a guide to heritage clothing, canvas bags, steel bicycles, and Japanese web shops
I primarily supply my field bag needs from Brady but I’m tempted by one of these potentially unavailable waxed cotton field bags or totes from South 2 West 8 (likely made for them by Brady or Chapman or Hardy or some other venerable UK subcontractor from the usual ingredient list: canvas, leather, webbing and metal …
At the end of 2019, I’m still following the Archival Resolutions I set out for myself at the start of the decade. My favorite has always been resolution #4: “Shop from yourself and from thrift shops. Repurpose strategic items from the past.” In the past year, I’ve been trying to shop more from myself and …
Office style, by Beams Boy A spot check on the Beams Boy Instastory redirected me to this curious “office style fair” capsule collection. I’m still trying to put my finger on the persona or segment archetype represented by this clothing. My guess: Jules and Jim meets Tokyo librarian.
Each refresh of the Japanese cycling outfitter Rin Project site reveals a new product obsession: wool cycling sweaters, retro hairnets, knicker hose, mod coats, leather cycling shoes and Brompton compatible shoulder satchels. My top Rin Project product pick is this cycling pullover with retro-inspired front carrying pockets and wool sourced from the UK. It reminds me …
It’s 2018, Amazon prime time, and I love that there are still brands that I can only buy in Japan. My running list: Rin Project, Danton, Anatomica, Beams x Fennica, Orcival and Rocky Mountain Featherbed. Obsession of the month: Rocky Mountain Featherbed (RMF) Six Month Vest (aside admiration for the slightly off kilter translation of RMF’s …
While I like to think that I am relatively current with heritage clothing brands in the states and abroad, I was pleased to discover Danton during my PDC trip to Tokyo last Spring. Danton is a french workwear brand sold in Japan. I’m not quite sure whether there really is any more Danton sold …
Per Peter Allen – Everything Old is New Again. I’ve been browsing through the pages of Men’s Club magazine from Japan. Who needs a costly Free & Easy subscription when everything about outdoor and inspired cycling garb has already been spelled out in 1977. Here are a few sample views: I love the mixed view …
Love this snap of canvas duck Archival Rucksacks on display at a new Tokyo stockist, Green Angle. I’m starting to envy the travel destinations of our Springfield, Oregon made baggage.
Last weekend we were honored with a visit from the Japanese “hi-style” magazine HUGE. HUGE is doing a feature on Oregon manufacturers and we were pleased that they included Archival in their itinerary. On Sunday, the HUGE team visited our sewing contractor’s facility in Springfield to get some live action snaps of Terry at work. …