Recent press releases about Hot Leathers.
Hot Leathers Hot Off the Press: Leading Screen Printer Receives Accolades and Announces Partnership with Bandana Manufacturer
Hot Leathers, one of America’s top 50 volume screen printers and the predominant leader in motorcycle apparel and accessories, is continually proving itself as a world-class printer, designer and provider of premier motorcycle apparel and accessories. Hot Leathers was recently honored with the Specialty Graphic Image Association (SGIA) Golden Image Award during the 2009 SGIA Expo in New Orleans, October 7-9.
“I’m very proud of the Hot Leathers team,” said Andy George, of Hot Leathers. “Our work was compared to the best in the world and we came out on top. That’s quite an accomplishment!” More than 90 companies from around the world entered the specialty imaging competition, submitting nearly 450 entries in 43 product categories.
“The quality of work this year was exceptional. Judges in virtually every category told me the entries were so good that choosing winners was a real challenge,” said Johnny Shell, SGIA’s Vice President of Technical Services. Shell added that the Golden Image is a technical competition, excluding aesthetic issues from the judging process. Prints are judged on the level of difficulty and the quality of execution.
“Winning the Gold Award for Finished Garments on Lights puts Hot Leathers among the top specialty printers in the world in terms of quality and capability. The ability to consistently print such high quality products indicates that Hot Leathers is expert at controlling the many variables involved in specialty printing,” Shell went on to say.
In addition to their recent accolades, Hot Leathers’ award-winning and constantly evolving array of designs can now be seen within a whole new market of motorcycle enthusiasts throughout the world. Carolina Manufacturing, the largest bandana company in the U.S., recently licensed six new Hot Leathers graphics to be added to their 2010 bandana line.
Hot Leathers banadana design
Designing and creating everything from t-shirts and caps to bandanas and patches, the artistic and innovative minds at Hot Leathers produced six bold and eye-catching bandana motifs for Carolina Manufacturing that will be sold to bikers and bandana-wearers throughout the world. Carolina Manufacturing is constantly introducing new and attractive designs for their bandanas and sought the creative genius synonymous with Hot Leathers.
“The designs that were picked up by Carolina Manufacturing are representative of the caliber of designs and products that we create,” explains Andy George, Retail Operations Manager for Hot Leathers. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the largest domestic bandana manufacturer in the U.S.”
Hot Leathers is the leader in motorcycle apparel. They have supplied high quality products to the biker market for over 25 years. By traveling to every major motorcycle event in the country, selling wholesale to fine retailers and distributors across the globe, and selling on their website found at hotleathers.com, they continually establish their position as the number one source of apparel and accessories for bikers everywhere.
To see Hot Leathers’ award winning line of motorcycle apparel and accessories including t-shirts, hats, and other products for men, women and children visit hotleathers.com.
Hot Leathers Gearing up for the Summer: Official Merchandiser of Laconia Motorcycle Week
Hot Leathers has already begun warming up their engines in preparation for their 2010 rally schedule. Topping their long list of rally destinations is LACONIA, NH where the industry leader in motorcycle apparel and accessories is proud to announce that they will be a presenting sponsor and official Merchandiser for the 2010 Laconia Motorcycle Week.
This year’s 87th Laconia Motorcycle Week, to be held June 12-20, is a high-octane, action-packed nine days of motorcycle revelry and the perfect opportunity for rally-goers to choose from a significant selection of Hot Leather’s premier merchandise including t-shirts, hats and other products for men, women and children.
Hot Leathers will also design the official 2010 Laconia Motorcycle Week logo which will offer customers a significant selection of specialty-printed, quality Laconia Rally merchandise. Known for offering the best selection of motorcycle merchandise in stores, online and on the road, Hot Leathers is proud to showcase its quality products at the Lobster Pound and at several locations up and down Lakeside Avenue. This summer’s rally will be Hot Leathers 25th year in attendance at Laconia Motorcycle Week, which has boasted nearly 400,000 visitors in previous years. Hot Leathers has become a staple at the yearly celebration and is proud to offer patrons the opportunity to purchase quality and price-conscious motorcycle apparel and accessories to commemorate this legendary event.
“We’re very excited to be back at Laconia this summer and to be the official merchandiser for the event,” explains Hot Leathers’ retailer operations manager, Andy George. “Laconia is always a fantastic time and we can’t wait!” Hot Leathers has been serving the motorcycle community for over 25 years. The company’s growing wholesale and printing facilities have earned it a place as one of America’s top 50 volume screen printers. Hot Leathers is constantly on the road
showcasing its merchandise at a number of rallies and events across the country. Keep an eye out this summer for the Hot Leathers logo. It’s a brand you can trust with prices you can easily afford.
