Archival Clothing

Archival Storefront

2012-02-15T19:00:00.000-08:00

We often get emails about whether Archival has a retail store in Eugene, Oregon (our hometown). While we do have a commercial building in Eugene, it's primarily used as a warehouse and shipping center. If you make an appointment (via info@archivalclothing.com), we'd be happy to show you our wares in person.

If we did have a flagship Archival store, it might look like this:

Archival Inspiration Vol. 03

2012-02-12T20:42:00.001-08:00

Snap views from the pov of the Archival booth at Inspiration Vol 3. Thanks to our show host, our Archival support crew and everyone who dropped by the booth to say hello.

More photos on flickr:

Inspiration Vol.03 (Day 1)
Inspiration Vol.03 (Day 2)

Archival Photography: The Clampette

2012-02-10T07:31:00.000-08:00

In my stocking this past Christmas came a happy little thing of forged aluminum - the Clampette!

It's a tiny camera fitting that can clamp onto just about anything - ideal for the time-lapse aficionado. Great packaging, great tool, made in the USA. Can't go wrong. Go check out High Sierra Mfg.

New Release: Archival Plain Waxed Jacket

2012-02-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Our first piece of outerwear, the Archival Plain Waxed Jacket is meant to be a reliable, comfortable outer shell to ward off rain and wind. Ideal for walkers, cyclists, fishermen, sailors, and anyone else who loves being outside in all weather. The Plain Waxed Jacket is unlined, with raglan sleeves and two welted handwarmer pockets. Cut just below the waist. Made of a waxed cotton/nylon fabric that's both durable and lightweight. Collar, cuffs, and pockets are lined in soft wool flannel. Cuffs and back adjust with a snap, and a stout two-way brass zipper is backed with a storm flap to keep out the drafts. Fully finished inside and out, using felled seams and twill tape, this jacket is built well to last long. Available in navy.

Fully finished inside and out

Stout, two way brass. zipper backed with a storm flap

Wool flannel lined cuffs, pockets and collar

Guest Post: Archival Field Bag Review

2012-02-02T08:39:00.000-08:00

Thanks to longtime friend and photographer Rick Gersbach for this review. Rick has an early Field Bag that, we wager, has seen some of the hardest use of any Archival baggage!

As the waterfowl season draws to a close here in Washington State, I thought I would submit a review of the Archival Clothing Field Bag. I have been using this bag all season as a catchall blind bag/jump shooting bag.

It has been a great hunting companion--thorn proof, waterproof, roomy, and quiet. It has seen 28 days in the field this year, and has seen its fair share of accidental dunkings, mud, a whole lot of rain, and more mud. I am pleased to say that the contents of my bag have stayed uniformly dry and clean. An added bonus, the brass ring on the side is a perfect place to clip a game strap.

I initially thought that this bag would be an urban laptop and sketchbook hauler (since it does serve that purpose well), but I soon pressed it into service as a working field bag. It nicely holds all of the necessities for a day afield: a box or two of shot shells, binoculars, extra layers, water bottle, etc…

Recently, an unfortunate, hip high, encounter with a drainage ditch left my bag and I covered with unspeakably smelly mud. After letting it dry out, a stiff brushing and another rainstorm was all it needed to get it cleaned up and looking good.

Can’t ask much more than that.

Typical contents

Detail View

Archival Footwear - Sidi Touring Shoes

2012-01-31T07:39:00.000-08:00

AC friend and Rivendell General Manager, John Bennett, sent me photos of his unworn Sidi touring shoes. Unlike modern "carbon" models w/velcro strap adjustments, John's Sidis come with an old fashioned lacing system and walkable soles. Though these Sidis come from the past, several of my randonneuring friends wore them during this year's edition of Paris-Brest-Paris. I think they're stunning enough to wear with cords knickers and a wool pullover to work.

Housing from the past: Quonset Huts

2012-01-27T11:01:00.000-08:00

The Nissen or Quonset hut was invented during WWI, and used in massive quantity during WWII. I love that the huts destined for the Pacific Theater were made entirely of spruce, since steel rusted out too quickly in the tropical environment.

There's a big Quonset hut behind our sewing contractor's factory in Springfield, Oregon. It's currently in use as a machine shop, but I'm constantly threatening to move in. Something pretty attractive about how simple they are. There are also several on the University of Oregon campus that I used to peer into -I'm sure they'll be torn down soon. All good things....

From the Archives: Post O'All Vests

2012-01-25T23:26:00.000-08:00

Here are a few snap views of Post O'Alls vests from my personal collection. Inspired by vintage hunting and shooting vests, the Post O'Alls vest features an internal poacher's pocket and four outside flap pockets. The cargo capacity rivals that of an AC Rucksack. A fan of the hyper layered look - I wear mine interchangeably over wool and cord blazers.

