Our very first official Spring/Summer 2012 arrivals are here and they come from the fine folks at Sweden's most loved denim brand: Nudie Jeans Co. For the past ten years Nudie has done things within this retail fashion industry that, in all honesty, they didn't have to: they've eschewed speed and overhead for quality production, they've worked tirelessly for human rights with Amnesty International, and this year (2012) they will finally become an entirely organic denim company as they rework all their classics with new denim options moving forward.

Nudie proves there's more in their pricetags than the backwards "N" and a cool stitch deal. There's a lot of heart, soul and hard work put into every pair of jeans they produce, and we're proud to have been such a big supporter of the brand for as long as we have. Cheers to Nudie Jeans Co, check out what we've received thusfar for Spring 2012:

• Tape Ted Black Black Ring: Italian comfort stretch. 10.25oz dry denim with evident ring effects. Black warp and white weft. A soft and flat fabric. Black threads all over and black back pocket embo. Gunmetal trims. 97% cotton/3% elastane. Made in Italy.
• Thin Finn Dry Flat Selvage Dry: Italian 13.25oz selvage denim with a little red-cast. It's compact and regular with a smooth, flat surface. On this style you find the selvage edge coin pocket and silver trims. Nudie orange threads all over except for the back pocket embo that is faded indigo. 100% cotton. Made in Italy.
• Khaki Slim Dry Black Coated: Unwashed dry black-coated denim from Italy. At front: Slant side pocket. A secret coin pocket just below the waistband. Zip fly with orange bar tack. Silver button and orange buttonhole on waistband. At back: Lowered yoke. Welt pockets where the pocket bag is marked with a blind stitch. Lined waistband. Narrow two-needle seams along yoke seam and front and back rise. The fit is based on Thin Finn.
• Backbone Sweatshirt Black or Grey Light: Dry unbrushed piqué in organic cotton. At neck a classic rib insert with flatlock seams. All seams are stitched down with flatlock. 100% fair trade & organic cotton.
• Backbone Boxers Black, Grey or Indigo: The cotton used for this jersey is organic. They feature an elastic waistband with the Nudie Jeans Co logo. Matching bindings at front and leg openings. 98% cotton/2 % elastane. 100% fair trade & organic cotton.
• Wayne Leather Belt Black or Natural: This fine leatherbelt is handmade in Portugal. Made out of the finest saddle leather thet when treated right will age beautifully. Nudie jeans Co logo embossed at end.
• Denim & Leather Haghdal Wallet: A wicked pocket-sized wallet that only measures 10x7.5cm when folded. It contains one currency pocket and eight pockets for cards, six horizontal and two vertical ones. The outside is made in a 13.25oz Japanese denim with the selvage edge visible at the currency pocket. It is stitched with heavy off-white stitches. The inside is made in genuine saddle leather that will age beautifully. On the inside you also find the Nudie Jeans Co logo debossed.

No new SS12 debuts to speak of quite yet, but our favourite Nudie Jeans Co. Winter 2012 styles have been restocked both at Still Life For Him & For Her. The ever-expanding Swedish denim brand really broke the mould in 2011 with the introduction of an exceptional Recycled Dry Denim program and their strongest commitment to fairly traded organic cottons yet. Play the video below to get an insiders video into the denim recycling process at Nudie's Italian production centre, and keep reading for a summation of currently restocked Nudie AW11 styles.

