This past Saturday the menswear popup, Northern Grade, made it’s second California stop of the season, this time in San Francisco at the 111 Minna Gallery in the city’s Civic Center.
Northern Grade is the brainchild of Minneapolis-based label Pierrepont Hicks and is designed to bring high-quality American made goods at a free event open to the public. Since the first show in 2009 it’s become a vibrant touring marketplace with stops all over the country.
It was a beautiful sunny day and some two dozen brands were in attendance, offering everything from handmade watches, tactical camping gear, and of course raw denim.
Minnesota-based Red Wing Shoes showed off a few new makes
Including this heavy workwear collaboration with The Brooklyn Circus
And a cork soled version of their Beckman in oiled nubuck
LA-based, Weiss Watch Co., assembles all of their manual wind watches by hand in their Beverly Hills apartment
Dawn Yanagihara of Kiriko makes scarves, ties, pocketsquares, and backpacks out of amazing Japanese fabrics in Portland
The local guys from Taylor Stitch were out in force
As were Tellason‘s folks
Tony Patella of Tellason
And military inspired outfitter Triple Aught Design
And Berkeley based boutique Standard & Strange. Here’s owner Neil Berrett holding up a pair of White Horse Trading Co. jeans he stocks from Colorado.
Karl Thoenessen of Rogue Territory came up from LA. His wares are looking lighter for summer.
Like this? Read these:
Bison Made leather goods came in from Arizona
And Kyle Rancourt of Rancourt and Co. traveled all the way from Maine with his family’s handsewn footwear
The event was co-sponsored by online retailer Gilt who were pounding out hand numbered keychains for everyone in attendance.
Northern Grade has stops planned in Richmond, Chicago, New York, and their native Minneapolis before the end of the year. If that includes you, be sure to check it out!
