Feature Week-DAY 1: Archive 101 "FreshPinz"

Everyday this week I will be featuring independent designers that contribute to the male fashion movement. Today, get identified with Stan William's company: FRESHPINZ. 

     Tell me a little about your company? How long has it been around?

     Freshpinz is a one man company, just me hand making every pin. Our slogan is "Express your fresh!" We have only been around for 3 months now, and business is expanding so fast. We service out of Buffalo, NY where I currently reside but I’m originally from Minneapolis, MN. We pride ourselves on producing a reasonably priced, unique accessory with same day shipping. 

      What prompted the thought of originating “Freshpinz”? 

Honestly it was a fluke. There was an event a few months ago and I had a vision for my outfit. I wanted to have an accessory like a brooch or pin to rock on the lapel of my sport coat, something simple, but something that popped. Instead of going out and searching for something to catch my eye, I just decided to make something. Being that I often wore bowties, I thought it would be cool to have something like that to wear. I went online and tried to find some type of inspiration, and I came across some children’s crafts sites, and then I found  the materials to make the bow tie pin which started everything.

      It seems that most of your clientele comes from the Greek Community. Not only do you feature NPHC Greeks but you pretty much cover all groups (i.e  Latin fraternities and sororities as well as academic and business groups). Do you create other types of designs, say if a company wanted to recreate their logo in a pin format, could “Freshpinz” cater to that type of consumer?

     I’m open to try anything. But scaling is an issue for some logos or custom design. The more detailed the design is the bigger it is in scale, and using beads..... its tough!!!  I want to create an accurate depiction of the customers design, so often I can tell right away if I can do it or not, then I will make suggestions to make it work.

 Below are sorority freshpinz in case you want to  snag one for your favorite girl. 

Without telling the tricks of the trade, explain your designing process. Your pinz are very detailed. I’m most intrigued by how you formulate your designs by creating visuals that look exactly like the logo or picture you are depicting. Do you have to draw the designs first?

What I’m doing is nothing new, we’ve all used to beads as a child. The twist is that I’m using a child’s craft and creating adult accessories. The design process varies. Sometimes I can search the net and find a child’s template and go from there, but most of the time it’s me looking at a picture and playing around. Making curves and shapes was extremely difficult at first and sometimes still gives me problems. But most of the time now-- I just look for inspiration. I may sketch it out, but it’s usually all freehand . I often ask people for ideas of things they think I should make, and the Kappa YO- is the first Greek design I made, and is the one I’m most proud of.

    “The Male Brooch Epidemic” is making a HUGE comeback. Last year you could barely get a guy to pin something on his jacket, let alone a tee shirt. However, it seems as if “Freshpinz” has no problem breaking the macho male ego when it comes to openly displaying your product in a stylish sense. Why is that?

I believe the product is just cool. It’s just different and people always want to have the jump on what’s new and fresh.  Everyone has a unique style and my pinz cater to that individuality.  I think guys or more conscious of what they wear today than ever before. The days of us just walking out the house in some basketball shorts and Jordan’s has passed, it seems that subtlety is the new trend, and guys are just looking for subtle things to enhance their look, and I believe freshpinz does that.

      What makes “Freshpinz” so fresh? How is your product unique among other materials like leggo pinz for example?

Lego pins are cool, I’ve seen some people do some creative things with them, but the difference with my product is the attention to detail. I’m able to use different types of materials to create accurate depictions. It’s more like pixel art.  When I first started, I just made a few for myself as a hobby, and I enjoyed it. I started to rock them out and people wanted them. So I made some for them and I was just giving them away for free, the idea was that this would never serve as supplemental income, but then people were like, “Yo ..you need to start charging for these!” and I did, and the rest is history.

     I've noticed from your most recent instagram uploads (@sofreshnupe_) you’ve started creating 3 dimensional pinz. Is that concept difficult?

Yes lol 3D, the concept was a great thought but it hasn’t come full circle as of yet. I’ve made a few samples but it’s not there yet.  The design process is easy but finding the right type of glue has been a problem. So I’m in the lab working and getting it right.

      A good designer is always looking to reinvent their product to keep it fresh. What’s new in the works for “Freshpinz” designs?

I’m always looking to create something new. The ideas just steam from everything around me. I’m coming out with some color block pins next, and really digging in to this 3D pins; trying to work the kinks out.  The idea is to keep all designs  subtle, and never outlandish.

     Outside of your 3D pinz, What would you say has been your most challenging design to create?

My original “YO” Kappa pin was the hardest because it was my first Greek pin. I’m so proud of myself for that, because even I didn’t think that I could be that creative. The feedback I got from that and buzz was crazy and I sincerely appreciate it. And to reinvent it I added a bowtie to it and created the “YoBOW” and that really took Freshpinz to another level. When I’m working on a design for the first time, I’m just sitting at the workstation back hunched over and tweezers in hand- moving beads around trying to see what works-- and then when I get the clear vision it’s like EUREKA! 

      Are you a walking billboard for your product?

Uh….. not so much now, I have so many people supporting me now that I have walking billboards on every coast. I get more pleasure out of seeing other people wearing them.  I want to be the designer in the crowd and overhear people giving praise and compliments about my pins asking where they got them from and who made them etc. Not knowing that the person who made them is right behind them lol. If you think about it-- a lot of people wear all these labels and seldom see what the designer looks like. I want to be that type of guy. I’m just laid back and appreciative for people even wanting to wear my pinz let alone pay their hard earned money for, it’s humbling.

Check me out in FRESHPINZ below.