Check out hotleathers.com to see their full 2010 rally schedule and to peruse
their diverse and original merchandise.
In this day and age, it’s hard to believe that particular views of subcultures are still kicking around. While looking for something new & interesting in regards to motorcycle fashion, I found this article. Just by the title alone I let out a groan, anticipating how effectively the author, Rachel Spohn (a freelance writer for Ezine Articles), could facilitate the dumbed-down views of the “biker chick” stereotype. Turns out, she was very effective.
I got your biker chick right here...
But read for yourself:
The Basics of Biker Chick Fashion
Part of being a motorcycle owner means induction into a select society. And as is the case with any culture, there are a few wardrobe requirements that set its members off from the rest of society. Female bikers have a lot of versatility when it comes to their wardrobe, but some basics never change. Here are some simple steps to help you look the part and master the art of biker chick fashion.
First, remember that you can never go wrong with, or have enough, leather. Long hailed as the hallmark of any motoring outfit, leather pulls double duty in that it keeps you safe on the road and helps you look your biker best. Buy pieces such as a vest, boots, belt, a pair of tight pants, and most importantly, a jacket. The traditional color is black, but feel free to branch out to a little red or hot pink here and there.
If possible, get yourself inked. A tattoo–or three–shows your tough biker side. Popular options more biker chicks include classic pin-up girls, thorny roses, and sword impaled hearts. Tattoos are not just for men, and the themes you can choose from are endless.
Next, wear dark sunglasses. Like leather clothes, sunglasses not only make you look cool, but they are also functional. Shades protect you from the sun, wind, and bugs, and they help preserve your eye makeup.
Another important aspect of biker chick fashion is the hair. If you aren’t already blonde, bleach your hair and hold it back with an American flag bandanna. Keep your hairstyle simple, but something that looks good when you take off your helmet. Keeping a comb and hairspray in your saddle bag ensures a quick fix when the helmet comes off.
And finally, accessorize your look with silver jewelry, leather wristcuffs, a big belt buckle and red fingernail polish.
Once you have these basics down, you are ready to move on to making a biker fashion of your own!
Debunking the stereotype, one article at a time
I will say the article started off ok: it’s true that some of the basic fashions we, as bikers, wear are out of necessity to protect ourselves. Leather, no matter what color it is, is a staple to keep us warm in cool weather and to protect our skin if we happen to dump our bikes. It just also happens to have it’s place as being “fashionable” in some circles.
But as I read on, I could feel my lip begin to curl into a snarl of distaste.
Tattoos are deeply entwined in biker culture, but “classic pin-up girls, thorny roses, and sword impaled hearts“…um, really? If she had actually done some homework to familiarize herself with tattooing as an art form, she wouldn’t be so dismissive about what bikers (and non-bikers) adorn their bodies with. Sure, some people will go into a tattoo shop and pick something off of the wall, but the majority of people take their tattoos very seriously and put a lot of thought, money and effort into what they get inked on their bodies.
Sunglasses are worn for basic eye protection. Sun, bugs, wind burn and road grime are all hazards the eyes can be exposed to while riding. Wrap around glasses provide even more protection then regular design glasses. They also just happen to “look cool.” And I know from experience that sunglasses don’t do crap to preserve eye makeup. If you wear makeup while riding, waterproof makeup holds up better than regular.
Apparently I didn’t get the memo that all biker chicks should bleach their hair out blonde and wear American flag ‘do-rags. Did you guys? How come we aren’t riding around together in packs of bleach-blondness, wearing lots of silver jewelry with our red fingertips? PUH-LEEZE.
Maybe this was intended to be a fluff piece for her to show of her writing skills. If her goal is to be a fashion writer for some junky magazine, obviously doing the work to get the real facts about the topic is not important. But for those of us who are so deeply passionate about our culture, it’s hard not to take articles like this personally.
Biker jewelry from Nino925
Bikers are drawn to skulls. More specifically, bikers are drawn to skull jewelry. This is why I’d like to call your attention to the talents of Nino925.
Nino925 was established in 1989 by designer/owner Frank Zubieta and specializes in superior, handcrafted custom jewelry. Nino has a commanding presence in the biker world and is being worn by celebrities, movers and shakers in the music industry and celebrity bike builders. The Nino925 brand has also become a fixture at biker events across the country. You may have even seen some him featured in motorcycle magazines like Easyriders and V-Twin.
