The Suit Magazine

Supermodel Heidi Klum will not be returning as the host of the upcoming all-star episode of the popular reality show “Project Runway.”

Clothing store giants like Bloomingdale’s, Nike, Anchor Blue and Charlotte Russe are going small, reducing the floor space for the clothes they sell at the retail level.  In fact, at Anchor Blue, merchandise was consolidated and condensed, leaving 2,500 square feet of empty space in the store. 

Levi's brand and Water.org are teaming up to provide clean water and raise water awareness to people worldwide. The partnership is a part of World Water day celebrated on March 22, 2011, Levi has created its Water Less jeans, a jean manufactured using less water in the finishing process.

Akashic Record Consultants International, offers Akashic Reading Consultations, Matrix Energetics Healing, Akashic Classes, and Darshan.

On sunny Roosevelt Avenue in San Juan, visitors and natives of Puerto Rico peruse trendy accessories in a brightly lit retail store brimming with fashionable shoes and purses. This is just one location of Novus Inc., an accessories company that is growing its brand despite a rough economy.

Q&A With Methods NYC

How did it start?
It all started back in 2004; a friend and I were graduating college in VA and had no idea what we wanted to do.  All we knew is that we wanted to live in New York.  He had a T-shirt press in VA and was doing a lot of freelance work.  I was graduating with a Business Administration degree and had a background as a party promoter and record shop owner. I talked him into moving to NYC with me.  The plan was to do freelance work here until we had enough money to start our own line.  I quickly realized that there were too many established printers in NYC for us to compete with.  So, we sold the equipment (which we still were paying off) and started Methods with that money.  The first year we were in Times Square every night selling our shirts. We would talk to promoters at hip hop shows and raves that would let us set up vending tables in their events.  After the first year, after we paid off our debts from the printing equipment, we started doing trade shows and acquiring retail accounts around the US. 

Whats the idea behind.  artists names you work with!
What means methods for you!
Whats the idea behind.
The main goal of the company was to showcase original artwork from young artists all over the globe and push their works to the masses.  Over the last 5 years, Methods has featured artists from Germany, France, Portugal, Brazil, Spain, the UK, Puerto Rico, and all over the US.  Some artists that we’ve worked with include Superblast, Cycle, Dizmology, Toofly, Bodie Chewning, Bishop, KOA, Dekore, Amier Inkz, and many others.   Over the years, business partners have changed and the art that we push has evolved.  I currently work with my partner Serge aka Vandal who is the creative director for the brand.  He went to school for Media and is an extremely creative human. He has had is hands in anything you’ve seen us release in the last couple years.  We’ve both been doing well for over a decade and have extensive backgrounds in Hip Hop and Bass culture.  The brand has been even more music oriented since we teamed up almost 3 years ago.

Methods is not just a clothing line, but a movement.  In the same way that we support visual artists, we are also deep rooted in the music world and support recording artists in numerous genres.  In the past several years, we have worked with major Hip Hop artists Jeru the Damaja, Smif N Wessun, C Rayz Walz, Jahdan, LIFE LONG, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Body Count, Heltah Skeltah, The Beatnuts, Adam Deitch of Break Science, and Afrika Bambaataa just to name a few.  In the past year we’ve been working with world renowned DJ’s: Rusko, 6 BLOCC, 12th Planet, N-TYPE, Stenchman, Noah D, DZ, Borgore, Reid Speed, JS-1, Evil DEE and DJ Hype.



All Partners and employees at Methods are DJ’s and/or producers.  We also throw numerous events each year in NYC and have been responsible for some of the most memorable authentic Hip Hop shows in the city over the last 5 years.  Methods has also become one of the primary Dubstep promotion companies in New York City.  Don’t try to pigeon hole us though!  You will also catch Hard-Core Bands, Reggae Artists, Athletes, and Movie Stars rocking the gear.  We are one of the few brands that can make that crossover into different subcultures and we are very proud of that.

Shop concept? why this neighboor hood? why shop? when did the shop open? events and exhibitons? how big is the shop in square feed?
We were running the company out of our houses and storage facilities for the first couple years.  In 2008, we out-grew that and needed a real office.  We all live in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and love our neighborhood.  So, we decided to look for a place around here.  It just made sense to open up a shop with an office in the back so we could sell our gear at retail prices and host events.  We didn’t want to have to travel to Manhattan everyday, so we found a place in Brooklyn around where we all live.  We found a 400 square foot run-down shop and spent about 6 weeks with about 20 of our friends fixing the place up. We gutted the whole place and rebuilt it from the ground up. 

The shop has become a cultural hub over the last 2 years. We host art shows, record release parties, radio shows, video shoots and other types of events at the shop.  We also sell concert and party tickets out of the shop and have guest dj’s playing here on the regular.  Great art and sounds are you what you can expect to find when you visit Methods.  We also have shop exclusives that we only sell here. 

