fascinated watching him work. At university I was involved in the student newspaper, and I created a weekly magazine with a gang of mates. I wrote and drew for the publication, reporting on fashion and art. Later I would study Fine Art at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, and although the focus there was on conceptual art creation and installation, I continually returned to drawing. In developing an art practice I believe that all you can really do is follow your instincts, and that is the line I have followed.

A lot of people dream of earning from their art. How did you turn your passion into a paying gig?

I think having patience is the most important factor in developing your art practice and craft. Courage helps a lot too, especially the courage to dream. I believe that dreaming is a major part of the creation process. It’s where ideas start. They can sometimes appear not as vague thoughts, but as problems that need solving.

I then put together a mood board of brands and creators that are doing things really well, and try and pinpoint what it is that makes them stand out. I think that works in any category of design. From there we have a really great visual and verbal study for both me as the designer and for the client as well, to ensure we are all on the same page and starting from the same point.

This is really important because I think creative and design people often have different ideas to their clients of what the final product should look like. By starting with the mood board, you have a visual reference and verbal cues so that you are both speaking the same language from the get go.

I have always loved drawing from as far back as I can remember

Talk us through your process. Where do you find your inspiration, and how do you go about bringing it to life?

My process always begins with sketching; I think through creating, and I eventually start to find the forms I want to see. I often write too, and keep journals that reflect ideas I’m considering or stories I am trying to tell.

I am keen to document daily life in drawing, so as to remember the moment more deeply. Sharing the images online via blogging and now social media is a vital part of the process. I think the sharing of images ‘activates’ them, and makes them feel relevant to a wider conversation.

As for inspiration, the simplest of moments can become such interesting subjects to draw. I bring them to life through ink drawing and painting, creating in my studio from memory. I want my work to be a counterpoint to photography, so I don’t take reference images. As I often work alone I am also keen to collaborate with others, especially printmakers, I think teamwork is vital in any art practice; it allows me to let go of my work and grow things into larger projects. Some of my favourite projects are prints I’ve created with Simone Tippett, a master printmaker.

What exactly makes a Leo Greenfield illustration a Leo Greenfield illustration?

My unruly lines are for me what makes my drawing style unique. I never quite know where a drawing will start and or end. I just have to throw myself in and see what happens. When I start a drawing there is always a risk that it won’t go where I want it to go, but I run with that. I often joke that the drawings are more in control than me than I am of them, especially those cheeky cat characters.

 

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How do you see a traditional art form like illustration fitting into an ever more digital world, both personally and more broadly?

I think the effect of digital media on our lives—especially social media—has allowed traditional crafts to strengthen their place in culture. If anything I think it has helped what I do. It’s interesting to think that digital media allows you to watch the evolution of a whole generation of artists as if it was a livestream.

I am interested in creating different experiences for my audience online and offline. Online provides a window into the making process, and it’s an honour to share that with others and create conversation around that. To see the work on a screen is an important element of my work, but then there are the physical studio pieces—the paintings and the installations that are designed to be seen in real life.

It’s 9pm on a Monday and you still haven’t eaten—are you cooking or ordering in?

Right now it is an isolation Monday, but I am dreaming about heading to 10 Williams Street in Paddington for a cheeky pasta. For now I must cook at home though, so I’m whipping up a little puttanesca and enjoying a little break from my desk.

For the artist looking for inspiration, what would you recommend they do with their spare time? What inspires you?

For me and my practice sport is vital. I love living in Sydney as I can go for a swim and a run in the morning. I love being outside and active, as the rest of the day I will be drawing and writing at my desk. Two years ago I got dragged along to a yoga class and wasn’t too keen at all to try. Now I swear by it. It’s corny, but so effective for fitness and feeling calmer, which in the up and down world of art is most welcomed.

When I am not outside, podcasts such as This Is Criminal, Radiolab and This American Life keep me focused while I’m working away at my desk. The radio is the perfect media for me as it’s a studio buddy and is all about words, rather than images, which gives me space to explore the visuals I need to create.

Leo’s Podcast List for focus and pastime

This Is Criminal

Current podcast: “The question becomes, when is enough enough?” Today, we’re talking about forgiveness.
www.thisiscriminal.com

Radio Lab

Investigating a strange world.
www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab

This American Life

Current Podcast : During a time when a lot of us feel like we are living in a holding pattern, stories of people feeling stuck
www.thisamericanlife.org

 

 

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Looking for more Leo? He can currently be found on the cover of WISH magazine, or you can follow him on Instagram (@leo.greenfield) to be drip fed his latest work. Our recommendation? Hit that ‘follow’ button.

 

Leo’s Mister Wolf MW1 Pick Model 179

Nicholas Souksamrane Architecture and local inspiration

Traveller, photographer, architect; Nick Souksamrane boasts the sort of dream CV that you’d make up if you were trying to catfish someone. But trust us when we tell you he is 100% real. While he’s the first to admit that he’s still finding his feet in the world of design, Nick has already extracted a wealth of learnings over the course of his short career. So we asked him to share a few.

 

Mister Wolf: First thing’s first, it’s 7am, you’re up and about of the world can wait?

Nick: I’m not a morning person! But if I am awake then, there’s probably a very strong coffee in one hand and my phone with news in the other⁠—mostly to catch up on what’s happened overnight.

Have you always had a love of design? What led you to become an architect?

I can’t recall when I first developed a love of design, but I’ve always had a liking for simplicity, a love of putting things together and a love of photography.

From a young age I absolutely adored reading maps with beautiful graphics and basically spent all my spare time doing that. At about age 12 I started designing whole cities in my own versions of street directories. I remember there was this one particular city which filled a notebook of 96 pages… I got so detailed I drew how I imagined these cities’ buildings looked, and from there, I guess designing buildings was just a natural progression.

