We want you to Pin It To Win It!  Follow these easy steps for a chance to win your favorite Bench styles.  Happy Pinning! #STYLEMEBENCH

1. FOLLOW US: http://pinterest.com/benchoriginal/
2. CREATE A BOARD TITLED "Style Me Bench"
3. #STYLEMEBENCH:  Pin 3-5 styles from Bench-USA.com using hashtag #StyleMeBench on each image.

Enter by May 13th for a chance to win your pinned styles!

Pinterest T&C’s

Prize draw is open to United States residents aged over 18, excluding employees of Bench or any other person who is directly connected with this promotion.

To enter, entrants must 1) Follow Bench Original on Pinterest; 2) Create a vision board or boards on Pinterest titled ‘My Bench Style’; 3) Pin 3-5 styles from Bench-usa.com using hashtag #StyleMeBench on each image

The competition starts on April 29 and closes on May 13 2013 at 23:59 EST.

Entry into the promotion is on the understanding and the acceptance of these terms and conditions. Any breach of these terms and conditions may result in a prize being forfeited.

The winner will have created the most inspirational and motivational vision board, as judged by Bench Clothing. The winner will be notified via Pintrest and announced on the Facebook page & Pinterest on May 10^th. The winner will then be privately messaged with details about how to receive their prize. The selection of the winner is at the judge’s sole discretion and no correspondence will be entered into. If within 7 days, the Promoter has had no contact from a winner then the Promoter has the right to have the independent judge pick another winner from all valid entries.

The Prize: A Bench item “pinned” onto your board. No cash or other alternative in part or full will be offered in lieu of the specified prizes. Prizes are not transferable.

Entries must be via Pinterest, entries via third parties will not be accepted.

The Promoter accepts no responsibility for entries that are illegible or lost or delayed via technical problems. Proof of sending does not constitute proof of entry.

The Promoter reserves the right to amend, alter or terminate this promotion at any time due to circumstances beyond its control. The Promoter reserves the right to amend, cancel, modify or offer an alternative prize if, in our sole discretion, the prize is not capable of being issued. Prize winner may be required to participate in reasonable publicity associated with this promotion.

For Jayson Hale there are no limits to his adventures.  At age 4 Jayson first started to snowboard and hasn’t stopped since.  Growing up, Jayson would take a 30 mile hike down and back to a local resort to tear up the mountain.  By the time he was 17, he became the youngest member of the US Olympic snowboarding team.

And Bench is thrilled to have him on the judging panel for this season's Self Made Competition.

Want to know more?  

Well during his US Snowboarding career Jayson has medalled at World Championships, won two X-Games Bronze medals, a world cup medal and a Gold and Silver at the Arctic Man race in Alaska. Not bad!

But his sporting prowess doesn't stop there. He's a next level natural outdoorsman who is known for his extreme levels of outdoor survival skills in winter or summer, forest or desert, mountain or valley. So, when he isn¹t on his snowboard he can be found living in the woods, fly-fishing and exploring nature with his Labrador Retriever, Finn, following closely behind.

Thanks for coming on the Bench team Jayson.

• Are you self made? Enter Bench Self Made Competition
• Find out more about our Search For Talent

The Self Made concept couldn’t be better timed to the artisan revolution taking place in New York right now. It was the perfect backdrop to this the next stage of the Bench campaign and the inspiration for our first foray into creative film. Director Ben Fries believes it's affecting message is something that resonates with us all.

'People don’t want to get famous any more,' agrees Director Ben Fries. 'They want to get good. Good at making whiskey, at crafting chairs, at designing wallpaper. They’re not doing it to cash in or sell a business; they’re doing it for the pleasure of putting their all into something and producing the best possible product. They know that if they keep their head down and work hard success will find them.'

Needless to say, finding upcoming talent such as Fries to produce a film that would inspire a generation of creative and hard working individuals while celebrating our latest SS13 collection was a lucky move. And a partnership made in Bench heaven.

WATCH SELF MADE NYC AND WIN A TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY

Action

Fries went off to explore the life of five New Yorkers determined to make their own way.  The film (see above) offering a portrait of each one through their daily routine. In the energetic and fast paced piece, we meet clothing designer Jack Greer (pictured top), rapper Kilo Kish, photographer Sunny Shokrae, sculpture Jack Henry and illustrator Jeff Henrikson.

The inspiration behind this documentary Fries says came from his own personal journey as an aspiring director in New York City. Knowing how the city defines a certain type of attitude and motivation. 'I want the subjects be our guide, so the film could reveal a unique view of the city through native eyes.'

Storytelling

'I have a friend who is a furniture designer. She works as a carpenter’s apprentice in Gowanus,' begins an energetic Fries as he summates what it means to be Self Made.