What brings the future?
We are very focused on expanding our product range at the moment.  For Summer 2010, we’re offering a couple different plaid button-ups, dj/laptop bags, a few fitted hats, and full tee line.  For Fall 2010, we’ll have Jackets, Flannels, crew-necks, hats, and tees.  We’ve been happy branding ourselves with tee’s for the last few years and now its time to expand the line and take it to the next level. 

We are located at 162 Huron St. in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.  Make sure you check us out when you’re in Brooklyn.  If you can’t make it to the shop, check us out at www.methodsnyc.com Our blog is updated daily with sales, dj mixes, party info, and more. 


Their Story: METHODS NYC
Methods Clothing is an art driven street wear company based in Brooklyn.
It’s 100% independently owned, striving to bring you the most original
designs at the highest quality. Its arsenal of artists spans the globe
and they work with many well-known names,as well as
up-and-coming trailblazers. e brand opened their Flagship store in
Greenpoint, Brooklyn in June of 2008.

The main goal of the company is to showcase original artwork
from young artists all over the globe and push their works to the masses.
Over the last 5 years, Methods has featured artists from
Germany, France, Portugal, Brazil, Spain, the UK, Puerto Rico,
and from coast to coast in the U.S.
e brand ships to accounts all over America
and is steadily infiltrating the international market,
with accounts in ten countries worldwide.

Methods has also become one of the primary Dubstep / DnB
promotional forces in New York City, but dont try to pigeon hole them !
Hard-Core Bands, Reggae Artists, Athletes, and Movie Stars rocking the gear.
Methods is one of the few brands that can make that crossover
into different subcultures (very rare in today’s street-wear market).
All the partners and many of the employees at Methods are DJ’s and/or producers.
ey throw numerous events every year in NYC and have been responsible for
some of the most memorable shows in the city over the last 5 years.

CHECK OUT METHODS AT:
www.methodsnyc.com                                       
www.facebook.com/methodsnyc              
www.twitter.com/methodsnyc             
www.youtube.com/methodsnyc

Methods is not just a clothing line, but also a movement. In the same way that they
support visual artists, they are also deep rooted in the music world and support recording
artists in numerous genres. In the past several years, they have worked with major Hip
Hop artists Jeru the Damaja, Smif N Wessun, C Rayz Walz, Jahdan, LIFE LONG,
Shabaam Sahdeeq, Body Count, Heltah Ske ltah, The Beatnuts, Adam Deitch of Break
Science, and Afrika Bambaataa just to name a few. In the past year they’v e been
working with world renowned DJ’ s: Rusko, 6 BLOCC, 12th Planet, N-TYPE, Stenchman,
Noah D, DZ, Borgore, Reid Speed, JS -1, Evil DEE and DJ Hype.

Hair has been an important commodity for Veronica Forbes.  Earning her credibility in the hair business, Forbes was suddenly thrust into the limelight, when Chris Rock gave her a key role as a true-to-life hairdresser in the film “Good Hair.” She knocked it out of the park. But Forbes said, “the movie explores the relationship young African-American girls have with their hair.”  She claims “it’s no secret that many African-American women struggle to tame their tresses.” The newfound actress gets pleasure from all media attention she has received over the movie. 

Certainly, business has picked up at Veronica’s Beautyrama, a salon based in Harlem, New York City.  She takes a philosophical position about her work. “The reason we have put so much time and love into our hair is because our hair texture is different. It’s all about texture,” she comments reflecting on the high celebrity wave she experienced over the last eight months.  “I love to do acting. I love to do hair,” she said, her voice dipping slightly. “I’ve enjoyed the ride. I have over thirty-years of experience.”

School has always been important to her. Forbes has earned her sheep skin and graduated from a prominent (name) beauty school in New York where she currently manages one of the most lucrative, and yet, award-winning hair design businesses in the country. She has business savvy and a solid reputation. That’s how she launched Beautyrama more than three decades ago. “I could have done without Lillian Forbes,” she said. “She gave me the seed money to start this business.” Forbes has gained the respect of her peers as a strong business woman in the community. She said she has competed in several shows, such as the Bronner Brothers World Fantasy Competition in 1993 and 1997. She later won the International Beauty Show as the first African-American to win the 1st place and 2nd place in a hair fantasy competition in London, England in 2001.

Forbes admits that business is thriving during a difficult economic crunch, but remains humble and yet ambitious. “I’ve done television interviews and have been photographed for many newspapers and magazines,” Forbes said with the honest of a real ham. “And that’s including Life Magazine.” She was also featured in the stunning book: “Queens: Portraits of Black Women and Their Fabulous Hair,” by Michael Cunningham. Some things change, but for Veronica Forbes' “Beautyrama” will remain in the Harlem.  “I love it here,” she said before hanging up the phone after a lengthy interview with the Suit Magazine. “New York is home.”