Gifting table again

These girls love their new Artificial Flavor briefs

Everyone loves a free T-shirt!

This girl will look great in these Rasta Bandito Briefs

Jessica from 944 Magazine shows off a new pair of Tricksters for her man

This guy digs his Bandito briefs

The Arigo Recordings launch party at Ruby Skye unfortunately had a very tepid outcome. There weren’t that many people on the dance floor, and the A list celebs (Big Boi, Barry Bonds, Dave Chappelle) did not arrive at all. So, we decided to bring our remaining free giveaway stock from our VIP gift bags next door to Slide, which had a line out the door all night long for 944 Magazine’s issue launch party.

We ended up giving away over 200 pieces of underwear, and most of the takers were girls! (pretty soon we need to launch the women’s line of underwear, the demand is out there) We also gave out about 50 branded Tshirts. So despite a slow start, we managed to salvage the night by “sliding” over to a new venue. Thanks to Lotus Vodka for allowing us to promote with them.

Artificial Flavor is one of the sponsors for Arigo Recordings’ official launch party taking place Thursday, August 7th at Ruby Skye in San Francisco. The theme of the party is Sin City, replete with a sexy all female ballet/hip-hop dance troupe, as well as live characters from the movie. Detroit Diamond from the film “Belly” will also be there busting rhymes, along with DJ/VJ extraordinaire Jim Hopkins, and soul singer Simone Taylor. There will also be celebrities cruising the VIP section, where our booth will be. We’re providing product for the VIP gift bags and will be showing garments from the new Fall/Winter line, promoting the brand. Tickets are $20 for anyone that wants to dig the scene, should be a good time. Check back for pics later!

Q: How did you first get involved with SF Bay Guardian?
A: I’m a dyed-in-the-wool club freak — I’d been covering Bay Area nightlife for 10 years as an editor of CitySearch in the 90s and then as editor of Gay.com (although you can imagine the horrid kinds of things I had to cover there, heh). I’d always wanted to work for the Guardian, because it offers such an incredible amount of creative freedom in a noncorporate environment. So when a spot opened up as nightlife columnist, I leaped with limp wrists a-flyin’. I wrote the biweekly Super Ego clubs column for a year (still do) before coming on board full time as Senior Culture Editor.

Q: As a bone fide journalist and editor, how do you view the blogosphere?
A: I freakin’ love it! Well, maybe except for the constant misspellings and oddly placed apostrophes. And rabid homophobe commentors — childish! But I get exasperated with a capital E when people set up a false opposition between “traditional” media and “new” media — some of the best and most interesting blogging is in fact being done on “traditional” media Web sites, and some great reporting (and reaction) is taking place in someone with bunny slippers on’s bedroom.

I get to have it both ways. I run our Web site so I get to interact with the Internets all the time. AND I have the freedom to wear my bunny slippers since I work in such a relaxed atmosphere. The only real difference I’ve found between print media and the Internet is that with print you have an ABSOLUTE deadline. Man, that’s a killer. Especially to someone like me with a Web background and an ever-looming hangover.

Q: Whenever we meet people in the fashion industry and tell them we’re from SF, the reaction is almost always extremely positive. Why is San Francisco so universally loved and revered?
A: Definitely our town represents the kind of diversity and bohemian freedom that many people in the industry aspire to. Honestly, we have an incredible fashion scene here — without a lot of the more traditional and perhaps stultifying trappings of other metropolises. We’re less beholden to old money, we’re allowed to freely question overbearing trends, we value vision and craft over distribution and fame, and we aren’t ruled by dusty old magazine editors and celebrity ridden fashion “events.” The fashion scene here is still intense, and can still lead to international renown, but people feel supported to do their own thing. They almost have to — it’s SF, after all.

Q: You cover culture. What is the new emerging culture that is defining San Francisco today?
A: It’s a mindboggling combination of global energy and what I call the “New Unselfconsciousness” — I’m amazed at how energetic, social, and diverse everyone I come across is, and how much dedication they put into contributing to a worldwide dialogue of style and creativity.

Q: What does San Francisco have that New York and LA can never match?
A: We have an incredible history of freedom and relaxed energy of our own for sure, but I think the whole “us” vs. “them” category is breaking down — and I like that. There are defintely advantages to living here (I love the weather and all the access to nature combined with the density of diversity), but I like that different cultural centers are sharing more and more with each other. the only danger I see is that a certain panglobal blandness has begun to set in — but the exciting challenge is to give everything your own unique spin.

Q: When you hear ‘San Francisco’ and ‘fashion’, what comes to mind?
A: Groundbreaking collectives, independence, a shunning of multinational corporate mores. Tech style, street style, global vision.

