Shopping from 2003: American Outdoorsman (was Frost River)

In case you neglected to order your waxed cotton canoe pack from Frost River before they went out of business, here's a second chance to place an order through their 2003 "American Outdoorsman" product guide (before they rebadged themselves Frost River--and switched from straightforward product shots to aloof line drawings). At some point, I'll post some scans from the last generation Frost River catalog for future Archival Clothing shoppers.

A German reader just sent me a link to his company's website, Absolut Canoe, featuring a robust stock of current model Frost River packs--albeit at a euro price premium.

Archival News: McAlister waxed cotton outerwear and accessories

I recently received an email from a reader who was wondering if I was just another workwear (or waterfowling?) poseur since I do not hike in my Alden Indy boots or use my Barbour jacket for game hunting. What the individual may not realize (aside from the fact that my Barbour is a now-discontinued "urban transport" model designed for cycling--not bloodsports) is that for the most part, I cannot wear most of the clothing pictured on this blog because it does not come in my size (and/or it is only available on cellulose nitrate). For this reason, I've never bothered to order anything from the McAlister clothing company, an amazing US based outdoor clothing company featuring some of the most functional yet stylish waxed cotton and outdoor clothing on the market. McAlister specializes in unstructured, non-fussy tin cloth field coats and waxed cotton down jackets and vests (which I am told are made out of a waxed cotton duck originally sourced to CC Filson before Filson switched vendors). At this time, they do not offer a women's product line.

McAlister is one of those stealth companies about which no one seems to know (unless you stall out in the middle of a Cabelas catalog). To my knowledge, their products have not made it to Japanese market though this amazing sweater will be featured on the cover of my Japan-only Archival Clothing 1986 brand catalog--in women's sizes too!

Randomly, on the subject of waxed cotton, here's a link to an interesting thread on waxed cotton garment rewaxing (and alternative methods of preparation and treatment). In a week or so, I'm going to designate a specific day as national waxed cotton garment treatment day. Stay tuned!

Shopping from the past: Holland & Holland Shooting & Safari Clothing, 2000-01

Shopping from the past: Holland & Holland clothing & accessories, 1997-1998

Archival News: Filson flagship store opening in Portland, Oregon

When it comes to Filson merchants, I'm a total Portland Outdoor Store loyalist. But on November 15, I'm going to swap allegiances in the hopes of claiming a Filson-themed door prize at the flagship store opening in Portland, Oregon. Proposal to CC Filson: in an adjacent space, open up a Filson museum featuring all the items that have been discontinued (and sometimes re-introduced) over the years. I could contribute the following: a four pocket wool whipcord cruiser coat, a pair of wool whipcord climbing breeches and a basic model shelter cloth chore coat with contrasting tin cloth arm patches. Any other submissions?

Shopping from the past: Beretta clothing and accessories, 2006-2008

PDF catalogs available here: Beretta International.

Shopping from Tokyo: Accessories and Shoes

Paper doll accessories and Russell Moccasins w/plantation crepe soles from Explorer Import shop.

Archival News: Fitted waxed cotton and tweed jackets from John Partridge

John Partridge has always been something of an ephemeral clothing company. I own product catalogs for JP from the mid-Nineties which pitch the company as an out-of-reach, luxury clothing brand. In the last few years, the company disappeared from view and I assumed that they had gone out of business (reinforced by the sudden US availability of their clothing, on steep discount, through Sierra Trading Post). Checking my collection of dead stock web links, I found an updated JP website featuring a highly promising (and more affordable?) range of waxed and tweed jackets for men and women. I'm intrigued by the pictured hacking jackets (with leather accessory belts) and the many variations on the traditional waxed cotton jacket and quilted bodywarmer.

Shopping from the past: Portland Outdoor Store

Portland Outdoor Store
Originally uploaded by agfachrome25

Since my travel budget will only permit Amtrak trips up the I-5 coordinator (and not Tokyo shopping sprees), I'm focusing on Oregon specific retailers, like the Portland Outdoor Store, which carry USA made workwear, westernwear and Lucchese cowboy boots (not on my shopping list, but a genre of boot I've come to visually admire by way of friends. Here's a striking, NOS sample pair). I purchased my first Barbour coat from the POS and they often have new old stock options like amazingly well made English jodhpur boots (if you wear a child's size), gabardine hacking jackets or Barbour jackets in the old four flap pocket style (from back when Barbour had a product range of only six or seven unisex jackets). POS is located in a slightly less gentrified area of downtown Portland. Every time I stop by the awning looks a bit more tattered (and the last time I visited, part of the main display window had been boarded up after a car collision). I highly recommend visiting POS (and making a purchase) before they go out of the business (not that they're actually going out of business--but given my luck with archival brands, I'm already regretting their closure five years in advance). If you get a chance, chat w/the owner/manager who loves to talk about Filson marketing strategies or the decline of western pleasure horsemanship (due to the skyrocketing price of hay). A few more photos from my flickr set.

Paper doll offerings from Japan

I've been vicariously shopping alongside A Continuous Lean during his business trip to Japan. First, I purchased a Berkeley jacket from the North Face "Purple label" collection at Nanamica (don't even ask me how I found this place since babel fish won't translate the street address).

One thing I love about Japanese clothing sites is the presentation of a full outfit in flattened, paperdoll form--right down to the boots, caps and accessories. To hasten along my shopping spree, I'm going to snip out two complete, quasi US Navy/WWII/Pearl Harbor (coined "NAVIism" or "Cadet Athlete")inspired paper doll set-ups, both from 68 & Brothers. You're welcome to print them out and wear them yourself.