 

Morning Light. Architecture by BVN

At about age 12 I started designing whole cities in my own versions of street directories

 

Where do you find your inspiration for new projects?

I’d definitely say from travelling—I try to see as much as I can. Also from getting out to see other designers’ work around town, reading and watching talks of other designers speaking about how they derived their work. I really believe the more you see and absorb, the richer your design sensibility would be and the more you have to draw upon.

Architects need to marry form with function. Do you have a process that ensures neither side of the equation suffers for the other?

No, I can’t say I do. But I do think it’s fine for form to follow function. However, form should never really dictate the function beneath… That’s my opinion anyway.

 

What sets a Nick Souksamrane building apart from those of other architects? How do you ensure your work is uniquely yours?

I don’t think my work is any more special than that of other architects if that’s what you’re asking—there’s just so many great architects around. I’m also still trying to find my feet as an architect as I experiment with different expressions project to project. One thing I do is strive to craft simple and subtle architecture; the complexity behind creating something perceived as simple is a challenge that I really enjoy.

 

Roslyn St, Potts Point Durbach Block Jaggers

 

How would you like to develop your craft into the future?

As mentioned earlier, I’m really still just trying to find my feet as an architect. Part of me has a love for simple and uncomplicated design, however the other part of me would like to experiment with design a little more—be a bit more bold and radical perhaps. Maybe it’s a combination of the two and a balance somewhere in between which will eventually form the essence of my work?

I think advances in technology will also play a crucial part in assisting the way we do our craft—smarter and more efficient perhaps. It should not inform the way we design, however. I could do another whole segment on that topic!

The Philip Johnson Glass House

 

It’s 7pm on a weeknight – are you working, resting or creating?

I’m usually still in the studio working on projects at that time. I find during the day I like to discuss, collaborate and share ideas with colleagues. It is in the hours after that my head is down and where I find myself most productive—further proof I’m not a morning person!

 

 

For those readers with some time on their hands, with a love of architecture, what would you recommend they catch up on as soon as possible? What do you think might inspire them?

Again, I think travel and physically seeing the architecture would be the best way to understand works—there are lots of great examples here in Australia so we don’t have to go far. There are also lots of great talks happening. One off the top of my head is The Architect’s Bookshop (Surrey Hills) are hosting a series of free online talks called Isolation Talk Series—Adam Haddow of SJB speaks to Australian architects during these isolated times. Definitely get onto those!

Also a favourite coffee table magazine of mine is CEREAL. The magazine’s composition, photography, architecture and design content just seems so seamless. The texture and weight of paper also feels just right!

Nick’s isolation recommendations 

For the architecture fan: Isolation talks by The Architect’s Bookshop

Current podcast: Criminal (Latest episode: learning how to forgive)

 

 

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Tickets available NOW! 🙂

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Keen to check out Nick’s work? Head to his aesthetically pleasing Instagram—@ncik—to bask in the magnificence of his photography, which features his own architecture from time to time.

The Brothers Buoy on Brooklyn brunches and the oddness of Instagram

Don't be deceived by the stacks of burgers and pizza slides on The Brothers Buoy's Instagram Feed. The Buoys, AKA Graham Burns and Jackson Reed Cook, are NOT your standard food Instagrammers.

Instagram is a platform for the duo to document their adventures through the food scene of Brooklyn – and pass acerbic comment on the absurdity of the food Instagramming community to which they belong. With a satirical sensibility and an atypical and even anarchic approach, The Buoys are building a following even amongst those who with their hands on their heart will tell you food should be eaten NOT photographed.

We caught up with the Buoys to talk about the absurdity of documenting what you eat, Brooklyn street style and why you have to love what you post.

How did Brothers Buoy come about?

Graham Burns: There were originally three of us and we worked together at Apple. We worked out we all had the same day off – Fridays. So we decided – drunkenly – that we should go to brunch on payday every other Friday. That turned into reviewing the places for our friends and that turned into having a podcast.

We kept one-upping each other and it kind of snowballed into Brothers Buoy. The weirdest thing is that we kind of followed through with it and made it happen. Which is rare!

A garnish should enhance the drink, they said…

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Jackson Reed Cook: I think the reason Graham and I have stuck with this as long as we have is that, he and I both have creative backgrounds. I went to school for design and Graham went to school for video production. So I think it was just nice for us to have this thing that turned into a creative outlet for us both.

We could go on the weekends and do something creative over a shared interest of food and the restaurant scene.

Where in New York are you based?

G: Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Is Brooklyn a hotspot for food Instagrammers?

J: I think Manhattan is the epicentre of what is cool in the food community but Brooklyn is getting there. I think the Williamburg..

G: It depends on the type of cuisine. If you are talking about fine dining then definitely Manhattan, but if you are looking at chefs trying new things or opening up more casual restaurants or New American, or people starting up their first restaurants and doing some interesting things, then Brooklyn is becoming or is maybe there in being big for that.

Are Americans as obsessed with brunch as Australians are? Brunch is a huge thing here.

G: Absolutely. Especially in New York.

I know a couple of Australian style cafes have opened up in New York – have you tested any of those out?

J: Yeah we have, it’s funny, one of the first places we ever went to was over on Avenue A and it was Australian. If I go to a place and I am not sure if it is Australian, if you look on the menu and there is a burger with beets on then you know it is Australian!

You have expanded your focus beyond brunch now onto the Brooklyn dining scene, what would you say the objective of The Brothers Buoy is now?

J: One of our objectives is to take a satirical and critical angle on being a food instagrammer – almost call out the community. Because if you really look at it and think about what it is, it’s absurd. It’s this weird thing that people are getting all these followers for taking photos of food – somebody else’s hard work.