Q: Do you have any favorite brands or labels that you like to splurge on?
A: Not really. I pride myself on rising above label whoredome, a sometimes lonely position for a big geigh like myself. Not that I don’t adore many major designers. I salivate over big tent shows, and as a kid in Detroit I (somewhat disatrously) made my own Gauthier and Sprouse knock-offs and wore them out to uncomprehending clubs. I detest Zac Posen, but I’d marry Alexander McQueen in a minute if I could fit into his women’s couture. In actuality I’m a Levi’s, Upper Playground tee, and flannel guy. With maybe a Nice Collective jacket for some flair.

Q: What are some of your favorite SF hangouts?
A: Any of DJ Bus Station John’s or Honey Soundsystem’s affairs. I love that the old-school gay clone and Hi-NRG scenes are being reinvigorated by gay youth questioning the Beyonce-Brittany-Rihanna homo dancefloor tyranny. You’ll often catch me downing a shot at the Transfer, dancing underground in the Temple catacombs, scoping the underage crowd at Rickshaw Stop, or losing my mind at minimal techno blowout Kontrol at EndUp or dubstep dreamland Surya Dub at Club Six.

Q: What do you like to do with your free time?
A: Honey, I am always working, and I love that. But my incredibly patient and compassionate BF makes sure I get some fabulous outdoor adventure travel time in, and I occasionally take a quiet moment to write a poem or two to center myself and keep my metaphor-making sharp.

Q: How do you like being the one that is getting interviewed for a change?
A: How do you know this isn’t one of my “people”?

Q: Tell me a little bit about your experience at Cool Hunting.
A: I’ve been at CH for almost 2 years now. I’m always learning about new things but I enjoy the people I work with most. They are young, opinionated, super smart, and we all have different personalities that mesh well together as a team. We work hard to create original and engaging content but have fun doing it.

Q: For those that have never heard of Cool Hunting, how would you explain it to them?
A: Cool Hunting is an online publication with daily updates at the intersection of art, design technology and culture. Our editorial standard is very simple, “stuff we like.”

Q: I’ve always liked the sound of Cool Hunting because the word “cool” manages to remain, well, cool, while all other slang terms tend to wax and wane throughout each passing generation’s lexicon. How do you explain the amazing staying power of the word “cool”?
A: I think it’s partially because of the history of the word. What comes to mind for me is Miles Davis’ Birth of Cool and the beginning of the Cool Jazz genre. I also think the word itself just sounds and looks good too. It’s got great elements–hard and soft sounds and you can do funny things with the two o’s. But to be honest, I don’t know.

Q: How does your degree in Biology-Psychology come into play while hunting and blogging on the latest cool creations that are popping up in the world every day?
A: I don’t think my specific degree plays a roll but I believe in the scientific method and think that type of thought process helps with my job. I rely on my daily observations when looking for content and a lot of science is all about focused observations. Also, I oftentimes condense a lot of information into short paragraphs and this is something you do constantly writing scientific papers and abstracts.

Q: Cool is obviously a very relative term, what’s cool to one person may be considered uncool to another. How does one know what is cool and what is not? Does it always need to involve social context?
A: I hate to be cliche but cool is ultimately up to one’s opinion. That said, not all opinions are accurate, whatever the social context may be.

Q: Many people think that when things are relatively undiscovered, they are almost automatically considered cool, and once things go mass, they are no longer cool (unless you are Apple Computer). How much does obscurity factor into what you consider cool?
A: I think there is something to say when someone feels “in the know” or ownership of something, and that might make that thing a bit more coveted or cool. I think we all experience this.
When it comes the site, obscurity helps but is not a definitive factor of what we cover. We are really just concerned with “stuff we like” whether it’s obscure or not.

Q: As China’s middle class continues to expand at an alarming rate and along with it their demand for cars, fashion, and other luxury items, do you think that modern society from the West to now the East is becoming too obsessed with materialism? Are there any dangers of taking cool stuff too seriously?
A: I love to be cliche–moderation is key.

Q: In your opinion, what designers or brands are doing cool things in the men’s fashion world today?
A: I like plain stuff, so I tend to prefer more subdued brands like APC, Obedient Sons, Head Porter Plus and the like. On the other end, I think Jun Takashi of Undercover is extremely creative and presenting fashion in new ways along with Thom Browne who has a reputation for some of the craziest fashion shows.

Q: Is there a connection between Cool Hunting the blog and Cool Hunting People the fashion label?
A: No connection.

Q: Name the top 3 coolest things that you own.
A: Right now? My new Pilot Frixion erasable pen, a B&O turntable and my time machine

Q: Your bio says you like comfort food, especially on Sundays. Any favorite places to eat out, or do you prefer to cook?
A: I pretty much just eat my way through Sundays and it’s usually BBQ, Jewish, Greek, Middle Eastern or Korean foods. I always prefer to cook, but I’m not that good at it.
We are all very food centric at CH. We appreciate a tasty meal and it’s an important aspect of our team. In the office we have a family style lunch everyday.

