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![How a stint in Japan inspired Craig Atkinson to apply his strong interest in fashion to his massively successful west coast clothing line Wings + Horns. By <a href="http://sharpformen.com/author/luke-hall/">Luke Hall</a><div id='nr_fo_top_of_post'></div><p><em>In our ongoing quest to improve mankind, sometimes we come across certain brands that deserve more attention. In Brands You Should Know we provide short profiles of designers, products and people that make the world a sharper place.</em></p>
<p>It’s no secret that America, Japan and Europe are home to some of the best designers and clothing labels in the world. But therein lies the problem. For every standout designer living in the aforementioned style meccas, there is an abundance of, shall we say, less talented “designers” ready to churn out fast food replicas of the latest trends without an ounce of originality or authenticity. While Canada isn’t totally exempt from this rather shameful disservice, there is a certain level of integrity that’s instilled within most of Canada’s best and brightest menswear labels. Enter Wings + Horns.</p>
<p>The story behind this patriotic label begins with Craig Atkinson’s journey from Vancouver to Japan in his early twenties, where he started his career in fashion as a vintage dealer, buyer and interpreter for a Japanese retail store that frequented North American fashion markets and tradeshows. Through his position, Atkinson naturally discovered his passion for all things quality—be them textiles, fabrics, design or manufacturing. Furthermore, the importance of meticulous attention to detail and quality found in Japanese designs peaked Atkinson’s attention. This later prompted him to want to continue to collaborate with fabric mills in Japan to create fabrics that are both unique and high-quality after moving back to Canada to start his own clothing label Wings + Horns.</p>
<p>Combined with the influence of Atkinson’s time spent living and working in Japan, there is also a strong emphasis and call of duty placed on drawing inspiration from Canadian West Coast living (where Atkinson grew up) for Wings + Horns collections. It only seems natural that Atkinson places a value on not only paying homage to his Canadian roots, but also on producing products that reflect a true West Coast lifestyle. A perfect testament to this sensibility are Wings + Horns Fall 2012 water resistant jackets that feature removable linings, and are engineered to combat the typical inclement weather one might expect to experience living on the West Coast.</p>
<p>The design aesthetic for Wings + Horns has always been about taking traditional utilitarian elements and meshing them with the art of classic tailoring. The label’s use of technical and custom fabrics adds both value and style to overall functional designs; many of which have received a multitude of plaudits from bloggers and tastemakers from all over the world who hold quality craftsmanship and timeless design in high regard. One specific item that has developed a deep cult like following over the years is the brand’s staple Westpoint chinos, which are based on a classic military pant with a tailored silhouette. Just ask any Wings + Horns stockist about them, and they’ll agree that they have trouble keeping them in stock.</p>
<p>So it should come as no real surprise that the Wings + Horns customer is both loyal and about as discerning as it gets when it comes to pulling the proverbial trigger on a specific article of clothing. You might say the typical Wings + Horns customer has a penchant for simplistic, great fitting, quality-made clothing. Or, in other words, that Wings + Horns offers clothing for men on the go who want to look put together without looking overtly fashion forward. This universal mindset of Wings + Horns customers is likely the reason the brand continues to achieve great success in North America, Europe, Japan and Asia.</p>
<p>This summer, Wings + Horns is launching a full-scale ecommerce site, making strides to deliver their loyal customers an online platform where they could effectively tell their story and communicate directly with their customers. While the delay of this venture might seem somewhat vexing, given the fact that the company has been in business since 2004, the timing for this was really based on the brand’s ability to execute at a level where they felt would best reflect their brand. The Wings + Horns <a href="http://www.wingsandhorns.com/" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.wingsandhorns.com']);">webstore</a> is essentially their opportunity to offer a user-friendly space where customers will have access to full collections and exclusive web-only items.</p>
<div id='nr_fo_bot_of_post'></div> <span id="pty_trigger"></span> Brands You Should Know: Wings + Horns](http://sharpformen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/brands-10-text.jpg)
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