MW1 Model 194

You are looking at this culture of photographing food but you guys are also participating. From being in that scene, what do you think drives this sudden mass desire to document food?

J: I don’t know! It’s interesting, we constantly find ourselves looking at what is popular [on Instagram].

I think it goes to this base instinct of people just being this thing that these people need. It’s like, food porn in this scene is a real thing. It is getting to the point where people need to keep upping the things that they are looking at. Like those people where looking at sex doesn’t do it for them anymore, you need to look at some weird shit.

It’s gotten to this place where [Instagrammers] are pulling food apart and doing close-ups of goopy cheese.

G: There is something in trying to capture something that is a bit fleeting.

The thing with photographing food as opposed to photographing a building is that the building is still going to be there the next day. Food is ephemeral; it is going to vanish as soon as you start eating it. It is actually changing as you are photographing it as it’s getting cold.

It is also going to be a little bit different every time, the same dish is never going to come out the exact same way.

How would you describe what you are trying to convey in the images you take?

G: It’s not just putting the food on a pedestal but composing it in a way that it doesn’t always necessarily look appetising, sometimes that’s not what I am going for. But a Brothers Buoy photo should provoke some kind of feeling and stand out from the other photos in your Instagram feed.

I think ultimately the ideal situation is to create an image that works on a couple of different levels. The food is maybe the main focal point but perhaps the background is also in consideration and the foreground, creating an actually interesting composition. The background can provide as much meaning as the focus.

J: I think the other thing that we will do a lot of the time is make visual jokes, or try to present these ideas that we have, or opinions that we have visually.

G: An example that pops into my mind is that we did a nice overhead of a really pretty table, a classic set-up, but then we had a woman stick her finger into the avocado. I just thought it was so funny as it was taking this really pretty thing and then just being like ‘I am just sticking my finger in this’ and it kind of just makes you do a double take on the image and be like ‘what is going on here?’

J: It was a comment on the fact that people always do these images of people interacting with food and it is supposed to be this really natural photo – but it’s not. It is almost taking it that one step further.

We’ve gone so far as to bake cookies and we take like an hour and a half to decorate them. They look like they could be in a magazine, but then they spelt out – ‘fuck food porn’. So shit like that. So we are saying to the community – ‘do better’, they have elevated the art of taking food but we are saying that it is just all so ridiculous.

There has been a real trend in the last say 5 or so years of American style food infiltrating the food culture in Australia – wings and pork ribs and burgers and American style slice. It kind of looks like a lot of the food that you guys are documenting.

J: To be honest, I think what is on our feed is food that we like. That’s another thing that sets us apart from others in the community. Instagram has become a platform for basically people to promote whoever gives them free stuff. There is no integrity to the recommendations or what they are showing…

G: …. For a lot of people.

J:… Not all of them. And that’s fine. That’s what some people want.

But what is on our feed are all things that we really, really like. We are not going to put anything on our feed that we haven’t eaten ourselves – usually both of us. A lot of the time it is places that we have been to a lot of times.

21 Greenpoint is an example that is near us, and it is in our feed so much because we have gone there 3 or 4 times at this point and taken photos there. We love it that much. It is not like we went there once and took photos and spread it out.

You guys have quite a distinctive sense of style which is obviously conveyed by your images but also the photos that have you in it. How would you describe your aesthetic when it comes to fashion?

[Laughing from both of them]

J: Pretty different… I am probably in front of the camera more than Graeme is. If you see us on the feed you see me because Graeme is taking the photos.

I don’t know, I have a fairly eclectic sense of fashion. I really like graphic tees. Something I really like to do is support small upstart clothing brands.

We have featured a lot of pins or t-shirts or hats from really small up-and-coming brands. It isn’t necessarily that we are working with them, it is just that I find them and wear their clothing and it is thrown in the photo. I just like what they are doing and don’t need anything in return.

What was it that attracted you to Mister Wolf watches?

J: I first found out about you guys because our friend Caleb Thill was wearing one once when I saw him and thought it was such a nice watch. I loved the detailing and had never heard of the brand so I asked him about it.

I was interested in your brand because it was new and your product was good.

G: And they aren’t crazy expensive.

J: The whole thing is really reasonable, and I love that they are hand-assembled. And I was just attracted to the design and the detailing and I was surprised I hadn’t heard of you guys before.

Ok guys. It seems like Spring is finally joining the party after we have been texting it “ETA?” for the last three weeks. So break free of that hangover that’s clutching your head to your pillow with shackles made of eye crust, and get ya ass outside. It’s time to wear shorts and sandles even though the weather isn’t quite warm enough. It’s time to bring all the damn kids/dogs to play in the park to get way muddier than you were planning on dealing with later. It’s time to get all your friends and go wait outside @fiveleavesny for three hours simply because it’s what everyone else is doing. And for sure it’s time to have the first official Sunday-funday of 2017. Don’t let us down. Don’t let us down.

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What’s on the roadmap for Brothers Buoy?

J: We are broadening ourselves out. I think we have broader interests beyond food. It feels like we are bound for collabs in other spaces.

Ultimately, we are a pretty talented bunch. We just brought another guy into our group who we are calling a producer. He also has a film background and is a motion graphics guy, so we are able to take on clients.

We are developing is our online personalities a bit more. We have some ideas for some web series that we are hoping to pitch to people, travel content. We also have a podcast idea that has been in the bag for a really long time that we would love to get going, not necessarily comedic stuff just informative and interesting.

The third thing is that we have an event company that we recently founded with four other people.

I think we want to start doing more content creation for brands rather then just going to restaurants and taking pictures – we know we can do it. We have an angle and a vision and a voice.

All photos by The Brothers Buoy. Check out their instagram at www.instagram.com/thebrothersbuoy/ and website at www.thebrothersbuoy.com.

