Archival Laundry Tote

Last year, we asked the Steele Canvas Basket Company to reissue a square bottom janitor's tote that we found in an old Steele catalog. We made some minor tweaks to the design, specifying extra heavy duty #4 canvas duck and opting for longer, 6" handles. Working with Steele, we also brought back the original Steele stencil. In addition to laundry (the bag fits an entire comforter), we've been using ours to schlep packages to Fed Ex and the post office. We've also found the tote convenient for transporting small children. Here are some updated photos of the bag in action.

Archival Update: A.C. Totes

12" and 6" straps

This week, Archival Clothing is releasing a newly revised tote based on collective feedback from our customers and retailers. We've been asked to offer a short handled version of our tote for people who prefer to carry the bag in hand. The tote is now available in two strap lengths: 12" long with 1.5" webbing and 6" long with 1" webbing.

New colorways (black, navy, ranger tan and gray)

We've added visual interest to the bag by making the inside pockets out of a contrasting color of dry canvas duck fabric. We are using this tote run to introduce our new waxed cotton twill in Navy.

New strap attachment method and revised internal pocketing

We've refined the strap attachment points on the inside edge of the bag to strengthen these points and ensure that the inside of the bag looks as well appointed as the outside.

Navy/Orange

Tan/Navy

Black/Gray

Gray/Red

All internal seams finished with bias tape made from our own waxed fabrics

All stress points reinforced with sturdy bar-tacking

As with the original totes, our new model is made from 22 ounce waxed twill, 18 ounce dry duck canvas, and military grade cotton webbing. The tote is designed to be water-resistant and ready for a long life of service. Three inside pockets store personal items such as keys, phones, notebooks and pens—keeping them easily accessible and separate from the interior contents. A double-layer reinforced bottom ensures a long life and even wear.

Tote dimensions are 14” x 14” x 4” - perfect for your every day toting needs.

Archival Field Trip: NYC/Brooklyn (Pt 1)

Bobby Short portrait at the Cafe Carlyle. Soon after we landed we headed over to the Carlyle for a dinner show featuring OFAM favorite, John Pizzarelli and his wife Jessica Molaskey. Jonathan Schwartz was in the audience.

Tom, Sara and I breakfasted in Brooklyn with Matthew from the William Brown Project.

Pratt campus. We wanted to see to whence Tom has disappeared.

Visit with Emil and Sandy, the kind and creative gents behind Hickoree's/The Hill-side.

Some Hill-side wears with Brooklyn view

Exemplary packing station

Sara and Tom inspecting a Stanley & Sons conveyor belt tote

Brooklyn transport

Brook Farm General Store. Our Chaz would enjoy being a shop dog.

In constant transit. Footwear report to follow.

I emailed with this nice gent about places to stay in Brooklyn. We ran into him--by chance--at the restaurant he manages, Marlow & Sons. In addition to serving food, they sell woven towels and Armor-Lux apparel.

The Brooklyn Kitchen. Tom and Sara browsed the pickling supplies. I obsessed over the MKS Design paring knife on the left.

We stopped by Epaulet to check out their new Thorogood farm boot and Vanson for Epaulet waxed cotton motorcycle jacket. Lots of foot traffic in the shop.


A few doors down from Epaulet, we made a quick visit to Smith + Butler. Tom checked the fit on a Pointer chore coat. Just out of the frame, a reality TV couple browsed the inventory of nautical scarves, Barbour jackets and American workwear.

An all-important, end of day pause for cured meats at Los Paisanos meat market.


NYC/Brooklyn field trip, part two, coming next week.

Archival Update (8/9/2010)

A few updates on archival projects. Tom and I went up to Portland on Friday to discuss plans for an upcoming waxed cotton jacket. We're working with a clothing manufacturer who also makes traditional letterman jackets, vintage MLB apparel and dresses for a recent Project Runway winner.

Waxwear fabric for the prototype (not final jacket color).

Future A.C. show banner?

Since Tom is moving to New York for grad school, we're trying to wrap up as many production issues before he departs. High on our list was our need to source zippers for our jacket and future bags. We visited the Riri rep in her home in Portland to choose our zipper size, finish and features. Later this month, Tom will make final decision about tape color at the Riri office in NYC (located, of all places, in the Empire State building).

Riri zipper samples

Lunch with Patrick...

Snap view: Patrick's studio

Prada shorts, baseball belt

Patrick (sporting our Stop Making Sense Big Tote)

A.C. flap musettes and totes available at Winn Perry

Friend Jordan was taken with a finish detail on Tom's undershirt.

(It's actually a laundry bag)

Please note that we continue to build St James inventory in our store. Pictured above - the unisex Navale, a slim-fitting official French Navy shirt.

Don't forget that we have a fresh batch of Flap Musettes, now in Gray and solid Black, as well as solid black Totes.

Tom has also been working on a long-term CTS project by cutting all of the straps for our next run of Rucksacks at the A.C. headquarter's temporary plywood workbench (sometimes assisted by our Weimaraner-in-residence).