Took this along some pristine coast and can only think we make our own.

Our friend Brook cruised out to the desert last weekend with some friends and a photographer. These are some of the results.

Check out some more of her work here.

Diplo ft Lil Jon
Thanks to JDH

Whether working in the favelas of Rio or the shantytowns of Kenya, JR’s photographs have captivated audiences around the world. JR’s work reflects the continuous struggle of the human condition, global poverty, religious tensions and the core issues of the urban struggle. Via his giant photographs, he forces people to directly confront these issues. We have been fans of JR since he put a piece on our building and helped beautify downtown LA.

JR’s work first appeared in Paris, where he captured images of the residents of lower class Parisian slums/suburbs and plastered their photos across the more bourgeoisie sections of East Paris. He then shifted his attention to the Middle East where he took photographs of both Palestinian and Israeli individuals. He would juxtapose the portraits forcing the two conflicting groups to visually confront each other on a daily basis, while exposing their similarities.

Next he embarked on his most ambitious project, “Women are Heroes”, in which he traveled across Africa, Brasil, Cambodia and India photographing the women of each region. Not only were the installations an art project, but the images were printed on waterproof vinyl, so they served a double purpose of roofing for the residents. The same project spawned a documentary of the same name that screened at Cannes.

Currently JR is working in Shanghai on “The Wrinkles of the City” a project based around the effects of urban expansionism and urban decay. The Chinese government has yet to interfere.

Most recently the work of the “photograffeur”, a term JR uses to describe himself that is a combination of photo and “graffeur” the french word for graffiti, have caught the attention of TED. TED, a nonprofit based around spreading ideas via Technology, Entertainment and Design, awarded him with their prestigious TED prize for 2011. The winner of the TED prize is given 100,000 dollars to help facilitate a wish they have. Prior award winners have ranged from former US president Bill Clinton, author Dave Eggers, documentarian Jehane Noujam, and physicist Neil Turok. Although JR has not yet revealed his wish, he has commented that it will be something dealing with “guerilla art”.

JR’s 2011 TED Prize has sparked controversy amongst media outlits and other critics of JR’s methods and practices. First the ambiguity in which he works, hiding his identity and never revealing his real name and secondly JR’s open canvas which often produces legal problems, make his selection controversial. Despite his critics, JR’s projects bring mass media attention to corners of the globe that most individuals completely disregard. His photos feature people who are commonly neglected by society, those who are impoverished, women across the globe, individuals marginalized by urban development, etc. and bring their issues and needs to the attention of society via street art.

Ampal x Stampd “Dope” coming soon

Its starting to get cold again. A time of year when headwear becomes form & function.
You can pick a new one up at any of the retailers listed on the right or direct from us @ 15% off with the code fall15.

Our homies at Joyrich have been doing big things lately. They just opened their Hong Kong flagship store and had one of the most talked about collections at LA Fashion Week. Here are some pictures of the store launch from Pistols & Lipstick.

This is picture IS Joyrich – hot blonde babes, mirrors, wild patterns, bright colors, and shiny shining gold and silver.

I was stoked to see our collabo hats made the front display.

Champagne instead of phones – Courtney and Yuichi off the sales hustle and enjoying their hard work. Cheers!

Epic on so many levels

Joyrich just killed it on the runaway too, with a well received show at LA Fashion Week.

Ampal X Joyrich Alameda fedora blowin up…

Big ups to Leah & David (pictured), Tom and the rest of the Joyrich/Open Crew. Big moves in ’10, the world in ’11.

Our friend and one of our favorite artists Jason Redwood sent us some pics of his new work from this year. I think you’ll enjoy.

“Redwood’s works are a veritable feast of fancy-intensely seductive work that, if allowed to break on through to the other side and become living, breathing beings of light, might just lead legions of young hopefuls past the apocalypse and onto the 13th floor, where pigment exists as pure energy, artists are prophets, and paintings open doors of perception” We thought this quote from his site was pretty on point.

The F/W collection includes custom cut and sew newsboys and drivers caps as well as unique blocked fedoras, porkpies and bowlers and made in LA snap-back baseball caps. Our hats are inspired by the classics, and refined with a modern aesthetic and unique details. All the materials have been handpicked and every detail perfected. Enjoy…

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WAVES ≠ RAVES vol. 2
The second installation of our bi-monthly music drops curated by our friends at Gotta Dance Dirty.

WAVES ≠ RAVES vol. 2
• Fear of Tigers – I Can Make the Pain Disappear
• Monarchy – The Phoenix Alive (Kris Menace Mix)
• Sebastian Tellier – Kilometer (Aeroplane Italo 84′ Remix)
• Everything Everything – MY KZ, UR BF (Grum Remix)
• Aeroplane vs. Friendly Fires vs. Flight Facilities – I Crave Paris

IN GDD WE TRUST.