I’ve been collecting skull rings since I was a teenager. These are the kind of rings that I would have dreamed of owning to adorn my fat little fingers! They are the kind of rings that any quality collector would want to have.
And more than just rings, there is a nice selection of heavy, sterling bracelets to choose from as well.
Oh, let’s not forget about the pendants and necklaces…
If skulls aren’t your thing, don’t fret: Nino925 has a few non-skull designs with a flair of rockabilly/tattoo design influence.
I first heard of Nino925 from my friend, ArtBiker, who has not only been a longtime supporter and collector, but recently commissioned a custom piece based on his own logo design. Even from the photo alone you can see the quality of this piece.
Custom designed ring for ArtBiker by Nino925
For more information on Nino925 (or if you’re interested in shopping his online catalog), visit www.Nino925.com.
Follow Nino925 on Twitter: @nino925
Related posts:
Ruby Universe
As a sucker for interesting and fun graphic design, I couldn’t help but to get drawn in when I saw the helmets from the french company, Ruby Helmets (or Les Atelier Ruby as they are officially known). Sleek and unique are the words that come to mind when I perused through the collections, which creator Jérôme Coste describes are “inspired by Steve McQueen, science fiction, mechanical beauties and Tokyo biker gangs.”
All Ruby helmets are made of carbon fiber, Kevlar and fiberglass and all of the screws are made from aluminum & titanium, guaranteeing strength while being lightweight. All helmets have a red inner lining that is padded with foam of different densities and the outer layer is made of claret-colored lambskin. And inside is a little bonus: the presence of your potential guardian angel, Lady Ruby. Each helmet comes in a traditional, protective red box. According to them, their helmets are DOT approved.
Guardian Lady Ruby
The Ruby red box
There are currently two different featured styles in the Ruby Helmet collection:
The Pavillion
The Pavillion is an open faced helmet of retro design and also the flagship model of Ruby Helmets.
Pavillion by Ruby Helmets
Pavillion's many styles
Pavillion styles and colors
The Belvedere
The Belvedere’s design is based on the Pavillion, but has the option of incorporating a full face visor, giving it a retro-futuristic style.
Belvedere by Ruby Helmets
Belvedere's different styles
These definitely fall into the “luxury” category (if one exists for helmets) as they will hit you in the wallet for upwards to $1000 USD.
The designer in me appreciates the visual appeal and general “coolness” of these helmets. In theory, if someone had the right style bike, this helmet would be a great compliment to it. However, the realistic biker in me knows that if a “typical” biker saw someone wearing one of these helmets, they would think they were a hipster wannabe and would probably kick that person’s butt!
I dunno, what do you think?
You can find more information about Ruby Helmets at http://ateliersruby.com and if you want to create an original design on one check out http://boutiqueruby.com.
Sure the month of April is almost over, but no matter what month it is every rider should be assessing their gear to ensure they’re properly protected with a few vital inspections. No matter what style your helmet is, you should always inspect it.
What to look for when you’re checking your helmet:
Fit is Vital
A helmet must fit properly to be effective, and not all helmets fit the same. A well-fitting helmet should rest one inch above your eyebrows and shouldn’t roll forward or sideways on your head. To ensure a comfortable fit that doesn’t squeeze too tightly, wear a helmet for 15 minutes before making a final buying decision.
Helmets Don’t Last Forever
Over time, exposure to UV rays and the aging of adhesives and components will damage a helmet’s protective qualities. That’s why manufacturers and the SNELL Foundation recommend that helmets be replaced every three to five years, depending on use. Every new Harley-Davidson helmet comes with a “purchased on date” sticker that can be placed under the comfort liner for a quick reference.
Keep it Clean
A clean and well-cared-for helmet will protect better and longer. Use a mild soap to wash the outer shell and internal liners. Never use solvents or chemicals for cleaning as they can destroy protective coatings.
One Drop and it’s Done
A helmet is designed for only one impact. Even a small impact may fracture the outer shell or compress the impact-absorbing liner despite no visible damage. If a helmet has been dropped or suffers an impact, it should be immediately replaced.
Who to Ask?
Riders can learn more about helmet fit and care with the “Harley-Davidson Helmet” brochure available at Harley-Davidson dealers. Most Harley-Davidson dealers carry a wide range of helmet styles, including half-, three-quarter, full-face and modular designs.
