Stories worth reading. Stop indexing the internet.
Inside Lucchese’s Texas Boot Empire
“At the maker’s factory in El Paso, a village’s worth of artisans carry on a long tradition of making cowboy boots by hand.” [Garden & Gun]
America Is Officially Back in the Selvedge Denim Business
“Less than a year after acquiring Cone White Oak’s famed denim looms, Mount Vernon Mills is shipping its first rolls of American-made selvedge, and brands are lining up to get their hands on it.” [GQ]
and the Welsh town making jeans again
What Should a Car Smell Like?
“Alex Bilmes travelled to BMW’s Odour Laboratory to find out.” [FT*]
and what’s your favorite dashboard?
Why Contemporary Painters Are Obsessed with Tennis
“Artists like Honor Titus, Jonas Wood, and Sheena Rose are reimagining tennis’s crisp geometry and country-club aesthetics for a more expansive era.” [Artsy]
Great Menswear Can Come From Cleveland, Too
“William Frederick founder William McNicol talks making gorgeous garments & his desire to escape menswear’s clichéd “natural fiber” orbit.” [Highsnobiety]
No Gas Here: Only Diesels Allowed at West Virginia’s Radio-Silent Green Bank Observatory
“Ever thought about the radio frequency interference emitted by a spark plug? Green Bank’s scientists have.” [Road & Track]
How To Not Be An Entitled, Snobbish Vacationer
“Some tips on interacting with slack jawed yokels like yours truly.” [In the Teeth of All Hope]
As Private Equity Scales Up Small Restaurants, Customers Push Back
“Deep-pocketed investment groups are giving mom-and-pop food businesses a shot at big success. But many of their regulars are speaking out against those deals.” [NYT*]
A shortlist of things we’ve got our eye on.
Garrett Wade Heavy Duty 2-Drawer Steel Tool Box
Taylor Stitch Down Vest in Khaki Waxed Ripstop
Rivay x ACL x Alden Ranger Moc in Snuff Suede
William Ellery Maple Brushtail Socks
De Bonne Facture Wool Jacket
Chamois Shirts
L.L.Bean Chamois Shirt
J.Crew Heavyweight Chamois Workshirt
Alex Mill Potter Shirt in Chamois
Todd Snyder Chamois Cape Shirt
Ralph Lauren Indigo Chamois Western Shirt
Tom Gilpatrick of Vernacular
Tom Gilpatrick is the man behind Oakland-based outdoor brand Vernacular. What started with bags has expanded into camping gear and, more recently, apparel. There’s an honesty and humor to the way Tom talks about what he makes that we find refreshing. The designs are simple, utilitarian and a little unconventional, made in-house or nearby in the Bay Area and intended to be worn just about anywhere. We featured the Vee Vest this summer and wanted to hear how the brand came together, what he’s working on now, and who else is making gear he likes.
How did you end up starting Vernacular?
When I was living in Montana I worked at a company that built pop top truck campers (GFC) we had a flexible work schedule where if we hit our production numbers we could split and go have fun. When I moved to California I couldn’t give up that freedom so starting my own thing was the only option. :)
You’ve made everything from bags to camping gear and now clothing. How do you know when something feels like Vernacular?
I definitely did the camper bags out of necessity to live and going out on my own allowed me to pursue some of the ideas I had while working at GFC. They felt a lot different than the clothing stuff does now. My hope with all the stuff has been that folks find it useful in some way and fun to wear/use.
When you started Vernacular, what did you hope it would become? Has that changed?
Redundantly, I was hoping it would be my way out of getting a 9-5... so far so good. :)
What’s keeping you busy these days? Anything new you’re looking forward to or excited about?
So I did end up getting a for real job on top of the Vernacular stuff. It’s very non-traditional and still allows me to do this stuff, take trips and pay my rent. Sometimes I feel like I am being pulled in lots of directions but I like to be busy.
I have been working on a pair of shorts over the past year that I’m pumped about... a short sleeve button up too.
It’s tricky to get clothing sewn where I live, most cut and sew places don’t have an online presence, won’t answer their phone/email and have zero signage. I have had a lot of fun knocking on doors and bugging people to get the stuff made. Looking forward to further understanding the cutty SF sew biz stuff. :)
Who’s making really great gear right now?
I love everything Type 2 gear does, Gnuhr’s stuff is awesome, really like the BXB bike bags.
What’s a place you’ve been that you find yourself recommending over and over again?
Baja :)