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| Jonathan Eyal, Supply and Advise shop owner, brings a distinct luxurious quality to Miami menswear.
Alas, a fashion insurgent by the name of Jonathan Eyal, has masterfully created a cure for the drib and drab wardrobe often plaguing the Miami male. It is time for the dapper gentleman (and ladyboys too!) to rise from the ashes and take his place amongst the style icons of well-dressed doers. And with the recent emergence of the All-American pop-up, Supply and Advise, the Magic City's most fashion-forward men are taking their wardrobe to new exploratory heights.
Supply and Advise currently stands as a temporary pop-up, but will soon be setting up shop in Miami's Historic Downtown District, which is perfectly fitting considering the utilitarian craftsmanship of it's one-of-a-kind investment pieces. A military background has served Eyal well, allowing him (and his associates Kevin Beltran and Rebeca Esparza) to curate staples from classic and modern brands like Levi's, Alden, and Randolph Engineering. There's a method to Eyal's madness- and that's 'Made in the US of A' functional fashion that's durable, timeless, and the antithesis of the Miami "bro" uniform (I repeat- step away from the square toe shoes).
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to hop aboard the mothership of this unique menswear refinery and chat with Eyal himself on the changing landscape of the modern gentleman's fashion profile and how his handcrafted specialties are injecting a much needed dose of style juju to the Miami scene.
FSF: It
seems like everyday, the same old boutiques and shops carrying the same
monotonous merchandise keep popping up in Miami. Then came Supply & Advise.
It stands alone in the scope of menswear. Did you feel there was a void in
terms of classic menswear in the Magic City?
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S&A: Undoubtedly,
yes! It's one of the main reasons why we chose to open the store at all, and
why Miami is the perfect base of operations for our shop. I've always had to
resort to shopping online because menswear has been an afterthought for all of
the local shops, rather than the main focus. No one offered staples from great
American brands like Alden shoes, Gitman Brothers, Levi's Vintage Clothing,
Filson, and Randolph Engineering-- to name a few, or exciting contemporary
options from outstanding brands like Engineered Garments.
Up until
now, Miami stores have embraced designer labels which could be
characterized as more trendy rather than a style that is more focused on
simplicity and quality. In addition, much of what's been presented to us is
heavy on external branding and slick, rather than classic and timeless. Lastly,
haute couture and items coming off the runway don't exactly have longevity and
aren't really realistic for your average guy. And lets face it, what guy wants
to go to the mall or a department store, anyway?
FSF: And why
a store in Wynwood? How does this neighborhood elevate the store's
profile?
S&A: Actually
our temporary pop-up shop is in Wynwood but in the next few months we'll be
making our permanent move to Downtown Miami, which is where we really feel our
shop will be most at home. It's the only part of Miami that has the
infrastructure and makings of an urban community and we're in love with it's
remaining history and architecture. It's so reminiscent of NYC and Chicago and
is in the midst of a major revitalization. There's a Whole Foods being
built a block away, the new PAMM is down the street, galleries and other
creative entities are also relocating and headed to Downtown. It's authentic
and doesn't feel manufactured. Finally, Miami has realized that Downtown is a
diamond in the rough. It's a living and working community and it's businesses
like Fratelli Milano, Ten Fruits, Ceviche 105 that have really helped blaze the
trail for an outfit like ours.
While we
enjoy hanging out in Wynwood from time to time, currently, there just isn't the
infrastructure, convenience or live-in community that would warrant
calling it a full-fledged neighborhood. We're hoping that will change.
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| Kick back in style. Interior shot of Supply and Advise. |
FSF: Jonathan
Eyal comes from a military background. How does that unique fun fact
contribute to the aesthetics and success of the store?
