My first job here coming to NYC was working for FUTURA. At that time, I was young, from Texas, and had no idea how big Futura was. I had no clue what NYC was about except that I wanted to do fashion here and needed to start supporting myself. The day after I landed (mind you, it was my first time trekking in snow too!), I walked the streets going door to door to shops downtown that seemed interesting, trying to get a job. Then finally, at Space Salon, I got referred to a small men’s street wear shop in the LES on Eldridge called RECON. They liked me, so I started the following day. That was how I got my foot into understanding urban street wear, grafitti, what a philly blunt was, skater culture, NY hiphop culture, the LES family (before what ‘hipster’ LES is now), Epsteins, Bearbrick, Sneaker culture, Japanese urban street culture, Miss Behave, BOB bar, Nort, Recon, and most of all Stash and FUTURA--the revolutionary graffiti artists and owners of RECON and NORT. Not only was his graffiti amazing, his clothes were well designed and one of the first American labels to be making streetwear all in Japan. I was the only girl (a young naive girl from Texas), among guys/men that have lived most of their lives in NYC. I was thrown in among them, and forever grateful for letting me be a part of RECON. I am extremely happy to see that Futura is featured at MOCA. Lucky LA.
~K.

Tags: Futura, MOCA

We’ve added 5 more bags to the store! These were inspired by food, wooden door hinges, the sea, and Westerns. Despite the constant references to the sea, we are deeply rooted and in love with Westerns--hence our banner. Born and raised in Texas, we have instilled in us the warmth and romantic cultures of the South.

Tags: First Meeting Goods, Etsy, Canvas Bag, General Goods Store

Today we added Unisex Braided Leather Bracelets! Hope you like them as much as we did making them. Wear them alone or Stack ‘em. Thanks for looking!

Tags: First Meeting Goods, Etsy, Leather Bracelets, Braided, General Goods Store

Hi Everyone!

We’ve added another bag to our General Goods Store. It’s made of raw leather, antique brass buckles and zippers, and 100% cotton canvas. The inside is fully lined with multiple pockets for organized compartments. Check it out! Thanks.

Tags: First Meeting Goods, Etsy, Canvas Bag, General Goods Store

New York has gone from warm to cold to snow to sleet in a couple of days. Scary. This is nothing compared to the global catastrophes that’s happened in the past 8 years--from what I can really remember, Thailand til Japan. Via our surfing teacher and friend Reid in Hawaii, he’s been following satellite maps for 12 years now and Mother Earth has been trying to send us a message. She wants to purge herself clean.


This is a simulated image of the 8.9 quake. This intensity within Earth, the fire, is of itself a cry for help...for peace. Even within the art world, these colors represent the opposite of calm, cool, peace. There is absolutely no balance, no Ying and Yang, no Ewam. “Mother Earth is alive and wants to live. She wants mankind to help and make it happen, not turn us into a lonely planet.” Please do your part. “Let’s act, not react.” (~Reid Inouye)

Along the same lines, April is coming up and it’s National Volunteer Month. Even though it’s acknowledged in April, try to volunteer more than this month. It’s our community, our People, our Earth, our Peace. An activist once told me, “even if it’s just making photocopies, the smallest acts make the biggest difference.” Annie and I hope that each one us can do our part, no matter how big or small, to make someone else’s and Mother Earth’s life happier, more peaceful, stronger, smarter, all around, Better. Please don’t forget to always give back. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

xoxo,

K + A
AIRA sisters

Tags: Mother Earth, Reid Inouye