• Tight Long John is a super tight fit with low waist and narrow leg opening. Zip fly. Restocked in Dry Stretch, an 11 oz power stretch denim from Italy. The look is dry, but the jeans have been rinsed to get maximum elasticity effect. Nudie orange threads allover and orange back pocket embo. Also restocked in Black Black an 11oz power stretch denim from Italy in pure indigo overdyed with black. The look is dry, but the jeans have been rinsed to get maximum elasticity effect. Black threads allover and black back pocket embo.
• Like the name suggests, High Kai has the highest waist in Nudie's range of fits. It is a supertight fit with narrow leg opening and zip fly. Restocked in Recycle Dry Navy Denim this 11.5 oz power stretch denim from Turkey is made with both organic and recycled cotton. It's a red cast with tight construction, smooth slightly shiny surface and obvious neps effects. Navy threads all over and navy back pocket embo. Organic trims and pocket lining. 68% organic cotton/29% recycled cotton/3% elastane.
• Tube Kelly has exactly the same top block as Tight Long John with a slightly wider leg opening. On Tight Long John it is 15.5 cm and on Tube Kelly it is 17 cm, which gives a straight tube leg silhouette. Restocked in Black Black an 11oz power stretch denim from Italy in pure indigo overdyed with black. The look is dry, but the jeans have been rinsed to get maximum elasticity effect. Black threads allover and black back pocket embo.
• Thin Finn is a tight fit with an extra low yoke and normal waist. The silhouette is similar to the 50’s carrot shape with the tight and narrow leg opening. Wear it low. Zip fly. Available in Organic Dry Ecru Embo a 10.75oz 100% organic cotton denim from Turkey. Pure indigo. Nudie orange threads allover except for the back pocket embo which is ecru. Also restocked in Dry Black Coated, the 11oz Italian comfort stretch denim. Black coating on white weft. Black threads allover and black back pocket embo.
• Grim Tim is a straight slim fit with normal waist and a straight leg. Available in Black Black Slubs, a 12.5oz comfort stretch from Turkey with black yarn in both warp and weft. The fabric has evident twill lines and subtle slubs. Black threads all over and black back pocket embo. Also available in Dry Dirt Organic, a 13.2oz ridgid denim with pure indigo from Turkey made in 100% organic cotton. Dry denim. Nudie orange threads allover and orange back pocket embo. Organic trims and pocket lining. Button fly.
• Slim Jim is one of Nudie's first fits. It is regular straight with normal waist and tube leg. The characteristic double stitches along the outer seam are considered a Nudie Jeans trademark. Zip fly. Restocked in an Organic Dry Grey Embo 11oz comfort stretch denim from Turkey made of 100% organic cotton. Pure indigo. Tonal navy threads all over except for the back pocket embo that is grey.
• Hank Rey is a new fit in the regular range. The yoke is low, legs are straight leg and waist is normal. Available in Recycle Dry 12.5oz denim from Turkey made of a recycled cotton. Red cast denim with flat surface and evident crosshatch effect. Nudie orange threads all over and orange back pocket embo.

We're heading into a chilly autumn weekend in Victoria with two fully stocked men's and women's stores after supplementary Nudie Jeans arrivals this week at both Still Life For Him & For Her. All our core Nudie styles are available in full size runs, from heavy-dyed indigo to super dark black black and even a superused grey. All designed in Sweden, made in Italy:

• Tight Long John (available For Her in Dry Stretch, Black Black & Recycled Dry Power denim) - A super tight fit with low waist and narrow leg opening. Zip fly. Tight Long John always come with stretch for ultimate comfort.
• High Kai (available For Her in Rinsed Indigo & Black Black denim) - Like the name suggests, High Kai has the highest waist in Nudie's range of fits. It is a supertight fit with narrow leg opening and zip fly. Made in Italian power stretch for ultimate comfort.
• Tube Kelly (available For Her in Rinsed Strikey denim) - Tube Kelly has exactly the same top block as Tight Long John with a slightly wider leg opening. On Tight Long John it is 15.5 cm and on Tube Kelly it is 17 cm, which gives a straight tube leg silhouette.
• Tape Ted (available For Him in Organic Dry Grey Embo Denim) - Tape Ted is a new fit with lower back yoke and back pockets similar to Thin Finn with tapered legs and narrow foot opening.
• Thin Finn (available For Him in Organic Dry Ecru Embo, Dry Black Coated & Superused Grey Denim) - Thin Finn is a tight fit with an extra low yoke and normal waist. The silhouette is similar to the 50’s carrot shape with the tight and narrow leg opening. Wear it low. Zip fly.
• Grim Tim (available For Him in Dry 46 Dips, Open Dry Selvage, Black Black Slubs & Dry Dirt Organic) - Grim Tim is a straight slim fit with normal waist and a straight leg. It is available in both rigid selvage fabrics and stretch denim. Button fly.
• Slim Jim (available For Him in Black Black Twill & Organic Dry Dark Denim) - Slim Jim is one of Nudie's first fits. It is regular straight with normal waist and tube leg. The characteristic double stitches along the outer seam are considered a Nudie Jeans trademark. Zip fly.
• Hank Rey (available For Him in Dry Organic Veggie & Recycle Dry Denim) - Hank Rey is a new fit in the regular range. The yoke is low, legs are straight leg and waist is normal.

