CHAD GOES WEST, THE WILD WILD WEST

I'm all geared-up for my trip to the South West of the US. Tomorrow I will start my journey in Las Vegas and via the wilderness of Bryce Canyon, The Arches, Capital Reef, Monument Valley etc., I will travel to Phoenix, Az. from where I will cross the state line of California. Via Palm Springs & San Diego I will end up in Los Angeles just in time to go the the Rosebowl Fleamarket on November 10th. Unnecessarily to say that I'm looking forward to it.

ENGINEERED GARMENTS X WITH FARIBAULT WOOLEN MILLS

Since 1897, Faribault Woolen Mills has been making blankets for the military. The current iteration of their Foot Soldier Military Wool Blanket has been in use since about 1917, and was originally made to accommodate fluctuating temperatures in often-spartan cadet sleeping quarters. In addition to being permanently moth proofed, the fabric has the advantage of being machine washable and dryable, because anything good enough for the military should be tough, not precious.

Engineered Garments uses the Medic Green and U.S. Navy Gray Foot Soldier Military Wool Blankets as the base for their CPO shirts, which feature a Faribault Woolen Mills patch at the bottom and the corresponding blanket symbol behind the right pocket. Leather elbow patches and tonal buttons finish off the details.

38 LAMB'S ON CONDUIT BY J.CREW

Last week J.Crew opened their 38 Lamb's men store on Conduit Street, London.

Situated in an old townhouse dating back to the 1800s, the store offers men’s shirting, Ludlow suiting and exclusive partnerships with Thomas Mason and London Undercover (not to mention some unique services like monogramming). J.Crew is in good company on Conduit Street with stores like Folk, Private White VC and Oliver Spencer. I say London is calling!

WOOLRICH X TOPO DESIGNS

I already planned in an earlier stage to write about Topo Design, but their newest collab with Woolrich made me do it right away.

Topo designs is a bag, pack, accessories and apparel company based in Denver, Colorado. In 2008, 3 friends who grew up together and love the outdoors, decided to start their own bag company. Topo Designs bring simplicity, style and quality to outdoor gear. The name is based on topographic maps—"that logo makes more sense now, right? We really want to embody that outdoor western spirit - and the idea of grabbing a topographic map, compass and heading into the wild is something that not only appeals to us, but that we've spent a fair amount of time doing" says Mark Hansen one of the co-founders. 

POP UP FLEA LONDON - GET HANDSOME

Last weekend Michael Williams and Randy Goldberg brought their Pop Up Flea to London along with a handful of American brands and British labels and shops. Levi’s, Red Wing, Filson, Todd Snyder, Tellason, and Shinola are the few from the U.S., North Sea Clothing, The Vintage Showroom, Anthem, and London Undercover from the U.K. 

 The Pop Up Flea is an ever changing collection of new and vintage menswear goods. It’s a shop that opens one weekend at a time. A meeting of the menswear minds. It involves, in no specific order: good people, better things, expert craftsmanship, exercises in refinement, brands you love, up-and-coming designers, and menswear done right. The Pop Up Flea was born in New York in 2009, and like most successful ventures, its inception involved cocktails. (pics via Dawson Denim).

NEIGHBORHOOD - FALL/WINTER 2013

Workwear meets outdoor the Japanese way.

 In 1994, Shinsuke Takizawa was involved in motorcycles and the surrounding counter culture when he started Neighborhood in Harajuku, Tokyo. He create his collection with elements from motorcycle, military, outdoor and preppy. True Americana through the eyes of a Japanese. The first time I heard about the brand was last week when I saw it at Four in Amsterdam. For the moment there are a limited dealers in Europe and the USA

SCOTT NYC: 100 YEARS OF AN AMERICAN ORIGINAL

Schott NYC (Schott Bros) is an American clothing manufacturing company located in New York City. The company was founded in 1913 by brothers Irving and Jack Schott. Schott NYC was the first company to put a zipper on a jacket and they created the classic Perfecto motorcycle jacket, made popular in movies like The Wild One (1953). Schott NYC is still owned by the Schott family and still manufacture much of their clothing in the United States. Schott NYC is perhaps most well known for their Perfecto motorcycle jackets. In 1928 Irving Schott designed and produced the first ever leather motorcycle jacket, he named it the Perfecto after his favorite cigar. The jackets were made out of horsehide, had a belted front, D-pocket, flap change pocket, zippered sleeve cuffs and shoulder epaulettes. During World War II Schott NYC manufactured the wool naval pea coat for the US Navy. These classic designs are still manufactured by Schott NYC today. Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, iconic NYC leather outfitter Schott has partnered with Rin Tanaka to produce a new book, Schott: 100 Years of an American Original. Furthermore they had an exhibition on display in New York, this is already closed but you can find all the goodies in the Scott NYC Flagship Store on 236, Elizabeth Street, New York.