There is a great little guide available on the Harley-Davidson site with information about helmet styles, components, fit, care and replacement, and you can check out the selection of helmets offered by Harley-Davidson MotorClothes as well.
Genuine Motorworks opened its new store in Brooklyn with great response from customers, motorcycle industry notables and both local and national motorcycle media. An invite-only soft grand opening was held on Thursday, April 16th and the public grand opening was held on Saturday, April 18th.
Elisa Seeger’s Genuine Motorworks is a ground-breaking, artistic lifestyle shop that caters to male motorcycle and hot rod enthusiasts that want to pay tribute to American heritage through their apparel choices. It features hip, rider-focused apparel, motorcycle art, helmets, accessories and more. They feature many admired brands including Indian Larry, Levis, Frye Boots, Salinas Boys, Johnson Motor Company, and Filson, to name a few. She successfully achieved a perfect mixture of the true spirit of motorcycling and an alternative to the standard bike shop. It is an experience, rather than simply a place to shop. “We wanted to invite all our supporters and friends in the media to celebrate our grand opening. We are grateful and excited to say it was a rousing success” says Elisa.
The Genuine Motorworks crew
The new space combines a contemporary feel with classic motorcycle style to create a fun and comfortable environment. The response from the press and attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Drinks and hot dogs were served and the crowd stayed well into the evening, despite the cold weather. The artist’s gallery was thoughtfully planned out and featured the photography of Bobby Seeger Jr. Displayed were shots he has taken of Indian Larry over the years and the Indian Larry “Wild Child” motorcycle. The “Grease Monkey” bike was also on display in the front window and shows passersby that Indian Larry’s inspiration is still alive and well. Genuine Motorworks will continue to feature inspired custom bikes and artwork from artists on a monthly basis.
Indian Larry building the "Wild Child"-photo by Bobby Seeger Jr. (I think)
The Genuine Motorworks store is located at 195 N. 14th Street in Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, N.Y., and is open every day 11 a.m.-7 p.m. For more information about Genuine Motorworks, please visit www.genuinemotorworks.com or call 718-486-6971.
This is the time of year where a lot of us are yawning and stretching from our winter slumber, getting our rides ready for the season and reassessing our gear to see if it’s fit for another season of riding. Since the day I started riding, I’ve never really found the right kind of gloves for myself. They’ve either been too thick, too thin or not warm enough.
And their performance while riding in the rain is typically nothing short of dismal. Is there anything worse than a raw, rainy day with your hands sopping wet and freezing, only to find your hands stained with black dye from the leather? That’s just not good riding.
LOTS of companies make the promise that their gloves are waterproof. So you can imagine my interest, along with a bit of skepticism, at the discovery of Hugger Glove Company. Their tagline is “a dry hand is a warm hand” and they claim to have completely waterproof, yet breathable leather garments.
Perusing through their online catalog, they do have an impressive selection of glove styles for both men & women. They offer lined gloves, unlined, fingerless and touring styles and while the majority of the men’s styles come in basic black, the women’s styles have a bit of color incorporated in between the fingers or offered in the form of piping giving them a bit of extra flair. While they’re definitely not priced at “rally prices” they certainly aren’t astronomically priced, either. And if they’re as good as they say they are, I think a lot of us would agree that they’re probably worth the price. They also offer some jackets, chaps and accessories (leather clutch bags, scarves and face masks).
100% waterproof leather motorcycle gloves
The gloves from Hugger Gloves are indeed pure leather, but they use a process called Technaline® that renders the leather absolutely waterproof. This process ensures that your hands stay dry and that your gloves don’t stretch, get misshapen or crack. In addition, the inner Wonder Dry® lining keeps your hands dry and warm. Sounds too good to be true, right? Keep reading.
So here’s the skinny: I tested a pair and here is what I found.
As I said before, there are lots of styles to choose from and since it’s just the beginning of the season where I live, that still means some colder and potentially inclement days ahead. For me, that definitely meant lined gloves. And since I’m a bit of a traditionalist in style, I wanted more of a classic riding glove and chose the Mary classic riding glove. But instead of going for my normal basic black I got a little kooky and got them with a silver accent. Plus, I thought they would go well with the gun metal gray paint on my bike.
So, are Hugger Gloves really waterproof?
We had an especially craptastic day here in New England, with lots and lots of rain. Seemed like a good day to put these gloves to the test. To my amazement, the water literally beaded up and ran off the gloves. My hands were nice and toasty, not even a hint of dampness. Hmm. It was a steady rain out but I’ve had to ride in some real torrential downpours and my outdoor test just didn’t do these gloves justice. So in an effort to really put them to the test, I decided to put my hand under my kitchen faucet for a few minutes. Nothing. No trace or feeling of water on my hand inside the glove. SWEET!
