the district

Porn star come American Apparel Model Faye Reagan aka Jillian. (get it?)

Critics of American Apparel advertising who claim that it is virtual soft-porn have recently gained some fodder for their argument. While this is apparently not new news (file under: I learn interesting things when I talk to my brother) American Apparel has at some point begun featuring porn stars in their print and online advertising efforts.  While this is hardly the venue to discuss the implications of pornography and perpetuating gender inequality, I do think its fair to assume that such a move will not be received warmly by the feminist community at large.  One has to wonder how American Apparel has continued to do so well amongst the specific class of consumers and t-shirt companies wishing to use an ‘ethical’ blank, despite the company’s continued absurd antics towards women.  (At least) 5 sexual harassment cases, pedophile-baiting photography, and now the use of porn stars for models, yet American Apparel continues to dominate as the source for blanks for socially responsible t-shirt companies and consumers.  It don’t make no sense, and those are my two cents.

About a decade ago I worked at a bike-shop in Massachusetts, and we carried a line of customizable messenger bags from a tiny little company out in San Fransisco, made for people who actually carried a lot of shit around on their bikes.  The company was owned by real bike messengers, sewn in the US (as evident by the sounds of the sewing machines in the background when we placed orders), and had as one might say ‘mad street cred.’ That company, as you might have guessed, was called Timbuk2. While in my opinion Timbuk2 still makes some pretty bombproof shit, their driving focus is no longer bags made by urban cyclists for other cyclists, nor is their manufacturing entirely domestic anymore.

Enter Seagull bags.  By the looks of their website, Seagull has been around for a few years although still appears be fast growing.  Looking through their site, there is a lot that is reminiscent of the early days of Timbuk2 (and thats a compliment) including most notably the fact that these bags are made by couriers to be highly functional.  The fact that they bust out some sweet custom embroidery is merely an added bonus (albeit a big one).  While I haven’t inspected a bag up close, the hardware on these things looks pretty substantial and the cell-phone, radio, and tool-bag add ons all appear to be designed with two-wheeled use in mind.  The prices maybe a little higher than the comparable assembly line  products of other manufacturers, but the fact that they are handmade in Ohio has got to count for something. And at the risk of sounding like a total poser, the fact is that these bags are a lot cooler than being another douche-bag with a Chrome bag that they bought to match their sweet new anodized rims. (hey I live in Williamsburg, there are a lot of these fucks pedaling around). Check them out. www.seagullbags.com