The Material Review
Issue 041: NYC's Retail Resurgence, The Clippers' Billion Dollar Play, High-End Pens, Searching for Classic Luis Vuitton Trunks and a Spotlight On Japanese Outdoor Brands.
Stories worth reading. Stop indexing the internet.
New York Was a Shopping Town. Is It Again?
“Small, medium and large: There seem to be signs of life for brick-and-mortar operations of every size in the city … once again.” [NYT]
Tim Cook on Why Apple’s Huge Bets Will Pay Off
“The CEO of the world’s most valuable company led two of the biggest product launches of his tenure this year—and believes they will be as life-changing for the rest of us as they are for him” [WSJ]
Inside the Clippers’ Billion-Dollar Play for LA
“In Inglewood, Steve Ballmer has constructed a basketball Xanadu, giving his team a much-needed home of their own. Now Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Co. are ready to start filling the rafters with red-and-blue banners.” [GQ]
Seeking ‘Warmth and Personality’ in the World of High-Priced Pens
“For collectors and enthusiasts at the London Pen Show, the finest writing instruments can cost thousands of dollars. As one dealer put it, ‘This is art of the highest quality.’” [NYT]
Where to find a classic Louis Vuitton trunk
“A century and a half on, the iconic cases are still a hit with travellers and collectors” [FT]
A shortlist of things we’ve got our eye on.
Evergoods Civic Travel Bag - Griffin Edition
William Ellery Mule Shirt
Kaptain Sunshine Finx Cotton-Canvas Jacket
Engineered Garments Corduroy Fatigue Pant
Anker 3-in-1 Cube
Japanese Outdoor Brands
DAIWA Tech Tactical Mountain Vest
and wander Diamond Stitch Down Jacket
Snow Peak Take! Chair
Nanga Ripstop Field Shorts
Montbell Climaplus Shearling Jacket
Nanamica ALPHADRY Club Trousers
Welcome to our weekly “Classifieds” section of the newsletter. The idea is to find an easy way to promote things happening in our ecosystem. Think of this space to promote your eBay shop, event, newsletter, app, book, tool or your personal brand (if you must). Drop us a line at if you’re interested in buying an item in an upcoming issue. Price: $200 for four ads. Maximum 280 character per ad.
🏨 Hiring! Head Men’s Buyer for Luxury Hotel Group
Recruiting a head men’s buyer for collection of incredible properties including: Four Seasons Maui, Hualalai, Vail and Naples Beach Club, among others. Setting a new standard for curation and collaborations in hotel retail.
Send all resumes to Jillian.McAndrews@fourseasons.com
