We named our magazine Corduroy based on the idea that a corduroy jacket never goes out of style. It’s a classic and effortless item of clothing. In the same way, we wanted our magazine to not be overtly trendy, but rather focus on timeless people, artists and good design.

We wanted to extend this idea to some of our favorite artists and designers, to see what was on their list of classic, timeless items. This month, we got to know designers Emily and SJ from New York-based handbag and accessories line, Emily Cho. Emily was a contemporary buyer for Intermix and SJ is from Korea and studied Oriental Painting before they teamed up to create this unique and beautiful collection of bags. For spring 2012, expect to see elaborate printed skins and flower prints. “We have hints of drastic brights like fuschia and lemon yellow,” Emily tells us, “but we were also inspired by a soft pastel color pallete including seafoam and salmon tones.” (Check out the pic above to see a sneak peek of Emily holding an oversized folded clutch in a printed python from the spring line, while SJ is carrying a folded multi-metallic croco clutch from their fall ’11 collection). In the meantime, here are Emily and SJ’s “top ten” lists of things that never go out of style…

EMILY:
1.Oversized Clutch (Emily Cho of course)
2. Ripped Jeans
3. Cropped Black Leather Jacket
4. Capri & Florence, Italy
5. Home made Pasta & Pizza
6. The Highline Park on the West Side Highway
7. Christian Louboutin Leopard Calf Hair Booties
8. White T-shirts
9. Manicures
10. Summer Nights

SJ:
1. Oversized Clutch (Emily Cho OfCourse)
2. White T-shirt
3. Raw Japanese Denim
4. Cashmere Sweaters
5. Madonna
6. Vincent Van Gogh
7.  Tibetan Book of the Dead
8. Coca Cola (Regular not Diet!)
9. French Fries
10. St John in the Caribbean

The handbags are now available for purchase at www.emily-cho.com and will be sold at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York and California.

We got a chance to catch up with designer Philip Sparks last week at his studio in downtown Toronto, while also taking a peek at his new spring 2011 mens and womenswear collection. The collection, inspired by “Canadian rain,” is a fresh take on classic pieces, and will be unveiled in two deliveries next year. The first batch features a darker palette and a heavier, more substantial weighting to the pieces, perfect for warming up the post-Holiday blues. Think blazers and jackets in a just-right plaid gauze, and cozy blue-flecked chambray shirts, available for the first time for both men and women.

Sparks’ debut womenswear collection is also highlighted by pieces that feature a delicate cherry blossom print — a particular favorite of editors and buyers alike. But this print — like many of Sparks’ pieces — has a personal touch, sourced not from fabric shops, but rather taken from a photograph that Sparks snapped himself. Blown up and slightly blown out, the photo became the starting point for both a cropped blouse and a cotton voile jumper — pieces that set the tone for Sparks’ colorful and lightweight second spring delivery, out in March. The overall look and feel is charming and romantic, with a strength rooted in fine tailoring and execution. It’s something that Sparks hopes people will be wearing this season, and for seasons to come.

As for the “rainy” inspiration, Sparks says it’s not to be taken too literally. “I love that moment after it goes from a torrential downpour to a light rain,” he told us. “The sun is out but the grass is still wet and there’s just something really beautiful about it all.”

Before we wrapped up our studio visit, we asked Sparks to take part in our exclusive online series about “things that never go out of style” (sort of like a corduroy jacket!) Read on to find out what items made his “top ten” list…

1. A good pair of jeans, unwashed in a dark indigo
2. A navy peacoat
3. A white, button-down shirt
4. A grey, v-neck cashmere sweater
5. Light brown brogues
6. A brown tweed newsboy cap (Make sure you’re wearing it frontwards and not sidewards or backwards!)
7. A pair of rubber boots
8. A barbershop haircut
9. A slow-cooked pot roast (a.k.a. “Mom’s Sunday dinner”)
10. A khaki trenchcoat

Philip Sparks mens and womenswear collections are available in select boutiques across Canada and online at philipsparks.com.

