My favorite thing about designing collections whether its for HomeRoom or other projects, is the inspiration trip. I first started doing inspiration trips when i read about Hiroki from Visvim going to Alaska to get inspired. At the time i didn’t understand the significant impact that a trip like Alaska could have on your manifestation. This past weekend I took trip down to LA to get inspired. . This coming month I’m going to take a road trip through New Mexico to finalize some thoughts and ideas. A big truck, a few ghost-towns, a hot air balloon and good company should do it. Get out and get inspired friends. Anyways, here are some photos from my LA trip that inspired me or established what i was already thinking.

Digging for vintage is a love hate relationship really. I don’t mind it when i come across gold in the form of menswear, furniture, rugs and other things that might look like trash to the uneducated eye. However, i do mind it when i’m at the Rose Bowl flea market at 7am, with no sleep cause the hotel i stayed at installed hardwood floors, so i could hear the hooker walk around in heels all night from the floor above me… then itching like crazy in the blistering Pasadena sun. At least i had great company.

Grampa would have had a heart attack if he saw his child hood favorite drink…That’s why i didn’t buy these for him.

I’m a sucker for old school house furniture. This mail room thing could be a great piece for a store. 

I liked the way this guy put his fit together. A great mix if old and new

This guy wanted $300 for these jordan 1’s…

…He also wanted about $6000 for all the clothing in this picture…smoking crack.

100% authentic

I really wanted to get one these cast iron tractor wheels for the back yard garden.

Almost bought a crate to use as my magazine rack

This 100 year old tourniquet had an awesome turn of the century wood block printed manual on it. So good!

Original leather vollyball

ever wonder were supreme was inspired from??? Well, this is my guess.

You have to go straight to the farm if you want the freshest oyster.

Hello Kivy has been telling me about an old dirty Chinese restaurant on mission for a year now. Every time i heard “dirty Chinese restaurant” i just blocked it out and didn’t want to hear anymore about it.  The only dirty restaurants that I’m down with are Vietnamese. She brought it up again today and said they serve PB & J…I was like ok— that sounds weird enough..i’m down.

We get there at 6pm and there are at least 100 people in line…shit… We stand in line for 10 mins–talk  to the hostess and  get reservations for 730. We headed down the block to my friend Benny’s shop to have a few beers and get back just in time to the most….

…interesting pop up restaurant I’ve been too.  I guess these 2 rogue chef’s got feed up with cooking for other peoples menus and wanted to express themselves and their own passions. The take over this old Chinese restaurant twice a week and turn it into a Cinderella story .  Luckily for me this was the last time they are doing this and i didn’t miss it. Due to this being the final menu, they made a best of menu. (i hear they’re opening a restaurant down to block a called “common wealth” by end of year).

This first thing i ordered was the PB & J - Berkshire Kurobuta Pork Belly with Marinated Jicama, Cilantro Aioli and red jalapeno. This was a top 10 things i’ve ate. I put it somewhere between Sasabune Sashimi in Hawaii and Cerveceria Catalana Tapas in Barcelona.  Its essentially a giant cut of bacon, cooked dry and topped with a sour/spicy red jalapeno and avocado cilantro aioli. What makes it even better was the papusa like tortilla. I’ll be trying to remake this at home.

What came after didn’t taste as complex, but it was just as good in its own way.
Peking Chinito - Chinese Donut wrapped in Rice Noodle and stuffed with Duck, Crispy Skin, Cucumber, Cilantro, Spicy Hoisin

Monterey Bay Squid, Marrow, Tamarind Pork, Castelvetrano Olive, Fried Chickpeas

MSF Rice - Fried Tofu, Seared Cauliflower and Shitake Mushroom

I know I have a duty to all of you that have been following my blog for the last 4 years to keep it updated with whats going on and provide some kind of entertainment. I feel bad for that. I wish that i could multiply myself to get everything done so i can have time to update this lovely blog. Wishing is for losers, i know. In the coming months i will get some assistance that will free up my time.

I’ve never had so many unanswered emails in all of my life. Things are just nuts, lots of big things in the works right now. You guys will understand in a few months.

Stay classy USA.

I’m really thankful that she passed down her talents and skills to me. Which, in turn i pass down to you; the ones that have a HomeRoom piece or two.

I have had this thing with quotes all my life. I love them. I buy quote books and have a word document that I’ve been adding quotes to since i was in 6th grade.  I figured i should do them some justice and put them on display.

fake ‘em out

then put them in the hurt locker

Jacques Cousteau; the only reason to  wear a red beanie.

Age is a secret that not all embrace.

Maybe because youth is synonymous with success, rock n roll and spirit. What happens when your body gets old. Your voice becomes raspier and your skin gets gummy? Its something i fear, yet fully embrace. With age comes wisdom and a certain swag.

Rebel in your youth to gain wisdom for the future.

Mick Jagger: Rebel

Mick Jagger: Wisdom

Frank Sinatra: Rebel

Frank Sinatra: Wisdom

Legend has it that Pablo Picasso was sketching in the park when a bold woman approached him.

“It’s you — Picasso, the great artist! Oh, you must sketch my portrait! I insist.”

So Picasso agreed to sketch her. After studying her for a moment, he used a single pencil stroke to create her portrait. He handed the women his work of art.

“It’s perfect!” she gushed. “You managed to capture my essence with one stroke, in one moment. Thank you! How much do I owe you?”

“Five thousand dollars,” the artist replied.

“B-b-but, what?” the woman sputtered. “How could you want so much money for this picture? It only took you a second to draw it!”

To which Picasso responded, “Madame, it took me my entire life.”

The man that popularized denim on a social, commercial and in a global way is not only an inspirational figure, but he also an aspirational one. Leaving us in 2004 with lots of historic references, he made his mark on this plant for most people through film. An icon for over 50 years he stared in over 100 movies. The roll that sticks out most to me is him in the Godfather.

However, what truly sticks out to ME is his roll in “new culture” of the late 40’s-50’s. This new culture later became the foundation for every other niche and free thinking group of people. When schools on the east coast were banning denim, Marlon was wearing them in movies. For many years jeans were only used as work wear clothes, but by the 1940s they were considered leisure wear in America. Once pop and film stars like Elvis Presley, James Dean, and Marlon Brando sported them, they became desirable internationally in the 1950s and are associated with rock and roll and pop music.  Later in the 1960s, jean brands old and new were worn universally in the western world thanks to people like Marlon.

To influence the world in a way that is still relivant 60 years from now is a true inspiration.

Check out the cuffed STF “1955″ 501’s