The Brothers Buoy guide to Greenpoint Brooklyn

New York clothing brands the Buoys are excited about?

We love Pinpoint, pins made in Greenpoint, and Feltraiger, a Brooklyn-based clothing brand.

Favourite non-food related hangout in Brooklyn.

We absolutely love hanging out at Transmitter Park on the Greenpoint waterfront

Favourite neighbourhood bar?

Right now the two places we can be spotted the most are 21 Greenpoint and ALLSWELL.

21 Greenpoint, 21 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222; www.21greenpoint.com.
ALLSWELL, 124 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211; www.allswellnyc.com.

Favourite meal in the last three months – where as it and what was it (you can each answer this separately!)

I think that we would both say that the best meals that we have had in the last three months were had during our trip to Todos Santos, BCS Mexico back in the end of February. Pretty much every meal we ate down there was so fresh and delicious, we think about the food down there constantly.

Scottie Henderson on active style and the raw beauty of fitness training

Sydney's Scottie Henderson is a qualified fitness coach, creative director, and lifestyle photographer who finds endless inspiration in an active lifestyle. Scottie spoke to Mister Wolf about his passions, his favourite workout spots and his belief that nice shoes and a good watch can take you anywhere.

You combine creative direction, photography and fitness, at what point did those things come together for you?

I studied sports and exercise management with a major in marketing and I’ve always worked with clients who are in the health and fitness industry. Being around those kind of people inspired me to get moving and to start training with them. It is a lot easier to be creative and create content that is in line with what you are interested in and where your passions lie.

‘Baller’ and ‘Getting High’ are two of Scottie’s photos available for purchase in his online store.

I was working with all these great athletes who I formed friendships with and then I started training with them. In an effort to get to know what they did better, I started studying training techniques and got my Certificate IV in Fitness. Then I had all this information that I wanted to pass on.

Would you say you have a similar approach to how you train to how you perhaps create creative content?

Definitely. I create content with people who have similar training techniques to myself. When we’re taking photos – particularly if it is not a real workout – it means I am able to direct them and correct technique as we go along so that the photos look genuine and the videos are actually a real reflection of the work out.

Scottie Henderson describes his personal style as ‘very casual and quite laid back’. He is pictured wearing his MW1 39mm Model 017 watch.

What do you aim to convey with your images?

I never want to convey that exercise or working out is pretty. There is nothing kind of worse than that expectation versus reality thing. You have people who are working out and training in photos but their hair is done perfectly, the girls have make up on and they aren’t sweating.

I think it is a lot more interesting to create content where people are actually working hard and that can come across. It is still possible for people to look good and aspirational while they are working hard. They just won’t have their make up done and won’t be perfect.

As well as your work as a trainer and creative director/photographer, you are a co-founder of a business called, ALL I SEA, can you tell me about that and how it came about?

ALL I SEA is active swimwear. It is activewear you can swim in and swimwear you can work out in.

I have a business partner Keri and together we used to train with former Olympic swimmer and gold medallist Leisel Jones. We were having lunch after a training session and were saying that we wanted to go for a swim down the beach but we hadn’t brought our swimmers and the ocean water would rot our activewear. So we said ‘why don’t we create a product that fills the gap of what we need?’

ALL I SEA collection
The ALL I SEA launch collection

Triathlon is the perfect example of the kind of sport that All I Sea works for, but it also responds to the whole Crossfit emergence. People don’t want to be locked into just going to the gym for a workout or just doing a swim, they want to have the option to do everything and they want to be multi-athletes. All I Sea is just a clothing vehicle to allow them to participate in whatever they want to.

What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day I get up and train clients until about 10am, then I train myself. Then I come back and do all my ALL I SEA work. If I have a shoot that day, most of the time when I shoot, particularly with athletes, it will be in the morning.

Scottie works in some of Sydney’s top gyms.

What kind of clients do you photograph?

They aren’t the ones that I train. I am super lucky in that I get to take photos of the top personal trainers in Sydney because of the gyms that I go to and work at. They are all personal trainers, some are Crossfit, some are strength and conditioning. Boxing coaches. But what separates them from other personal trainers is that they are all ones who work for themselves or they are out there promoting that health and fitness lifestyle. They aren’t your Fitness First trainer who turns up, clocks on and clocks off and that’s it.

They really live and breathe the brand and it is a lifestyle thing.

You are obviously extremely active, how does your Mister Wolf watch complement that lifestyle?

I wear an Apple Watch when I am working out but that is mostly because I am interested in my heart rate. My Mister Wolf watch is dressy and casual at the same time. I can wear it to meetings and it will still look slim and sporty and cool enough that I can wear it with my activewear and it doesn’t look out of place. But then when I go out to dinner, it does look dressy.

Scottie is typically a t-shirt guy so this is rare shot of him in a collared shirt wearing his MW1.

Apart from the versatility, what else is it that you like about your MW1?

I really like the simplicity and that you could personalise it. Sometimes you can see a product and it is so close to what you want but you can’t make it exactly what you want, where in this you could.

Nice shoes and a nice watch and you can get away with anything.

I picked a model with the tan ban, white face and silver casing. I wear a lot of black so wanted my watch to stand out from that, I also didn’t want a black band and silver for me goes with everything. It was the simplicity.

How would you describe your personal style?

Very casual, quite laid back, quite simple as well. I am not a huge collared shirt wearer. I never usually wear prints on my shirts, I never wear ties or cufflinks or any of that. It is just always t-shirts, black or white. Really simple.

Sporty utilitarian?

I guess so! I try and wear nice shoes to dress it up though. Nice shoes and a nice watch and you can get away with anything.

Find out more about Scottie’s work on his Instagram or website, www.scottiehendo.com and discover All I SEA at allisea.co.