(photos by Jenna Marie Wakani)

We’ll never forget the first time we found out about the hip, unisex Seoul-based, New York-inspired label, Democracy of Nevermind. We were invited to a press preview on the rooftop of a nondescript warehouse-type building in New York’s Fashion District, and maybe it was the loose drinks flowing, or the fact that we could picture every piece in the collection occupying space in our various friends’ closets, but we immediately knew we had come across something special.

Born out of necessity as much as passion, Democracy of Nevermind (or “D.o.N” for short) was founded in 2008 by a group of music-pumping young designers based in Seoul. Their goal was to create a brand of well-priced basics and novelty pieces that could be “remixed,” like music, into every individual’s wardrobe. With a strict focus on garment construction and quality materials, D.o.N showcases the results that can be achieved when music, style and cultures collide.

We asked the label’s head designer Mr. Noh (as he prefers to be called) to take part in our exclusive online series about “Ten Things That Never Go Out of Style.” Here is what made his (color-coordinated) list:

1. blue-jeans
2. white-shirt
3. grey-cardigan
4. green-soccer
5. silver-Tiffany
6. red-Ferrari
7. beige-trench
8. khaki-military
9. blond-Marilyn Monroe
10. black-Chanel

Democracy of Nevermind is available worldwide in stores like Bloomingdale’s and Selfridges and in select boutiques and online retailers. For more information, check out www.democracyofnevermind.com.

(above photo of Mr. Noh and partner Nara Chun)

Soonjin Park is the designer behind Kai-aakmann – a line of sharp, deconstructed mens and womenswear inspired by youth and street culture, as well as nature.

Born in Seoul, Park studied fashion design in college and started designing for Morris Coming Home after graduation. She soon launched her own collection, Eloq, before joining Kai-aakmann in 2007.

Park’s approach to fashion is refreshing and thoroughly modern, prefering a “genderless aesthetic” to each of her pieces. The idea is to create a clean, minimal and essential wardrobe for both men and women, with pieces tailored just so, free from uncessary embellishments or frills. A double-breasted jacket looks classic on a man, but strong and modern on his female counterpart. Similarly, pleated chinos are neither too formal or too butch, providing a perfect everyday alternative to jeans.

We asked Park to take part in our online series about “Things That Never Go Out of Style” (sort of like a corduroy jacket, hence our magazine name). Here is her “top ten” list:

1. Electronic music (Louie Vega’s ‘House Masters’ and ‘Back in the Box’)
2. Friends
3. Trees and plants
4. Pencils
5. Sunset
6. Egon Schiele’s paintings
7. Clubbing
8. Late Heath Ledger’s movie, Candy
9. Pants
10. World history

Kai-aakmann is sold at designer department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus as well as independent retailers such as Oak in New York, Fred Segal in Los Angeles.

Kangol is synonymous with casual, trendy headwear (remember when their caps and bucket hats were all the rage?) but the brand’s fashion credibility has waned in recent years. That’s all about to change thanks to David Charles Wilson, the Global Creative Director for Kangol Headwear. Since he took over at Kangol, Wilson has spear-headed collaboration with brands like Comme des Garcons, ALIFE, and WeSC. In the process, he has re-staked Kangol’s claim to the headwear throne. The brand once favored by skaters and boarders, is now a classic, iconic, go-to, for fashion-forward guys and girls everywhere.

An avid outdoorsman, Wilson spent several years managing a snowboard and skateboard shop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire while earning his B.F.A. at the University of New Hampshire. He later moved to Brooklyn, New York in the late 90s to continue his study of painting and drawing at Brooklyn College, receiving his M.F.A. in 1999. After transitioning to fashion, Wilson did stints at ECKO and Perry Ellis, before arriving at Kangol.

We asked Wilson to take part in our exclusive online series about “Things That Never Go Out of Style.” Here is his top-ten list:

1. Saab 99
2. A flat cap
3. Valle Nevado, Chile
4. Twin Peaks
5. Sofia Coppola
6. Bicycles from Brooklyn Machine Works
7. The Boston Bruins
8. Privacy
9. Steve Albini
10. Long Trail Ale

Kangol hats and accessories are available in stores worldwide. You can also shop online at www.kangolstore.com.