CHAD'S FACTORY VISIT - PENDLETON WOOLEN MILLS

For several years I had on my wish list a visit to the Pendleton Woolen Mills and this spring I finally had the change to see how those beautiful blankets are made in Pendleton, Oregon. 

The blankets are still made on the same location since 1909. During the factory tour you see all the different stages, from spinning the wool to making the blankets by the computorized weaving machines. And when the final check is done (as you see in one of the last pics) the blankets are ready to be cut in the right sizes.

The company’s roots began in 1863 when Thomas L. Kay made a transcontinental trek to the west coast and began working in Oregon's woolen mills. He went on to open his own woolen mill, the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill in Salem, Oregon. Kay was an immigrant from England and a weaver by trade. He had worked in various textile mills on the east coast of the United States. In 1909 the family moved to Pendleton in northeastern Oregon and took over the defunct Pendleton Woolen Mills. The town of Pendleton backed the family in their new business venture and the Bishops’ company also took over the name Pendleton Woolen Mills.

POLO RALPH LAUREN SPRING 2019

The Spring '19 collection of Polo Ralph Lauren brings back those sweet memories of the Rugby collection. A playfull preppy Ivy League collection with a modern twist.

(pics via fmkorea)

THE RETURN OF THE BALMACAAN COAT

This season is marked by the return of the Balmacaan Coat. The peacocks of the Pitti already showed them to us.

A balmacaan is a "loose, full overcoat with raglan sleeves, originally made of rough woolen cloth."

It is named after an estate near Inverness, Scotland, and is a single-breasted coat, often a raincoat. To decrease risk of water penetrating the coat, the number of seams is reduced by bringing the sleeve to the collar (raglan sleeves) rather than to the shoulder as usual. Since it was designed to keep the rain and wind out, the collar can be buttoned all the way up to the neck, and is usually made of tweed or gabardine.

CHAD'S FACTORY VISIT - FILSON SEATTLE

In May 2018, I travelled again to the USA and this time I conquered the North-West region, starting in Seattle, WA. I was lucky to arrive one hour before schedule in order for me to have time to visit the factory tour at the Filson Seattle headquarters to see how craftspeople take the best raw materials Filson can find from around the world and turn them into garments, bags and gear that last for generations.

After the tour, I spent some time at the flagship store which is decorated with love and passion. Availabele in this store is a Filson Restoration Department with one of a kind products some are rebuilt from Filson originals, while others are completely unique built from pieces of repaired luggage.

If you every have the change to visit Seattle, make sure you stop by the Filson store and book your tour.