S&A: The
military is an equalizer and a place where people of all races and
socio-economic backgrounds come together as one. During WWII you had guys
who came from blue collar backgrounds fighting along side guys who came from
monied families and Ivy League pedigrees. There's a certain beauty in that and
it's what our shop seeks to represent. I think what we do could be
characterized as blue collar and Ivy League go off to war. This style we love
comes from an appreciation of our history as Americans.We embrace the greatness
of America and the post-war time when returning troops took to motorcycles,
were afforded the opportunity to go to university on the GI Bill, and t-shirts
and denim became part of our DNA.
As far as
the aesthetic of the shop is concerned, I guess it comes naturally. The
military vehicle, shell casings, and posters that decorate our shop are
symbolic in that getting ahead in today's world is a war and looking good and
taking pride in how you dress certainly won't hurt your chances at finding love
or advancing in your job.
FSF: The
store tends to stay away from trends and keeps the focus on timeless pieces for
men. Why is it important for you guys to be selective?
S&A: While
our focus is on those pieces that are classic and timeless, we do carry a variety
of fun options as they're great to mix and match. We want our customers
purchase pieces that will get lots of use and for that reason, we concentrate
on the basics. Other criteria we use before making our selections are:
Where are the goods made? What is the history behind these items? Does the cost
make sense for our customer? And lastly, and most importantly, functionality
and durability. If you're going to be spending the money to buy the best, we
want you to have it and use it forever versus having to replace it every few
years or finding it sitting in the back of your closet.
FSF: how has
men's fashion evolved in the last few years, particularly in Miami?
S&A: Menswear
has really exploded during the last few years and there's been a huge
resurgence in men taking a great deal of pride in their wardrobes. Men
(especially the ones in Miami) are realizing that quality and longevity trumps
name brands which are usually just that-- a name.
I think
Miami guys are realizing its OK to tuck in their shirts outside of work, it's
okay to wear straight leg jeans and care about the way clothes should fit.
We're slowly moving away from embellished & faux worn-in jeans to a more
clean, simple look-- how it always should've been. It's not a trend, it's just
how a man should dress. Neck wear, definitely has been making a comeback for
some time and Miami is finally catching on to the fact that it's actually cool
to throw on a tie or bow-tie outside of the office or a wedding. Bottom line-
American males as a whole, are taking more and more pride in how they look and
the pieces they're investing in, it's just taking us Miamians a little longer
to get there.
FSF: If you
had to chose one item in the store that every modern man should have in his
closet, what should it be?
S&A: The
White Oxford Cloth Button Down shirt from Gitman Vintage. Work, play, date
night, meeting the parents, your girlfriend's cousin's daughter's baptism-- it
works every time.
FSF: Is
there an iconic man of style of present, past or future that encompasses the Supply
and Advice definition?
S&A: Steve
McQueen was a guy's guy who's style was effortless but always on point. And
that's the goal-- it should be effortless, comfortable and classic.
FSF: You
pride yourself in the durability of the brands you carry. How do you decide
what to carry in the store?
S&A: This
is most clearly exemplified by made in USA brand Alden Shoe Company out of
Massachusetts. They've been around since 1884, are family owned, and spend all
their money on their materials and workforce rather than on fancy magazine ads
or celebrity spokespersons. It's a brand for people who appreciate quality
rather than how they will be perceived by their peers. Little known fact- Alden
invented the Tassel Loafer and is also responsible for the "Indy Boot",
the iconic boots worn by Indiana Jones in all the films (specifically asked for
by Harrison Ford.)
S&A: Other
outfits and items synonymous with the Miami "Bro" would be the all
black look, designer shield style sunglasses, super deep V-neck tees, heavily
embellished denim, bootcut denim, Gucci belt buckles the size of a hubcap, and
shirts with prints on the underside of the cuffs. With regard to square
toe shoes we're not Pilgrims and these were never cool. Get rid of them..
donate.. burn.. we don't care, just do it!
What are you waiting for? Stop by the store-
Supply and Advise
3322 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33127
(305) 846-9437
For more information, visit the shop's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/occasionalgentlemen
Follow them on Instagram @supplyandadvise
In Style,
Kat
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