Nudie Jeans Co. loves denim, a passion they share with anyone who mourns a worn-out pair like the passing of a close friend. No fabric ages quite as beautifully as denim; the longer you wear your jeans, the more character and attitude they acquire. You shape them with your lifestyle, and they become like a second skin.

Jeans share the same soul and attitude found in the rock & roll scene - they're both part of the same culture. Nudie Jeans will always stay true to jeans. they're not looking for fly-by-night fads; their inspiration is found far from the world of glamour and catwalks. Nudie doesn't just offer jeans. They offer a way of thinking, a concept, and an undying passion, fuelled by the traditions of denim and the characteristics of the fabric itself.

Nudie Jeans, available in Victoria exclusively at Still Life For Him & For Her.

We're constantly receiving restock from Sweden's legendary denim brand, Nudie Jeans Co. Though we don't always get a chance to update the blog accordingly when more sizes become available in the Tight Long John, High Kai, Thin Finn or Slim Jim, we do always try to give our Still Life friends & family a heads up when special arrivals from Nudie arrives at Still Life For Him & For Her and today we're writing for that reason exactly.

Three very special Nudie Jeans Co. jeans arrived this weekend in two of our best performing Autumn 2011 styles: Hank Rey and Grim Tim. While both jeans offer a slight taper at the bottom of the leg, Grim Tim is significantly narrower through the entire leg, while Hank Rey starts more relaxed with a dropped yoke and tapers just slightly at the ankle. Available as never before (and never again) these three new jean options are not for a "rookie" denim customer, but special additions to the collection for our serious denim connoisseurs.

• Hank Rey Dry Organic Veggie - This 13.25oz denim from Turkey is made with organic cotton. It has a special blue shade with a red cast that is almost purple. It has been dyed with veggie indigo and it will be very interesting to see what they will look like after some months of use. Open construction with obvious neps effects. Nudie orange threads all over and orange back pocket embo. Organic trims and pocket lining. 100% cotton. Made in Italy.
• Grim Tim Open Dry Selvage - Italian 12oz denim with white selvage edge. It has a very open construction where the weft shines through. The surface is flat and dry, slightly shiny with a subtle streakiness. On this style you find the selvage edge coin pocket and silver trims. Nudie orange threads all over except for the back pocket embo that is faded indigo. 100% cotton. Made in Italy.
• Grim Tim Dry 46 Dips - This Turkish, heavy 13.5oz denim with 46 indigo dips is a challenge but it will break in beautifully. The fabric has a tight construction and a rich, deep blue shade. The Nudie orange threads all over except for the back pocket embo that is faded indigo. Copper trims. 100% cotton. Made in Italy.

Later this week we expect a full restock in our core Nudie Jeans Co. styles and another very special Nudie apparell delivery that we will be sure to write up and show off here on the blog and on our ever growing Still Life Facebook Page.

From Gothenburg, Sweden to Victoria, British Columbia - Velour has returned to Still Life For Him for Autumn 2011 with dressy/prep neckwear (scarves, ties & bowties) and two colours of the best fitting chino we've ever had in the store.

The chino pant was originally used by the British and American army during the second half of the 19th century. At first the original chinos were 100% cotton, but Velour has added a little stretch to it for the perfect comfort and fit. Velour's renowned classic chino Adan is back at Still Life For Him for Autumn 2011. A perfect tapered fit in with just the right mix of stretch for that right effortless feeling. Choose between a black and autumn brown.

Also available to get our gentlemen dressed for autumn are a variety of Velour Gunnar bowties (navy or green), Edvar straight ties (plaid, navy corduroy or chambray) and Gilbert knit scarves (colour blocked navy/beige). These accessories paired with some quality, seasonal shirting (chambray, oxford, etc) can finish off a look and have you standing a foot taller than the rest.

The overall design concept of Velour springs out of a classic preppy look with traditional garments redesigned in a new stylish, yet effortless, way. This style has Swedish west coast influences and addresses curious individuals who have an interest in trends but are reflective and make their own interpretations rather than following the trends directly. They appreciate genuineness and are, by Velour, offered an alternative to the ordinary fashion brands. Colours are sober – like marine blue and brown – with colourful accents. These colours together with the prints and patterns are carefully created where every pigment, image and square has its place. All joined together in a perfect fit.