Shopping from Japan

Herringbone wool

Cotton Poplin

Inspiration - Original Filson Hunting Vest

Archival DIY: Knotting a Kerchief

2012-01-22T13:26:00.000-08:00

For the past few years I've been taking kerchief knotting lessons from John Ford characters. In my mind, my kerchiefs always look as snappy as the ones worn by John Wayne in Ford's cavalry trilogy:

Several weeks ago, I sent out a tweet requesting more formal, step by step instructions for knotting a kerchief. Several folks recommended that I check out Cotton Duck's helpful how-to guide originally posted on the discussion forum superfuture. I'm reposting the instructions below:

Archival Field Trip - Eastern OR

2012-01-18T17:59:00.000-08:00

Tromping through the sage. Photo by Rick.

I got to spend a few great days out in eastern Oregon with a longtime friend of Archival. While we didn't have the most productive hunt, we chose to see it as a scouting trip. After a cold, slow day outside of Hermiston, we went down to the Deschutes and hiked around looking for grouse and chukar. I managed to get a rabbit, and lost a mallard drake to the fast river (bad karma).

A cold morning on Cold Spring Reservoir.

My beloved 1991 Toyota Previa van.

Looking for trouble.

Rick and his beloved Toyota pickup.

Time in camp with Digger. Photo by Rick.

Got into more fruitful duck land a few days later with friend Will. That's not all my bag, I only got two!

Hopefully I'll continue the hunting streak back on the East Coast with the William Brown Project.

Review: The Freeman Jacket

2012-01-17T05:06:00.000-08:00

The kind folks at Freeman sent us a jacket to try out. They're based in Seattle, and make the jacket out of their house - an impressive feat, since it's sewn as professionally as anyone could ask.

It's made of a two-layer waterproof breathable, which, for those who didn't memorize Patagonia catalogs as a child, is an outer nylon shell with a laminate underneath - a laminate that's very fragile and must be lined. The Freeman feels like a Patagonia or Sierra Designs jacket from the late 80s - it's light, but not so light that it feels insubstantial.

Flapped pockets with logo debossed snaps. This type of spring clasp jingles a bit when it's unfastened, so if you're OCD about jingly hardware, keep it snapped!

Nice soft cotton flannel lining which is a joy to wear and is pleasing to behold. Ideal for the "sidewalk socialite," as Freeman puts it. I don't know if this would be my first choice for backpacking or skiing due to the cotton lining and lack of pit zips, but that's no deal breaker.

The fit is outstanding, and that's the main difference between this jacket and something vintage. I ended up with a size or two too small, but it's still nice and trim and the hood fits really well. I love the red drawcord and cord locks.

Recommended as a nice, clean, simple rain shell, made in Seattle by a super friendly crew. Classic synthetics don't come much better than this. Go check 'em out!

Criminal Faces of North Shields

2012-01-16T05:50:00.000-08:00

The fellow above is wearing a fine Guernsey.

Posted from the male and female sets with kind permission from the Tyne and Wear Archives. If you, like me, hadn't heard of Tyne and Wear, it's the unusual name of a county way up in northeastern England.

Archival Handkerchiefs

2012-01-11T22:53:00.001-08:00

As documented, Archival loves kerchiefs. My preference is for discharge printed, polkadot models from Japan and the UK. To diversify my collection, I'm going to shop for a few vintage kerchiefs from Cornell University's Political Americana Collection. When knotted, the rhetorical content reverts back to pleasing patterns and scrambled text.

Cleveland-Thurman Handkerchief

Benjamin Harrison Handkerchief, 1888

Theodore Roosevelt "Progressive Battle Flag" textile portrait

Benjamin Harrison Handkerchief, 1888

Benjamin Harrison-Morton Handkerchief, 1888

Garfield-Arthur Portrait Textile, ca 1880

Cleveland-Stevenson "Our Candidates 1892 " Portrait

Taft Tariff Reform handkerchief

Benjamin Harrison-Morton handkerchief, ca 1888

Centennial Celebration by Manhattan Lodge, I.O.B.B.

Archival Release: Small Field Bag

2012-01-05T23:49:00.000-08:00

Large and small Archival Field Bags

The Small Field Bag is a scaled-down version of our original Field Bag.

Intended as a daily workhorse, the Small Field Bag is a crossover between a traditional English fishing bag and an urban messenger bag. Durable construction and practical features allow the bag to excel at carrying gear both outdoors and to the office.

Features include a roomy main compartment, two bellows pockets, and one large pocket across the back. A solid brass ring provides an easy attachment point for keys or fishing net. Leather strap, roller buckle, and a heavy-duty zipper secure the bag's contents. Edges are bound in waxed cotton tape, all stress points are bar-tacked or riveted, and each bag is hand-numbered. Fits 13" laptops.

The Small Field Bag is constructed from best quality materials including waxed twill fabric, Horween leather, YKK zipper, and thread are of US origin. Webbing and most of our brass hardware is sourced from the UK.

Currently available in dark brown and gray waxed twill.

Dimensions: 14" x 11" x 3.5"

Archival Footwear - Clog Boots

2012-01-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

Clog traces

Probably not for the faint of heart, clog boots are the polar opposite of those ghastly five-toed shoes. I'm fond of my worry-free Muck Boots for wet and cold conditions while working or playing outside. But upon revisiting the much-missed little log cabin, I was reminded of a more archival option - the clog boot.

