AA Endorses: Scout Books

Update: Scout Books has free shipping on all orders, so head over now to take advantage of this deal.

I’ve always had a strange love for stationary and school supplies. Something about stockpiling an army of pens, erasers, and notebooks gives me an odd pleasure. I can’t even begin to document the number of notebooks that I’ve accumulated over the years that lie empty, simply because I don’t want to ruin their pristine white pages. Weird, I know.

These fantastic Scout Books, will soon be the latest addition to my graveyard of unused notebooks.

They are the perfect size – large enough to comfortably write notes, but small enough to fit in your pocket. These simple notebooks, come in classic designs and fantastic colors that can be completely customized. As an added bonus, you can feel better about yourself knowing that they’re made from 100% recycled paper and Soy ink.

For only $10 for a 3 pack, what’s not to love?



AA Endorses: Fungus Workshop

This week my love for leather goes international, all the way to my native land of Hong Kong.

Fungus Workshop, a collaboration between Hoiming and Cowrice, is a workshop and creative space where people can explore their passion for hand-made leather goods. The results are quite stunning and always gorgeous.

The interesting thing is that this is an instructive space where participants learn to handcraft leather goods themselves. In a few relatively short sessions students come away with 2-3 small leather goods of their choosing. Most often it seems that folks make gorgeous camera bags or cases for their phones, computers, or glasses.

AA Endorses: BillyKirk

Started in 1999 by brothers Chris and Kirk Bray, BillyKirk produces high quality handmade leather goods. Real leather goods. The kind that you can wear forever and molds to your body, aging gracefully so that you can pass it on to your children and your children’s children.

These types of hand crafted artisan goods have certainly seen a resurgence in recent years, as if there were a backlash against our disposable consumer culture and a desire to return to the type of goods that our parents used to own. Shit that didn’t break or look obsolete in 1-2 years.

Although, I must admit that this trend may have swung a bit too far in that direction, with hand crafted designer axes. Nothing says rugged, like an urban axe. I seriously doubt that the folks that can actually afford a $180 axe with sleekly painted handles, are the ones who actually need one let alone know how to use it properly. Fortunately, BillyKirk does not fall into that annoying category and lacks those pretentions.

Instead, these brothers are really into leather, but in a good way. They apprenticed in a traditional leather workshop that had been passed down for three generations to learn their craft. Now they focus on hand crafting authentic and very stylish leather goods like belts, card holders, and bags. Their shop is based out of New York and employs only highly skilled Amish leather workers. These guys are third generation leather workers who make saddles and bridles for horses without electricity. Their lineup changes frequently, and they only make limited quantities of their goods.

On a personal note, I think these guys are pretty awesome people. I have never met them, but in my quest to track down an older BillyKirk belt I had emailed them to see if they had it in stock. They responded within a day, and despite the belt being out of production and out of stock offered to make it for me. Pretty damn nice of them.

AA Endorses: Warby Parker Glasses

Myopic people of the world now have something to cheer about. Warby Parker has revolutionized how we buy glasses. The tyranny of those damned optical boutiques is over!

Started by four friends, Warby Parker utilizes a Net Flix-esque model to hawk its beautiful boutique quality frames at a fraction of the cost. To find the perfect pair, the folks at Warby Parker will ship you five frames to try without any obligation to buy. After settling on the right ones, send them back, and within a few days you’ll receive a shiny new pair of glasses.

The best part is, all of their frames cost $95. As if that weren’t good enough, your glasses will even touch you in a sensitive moral place. For every pair of glasses you purchase, Warby Parker will donate a pair to someone in need.

While you’re at it, don’t forget to pick up their stylish monocle. You’ll be the envy of all the lads, reading the morning paper with your one bespectacled eye.