Greetings Kickstarter!  I really hope you enjoyed the video above and thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

The Essential Man is an independent men’s lifestyle brand based out of Los Angeles, California. 

What initially started out two years ago as a personal blog for me to share my perspective on life and how it was ultimately translated through style, grew into a full fledge brand.  Early on in its development I realized that not only was my captive audience continuously growing, but I had also developed the perfect platform for me to launch the men' s lifestyle brand that I had always dreamt of creating.  My first assortment of products were: a 5-panel camp cap, a pocket notebook, a canvas tote, and later, a graphic tee.

Now, two years later after experiencing success with my introductory products, I am ready to present my first official collection, which will debut Spring of 2013.  With this debut collection I am not trying to reinvent the wheel, I am simply bringing a new perspective to the items I deem essential by fusing my minimal design sensibilities with the perfect combination of street and contemporary fashion- the foundation of The Essential Man.

What makes The Essential Man unique is its attention to detail and craftsmanship; from determining the perfect contrast stitching all the way to the placement of the labels- it’s all done with great care and purpose.  I also believe in limited branding--when you buy a product from The Essential Man I want you to buy it because of its quality and not solely because of the label.  

The Essential Man products are created to transcend time.  Everything is understated, but you know there’s something special about it. Also all of my garments are made and crafted right here in Los Angeles so that I can assure quality control. 

Where I am now

Since Kickstarter operates on an "ALL-or-NOTHING" funding motto it is imperative that I reach my funding goal of $12,000 before the time expires. If I fail to reach my goal by even a dollar, I will not be able to receive any of the money put towards funding my debut collection and all of this hard work will be in vain.

This is not a charity, when you back my project you will get a great reward in return.

Please be sure to review the rewards on the right side panel.  I really took the time to offer you all something of great quality and value.  I will be updating you guys with pictures throughout the Kickstarter campaign.

$20 Reward: TEM Coffee

With this reward I had the opportunity to partner with LA Coffee Club in order to get a very fresh supply of locally roasted coffee to accompany your new TEM Coffee Mug.

$25 Reward: TEM Canvas Tote

With this reward, I simply wanted to offer an item that could be used over and over again, and these canvas totes are exactly that.  They are the perfect size for everything from running daily errands to simply shopping at your local farmer’s market.  Plus they are thin enough to fold and store away while still being durable enough to carry heavier items.  A true essential piece.

$30 Reward: Original TEM Printed Artwork

With this reward I had the opportunity to partner with my friend Victoria of Paper & Type in order to present you guys with some original artwork to beautifully accessorize the walls of your home.  These prints are produced on premium recycled paper using eco-friendly inks.

$40 Reward: Limited Edition TEM x CP Graphic Tee

With this reward I had the opportunity to collaborate with Los Angeles based artist, Simon Fobi (better known as Cheese Politics) in order to create a special design specifically for you guys (the backers), and this is what we came up with!  Please don't sleep, ONLY 60 t-shirts will be made. 

[UPDATE] $50 Reward: Limited Edition "The Essential Cap"

With this reward I simply wanted to offer something that could be worn over and over again, and this limited edition 5-panel camp cap is that and more!  It is created specifically for you guys (the backers) out of a striped Japanese denim fabric with a contrast under visor using the same red/white gingham plaid as the ties (below).  Only 50 will be available, and they will all be individually numbered...so please don't sleep!

[UPDATE] $75 Reward: TEM Pocket Square Set

With this reward I simply wanted to offer something essential to accessorize your sport coat/blazer for those summer weddings you'll most likely will be attending.  Since the pocket squares are apart of my Spring/Summer collection, I decided to produce them all using cotton chambray fabric- which is the perfect weight for the hot weather.  I chose colors that will ultimately look great with the essential khaki and navy summer cotton suits.  They also look great in the back pockets of your raw denim too!

[UPDATE] $100 Reward: Limited Edition TEM for Tailored Essentials Tie+Pocket Square Set

With this reward I had the opportunity to collaborate with the new men's accessory company, Tailored Essentials, by designing my own tie and pocket square set.  They were made here in the USA out of a premium Japanese patchwork cotton fabric.  Please don't sleep, ONLY 25 sets are available.

Stay tuned for more updates on the rewards.

Again, thank you for your time and consideration.  Remember, no contribution is too small.  Anything is helpful, anything is appreciated, and nothing is expected.  Please share this Kickstarter link with your friends via email, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and any other social media networks you may have.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me here: info@thessentialman.com | facebook | twitter

A Special Thank You to...

Traci, Adam, and Antone for helping me connect the dots with this campaign- I really appreciate you more than words can express.  

Also, though I don't know Chuck Inglish personally, I still have to thank him for producing the amazing track used in the video- coincidently it's entitled "California" and it set the perfect mood for piecing everything together.

Peace and love.

-Lorenzo Diggins Jr.-