'Every day, after work, she heads straight to her studio in Clinton Hill to work on her designs. She often eats dinner at her drafting table. On the weekends, she uses the carpentry studio to fabricate her designs, which she sells on consignment in Williamsburg. She has had so much success with her furniture sales that she no longer needs her day job. But working with the carpenter provides her with access to the equipment she needs to make her work and refine her craft. Every waking hour is focused on a singular goal: To make the best work possible and share it with the world.'

Like her, our Self Made protagonists are intelligent, ambitious and motivated. They are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. They are inspired and inspirational. They are tomorrow’s taste makers. They’re on the cusp of achieving their dreams.

A Day In The Life

So why should we care about these people? The key to character is specificity, argues Fries. 'Our first step is to research the visual details that tell our story in the most evocative way. If our subject is a furniture designer: what type of tools does she use? what time of day does she turn on the lights? what kind of food is she eating at her drafting table?'

And the energy of their lives constantly drives the story forward. We watch them commute through the subways, taxies, ferries and cycle through streets of New York finding an almost mediative space to watch their days unfold.

'Commuting is one of the most common shared experiences in a city, yet there is so much variety that the experience is also very individual," says Fries. 'One bikes across the bridge, another takes the ferry to the subway.I see the commute as a great way to both explore the subjects’ individual journey as well as show off interesting and lesser seen areas of the city.'

In Style

Fries passion for film is apparent: 'One of the things that I love about film is the physicality and texture of it. It breathes and undulates. The grain crawls like a living thing. Film’s idiosyncratic nature is what makes it feel so vital and that vitality what makes it such a perfect fit for the story we are telling in Self Made.'

Shot in Cinéma vérité style, the film is underexposed and push processed to enhance the contrast, grain and saturation; exaggerating the personality of the film. Fries explains: 'The look is classic New York but the subjects are fresh. The point is not to make the film look like it is from another time, but rather to show today’s lifestyles within the context of a timeless city.'

• GLIMPSE Behind The Scenes SS13
• WATCH SELF MADE NYC AND WIN A TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY

Are you a new inspiring talent? Have you got the drive to make it on your own? Are you passionate about what you do and want to make things happen? Bench wants to hear from you.

ENTER BENCH SELF MADE NOW

Bench is looking to sponsor a new inspiring talent to help succeed in their chosen field. Offering the opportunity to win £1000 in cash, plus the chance to work with a team of industry professionals in design, music, fashion, marketing and PR.

We salute hardworking individuals. Those not afraid of getting their hands dirty, who give their all to building a future and proving life is what you make it.

What we would like to know is - where has your passion, creativity and hard work taken you? Tell us your story, show us your flair, convince us you have what it takes to make a difference and we will offer you the support you need to take your dream to the next level.

The Prize?

£1000 in cash, plus the chance to make your dream a reality with the backing of the global Bench brand and exposure through the Bench brand book, websites and social media.

This prize includes something money can’t buy, the opportunity to work with a team of leading mentors from your chosen field, whether business, music, design, marketing or PR.

Join us at www.benchselfmade.com for your opportunity to be part of this incredi ble 'money can’t buy experience.

ENTER BENCH SELF MADE NOW

Follow us @bench_clothing using #selfmade now.

Not everyone has the patience to create art, or the inclination. Sculptor Jack Henry, however, finds inspiration in scraps around the streets of Brooklyn. He tells his story here...

Once upon a time, the weary and poor of New York would head for Brooklyn. Rough around the edges, the borough became the destination for immigrants looking for a new life and a fresh start in America. In recent years, like many deprived areas in major cities, the artists began moving in, attracted by cheap rent and large studio spaces. The neighbourhood’s diverse cultural and social mix made it fertile ground for a burgeoning creative community who soon gentrified the area and stimulated the local economy.

In the heart of this hotspot, nestled on a quiet street in Bushwick, we find the studio of fast-rising artist Jack Henry, whose provocative paintings and abstract sculptures are attracting attention.

What is it that you do?
Jack Henry: I’m a sculptor who uses found objects and cast materials to make monuments in honour of post-industrial America. I also work part-time as a freelance art installer, making pedestals and stretchers for other artists. I want my work to look like something found, as if carved out of some unknown time and place. The theme in all my work centres around an idea that our objects will become the artefacts of our time. I’m retracing my steps, picking up objects that have been left behind, and thinking about moments in my life that I’ve seen common curiosities: a roadside memorial, a tattered billboard or a random collection of objects in an empty lot that when combined create a poetic moment that transcends the original purpose of each object.

Was there a heavy influence from your family on what you do?
My dad is the director of the museum in Flint, Michigan, my hometown, and my mum is an interior designer. So art and aesthetics have always been a focus in my family. Growing up, I was always playing with Lego, building a tree fort, drawing or making videos with friends, but I didn’t start making art seriously until I was in college.

