A couple of months ago I stopped by the 722 Figueroa Showroom to check out some new merchandise, and one of their stand out brands (in my humble opinion) was CXXVI (pronounced just as written C-X-X-V-I).  After previewing their Spring/Summer ’11 collection, I came across some of their items geared to launch this Fall/Winter and I can honestly say they are on to something great; from hand-printed garments to hand-crafted jewelry, they are doing it all.  My personal favorite are their bags, specifically this “Tougher Than Nails” Tote they have coming out for Fall.  In fact, I had the opportunity to review it on my own so I enlisted my good friend Brandon Brown of Milkmade to assist me with the visuals.

CXXVI Description:

Inspired by the hard-working inhabitants of long-forgotten port towns and the gritty days of old New York, CXXVI delivers a unique and simple product crafted by the hands of a new generation. Each clothing piece and accessory is hand numbered and stamped the day it is printed/produced and the day it is packaged. All the inks being used are mixed by hand and printed in their NY workshop. This gives the graphic a soft touch and makes every single piece different and unique.

The tote is very simple in design yet very complex in craftsmanship, a marriage that ultimately produced the perfect bag.  I personally love the choice of fabrication (cotton twill)- from the color (navy) to its weight (heavy- durable). And surprisingly I do like the graphics- they actually compliment the bag. And the leather accents is nothing but a cherry on top for me.  All in all, this is a good everyday bag. I’m looking forward to see what comes next from CXXVI.

First Preview: CXXVI “Tougher Than Nails” Tote (F/W ’11)
Photographed By: Lorenzo Diggins Jr.
Model: Brandon Brown