I’ve got a bombshell regarding loafers to drop in *hopefully* the next few days—anyone who’s seen me recently has an idea what that is, but it’s an exciting new brand that has somehow managed to balance a very elegant shape with a very comfortable, orthopedic-inspired last. It’s truly the best loafer I’ve ever worn. In the meantime, here are some things I think you’ll find interesting and potentially worth owning from across the information superhighway.
Small Wonder × Julien Jaca Trading Cards
Small Wonder is a CPH-based playing card company, something not very common these days. This particular set is about 50 bucks a pop and was designed by French artist Julian Jaca, whose art clearly takes inspiration from old handicrafts, scrimshaw, tattoos, biker gangs, and other counterculture iconography.
Vietnam Zippos
Speaking of iconography, this book does a great job of categorizing authentic, documented designs of engravings from the Vietnam War. There are a good number of cheeky designs that have inspired me to try to find a skilled engraver to create my own. Don’t bother trying to find a real vintage one — there are too many reps out there, and the prices are astronomical if you’re actually considering one to use. Zippo sells its Classic design for $15.29, or there’s a 1941 replica that looks like the Vietnam ones with a slightly more angular design for about $5 more. Now, to find an engraver.
Permanent Style ‘Art du Lin’ Linen Harrington
Linen outerwear is an interesting concept to me — most contemporary brands don’t bother because the material can appear a bit fussy and impractical, but I actually think heavier linen is one of the best fabrics for warmer weather. In temperate climates and warmer weather, you want something that has a little airflow while still offering substantial protection, and linen does that best. This Linen Harrington is based on an old linen Hermes bomber, which is the pinnacle of vintage references for me — elegant, unique, and yet still classic and practical. At a little under 650 USD, it’s not for the faint of heart, but the brown ‘Art du Lin’ fabric by Solbiati alone is worth the expense, capturing the most beautiful qualities of linen — slubby, natural texture, and a dense, velvety hand — while reducing some of the less desirable qualities — sheen and a crinkly texture. It’s what The Anthology calls ‘Sueded Linen’, and I think that name rings true. Anyway, the jacket is a remarkably wearable work of art that appears to have flown under the radar.
Wonder Looper FoxFibre Tsuriami Tee
Another spotlight on the beauty of natural fibers. In Japanese ‘tsuri’ means hanging, ‘ami’ means knitting — it’s basically their word for ‘loopwheel’, which is an old-school way of making knitwear that most consider superior because it results in a gentler, longer-lasting knit. It’s the look and feel of vintage because the process itself is vintage. FoxFibre is named after Sally Fox, who developed and trademarked an organic way of growing naturally-colored cotton fibers in the late 1980s. Levi’s once collaborated with her in the 90s for a ‘Naturals’ line that fetches a fine price now, but Wonder Looper’s tees are unique in that they’re a heavyweight 228 GSM that really shows off the beauty of the loopwheel process, and the deep brown ‘Coyote’ color of the natural fibers. I’m late to the game so this color is sold out everywhere but I found it in stock at Canadian retailer, Danali.
Dijon – Big Mike’s Live
All the energy in this live version just hits better than it does on the album recording.