Building a collection of superb clothing makers
February 8, 2023 7:12 AM Subscribe
I got off of social media a few years ago and I realized recently that I don't have either a go-to resource or algorithms that introduces me to high quality clothing companies. The definition of this is quite broad but I came across Norlha and Gamine Workwear through articles and was mesmerized by the quality of clothes and the principles behind the company. Can you recommend similar companies or sites or bloggers that discuss these topics? I am late 30s, female, in the US, WFH, have 2 small children. I would like to buy less clothing but invest in quality wear.
You may be interested in Fibershed, which is a collaborative umbrella around the idea of climate beneficial fibers and agriculture. Here's their producer directory.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 9:37 AM on February 8, 2023
posted by Lawn Beaver at 9:37 AM on February 8, 2023
Vintage clothing can be a nice way to find well made pieces at reasonable prices, and has nice sustainability benefits as well.
One thing I have enjoyed is researching designers/manufacturers who were local to whatever area I’m living in (mostly New England) then trawling eBay or thrift stores. There’s a learning curve as you figure out how different fabrics, places of manufacture, designs etc. impact overall quality for companies that had a long history but no longer exist (or were bought out); that’s part of the fun for me though.
A lot of places in the US had local textile/garment industries up until the 70s and the stuff that’s still out there is often pretty nicely constructed and of high quality fabrics (survivorship bias), especially if it’s made with natural materials. These designs are also usually easy to repair/alter if needed.
As a bonus, if it was designed somewhere local to you it will also have likely been made to meet the needs of your outdoor environment or common occupations in the area. You will also be connecting with the history of your area in an interesting way. I have met people who worked at this factory near where I grew up, for example; maybe they helped to make one of my favorite coats!
Ibex is another formerly New England company, more modern (they shut down 10 years or so ago and the brand has been recently rebooted) that was local to me growing up. There is a lot of ‘vintage’ Ibex merino wool on eBay. The pieces made in the USA or New Zealand are often quite nice, sturdy (especially their wool blends) and well designed.
Archival is a (perhaps defunct?) blog by someone with these kinds of interests.
posted by soy bean at 8:08 AM on February 9, 2023
One thing I have enjoyed is researching designers/manufacturers who were local to whatever area I’m living in (mostly New England) then trawling eBay or thrift stores. There’s a learning curve as you figure out how different fabrics, places of manufacture, designs etc. impact overall quality for companies that had a long history but no longer exist (or were bought out); that’s part of the fun for me though.
A lot of places in the US had local textile/garment industries up until the 70s and the stuff that’s still out there is often pretty nicely constructed and of high quality fabrics (survivorship bias), especially if it’s made with natural materials. These designs are also usually easy to repair/alter if needed.
As a bonus, if it was designed somewhere local to you it will also have likely been made to meet the needs of your outdoor environment or common occupations in the area. You will also be connecting with the history of your area in an interesting way. I have met people who worked at this factory near where I grew up, for example; maybe they helped to make one of my favorite coats!
Ibex is another formerly New England company, more modern (they shut down 10 years or so ago and the brand has been recently rebooted) that was local to me growing up. There is a lot of ‘vintage’ Ibex merino wool on eBay. The pieces made in the USA or New Zealand are often quite nice, sturdy (especially their wool blends) and well designed.
Archival is a (perhaps defunct?) blog by someone with these kinds of interests.
posted by soy bean at 8:08 AM on February 9, 2023
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posted by sequel at 7:54 AM on February 8, 2023 [1 favorite]