XCVI

These are a few things we live by at Koio, a company created by two passionate sneakerheads who brought European sensibility and quality to American ambition and attitude. It’s not every day that you deviate from the script and risk it all. But that’s exactly what we did when we realized we were both looking for high-end, well crafted sneakers that we’d feel good about wearing to meetings, to drinks—to wherever. When we couldn’t find what we were looking for, we decided we’d make them ourselves, and haven’t looked back since. The key was finding a factory with the same beliefs and vision as ours. We went straight to the source—the heart of Italy, where dedicated craftspeople have been making shoes for centuries—and visited 34 factories. We chose the one that mirrored our vision for Koio: versatile style, impeccable quality and kickass design. Now our sneakers are recognized around the world by those who move through life with purpose, pursuing and creating opportunities. Crafted with the finest calfskin leathers, hand-finished with unrivaled attention to detail, Koio are sneakers that dare to go anywhere.

Theo+George is a Dublin based ethical fashion brand, dedicated to crafting beautiful and long-lasting garments that make every day effortless. Our timeless and considered wardrobe staples can be either dressed up or dressed down, as we aim to encourage our customers to buy less and choose well. By cutting out the middlemen and selling directly to customers online, Theo+George is able to provide high-quality, sustainable and responsibly manufactured essentials and basics at a fraction of the price. We believe in transparency and are open about our pricing, our factories and our progress. Theo + George create premium yet an accessible collection designed to fit in seamlessly with the lifestyle of its owner. Anchored in the premise of effortless living; the brand espouses and lives up to, its values around minimalism, premium quality, sustainability and durability. Reliable wardrobe staples that wearers can get mileage out of combined with stylish, thoughtful yet functional touches. A collection that enables the wearer to move effortlessly while simultaneously withstanding the elements. The collection consists of 18 pieces beautifully designed and crafted using high-quality ethical fabrics.

Nixon is the premium watch and accessories brand for the youth lifestyle market. Focused on making the little stuff better, Nixon creates custom built products that reflect their unique point of view, heritage, and style.

Decadent Minimalist was founded in 2014 with the DM1 Wallet launch on Kickstarter. Our campaign was funded 1837% of our goal and we sold over 2,000 wallets to more than 1,500 backers. A year later, in 2015, we returned to Kickstarter to launch DM1 Nickel, DM1 Titanium and DM1 Carbon Fiber. We smashed Kickstarter records - with over 5,000 backers and $500,000 in pledges we became the largest wallet crowd funding campaign ever. With both successful campaigns, we remain the largest wallet creator in Kickstarter history.

It was a typical Tuesday night, I was sitting at the computer with my guitar in my lap. I was fixated on a particular riff that I couldn’t put any words to and needless to say I was frustrated. But lo and behold, sitting right next to me was my faithful Oggy, just staring at me with his big loving eyes, and instantly I came up with “I’d rather be with my dogs, than be with you.” At the time I was having some girl troubles and I knew I had to tell a little story with the music, and the song came to life! Next thing I knew I had launched a company for people who felt the same way about their dogs (and cats) that I do. IRBWMD isn’t just a clothing company, it’s a life style brand or a mantra for people who are truly “obsessed” with their dogs. And by obsessed, we mean completely dedicated and have a love so deep that it can’t be compared to anything else! We have customers from all over the world who buy our gear, from China to Indonesia to Russia to Australia. People truly feel the IRBWMD love in all corners of the world. We donate to different causes weekly, everything from rescues, to canine cancer awareness, or military dogs overseas who need our help. In my opinion, that’s the greatest thing about our company. Every time you purchase something from our site you have a direct impact on an animal in need.