Scottie’s Guide to Sydney’s Best Beaches and Workout Spots

Favourite workout spot in Sydney? And why?

I’m very biased, but the gym I go to in Darlinghurst would have to be the top of my list. 98 Riley has created an unmatched culture, it’s an incredibly supportive, and the values that the trainers live by are genuine and authentic.

Having said that, sometimes it’s great to break the routine and sneak in a run along the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk early in the morning. If you beat the crowds, you can sometimes get sunrise all to yourself.

Sydney’s best kept secret or something people might not know about the area you live in.

Ben Buckler Point in North Bondi is a great hidden gem, especially for a swim or a workout. I often do boxing workouts with Transpose Fitness above the boat shed, then take a dip right off the rocks. The water is crystal clear and you can still look out over Bondi, but you’re removed enough from the hustle and bustle to clear your head and grab a moment to yourself.

Bondi surfer by Scottie Henderson
A Bondi surfer captured by Scottie Henderson

Favourite beach in Australia and why?

That would have to be Celitos Beach near Smiths Lakes. It’s about a 3 hour drive north of Sydney. Part of the adventure is driving down a dirt road to get there, then a small walk through an amazing rainforest to get to the beach. Once you’re there, you have your own private stretch of pure white sand, clean water, and a great surf break. I have had probably three of the best five surfs of my life there, including one trip where it was just my mate and myself surfing with a pod of dolphins. I didn’t have my camera out in the water that day, but I’m kind of glad because no picture could have done that moment justice.

Favourite beach overseas and why?

Playa Tamarindo in Costa Rica. The sunsets and surf at that beach are unlike any I’ve ever seen before. There are a lot of small deserted beaches surrounding that area that are also perfect little hideaways, with amazing volcanic rocky outcrops and coconuts littering the sand. It’s extremely hard to get to but really worth the hustle.

Henry Ng from Street Style Poser talks fashion, travel and Sydney’s best Malaysian food

Henry Ng has a distinctive sartorial approach and an eye for design - characteristics the blogger showcases on his website Street Style Poser. Mister Wolf caught up with Henry to find out a bit more about his view of men's fashion and his favourite haunts in Sydney.

You started your blog in 2013, what prompted you to start blogging?
It started as, and still is, a creative outlet where I can do photography, writing, styling, video. I work in digital marketing during the day so it also ties in nicely from both strategy and creative perspective. I was blogging sporadically at the start, posting outfit content but it wasn’t really until early 2015, when I started collaborating with brands that I love, where I found my voice and brand DNA.

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There is a strong travel aspect to your blog, what has been your favourite location so far?

Tokyo internationally and Cradle Mountain in Tasmania nationally. Tokyo is just weird and wonderful and I love how crazy things can get and yet, there is also that sense of deep tradition.

The landscape in Cradle Mountain is just stunning and you would think you’re in The Alps during winter.

Henry Ng of Street Style Poser in Tasmania. Photo via @streetstyleposer
Henry Ng of Street Style Poser in Tasmania. Photo via @streetstyleposer

How would you describe your personal style?
That’s a hard one. On one end of the spectrum, you have the dapper suit wearing guys and on the other, you have the edgy, innovative high fashionistas. I think I’m in the middle.

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What attracted you to Mister Wolf watches?

The military-inspired aesthetic for this range is really a point of difference for me. The design is also classic and easy to work with. Watches are the last thing I throw on and I don’t really want to think about if they match with my outfit or not and that’s what’s good about Mister Wolf watches – they’re versatile.

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Why did you choose the combination that you did?

I love tan leather and that’s how I really started with customising the watch. I combined the other elements around the strap and came up with what I thought looked best.

All photos by Street Style Poser. Check out Henry’s blog at www.streetstyleposer.com

Henry’s Guide to Inner-Sydney

Eat at… East London Restaurant in Paddington

They dish out some of the best Chinese-inspired cuisine with fresh produce. I just wish the serving was more generous!

East London, 85 Underwood Street, Paddington NSW; www.eastlondon.com.au.

If you want to BYO a crab, head to… Malacca Straits on Broadway, Chinatown

Malacca Straits is one of the best Malaysian restaurants in Sydney where you can BYO
crab and they will cook it however you like. The restaurant is a bit of a gem as it’s not on the main street so only locals know about it.

Malacca Straits, 5/66 Mountain St, Ultimo NSW; www.malaccastraitsbroadway.com.au

Visit… Brett Whitely Gallery

I really enjoy the Brett Whiteley gallery. The museum was also his home and studio until he died in 1992 so it feels very immersive to be viewing his works and set-up.

Brett Whitely Studio, 2 Raper St, Surry Hills NSW; www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/brett-whiteley-studio

Tom Fereday on designing the Mister Wolf MW1 watch

Industrial designer Tom Fereday is an Australian designer to watch, creating thoughtful and enduring designs for some of the country's most interesting design brands. Here he shares what it was that drew him to design the MW1 watch for Mister Wolf.

Tom Fereday is part of the new wave of hugely-talented Australian industrial designers. Over the last three years, his name has been tied to some of the most thoughtful and interesting design projects by local designers and brands including of course, the design of the MW1 watch for Mister Wolf.

A designer of a broad range of products, from furniture to accessories and microphones, Tom pursues intelligent and thoughtful design outcomes and is interested in connecting people with objects through the use of natural materials and tactile finishes.

In this interview, Tom reveals his thinking behind the design of the MW1 and his approach to design.

What was your initial response when Mister Wolf founder Leighton Clarke approached you to design for him?

When I first got the brief, I was very interested in the project immediately. A watch is just one of those products – there is so much intricacy to it. I just thought the opportunity to design a watch was really cool.

