Ken Chow is the Founder and Creative Director for Krane. It began in 2004, and is now available in Canada, USA, and Asia. Ken Chow graduated from F.I.T.’s menswear program. A Toronto native, he maxed out his time in New York City by winning an opportunity to show his youthful vision of menswear with GenArt’s International design competition. In addition, he also landed himself stints at Marc Jacobs and Cloak – a NY cult-favorite (but now defunct). Ken Chow recognized a trend that was happening in the women’s market, and foresaw the same trend happening in the men’s market – the ‘It’ bag. He entered the men’s market with a re-interpretation of an old classic – the waxed cotton and leather carry all. Chow made it available exclusively at upscale indie boutiques, and men soon caught onto his utilitarian man-bags as a fashionable necessity. This paved way for the introduction of the Krane outerwear and leather accessories. The company is growing and spring / summer 2010 introduces the addition of more apparel to the brand…

More Info: www.kranedesign.com

Lifestyles

1. When in doubt, put on something black
2. When you want to feel a little pop, layer the black with black leather accessories. Guys need to discover that there are other accessories to dress up a shirt outside of the tie. The tie has its time and place, but different options like layering a leather shirt skeleton over a shirt allows for more freedom and play in your outfit.
3. When indecisive about the leather trousers, say yes! Know your body type and what works for you. Yes, those dropped crotch pants are hot, but if you’ve got more of a muscular build, then the pleated tapered trousers might be a better option for you.
4. When you feel like a leather daddy, soften up the look by layering with a boiled wool cardigan as opposed to the leather biker jacket, and wearing the pleated trousers instead of the leather jean.
5. When you go to the party, never go hungry or horny
6. When building your wardrobe in the beginning of the season, a good coat is first on the wish list.
7. When completing the look, don’t discount the bag. A good bag should stand strong on its own. Look for one that will pack your daily essentials and take you from day to night into the weekend.
8. When shopping, invest in pieces that are made of textiles that age nicely. Waxed cottons and leathers age and grow with you. Men get better looking with age; your clothes and accessories should as well.