The Dresden is an odd place. It was made famous by the movie Swingers and every night there’s a scene there which isn’t really a scene if that makes any sense. The music is great but terrible, the crowd is old but young and the bartenders wear yellow ties and tell horrible jokes. We had fun (sort of).

People always ask us who we are inspired by and where we get the ideas for our designs and graphics. This isn’t an easy question to answer as inspiration comes at the strangest times sometimes from the strangest places. On top of that, we have to keep a few things secret (!) but today we thought we’d share with you a few images of some of the dudes we think have always looked the part. Some of them you’ll know, some you won’t and we ain’t revealing any names.

1999 – - The team that brought you

fast forward to 2010 Oscar Best Short Animated Movie

A big thank you to the Sole Tech, Ed Banger, Cool Cats and Lamjc family for the hospitality last week and for the kicks. Look out for this Etnies X Cool Cats collaboration releasing soon in Europe and the USA in extremely limited quantities.

And, whilst on the subject of all things French, enjoy this track from our favorite Parisian emcee Lucien. You may know him from the classic Luck of Lucien by A Tribe Called Quest and this is one of his solo joints where he flips the French and English lingo over a sick Jimmy Jay beat.

This is why Los Angeles is the best city in the world. A perfect Sunday afternoon.

Last night was the opening of Phil Frost’s latest show at the Known Gallery on Fairfax Ave in Los Angeles and to describe it as being out of this world would be a serious understatement. If you are in the City of Angels in the next month make sure you check it out and, if you are lucky enough to be granted access to the new Twelve Bar headquarters, you might even spot one of these pieces on the wall.

Has there ever been anyone who oozes sexuality more than Pam Grier – the original Foxy Brown – in the Blaxploitation era. Look out for the t-shirt coming soon and in the meantime enjoy the Roy Ayers track that melted the hearts of teenage boys worldwide in the early 70s. You heard it twice the first time.