Asked whatitmeanstocare
Honestly, ebay and etsy have been pretty awesome to me. I scored an amazing very old Stetson Open Road on etsy for about $30. When you can’t go to all the vintage stores those two sites can scratch that diggers itch. Mind you I don’t buy a ton of new stuff that isn’t climbing or outdoor related. However, I do a lot of window (pun intended) browsing:
Taylor Stitch - Based and handmade in SF.
Unionmade I prefer going in person but their site is beautifully laid out
Put This On’s ebay round ups
Self Edge - Both the brick and mortar and online shop are where I go when I want to daydream of what I would buy if I hadn’t chosen the non-profit save the stupid fucking world lifestyle.
Mr. Freedom - because obviously a Frenchman in LA is the god of all that is amazing in the American workwear style. Also, I hear he is a real cool guy.
Kapital - mostly for the amazing lookbooks they shoot. Also, there is always some crazy ass style that I wouldn’t pull off that I still think is awesome. Also, $90 socks cuz FTW.
RRL - again I’ve never bought anything from there but I dig their layout and checking out the ladies styles.
Marisa Haskell - for when I want to look pretty.
Any other recommendations that I am missing?
“Shirt Week”
Raleigh Haberdasher window, 1310 F Street, Washington D.C. - 1926
Got a couple of bucks from the old man for Christmas and was thinking of getting some man luggage as my old duffle is beat to hell.
I’ve always liked Filson and this bag is made in the USA. At $219 I can almost justify it.
Thoughts? Green or Tan?
Any other recommendations out there for a similar style made in the USA bag with a price point here or under? Would love to support a smaller company if possible.
Freewheeler’s Whitman Vest available through Hickoree’s.
It is exorbitantly expensive but so damn pretty.
I bought a five panel cap from Fairends because you cannot wear a wide brimmed fedora all the goddamn time. It got me to thinking that it would be great if they teamed up with Carhartt and did a five-panel in duck cloth.
Gawker recently ran a critical article on one of my favorite menswear shops in the Bay Area, UnionMade.
Basically the article, I think fairly, calls out UnionMade for not doing a better job of supporting unions. However, I do think that their customer base and ownership are the kind of politically aware folks that would support a higher integration of union made clothing into the inventory.
I left this comment on the post
I admit it, I dig this store, I can’t afford most of it but, yep, I dig it. I save up to buy one or two nice articles of clothing every year that will last longer than some cheap Wal-Mart bullshit and are made in America (see Alden Shoes).
As a consumer, there is a lot to pay attention to and I applaud anyone who tries. I think that the customer base of UnionMade, which is located in SF on the edge of the Castro and Mission, are folks that pay very close attention, would care politically and have the means to be able to afford higher priced, well made, union branded clothing.
It would be great to see UnionMade continue on to form a relationship with some of the apparel unions. Start carrying and highlighting union labels along with your other merchandise, use union workers in your lookbooks, maybe give 10% of your profits back to worker’s rights organizations.
I try to buy American and I often try to buy union labeled clothing but probably not as often as I could. What do you think? I have never gotten the sense that this was “false advertising” but do you think it is?
I need another winter coat like I need another hole in the head.
Apparently Santa follows The Country Fucker and knew just what to get him.
I am going to Freeman’s Sporting Club tomorrow. Where else in NYC menswear sphere should I be sure to check?
