Does “Cotton Kill”? The Moisture Wicking Properties of Various Fabrics
“Cotton kills.” If you’re serious about hiking, trail running, or any kind of serious mountaineering, you will have undoubtedly heard…
101 Primers
We get down to the basics, breaking down the core essentials of how things are made and how to maintain them.
Tyrolean Shoes – Thick and Stitched
The region of Tyrol in the Austrian and Italian Alps is known for ham, strudel, and obtuse clompy looking shoes….
The Fundamental Ways to Measure Textiles – Deniers, Thread Counts, and More
In our corner of the fashion world, it’s all about fabrics. So much so that we’re often talking about how…
The Three Tiers of Shell Jacket – Entry, Mid, and End Level
Along with glacial temperatures and icy sidewalks, winter brings another friend along each year—rainfall. And while the rain can be…
Read More
What is Melton Wool? On the Toughest and Arguably Warmest Woolen
There’s denim, there’s selvedge denim. There’s leather, there’s shell cordovan leather. There’s wool, and then, there’s Melton Wool. When it…
What is Fleece? Comfort and Warmth Through Plastics
Somewhere (hopefully hidden in a dark place), there’s a photograph of seven-year-old me, grinning and clad in a rather offensive…
The Three Tiers of Down Parka – Entry, Mid, and End Level
The down parka is the archetypal winter garment. Invented by Eddie Bauer in 1936, the feather-filled jacket rose to mainstream…
Understanding Persian Rugs – Two and a Half Millennia of Silk and Wool
In the city of Ctesiphon, a city along the banks of the Tigris river, not far from modern-day Baghdad, there…
Greenwashing – How to See Through Disingenuous Eco-Marketing
It’s undeniable that sustainability, environmental impact and ethical manufacturing processes are ‘on trend’ at the moment. And as a result,…
Synthetic vs. Natural Fibers – For Your Health and the Planet’s
The simplest building blocks of clothing are the fibers that are ultimately spun and woven into textiles, whence our clothing…