So, are Hugger Gloves really waterproof? You bet they are. Do they keep your hands warm? Yes they do. Are they worth the $40+ price tag. Yes again.
If like me you are in the market for a new pair of riding gloves that will be perfect for inclement weather, the Hugger Motorcycle Gloves should be top on your list.
If you’re an Ami James fan (tattoos, choppers and now jewelry!) then this press release may be of interest to you! The jewelry is pretty cool but you’ll be shelling out some BIG bucks to own some of it!
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Ami James Jewelry Company announced the launch of its new Web site, which will make the company’s signature “Love Hate Choppers” jewelry collection available to the public.
A tattoo artist by trade, James’ tattoo art and creative designs exploded to life as he expanded his medium from skin and canvas to precious metals for Ami James Jewelry Company. James teamed up with Larry “Benj” Weymouth, a Boston-based jeweler who has been making custom jewelry for 25 years, to produce the company’s first designs – the “Love Hate Choppers” collection. The collection includes leather belts, hand-finished pewter belt buckles, high-polished or brushed-antique solid silver rings and pendants with diamond insets, and sterling silver fluted or frosted necklaces and bracelets. Each piece of jewelry features details taken from James’ Miami shop logo. Limited edition necklaces, bracelets and belt buckles, as well as several “Rock the Ink” pieces are also available on the site.
“The Love Hate Choppers Jewelry Collection reflects another aspect of my artistic side,” said James. “With Benj’s craftsmanship and my designs, we created a collection of high-quality, unique pieces that, like tattoos, are a form of wearable art.”
In addition to serving as the inspiration for the “Love Hate Choppers” jewelry collection, James’ logo design details have also been incorporated into accent parts on another one of his business ventures – the new “Love-Hate Choppers” production bikes built by the unsurpassed talents of Sucker Punch Sally’s. The production bikes made their debut during Daytona Bike Week and are available for purchase through Sucker Punch Sally’s.
All pieces available from Ami James Jewelry Company can be purchased via the new Web site. To make a purchase, or for more information, product details and pricing, please visit www.amijamesjewelry.com or call the customer service number at (603) 898-0013.
What biker doesn’t like some skulls with their jewelry?
BadAss Jewelry is the baby of David Barkhordari and is a great online resource for good quality, chunky biker jewelry for both boys and girls.
My eyes got nice and wide when I browsed through the inventory of rings, pendants, dog tags and bracelets. I don’t know what it is about silver skulls but I just love them! I also like wearing jewelry that is unique and this site has a lot of unique pieces.
You may remember back in January I mentioned BadAss Jewelry in my post about the Smokeout Rally which features a cross country ride called the Long Road from Cottonwood AZ to Rockingham, NC. Since it’s the 10th anniversary of the Smokeout, all registered riders that complete the ride will receive a serial numbered, solid-sterling-silver Long Road HORSE medallion, designed by David Barkhordari. Pretty cool!
Long Road HORSE medallion
Anyway, not only does BadAss jewelry sell unique biker styles, but they also carry Stingray Jewelry, which is genuine stingray leather (yes from actual stingrays) on sterling silver, by designer Alan K. According to another jewelry site, many people believe that stingray leather brings strength and power to anyone wearing it. It is also believed that the stingray leather brings good luck and good fortune. Whether that’s true or not I’m not sure, but I do know that it makes for very interesting looking jewelry.
You can purchase directly from their website (don’t forget to check out their coupons) and they ship internationally. Bonus.
If you’re a serious blogger, then you probably know some of the big-name blog guys out there: John Chow, Darren Rowse and of course, ShoeMoney. ShoeMoney is one of those guys whose story we all wish was ours. He started a blog, writes about what he knows best and without much effort made serious bank from his website.
Well, Mr. Jeremy Shoemaker has a feature that he calls “Free Shirt Friday.” You send him a t-shirt, he’ll take a picture of himself wearing it and also gives a shout-out to your site. And my shout-out just happened to occur this past Friday when my Rippin-Kitten “Faster Pussycat” t-shirt was featured on Free Shirt Friday.
Rippin-Kitten t-shirt featured on Shoemoney
To my delight (and relief) my shirt received a lot of great comments and Shoe appears to really like it! So, if you like it too and want to decorate the upper half of your fine physique with this fabulous design there are still some available to purchase. 
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