Born in the Swedish port town of Gothenburg in 1997, Dunderdon is Sweden’s most innovative workwear company. Founded by carpenter Per-Ivan Hagberg, the mission at Dunderdon has always been to create clothing for craftsmen who appreciate superior construction and smart design.

In 1997, Dunderdon introduced their classic work wear pant. Since then, their collections have evolved to include a complete assortment of lifestyle designs for both men and women. Achieving this required a broader definition of work. It required addressing the needs of traditional blue-collar professionals, as well as no-collar creatives. It required an updated concept of work wear, where function and form are seamlessly integrated. Ultimately, each Dunderdon product must match up with Per-Ivan’s overarching design philosophy: “Honest, simple designs are timeless. Dunderdon products should represent the highest craftsmanship and innovation, while never compromising on fit and style. We respect the past, but we don’t rely on it.”

At Still Life For Him & For Her we've found that one of the strongest division of Dunderdon is their seasonal coats and jackets. This week we're happy to introduce waxed canvas hooded parkas, jackets and a wool toggle coat For Her - with a phenomenal canvas mac jacket and chunky lambswool cardigan now available For Him. As long as there are things to do, we'll keep working - and as long as we're working, we'll be wearing Dunderdon.

as still life positions itself as the source of men's & women's quality denim options from our friends at nudie jeans co on vancouver island, certain bonuses are afforded us - like receiving back-to-back, back-to-school nudie jeans co deliveries just in time for the bc day long weekend in victoria! just as we finished pricing the incredible new tape ted org dry grey embo and the tight long john recycle dry power, we've received two cases more from the swedish denim brand - including the long-awaited debut of the nudie jeans khaki chinos!

• grim tim black black slubs:a straight slim fit with normal waist and a straight leg, available for the first time at still life in a 12.5oz comfort stretch denim from turkey with black yarn in both warp and weft. the fabric has evident twill lines and subtle slubs. black threads all over and black back pocket embo. gunmetal trims. 97% cotton/3% elastane. made in italy.

• slim jim black black twill: forever the #1 nudie jean style, slim jim is one of their first fits. it is regular straight with normal waist and tube leg. available for the first time at still life in a 13oz twill from turkey with black threads in both warp and weft. the jeans are sewn with black threads all over and has a black back pocket embo. gunmetal trims. 100% cotton. made in italy.

• slim jim organic dry (grey embo): the same classic nudie jean slim jim fit in a brand new 11 oz comfort stretch denim from turkey made of 100% organic cotton. pure indigo. tonal navy threads all over except for the back pocket embo that is grey. as always, designed in sweden and made in italy.

all things being equal, khakis and jeans are two branches of the same tree. back in the day when sailors began sewing their own “jeans” from sailcloth, khaki was the dominating shade. over the years, these pants developed into what we know today as jeans. nudie jeans khakis originate from a small archipelago island on the west coast of sweden. some 200 years ago, this island was a lively place where weather-beaten fishermen sailed out in their black cutters for long periods on the north atlantic. sail makers and textile producers began establishing in the area to provide the fishermen with the equipment and clothes they needed and their work provided the basis and inspiration for nudie jeans khakis. combining the traditionally used materials with fabrics from their denim suppliers, the fits are built on our classic nudie jeans silhouettes.

• nudie khaki slim sanded (beige): this slim fit is based on thin finn but with narrower leg opening and a longer rise. available for the very first time this autumn, still life is offering this khaki style in both women's & men's sizing (26W-34W). light worn in wash on this italian stretch fabric with smooth and rustling hand feel. slant side pocket. a secret coin pocket just below the waistband. zip fly with orange bar tack. silver button and orange buttonhole on waistband. lowered yoke. welt pockets where the pocket bag is marked with a blind stitch. narrow two-needle seams along yoke seam and front and back rise. 98% cotton/2% elastane.

if you haven't all ready become a believer in gothenburg, sweden's nudie jeans co this autumn is definitely the time. in addition to these fantastic new denim options and the debut of the long-awaited nudie jeans khaki, we have lots more in store from nudie coming soon. have a happy and safe bc day long weekend victoria!

nudie loves jeans, a passion they share with anyone who mourns a worn-out pair like the passing of a close friend. no fabric ages quite as beautifully as denim; the longer you wear your jeans, the more character and attitude they acquire. you shape them with your lifestyle, and they become like a second skin.