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The components of the MW1 watch designed by Tom Fereday for Mister Wolf.

My next reaction was a bit of concern! Because it is quite a challenging, defining kind of product that a lot of work goes into. But when I realised that Leighton used to be a watchmaker and it would be a collaboration between me as an industrial designer and Leighton and his expertise, I thought there was real potential for the project.

I knew it wasn’t just a styling exercise and that Leighton wanted to make a quality timepiece.

So you think your backgrounds were particularly complimentary for this project?

Yes. One of the reasons Leighton said that he got in touch with me is that I used to design microphones so I have strong experience in casting of metal. From a technical level it clicked to work as a product because I don’t just do furniture design.

Tom Fereday produced this custom watch holder and tray, hand-machined from solid brass, for a commission. Sitting on the tray is an MW1 watch. Photo by Fiona Susanto
Tom Fereday produced this custom watch holder and tray, hand-machined from solid brass, for a commission. Sitting on the tray is an MW1 watch. Photo by Fiona Susanto

Can you talk about this recurring idea around the MW1 watch that it is utilitarian but with personality?

There is definitely a minimal aesthetic that I aspire to but I feel there are so many products on the market that potentially lack personality. With Mister Wolf, thinking about designing something you wear everyday, the intentional direction was not to just be completely cold and stark but something with a bit of warmth to it.

For me they way that was interpreted was in the level of intricacy in the product. A lot of thought went into some the detailing that you see in the product, and that intricacy sometimes gets forgotten about in watches.

The objective was to make a quite minimal watch that was quite intricately thought out.

Can you tell me about some of the key details of the MW1?

The first thing was the casing design. The concept of the casing was to integrate the frame to the lug – the lug being the pieces that hold the strap – the idea was to make it as completely seamless as possible. With that champfer detail on the lug, which is softened off, it integrates entirely.

 

If you look at a normal lug they are typically quite separate to the form. We wanted to make a form that was considered from all angles. That was a key detail in the product and something that we wanted to keep quite sharp and minimal about it, but a certain level of intricacy that would demonstrate the consideration.

We then applied that to every detail of the product – detailing that was subtle and not in your face.

For example, you go to the crown and there’s a subtle champfer on the edge with a debossed logo. That level of detail was what we wanted on every element of the product, that you can sort of read, it makes it not only easy to use and feel but it is an integrated design so the language carries over.

Can you talk about the strap and what is the tool that comes with the watch?

We developed a custom tool so each product you can remove the strap. Normally it is quite difficult to take the strap off. This tool allows you to take the strap and replace it over the life of the product. So again that consideration for longevity and also just a nice maintenance thing that people can as well as customise the initial order, they can customise the product over its lifetime.

Again working someone like a watchmaker like Leighton is a reason that concepts like this arose, something that I might not have thought about on my own.

What about the watch face? What was the thinking behind that?

On the dial, instead of going for off-the-shelf parts, we custom-tooled every element of it. So we stamped our second hands with the Mister Wolf logo, again not to put in your face branding but a subtle bit of personality to the product, rather then just regular second hand.

The hour markers, instead of being printed are raised and adhered to the face, which just adds a bit of depth to the product.

Then again we custom made the hour and minute, as standard to have glow in the dark elements on it.

That’s a bit retro!

Yeah, everything kind of leads back towards a more classic military style watch. It is quite a minimal product but with quite a lot of intricacies to it. That was another one that as standard it comes glow in the dark, as standard it has a calendar movement, so it is trying to have quite a lot of detail without being too much.

Really it was that watchmaker knowledge with industrial designer combination that kind of added some depth to the product.

When you are working on a new design do you picture what kind of person might wear it in your head?

Not really. I was designing something that was very strongly unisex. We didn’t want it to be a masculine or a feminine product. It had to definitely be something that anyone could see on them.

The Wes Lounge designed by Tom Fereday for Zenith Interiors. Photo by Fiona Susanto
The Wes Lounge designed by Tom Fereday for Zenith Interiors. Photo by Fiona Susanto

The market, for me, how you present a product to market is one thing, but when you design a product I design for any one of any age. Leighton and I even talked about the fact that it could look great to shoot the watches on someone older. MW1 is not geared only to young people.

What did you think of the customisable concept of Mister Wolf when Leighton told you about it?

That it was a lot of work! [laughing] The customisation is something that was really important to Leighton about the project and is a real point of difference to the product.

That concept of mass-customisation is really interesting. I think it is a non-buckling trend that people really want. If you look at what Apple has done with their latest watch, they are doing the same thing because nobody wants to have the same watch as anyone else.

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The Pieman chair designed by Tom Fereday for Dessein Furniture

People want to have their own product and their own identity and this product with its 100 variations allows you to do that.

The undertaking on this project is unique in a few ways. I don’t know any watch that has been designed and assembled in Sydney currently.

It’s a huge point of difference and a huge undertaking for Leighton as a watchmaker to have gone down that process.

What was the biggest challenge of the project?

I think settling on the design of the frame. This frame looks simple but it is the key to the product and what gives it a point of difference.

The rest fell around that, once the frame was locked in we had the size of the dial, the crown to work on, the strap. It is the base starting point.

Tom’s Insider’s Guide to Sydney’s Inner-West

The Commune in Waterloo.
The Commune in Waterloo on opening night.

Eat at… Steki’s Greek Restaurant

I recommend people check out Steki’s Greek Restaurant. It has live music, is open very late and full of normal people!

Steki Taverna, 2 O’Connell St, Newtown NSW 2042;
www.stekitaverna.com.au

Visit.. The Commune

If you haven’t checked out the new Commune space in Waterloo/Surry Hills you gotta do it if only to check out the beautiful space. It started as a co-working space for Sydney creatives in Newtown and they have now expanded.