To check out the full freshpinz collection and to inquire about ordering, they can be reached via these outlets:

Facebook: facebook.com/freshpinz

Twitter: @sofreshnupe_  @freshpinz

Instagram: sofreshnupe_

Email: freshpinz@gmail.com

Web: www.freshpinz.com

If you have a product that contributes to male fashion or know someone who does, send a media press kit, press release or any helpful information to TheXStylezBlog@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading. Be sure to tell a friend to tell a friend and come back. Also be sure to subscribe to The X-Stylez Blog by becoming a member (located under archive column to the right of your screen) and to follow us on twitter and friend us on facebook.

Male Lapel Flower Fashion

The origin of the modern lapel flower stems from the traditional look of a wedding boutonniere. The wording coming from the French was often referred to by the British as "them button hole flowers". Traditionally, the flower was placed in the button hole of the man’s suit or tuxedo however, these days, most boutonnieres and lapel flowers are pinned directly unto the man’s lapel.

Curiously enough, the boutonniere and the bridal bouquet were created for similar reasons: to ward off bad smells, disease, and evil spirits (A little knowledge for you today---lol)

The reason most of your vintage and thrifted jackets have small inserts in the lapel is because many gentlemen pinned a flower on their jacket almost daily which sparked interest in garment makers to design small hidden vases built right in the lapel to refrain from damaging their work on the detail of the jacket. 

For you old cinema and vintage fashion lovers you may recall the likes of Fred Astair or Cary Grant wearing a boutonniere just to go out on a Friday evening. 

Today, however, bouts are primarily worn only for proms, homecomings, and weddings where the reoccurring "flower lapel" can be worn any day of the week. 

One could argue that the lapel is the most crucial part of a jacket's personality. Whether notched, peak or shawl, that folded flap of cloth is the eye of your blazer drawing immediate attention.


As powerful as these folded edges are alone, we always look to see the way Europeans take accessorizing the lapel to the next level. Whether flipping up the collar  or sticking a fresh flower into the button hole as pictured above, they put the "effortless style" back into the lapel that we Americans have so well adapted.


I recently blogged about a "Look for Less" in adapting the newly reinvented trend in my 

[Styling Tip] "DO" Try this at home: H & M Floral Clip x Men's Lapel Accessory post. 

Feel free to check it out and gain some new inspirations from the visuals listed below. 

If you are wanting to try this out or update your current collection, I've listed in some great websites you can get unique, fashionable lapel flowers from. 


Hook + Albert Lapel flowers


These kits are absolutely perfect to wear with your day-to-day blazers and jackets. Handmade in cotton, each flower adheres to your jacket lapel with a shell button (easy to stitch on, ask somebody if you don’t know how!). Made of soft mercerized cotton fibers, the H+A lapel flower is secured through the buttonhole of the lapel. 

etherealflowers' shop

Here you can find handmade flowers accessories with a minimalist style to fit the modern man.
Discounts are offered for bulk purchases.

WormeWoole's shop

Eco-friendly accessories handmade from reclaimed upcycled felted sweater wool. Created in Northern Wisconsin wool is worn year-round this product is sure to warm up some fashion conversation at your local coffee shop.

Rashon Carraway (a.k.a Mr. Goodwill Hunting) Big Cartel Shop


These one of a kind uniquely designed lapel flowers are bold, fresh and stylish. With an array of vibrant solid colors to shuttle strips, Rashon's handmade lapel flowers pendants define style effortlessly. 

Thanks for reading and tell a friend to tell a friend. Also be sure to subscribe to The X-Stylez Blog by becoming a member (located under archive column to the right of your screen) and to follow us on twitter and friend us on facebook.

[Styling Tip] "DO" Try this at home: H & M Floral Clip x Men's Lapel Accessory

So I've found myself again obsessed with yet another accessory "Lapel Flowers". Many men may question adding a flower to their attire in fear that they may transcend too far into the feminine territory, but I guarantee a "Man of Style" knows that the floral ornament can be perfectly masculine when worn with the right amount of confidence. I've often seen floral lapel pins on many Etsy shops and other online stores but one day I got that "I want it right now" kind of urge for an outfit concept, so I got to thinking of creative avenues to accomplish the look I was going for. I initially had a lot of options running through my mind from craft and fabric to 99 cent stores when thinking of where I should go to get a plastic flower and then a light went off in my head to look at women's accessories. I then ventured to one of my favorite go-to stores H & M and low and behold they had an entire section of flowers equipped with clips in their women's hair accessory department. 

And for a set of two for only $3.95, I purchased as many colors as I could find that would match existing pieces in my closet while making mental notes of what I could come back and get for future purchases. 


If you have been seeing this look and are wanting to try it, this is an inexpensive way to accomplish it. The red carpets don't lie, and with major powerhouse celebrities planting the seed early on, I promise you this trend is sure to grow!


Take a look at some of my outfits this week if you need additional styling tips.  

If you are more of a conservative dresser, keep the look classic with a a blazer and a pair of trousers. 

Adding a contemporary flare, I rolled up my pants and wore a mid wingtip boot. 

 You don't necessarily need a physical lapel to adapt this look. 

 Camouflage x Leopard is a winner for me this summer. The Contrasting prints just compliment each other so well.

I paired a lapel flower on the pocket of my fisherman's vest. I got this multi-pocket vest that's actual a jacket with zip-off sleeves at a Murfreesboro, TN thrift store for $19.99 [Sweet Deal]. As I recently blogged about this week in my [Trend Report] Pattern on Pattern post, this summer try wearing prints (contrasting or similar) when wanting to achieve a stylish outfit.