jeans share the same soul and attitude found in the rock & roll scene - they're both part of the same culture. nudie jeans will always stay true to jeans. they're not looking for fly-by-night fads; their inspiration is found far from the world of glamour and catwalks. nudie doesn't just offer jeans. they offer a way of thinking, a concept, and an undying passion, fuelled by the traditions of denim and the characteristics of the fabric itself.

all still life staff, new or old, wear nudie jeans. easily our most popular denim brand we've ever stocked (and we were on it early, back in the days of the "old still life"), this past calendar year nudie became our only offering of denim on the women's side of the store, and easily our best quality and most requested denim for the men. moving into autumn 2011 nudie has expanded their vision of what the brand can be, with exciting new offerings due to arrive for autumn 2011 proper, in the coming weeks...

preparing for back-to-school denim shopping over this august long weekend, still life has pushed out some sizes & styles early from our autumn 2011 collection, and have a strong selection of the decade-old, quality-focussed swedish denim brand:

• tight long john recycle dry power: our best selling women's jean on the racks, tight long john is back with a brand new look for autumn 2011. dry jeans made in a 11.2 oz turkish power stretch with a deep red cast. the fabric is a mix of organic and recycled cotton. it has a tight construction with smooth slightly shiny surface and obvious neps effects. nudie jeans orange threads all over except for the back pocket embo that is fading indigo. organic trims and pocket lining. 68% organic cotton, 29% recycled cotton.
• tape ted organic dry (grey embo): a brand new style for autumn 2011, tape ted has a long rise with low back yoke and back pockets similar to thin finn. ted is slim from the hip and thighs and tapers down to a narrow leg opening. 11 oz comfort stretch denim from turkey made of 100% organic cotton. pure indigo. tonal navy threads all over except for the back pocket embo that is grey. as always, designed in sweden and made in italy.

in addition to these two new nudie jeans offerings, we've also restocked sizes in the high kai rinsed (11.5 oz italian power stretch in pure indigo denim) and the tight long john black black (11 oz power stretch denim from italy in pure indigo overdyed with black). as we have a quick turnaround with nudie jeans once stock becomes available, be sure to come down to still life this long weekend if you're hoping to get your hands on some of these new jeans from nudie.

with only a few more arrivals to fully stock us for spring 2011, still life is looking fantastic this week with the addition of a small batch of shirting and pants from gothenburg's dunderdon. one of the favourite brands amongst still life staff and regular customers, dunderdon garments are made to wear strong and confidently - these styles hold up. over his years building furniture and creating the interior walnut design of still life, matt wore dunderdon hoodies & pants almost exclusively in his woodshop with little to no signs of wear.

filling in the remaining spaces on the still life racks, we've received two cuts of the same, classic p47 chino in postman blue hickory and compact twill grey along with two cuts of sh40 poplin check shirts for the men and a beautiful, soft lsh45 oxford boyfriend shirt for the ladies.

born in the swedish port town of gothenburg in 1997, dunderdon is sweden’s most innovative workwear company. founded by carpenter per-ivan hagberg, the mission at dunderdon has always been to create clothing for craftsmen who appreciate superior construction and smart design.

simple, clean construction of raw-edged silks, satins and knits in casually feminine fits gives sweden's velour it's trademark effortless style. the brand grew from founder per andersson's ready-to-wear/vintage shop, nostalgia, in gothenburg; selling dead stock vintage clothes together with re-makes, art and design items in 1997. since launching the first official velour collection in 2005, the brand's seasonal collections can now be found in more than 100 select retail shops throughout scandinavian countries including norway, sweden, finland and denmark - as well as internationally at shops like still life in victoria, bc canada.

the overall design concept of velour springs from a classic preppy look with traditional fashion garments redesigned in a new stylish, yet effortless, way. fitting in wonderfully at still life, we've been offering select items from the line since last spring - always with a speedy sell through on the beautiful knitwear & silk tops.

we've just received our first spring 2011 arrivals from velour, which includes the great pastel-coloured casual fit keke knit sweater in a bamboo/cotton mix, the evy-lou silk/cotton blouse with asymmetric shoulder patch detail and raw edges overall, a gorgeous, luxe satin jeneil blouse with front-buttons and patch pocket, and the relaxed silk/cotton beauty shirt with mother of pearl buttons down the front. in addition to the gorgeous collection on the women's side, we've also received the perfect summer chino from velour men with the adan narrow chino in powder blue - ready to be cuffed up and worn on the beach, grass or poolside all summer long.