You can go there to hot desk but also for exhibitions, workshops and other events and even yoga by donation.

COMMUNE, 901 Bourke Street, Waterloo NSW 2017;
www.thecommune.co

A collection of silkscreen prints on Perspex by artist Kate Banazi at the Currency exhibition at Melbourne's Lamington Drive
A collection of silkscreen prints on Perspex by artist Kate Banazi at the Currency exhibition at Melbourne’s Lamington Drive

Fans of contemporary art you need to know about.. artist Kate Banazi

Kate Banazi makes some of the most beautiful work in her workshop. She was one of the artists involved in Local Design, an exhibition of Australian artists and designers I co-curated and took to Milan in April 2016.

www.katebanazi.com

The Mitt Mrkt, men’s style and the charms of Darlinghurst

The hugely popular blog 'Men in this Town' is the destination for those interested in a carefully curated expression of men's street style. Now a retail concept attached to the brand - The Mitt Mrkt - is making that style available to men in Sydney, and those shopping for them.

The man behind Men in This Town, art director and blogger Giuseppe Santamaria, doesn’t just have an eye for detail. He has a spectacular talent for spotting and documenting men on the street who are confident in their sartorial choices.

So for men interested in stylish fashion and accessories for men The Mitt Mrkt, Santamaria’s new retail store in Sydney’s Darlinghurst, is a destination not to be missed.

We caught up with The Mitt Mrkt co-founder Clara Ho to talk about the concept behind the store, its emphasis on stocking local brands (such as Mister Wolf!) and her favourite Darlinghurst haunts.

The Mitt Mrkt's co-founders Giuseppe Santamaria of Men in this Town and Clara Ho of Burton Metal Depository.
The Mitt Mrkt’s co-founders Giuseppe Santamaria of Men in this Town and Clara Ho of Burton Metal Depository. Photo: Amy Janowski

Mister Wolf: Can you tell us about the origins of The Mitt Mrkt?

Clara Ho: The Mitt Mrkt is a collaboration between myself and Giuseppe Santa Maria. I am primarily a designer, I used to be an architect and now I do jewellery and accessory designer. My studio is called Burton Metal Depository and I focus on men’s pieces –cufflinks and rings and necklaces that are more catered for guys.

Giuseppe, my business partner, is the founder of Men in This Town (MITT) which is a men’s street style and fashion blog, which has become a set of books and magazines. So we are both focused on the area of men’s fashion.

How did you two meet?

We actually met when I did the pop-up in the same location in Darlinghurst where the Mitt Mrkt is now, around father’s day. It was called the Man Cave and I had curated a heap of local designers and makers for that.

Based off the men’s street style blog Men In This Town, MITT magazine is a printed digest capturing the everyday man in his natural habitat.
Based off the men’s street style blog Men In This Town, MITT magazine is a printed digest capturing the everyday man in his natural habitat.

We had fashion, homewares, accessories… and Guiseppe came into the shop and saw it. Having a retail project for MITT was always something he had had in the back of his mind. I had the retail experience and the connection to the designers so we decided to partner to create The Mitt Mrkt.

It is about everybody having a story to tell.. There’s something special about the detail in every piece that we have.

How long has The Mitt Mrkt been open for now?

It was originally only supposed to be for a month but we have now extended it until September 2016 at least. With the pop-up we are introducing ourselves and our designers to the locals while we work on a permanent shop. The new shop in Foley Street Darlinghurst is under construction. It will be just behind Oxford Street so the same locality which is good.

L-R: Bow ties by Bee Sees and cuffs from Burton Metal Depository. A member of the Citizen Wolf team making a custom t-shirt onsite at The Mitt Mrkt.
L-R: Bow ties by Bee Sees and cuffs from Burton Metal Depository. A member of the Citizen Wolf team making a custom t-shirt onsite at The Mitt Mrkt. Photos: The Mitt Mrkt / Instagram

For something to be right for The Mitt Mrkt, what qualities does it have to have?

Firstly we look at the aesthetics of the product. Whether it compliments the Men in This Town brand. Also the quality of the product, the fact it is Australia designed, and that we can stand behind the product as well, that they are beautifully-made and going to last you a long time, that they are quality and they have that masculine edge.

How would you describe the aesthetic of the brands in your store?

It is about everybody having a story to tell. So individual pieces might be understated, but they have that point of uniqueness. There’s something special about the detail in every piece that we have.

The Mitt Mrkt, Darlinghurst. Photo:
The Mitt Mrkt, Darlinghurst. Photo: Amy Janowski

What attracted you to Mister Wolf watches?

Definitely the aesthetic, the amount of detail that is in the product. The way that they have designed it so you can put together your different components.

MW1 39mm watch model 030MittMrkt

The colours. You can design it yourself – it is really cool. Even the fact that the hands might be a different colour is really unique and the attention to detail. 

 

Find The Mitt Mrkt at 72 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010; www.themittmrkt.com.

 

Clara’s Insider’s Guide to Darlinghurst, Sydney

Jacaranda trees in Darlinhurst Sydney.
Jacaranda trees on Riley Street in Darlinghurst Sydney. Photo: shesdwing / instagram

Drink… At the bar in Darlinghurst that’s pocket-sized but full of personality

My favourite local bar is definitely Pocket Bar. It has consistently great service, delicious drinks/food and a cosy atmosphere.

Pocket Bar, 3 Burton St, Darlinghurst, Sydney NSW 2010; www.pocketsydney.com.au.

Don’t forget.. To take a moment to look beyond the urban grit

It’s magical walking down Riley street, from Oxford Street to Stanley Street, in late spring and early summer. The Jacaranda flowers drop and carpet the street in a sea of purple.