How did you learn the skills you needed to do what you do?
I think that any skills I’ve learned have come out of necessity. I had an idea that I wanted to execute and had to figure out how to make it.

When you look back at your earlier work, how do you feel about it?
I’ve always made things, but a lot of the stuff when I was growing up was pretty random. Most of the work I did in high school and college I wouldn’t want to show people now. But, occasionally I’ll go home and come across a little painting that I did as a kid and kind of like it.

How does going solo affect your lifestyle?
It’s always tough picking up freelance work. Sometimes I don’t get a call until the night before and may not have many details until I get there. But being freelance does allow me a lot of time to be in the studio and I can turn down jobs if I have a show coming up or a commission where I need extra time.

Why you end up in Brooklyn?
I moved to New York on July 4, 2010 – about two and a half years ago. I moved straight to Bushwick and have been there ever since.I graduated from the University of Maryland and was going to be looking for work wherever I ended up living. So I moved to New York because of the opportunities. There are so many galleries, artist-run spaces and pop-up shows with really good work in them.

How are the people around you important when you’re trying to make it?
There is a great community of artists in Bushwick and I think I benefit from being around people who are serious about the art they make. There are so many artists making good work all the time that it motivates me to get back in the studio. Plus, I figured that if there was an audience out there that would appreciate my work, with all the people in New York, I should be able to find that audience here.

Do you think you’d be at the point you’re at in your career if it you didn’t live here?
I feel like there is a sense of urgency in New York that I didn’t feel in other places. Time seems to move a little faster, and I get more done. And there are a lot of things to do in the city. I’m never bored.

Does the city influence your work?
Well, for me, it provides a wealth of discarded objects. There is never a shortage of things to pick up that inspire a piece. And I see the best art in the world. The museums are excellent and there are tons of galleries. In one afternoon I can see a variety of exciting artwork that I didn’t have access to in smaller places.

Where are your favourite spots?
There are some great bars in my area: Bodega, Pearl’s and Miles. I can always manage to have a good evening with my friends and girlfriend. And I like going to Chelsea to check out what’s new at the galleries. But it’s New York City and one of the best things about it is there is always some place cool that I haven’t been to. It never feels like the same routine.

www.jackhenryartist.com

A glimpse of all the artistic action at Bench's Sketch City Exhibition. The global Self Made campaign celebrates those who go out and create for themselves. And in Manchester they are doing it art style as art and music collaborative, Sketch City, took over the Self Made Manchester gallery to showcase some live graffiti art.  Artists recreated a live mural  on the Bench Self Made Gallery walls alongside workshops  offering everyone the opportunity to doodle and learn some street art & illustration techniques.

For more information on any of the exhibitions or events in the gallery please go to Self Made Gallery.

This Winter Bench is launching a brand new Pin It To win it competition. 

A chance to give back to the Bench community for loving, wearing, styling, fashioning and buying our stuff season after season.

To win, simply Pin a Bench product with the hashtag #benchusa from the site and be in with a chance of winning it absolutely FREE.

Tell your friends, pin as many times as you like and every month we’ll pick a winner do kit out in some of our finest autumn/winter collection.

I Don’t Have a Pinterest Account? You don’t? Well set one up now. It’s easy. Here’s How.

To keep up with Bench news follow us @BenchUSA or Join us on Facebook/Benchofficial

• Browse Menswear or Womenswear now to find your favourite bits

• Winner announced on the first Friday of every month.

As Winter approaches we're all gearing up for the snow and to hit the hills. Victor Loron shows off his tricks and gear in this edit he made last winter. Can't wait to see what he comes up with this year!

Are you a new inspiring talent? Have you got the drive to make it on your own? Are you passionate about what you do and want to make things happen? Bench wants to hear from you.

Bench is looking to sponsor a new inspiring talent to help succeed in their chosen field. Offering the opportunity to win $1000 in cash, plus the chance to work with a team of industry professionals in design, music, fashion, marketing and PR.

We salute hard working individuals. Those not afraid of getting their hands dirty, who give their all to building a future and proving life is what you make it.

What we would like to know is - where has your passion, creativity and hard work taken you? Tell us your story, show us your flair, convince us you have what it takes to make a difference and we will offer you the support you need to take your dream to the next level.

The Prize?

$1000 in cash, plus the chance to make your dream a reality with the backing of the global Bench brand and exposure through the Bench brand book, websites and social media.

This prize includes something money can’t buy, the opportunity to work with a team of leading mentors from your chosen field, whether business, music, design, marketing or PR.

Join us at www.benchselfmade.com for your opportunity to be part of this incredible 'money can’t buy experience.

• ENTER BENCH SELF MADE NOW
• Follow us @benchUSA using #selfmade now.

BENCH SELF MADE - SAM CUNNIFFE from Bench. on Vimeo.