Stories worth reading. Stop indexing the internet.
Inside the Workshop Where Vintage Land Rovers Are Reborn, One Obsessive Detail at a Time
“Prices start at $224,000 and the waiting list is 3 years. In a former Xerox facility in Lisbon, road-weary Land Rovers are elevated to works of art.” [CNN]
and how tiny Japanese kei trucks sparked a rebellion in New York
One Man’s Quest to Create the Perfect Whiskey Glass
“An Austrian designer is unveiling a version that aims to solve an age-old problem for connoisseurs: how to keep the alcohol from overpowering the aroma.” [NYT*]
Stanley Zabar Has Died. He Managed the Books, and the Slaw, at an N.Y.C. Landmark.
“Zabar’s, a family business, became a renowned food emporium, which he ran with his brother Saul and another partner. He was 94.” [NYT*]
and when New York restaurant ads were worth framing
Margaret Howell’s Simple Trick to Surviving 50 Years of Fashion
“The British designer’s success comes down to one simple little thing, as she tells us.” [Highsnobiety]
and are scrubs just athleisure now?
Why Tech CEOs Love Black Leather Jackets
[FT*]
Behind the Revival of an Iconic French Alpine Brand
“Founded in 1922, the French footwear brand helped shape a generation of mountaineering footwear before disappearing for more than 30 years.” [Field Mag]
and visiting Waterbury Buttons in Connecticut, with Paul Stuart
Was Yellowstone’s Deadliest Wolf Hunt in 100 Years an Inside Job?
“A veteran ranger who killed a park wolf, ending the deadliest year for Yellowstone’s wolves in living memory, claims he’s the target of a ‘witch hunt.’” [The Intercept]
A shortlist of things we’ve got our eye on.
Alex Mill River Cable Rollneck in Alpaca
Portuguese Flannel Straight-Leg Cotton-Corduroy Trousers
Corridor x Mephisto Bakou MT
Anatomica Hand Fringed Tie
Niwaki Leaf Bag
American Style: The Look and Legacy of JFK Jr. by Jeremy Freed
Blankets
Pendleton Glacier National Park Blanket
Faribault Mill Scout Wool Camp Blanket
Best Made Warm Wool Blanket
Tom Beckbe Wool Camp Blanket
L.L.Bean Washable Wool Blanket
Johnstons of Elgin Double Face Lambswool Throw
American Woolen Marine Throw
Campbell’s of Beauly Land Rover Defender Jacquard Blanket
Jedd Rose of Topo Designs
Jedd Rose co-founded Colorado-based Topo Designs 18 years ago, making outdoor gear with a focus on classic design. We asked him what he’s learned, why he loves simple, well-made objects and his current favorite Japanese outdoor brands.
What have you learned in the past 18 years of running Topo Designs?
Wow, that’s a big topic. Owning a company, at least for me, is pretty inextricably tied to my life as a whole. As a result, my personal evolution and the company’s evolution tend to go hand in hand. So answering that question is similar to answering what I have learned in life over the past 18 years. Luckily, the company I own and the life I want to live are incredibly symbiotic. I knew, at the beginning of Topo, that this was probably what I was truly meant to do in life and, over the past nearly 20 years, it has become even clearer that Topo is really my best space. At the core, though, I’ve learned that it’s about relationships. We have managed to build some amazing connections over the years and I think, ultimately, at the core of every company, it is truly the people who make it live and breathe every day. So whether it is working on a dream collab, talking to a superfan, or simply reconnecting with a former employee, I’ve learned that the connections we have been able to make are really the heart of what we do.
What’s a piece of gear you’ve been carrying for years that you still can’t find a better version of?
I have an old version of the red Swiss Army Alox knife that my dad carried every day and I finally convinced him to give me at some point. It is super basic, bombproof and I love the knurled texture on the aluminum handle. The mix of tools within the knife is a bit different than most pocket knives these days (like the awl) but is a pretty amazing mix.
What do you use for inspiration for new collections? Old catalogs, vintage jackets, archival photographs?
Yes, ha. It’s a combination of all of those things plus constantly looking for innovation in our space on the material and hardware front. The best products we make at Topo combine inspiration from classic pieces that are trend relevant and take advantage of current innovations on the manufacturing and material side. Especially where sustainability is concerned, taking advantage of the advances in modern technology to make a more planet-friendly product is a fantastic opportunity even if it’s applied to a vintage-inspired application.
What’s a piece of outdoor gear you’d buy now because you don’t think they’ll make it like that forever?
I actually have bought several of these Tie-Fast Line Clippers (for fly fishing) this year just for that reason. They are the most incredibly simple design, just one piece of bent and sharpened metal with an eye pin punched through the end. I love the branding that is stamped down the side and the small stamped lines to help with grip near the cutters. This, to me, is one of the things that isn’t well supported in modern design. I think purely because it’s hard to market something that is so basic and lacks the bulleted list of features that usually accompany any tool. The other clippers on the market are heavy, overcomplicated and honestly just completely over designed. To me, it’s really enjoyable to use such an amazingly elegant product with restrained design that exudes the kind of timelessness I love.
Who’s making the most interesting outdoor gear in Japan right now?
There really is such a long list of amazing brands that have been in the space doing good stuff for a long time now. A couple that are constantly on my radar are CMF and And Wander. A new one that is squarely in my personal wheelhouse of interests by combining fly fishing and stellar footwear design is Creek. But an all-time favorite, not only for the product but their absolutely perfect retail store in a favorite part of Tokyo is Mountain Research.
Is there something you have bought this year that you’ve recommended to other people?
I finally bought a copy of The Outdoor Archive which was written by a fantastic guy at Utah State, Chase Anderson. I got to know Chase quite a while ago because of Topo and especially because of his interest in all things outdoor history. The book is absolutely fantastic for anyone that is interested in the vintage outdoor space. Chase continues to do a ton of amazing things to keep educating and building love for the history of the outdoor industry, so it feels great to support him.