Rising Sun

We want to divert from our usual banter about denim and say thank you to Maker’s Mark for providing the spirits at our pre-fathers day party. There are actually some important similarities between this distillery and Rising Sun. Maker’s Mark does not have a specific timeline for aging, and make things in small batches to insure quality, something Rising Sun Values as well. And we are both made in the USA.

Hodis and Timbo

Speedbuggy

Paul and Amber Umbriaco of Liberty Motor Wear

Just recently Hodis and friends partook in the Pasadena Roadster Club Annual Reliability Run driving his 34 Roadster. They had a camera handy so they took some snapshots of guys who live the lifestyle in Rising Sun product.

Hodis in a ’34 driving through the mountains

Julian in his Engineer Jacket, Outdoor Vest, and Indigo Duck Worker pants. Bobby Green in his Ranch Hand jacket

Frank Barone in his trusty Yukons

The venerable flathead

Matt Winter in his Engineer Jacket

The beautiful lines of a ’32 roadster

Julian boots

About a month ago, Mike Hodis just completed his tour of Japan’s most important denim destination: Okayama (AKA denim heaven). This indigo mecca led our good propreitor to the venerable mills Kuroki and Nihon Menpu, makers of legendary fabrics. When people extoll the merits of Japanese denim it is of these mills–and a pinchful of others in the area– they refer to wittingly or not. Many ideas were exchanged, knowledge both taken and given. So fruitful was his trip that we foresee many more visits to come. And many exciting, new things from Rising Sun as well.

These are some pictures from the trip and the Kuroki mill

Suspension bridge from Okayama to Shikoku island

Shuttle looms at work

Selvedge yarn dyed chino twill

Mike with an operator

There is an encouraging new artisan movement in Los Angeles where local products are made the old-fashioned way using the best and most authentic ingredients. Many of the craftsmen in this movement have been drawn together as a result of the common thread they share.


One particular artisan, the boot maker – Julian. He is known amongst fellow craftsmen as someone who takes joy and pride in every step of the process from hand carving lasts to hand making every single pair of boots, right here in the America. While riding in Hodis’s pre-war hot rod as the navigator on the Annual Reliability Run, meandering through the San Gabriel Mountains, the idea of the collaborative effort was born.

We took an English last (the last makes the the shape of a boot) from the time period before the First World War. This last was the shape that was used by Welsh miners in the United Kingdom during this pre-war period. We made a couple modifications for comfort and fit and then we applied a pattern that was commonplace in that time up until about 1920.



The boot that we created is all handmade solid leather throughout (100% leather sole and upper), crafted in the old-fashioned handmade way, the same way that it would have been done back in that time period.



One motivation behind this project is that we see people are becoming very serious about buying local products made with old-fashioned techniques and with the highest quality of goods. We believe some of this was born out of an intrigue with vintage products because they were always made and bought locally, and with highest quality materials. It is in opposition to most of the products we buy today that have been made in the farther parts of the world.

We made only 5 pairs of these boots which will be available for boot enthusiasts to look at, try on, and purchase at our event on August 7, along with our mine-found recreations.

The YouTube video below features Rising Sun’s own Mike Hodis, as an entry in Mitchum’s contest to find the “Hardest Working Person in America”. Click play to watch as Mike talks about Rising Sun’s story.

As we are preparing for our next event in August, you can watch this video of Speedbuggy performing at the last event hosted here at Rising Sun & Co. If you weren’t at our pre-father’s day party, here is a little taste of what it was like.

Click here to watch it in High Definition.

Come celebrate with us the release of the much anticipated denim history book, written by Michael Harris. Covering the origins of denim in the ol’ west frontier of San Francisco from 1873 to 1890.

You will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a few of the mine found items chosen to be recreated by “Dead Grass” & manufactured by The Rising Sun on period correct machines using period correct fabrics and hardware.

* LIMITED QUANTITY AVAILABLE *

Saturday August 7th
6pm to 9pm

Hosted by
Rising Sun & Co

107 S Fair Oaks Ave
Pasadena, CA 91105

Below is an excerpt from the book, an example of what you will learn from denim history:

In the Old West, blue jeans were one of a workingman’s tools. They protected his lower body and they carried items of use, and they were comfortable enough to wear all day long. And, with the invention of the riveted jeans, they were sturdy enough to last for years.

To me, old San Francisco-made blue jeans have functional beauty – like old steam engines with all of the pipes and workings on the outside. Not only the riveted jeans of Levi Strauss & Co., but also, and perhaps more so, the non-riveted jeans with strengthening features sewn on the outside, like the designs of B. & O. Greenbaum, A. B. Elfelt, and S. R. Krause.

Although this book is primarily about the jeans manufacturing companies in San Francisco during the late 1800’s, there were a large number of independent tailors working in San Francisco at the time who made clothes-to-fit. Work pants could be bought ready-made off the shelves of dry good stores in all of the Western towns and mining camps of the period, but dress clothes were probably mostly purchased from these independent tailors.

Remember that the first rivet denim jeans were made by Jacob Davis in his tailor shop in Reno, Nevada. In fact his inclusion of a watch pocket on work pants may have been because of his being accustomed to making suit pants, which customarily came with one. Also, Jacob’s addition of a back pocket to his work pants, something not normally found on work pants of the period, but often on dress pants, suggests that he used a dress pants pattern for his work pants design. So, the modern form of jeans, with a watch pocket and back pockets, probably owes its existence to the melding of features from dress pants with work pants by a tailor.

So don’t forget to mark your calendars for August 7th!

Rising Sun now has a page on Facebook.  Become our fan and you can interact with us and get updates on events like the one tomorrow!

Visit here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rising-Sun-Co/129095697115644

Don’t forget to mark your calendar with Rising Sun’s pre-Father’s Day bash next Saturday, June 12, 7-11PM.

June is the month we celebrate father’s day. Here at Rising Sun & Co. that is the perfect excuse to throw a party with all the things we love like hot rods, vintage motorcycles, and great music and drinks.

On June 12th, 7-11PM, we are throwing a bash featuring Speedbuggy, the hard-playing, cowpunk band who will be playing music from their upcoming album. Maker’s Mark is providing the whiskey and bourbon for all sons and daughters of spirits-enjoying age.

Industrial furniture that is best described as functional art will be showcased by Cleveland Art. Julian Boots will also be showing off the craftman’s new handmade boots. Julian makes some of the best boots in America today, the old fashion way, with the same love and labor we at Rising Sun apply to clothing.

And of course we will be unveiling new product like the Rising Sun bandanna.

Event: Pre-Father’s Day Bash with Speedbuggy
Who: Speedbuggy, hot rods, Maker’s Mark, motorcycles, Cleveland Art, Julian Boots, Rising Sun, fun and games
When: Saturday, June 12, 2010. 7-11 PM
Where: Rising Sun & Co., 107 S Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105