Put This On

For a few years, I used an old nylon zipper bag for my toiletries. When I say old, I mean that truthfully - this number was from the late 60s, and had crazy psychedelic designs on it. When that bit the dust, I grabbed a simple zip bag from Muji, but I wanted something more than plastic.

After a lot of fruitless searching for something suitable at a reasonable price, I ended up grabbing a Jack Spade waxwear dopp kit from Gilt. It was a bit more expensive than I’d like, and I’d have preferred it didn’t have a big Jack Spade logo patch on it, but it’s very good looking and has served me well. (By the way: if you’re looking for simple, mid-priced, solid-quality accessories, you can do worse than Jack Spade on Gilt. Good selection, usually, and nice products.)

If Archival Clothing had been offering this Archival Dopp Kit back then, I probably would have bought one for myself. The team there always works hard to remove unnecessary BS from their designs and to get every detail right. The result is a beautiful form and exceptional function. Sixty bucks isn’t a pittance, but frankly it’s cheap for something made exactly right. That’s how Archival do it.

(And they just put out a cool-ass duffel bag, too.)

Abandoned Republic: a blog dedicated to pre-GAP Banana Republic.

(via Archival Clothing)

Banana Republic was originally a surplus vendor, then started to make reproduction surplus goods, then original designs. They were purchased by GAP in the early 80s (both were Bay Area-based) and transformed over the course of ten or fifteen years into the metrosexual mecca they are today.

Whether you’re already a fan of early BR or not, the book they put out in 1986 is a great read.

Here’s a lovely new product. Our friends at Rising Sun Denim, who we profiled in our first episode, have placed this beautiful outdoor vest in the store of our pals at Archival Clothing. It’s expensive - $225 - but as you saw in our first episode, it’s made by hand, so there’s a reason for the price. It’s also an interesting fabric - indigo-dyed canvas duck. I’m a big fan of canvas duck, a heavy canvas used for work clothes, and so’s Mike Hodis, the empresario of Rising Sun. A beautiful, (sorta) practical piece.

A roundup of camera accessories at Archival Clothing.

These shawl cardigans that our people at Archival Clothing just put out are just beautiful. Spectacular. Golden. Made right, and made in the USA. And a bargain at $180.

This one’s for the bike nerds: archival cycling on Archival Clothing.

It is currently taking all my self control to prevent myself from buying this beautiful web belt from Archival Clothing.  It’s $24!  Gimme a break.

1 - Lightly padded back panel provides overall structure and protection from awkward cargo. Pack rides closely and load does not sag.
2 - Shoulder straps attach into side seam, curving straps around body for comfort.
3 - Twin outer bellows pockets are easy to access and are nicely sized for smaller personal items.
4 - Single Horween Chromexcel leather strap is light, durable, and convenient.
5 - Dimension is taller and narrower. Loads carry best in this configuration.
6 - Drawstring around top opening keeps load secure and further prevents bag flopping.
7 - Two inch wide webbing shoulder straps are perfectly comfortable for loads up to 25 or 30 pounds.
8 - Convenient locker loop.
9 - Double-layered bottom ensures a long life.
10 - Fully finished inside and out. Seams fully bound in our own waxed canvas bias tape. Stress points are bar-tacked or riveted. Snaps and rivets are reinforced with leather washers.

Those folks over at Archival Clothing are KILLING IT.  Their method is basically: figure out all the different stuff you can do right, then do all that stuff right.  This rucksack is the bee’s knees.

We’re on board with Archival Clothing’s resolutions, and they’re now available in a lovely poster for only ten bucks.

The wonderful folks at Archival Clothing have produced these lovely musettes.  I guess musette means “little tote bag.”  Whatever they’re called, they’re beautiful, and every detail is perfectly executed.  They come in tan waxed cotton, yellow and navy (above), and there’s a flap version on the way.  The best part: they’re fifty bucks, which for a product of this quality is a fantastic price.