The combination of the beautiful old facades of the terrace houses, you could imagine you’re on a film-set.

Fans of handmade jewellery must.. visit The Strand Arcade

My favourite gallery is Courtesy of the Artist in The Strand Arcade – every single piece of jewellery in the shop is beautifully made and is something to treasure forever. Plus, they do a lot to support local artists and makers

Courtesy of the Artist, Shop 122-124, Level 2, The Strand Arcade, 412-414 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000; www.courtesyoftheartist.com.au.

Nadia Shen of Britelines on Design

Fundamental to the creation of an enduring watch design is the design of the watch face or dial. Find out how Brooklyn-based designer Nadia Shen created Mister Wolf's distinctive dial design... and where to get the best tacos with a view in Brooklyn.

Mister Wolf is a truly international brand. While based in Sydney, the components of our watches and the people involved in our watches design come from all around the world.

When it came to creating MW1, our first watch design, we enlisted the help of Nadia Shen of Britelines. Nadia is a graphic designer and strategist based in Brooklyn by way of Hong Kong.
She has an eye for tasteful, harmonious compositions and imaginative and intelligent design.

Here she shares some insights into her process and the design of the Mister Wolf MW1 watch.

Mister Wolf: What kind of work do you do typically, was this a new type of project for you?

Nadia Shen: This was definitely a new type of project for me. I haven’t worked in fashion very much or in product design. It was really exciting to take on something so different and something so new.

I have a small design studio here in Brooklyn and typically I do a lot of branding and digital design. I work mostly with architecture and interior design firms and on hospitality projects.

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These design concepts by Brite Lines were for a New American bistro with strong emphasis on locavorism, sustainability and organic and bio-dynamic wines.

How did the founder of Mister Wolf – Leighton Clarke – find you and your studio Britelines?

It was through mutual friends. One of our mutual friends is a really close friend of mine from high school in Hong Kong and Leighton was looking for a designer so he put us in touch. I think we had a conversation and we seemed to be on the same page. I think I had a good understanding of what he was looking for and good communication so we decided to move forward.

How did you approach the brief if it was something you hadn’t done before?

I approached it in the same way I approach all of my projects. The first step that I did was to do a really careful brand audit. Take a look at the market and see what other people were doing and what the trends were, what people were gravitating towards. I think that is always a great way to start a project.

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Some of the custom collateral pieces created by Brite Lines for Rivertown Lodge, a boutique hotel located in the centre of Hudson, New York.

Then you put together a mood board of brands that are doing things really well and try and pin point what it is that makes them stand out. I think that really works in any category of design. From there we have a really great visual and verbal study for both me as the designer and for the client as well, to ensure we are on the right page and all ready to start from the same point.

This is really important because I think you can talk about things and I think creative and design people might have different ideas of what the final product should look like in their heads. But by starting with the mood board setting, you really have a visual reference and verbal cues so that you are both speaking the same language from the get go.

Mister Wolf watches are unisex, when you first thought about the watch design, who did you think would be wearing it? Who were you visualising?

I think generally Mister Wolf watches are for someone who is wanting something elegant and well-designed.

Leighton was very much about keeping the price point very affordable but also wanted things to be very high-end and to accentuate craftsmanship.

A watch should be pretty versatile. I think now people tend to have a couple of them and you can transition between them based on the season or your mood and they are a more casual accessory.

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The dial design of the MW1 watch by Brite Lines.

Can you tell me a bit about the design process?

I worked specifically on the face design. I worked closely with Leighton and once the design was approved then I believe the design was handed off to industrial designer Tom Fereday who made any adjustments as needed.

I feel like the work happened very quickly. I think Leighton and I shared a very similar vision of what the design should be and I picked up what he was looking for pretty fast.

Do you think you’ll continue to do projects of this type?

I would love to, as a designer I am always trying to broaden the client range and it is really great to work on something that initially is out of my wheelhouse. I think it is great to approach a project like this with fresh eyes and come at it from a different angle. It is always great to learn something new. I think when you get so used to working with the same type of clients this type of project brings a fresh perspective.

Nadia is coveting the MW1 32mm Model watch for herself.

Finally, if you could have any Mister Wolf watch, which one would it would be?

Model 381. It is the women’s size – 32mm – with a copper case, natural leather band, rose hands and white face. It’s so classic and neutral – a perfect everyday piece.

Nadia’s insider guide to Brooklyn, New York

Nadia-Shen-Britelines-Mister-Wolf

Want a pastry? You should visit Nadia’s own cafe.

My husband, two friends and I opened a cafe, Parkette Brooklyn, in our neighborhood of Sunset Park last November. It’s been a wonderful and fulfilling project – we designed and built the place from scratch, each of us lending our expertise. We serve delicious coffee and fresh French-Belgian pastries which are baked locally. It’s also served as a great opportunity to meet new people and to get to know our community.

Parkette Brooklyn, 4022 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11232, United States; www.parkettebk.com.

You should really try… Eating tacos with a view in Sunset Park.

The outdoor space in our neighborhood of Sunset Park is very special to me. I feel so fortunate to live across from the actual Sunset Park that the neighbourhood is named after. It boasts the second highest vantage point in all of Brooklyn. The New York City skyline sprawls before you and from the top of the park you can sit back and watch the sun dip behind the Statue of Liberty all while eating some of the best tacos in NY (Mexican food is something else the neighbourhood is known for)!

Sunset Park, 41 St., 44 St., bet. 5 Ave. and 7 Ave. Brooklyn. Directions via Google Maps.

You don’t have to go to Brooklyn… To shop there.

There are so many incredible places to shop in Brooklyn. I always love wandering around Greenpoint and poking my head into all the small shops. As a new mom, I do a lot of shopping online these days and a favorite is my dear friend’s children’s store darling clementine.