Thank you Tim! You can read more about Tim’s background at http://coolhunting.com/authors/timyu.php

Overall, people were very excited, grateful, and even perplexed as to why we were giving away our product for free. I don’t know if and when Artificial Flavor will ever be able to do this again, but it was truly an amazing feeling to give away so much joy. Thanks to everyone from Fred Finch Youth Center and Wardrobe for Opportunity for coming out, we hope you will enjoy your new Artificial Flavor duds! Special thanks go out to Y’Anad from Fashion on the Square for allowing Artificial Flavor to hitch our wagon on at the last minute. And last but certainly not least, an extra special thank you goes out to my girl Vanae at Rock Your Awareness, who was directly responsible for getting Fred Finch and Wardrobe for Opportunity hooked up with the event. We hope to partner with Vanae and Rock Your Awareness on more events in the future. And thanks to everyone else who shared in the amazing experience as well; this is what San Francisco is all about. Enjoy the pics!

Leonard from Wardrobe for Opportunity scopes out some track pants

The fellas from Fred Finch Youth Center

We open it up to the general public. H&M hasn’t seen this type of frenzy!

“What size is this? I need a medium”

“Hmm, can I rock this color? Hells yeah”

Grab it while it’s hot!

These two are all set with their new green shirt-jackets

Who says Artificial Flavor shirt-jackets are only for men?!

Fred Finch
http://www.fredfinch.org/

Wardrobe for Opportunity
http://www.wardrobe.org/

Up From Darkness
http://upfromdarkness.org/

Street Soldiers
http://www.street-soldiers.org/

We look forward to seeing you soon! Thank you for your support.

Artificial Flavor
www.aflavor.com
www.fashiononthesquare.com

Q:Tell us about how your career in journalism started.
A:My career in editorial started out with just a curiosity in magazines. I always loved flipping through the glossy pages and seeing all the various story montages. I applied for an internship at Esquire magazine my senior year of college at Parsons School of Art and Design. I was majoring in Fashion Design, and was interested in other areas of fashion that I might be able to pursue. I didn’t want to design under one aesthetic or style. I believed working for a magazine would be a great way to observe an array of aesthetics beyond clothing and accessories. I enjoy behind the scenes, deadlines, always thinking ahead, and the consistent problem solving on how to make the old, new and the new, acceptable or known.

Q: What did you like most about writing for Esquire?
A:I co-wrote the mens bi-monthly grooming column with a contributing stylist. This was a first for Esquire, and for myself.
I immensely enjoyed working on this column. It was always a challenge to address the reader in a neutral voice without sounding like a female was writing it. I must have smelled 10 different shaving creams on a weekly basis (exaggeration). I loved seeing what was new and how companies were coming up with solutions to solve the various problems.

Q: With the proliferation of both print magazines and of course the plethora of online ezines and blogs, how do longstanding magazines like Esquire acquire and retain readers?

A: The computer has now become one of the main household appliances. Readers have access to so much more information than ever. Despite the convenience, in my opinion there is something about the physical activity of holding, flipping through a magazine and the convenience of it, especially when you’re traveling. You can just pull out a magazine and read it and not have to worry about battery power. I think with older readers and readers with a long history of loyalty to a particular magazine probably still prefer a hardcopy verses reading it online.

Q: You used to cover men’s fashion, but now you are focused on women’s jewelry.
I have to ask, will diamonds ever stop being a girl’s best friend?
A: I assist on the jewelry market here at The New York Times. It is definitely a different animal compared to the mens market. After working on several shoots here, I have to say “ Diamonds will always be a girls best friend.” It’s a timeless element, be it simply adorned or ornately fashioned into something extravagant. Which every you go, it’s still the icing on the cake. Whether it’s fondant or butter-cream, deciding is the fun part.

Q: What did you like most about covering menswear?
A:When I worked at Esquire, I assisted with the mens market. I learned so much about menswear from just seeing all the collections, assisting on the shoots and writing the credits for them. I appreciate menswear because I feel its constraints create the challenges for designers and stylists to think outside of the box.

Q: What brands or designers do you think are doing the most for menswear today and why?
A: With people having so much access to information and resources, a lot of designers are doing great things. I don’t have a particular brand or designer in mind for menswear, but it’s always interesting to see the new comers and what they bring to the table.

Q: On Esquire’s blog, there is a section featuring 25 “Allegedly Clever Pick-Up Lines”. Do these ever work? In your opinion what is the best way for a guy to approach a woman at a bar?
A: I think if the pick up lines are really clever, then yes. It gives the woman something to think about and catches her off guard. I think those are usually the best. If that fails a nice smile would just fine.

Q: General question that is way outside the scope of this interview, but what do women really want? Do they even know?
A: Haha, good question! I think we’re all trying to figure it out (even men). If we knew, I think the world would be terribly boring. The battles are far more exciting as much as it drives us crazy.

Q: What are some of the traits or qualities that you find sexy in men?
A: Confidence, intellect and humor

Q: What are some of your favorite pastimes?
A: I love sitting outdoors with a great book, and intimate dinner with friends. I also enjoy painting, traveling, cooking, and I’m always making something, be it a gift for friends or personal projects. So it’s always either a book or art projects in hand.