Archival options from Barbour (not in current line). via Thornproof.

Clogmaster boots

The Clogmaster herself - a staunch clog advocate.

Phil Howard boots with tin toe tips.

Phil Howard's Gibson Lace.

Walkley Brogue Boot

The Walkley Farmer's Clog (my optical favorite)

The Walkley Safety Clog

Walkley Para Boot

Jeremy Atkinson handmakes everything to order (even the wooden soles).

Archival Resolutions 2012

2012-01-01T12:17:00.000-08:00

1. Decide that quality matters and pay for it. In the end, it will save you time and money.

2. Before you buy, be selective. Scrutinize items for build quality, fit, finish, functionality and lasting style. If an item is not perfect, catch and release it.

3. Do more with less. Add a few key pieces to your wardrobe and wear them until they dissolve.

4. Shop from yourself and from thrift shops. Repurpose strategic items from the past.

5. Support apparel companies that manufacture their products in the US. Buy products still proudly made in their traditional country of origin.

6. Contact manufacturers and let them know what they should offer. If you're a woman and you love classic heritage styles, ask them to offer their products in your size.

7. Find out what products are manufactured in your region. Visit factories and publish reports.

8. Wear wool and linen year round. Experiment with summer weight woolens, and heavier linens.

9. Come up with a signature uniform. Wear it once a week.

10. Read historical newspapers and magazines. Learn about lost brands, fashions, and manufacturing traditions.

Happy New Year from the past

2011-12-31T11:15:00.000-08:00

Archival Vacation - Hawaii

2011-12-28T12:24:00.000-08:00

I'm here in Hawi, HI with Lynn & friends. Though I love Hawaii I find it difficult to document. Every scenic view has already been reprinted in postcard form. In lieu of a traditional AC field report, I'm posting a few placeholder images from Flip Schulke's DOCUMERICA. Though Flip documented the retirement communities of Key West, Fla., in the 1970s, his photographs do well to capture the highlights--and best snaps--from my own tropical vacation.

Archival DIY: Rewaxing a Filson Packer Hat

2011-12-26T00:05:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for a post holiday diversion, here's a tutorial from Chris at Otter Wax on reproofing your Filson Packer hat. Feel free to apply this technique to other waxed cotton items that have lost their finish in the past year. Otter Wax available here.

Otter Wax is fine for both Filson tin and shelter cloth fabrics

In case you missed it, here's the original post from Chris on waxing dry canvas sneakers.

Xmas from the archives

2011-12-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

From News in 1910s (via LOC)

Archival Fieldtrip - NYC/Brooklyn

2011-12-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

Snap views of my recent visit to NYC/Brooklyn.

Wages of Fear - best film I've seen in ages. If you live in NYC, you should be at the movies right now.

Kiosk - home of Reference Library's famous Steele tote in black.

45 rpm

Goose Barnacle - Brooklyn

Stuart & Wright

Hickorees -Brooklyn

Bridgestone MB-1 in Manhattan

Saturdays Surf NYC

Armor Lux -NYC

Barbour - NYC

At the Oak Room with Andrea Marcovicci, Syl & Sara

Suggested Mobile Housing

2011-12-21T08:18:00.000-08:00

Lloyd Kahn is one of my heroes. His book Shelter has been a guide and comfort through many, many years of dreaming of building my own home somewhere.

His blog is highly recommended for lots of pictures and great writing about structures and the people who build them. And he's still skating at 70+! This short documentary has some footage of Lloyd's amazing home.

Check out this gorgeous converted school bus that he recently featured; maybe it's just because I'm from a world vortex of converted school busses, but it got me thinking about long road trips, woodstove cooking, and making do with a little less.

New Release: AC x Lyonstate Rucksack

2011-12-19T22:48:00.000-08:00

We teamed up with our friends at Lyonstate to produce a dark brown waxed twill version of our original Archival Rucksack. Like all of our rucksacks, the Lyonstate edition comes with adjustable two inch wide shoulder straps, two outer bellows pockets, leather strap with brass roller buckle closure, and draw cord to secure the bag’s contents. Edges are bound in waxed cotton tape, and stress points are bar-tacked or riveted. A double-layer reinforced bottom ensures a long life and even wear; semi-rigid back panel guarantees a comfortable ride and prevents bag flop.

Available exclusively through Lyonstate.

The Coffee Shops of 1950s London

2011-12-18T10:30:00.000-08:00

Long before the Seattle-based coffeehouse explosion of the 80s and 90s, there was a coffeehouse explosion in London.

Love this sweater

I've been digging this contemporary spot that shows the range of coffeehouse styles, from "cool cats" to "university eggheads."

Love this sweater even more

As I get ready to head back to Oregon for a month this holiday season, I'm looking forward to visiting some of my favorite coffeehouses - especially the ones with friendly baristas and a good cheap cup of drip coffee.

Aspirational Storefront

Gossip Girls

Ex-pats

Astrologer

Eton and Oxford representative

Film producers

New Release: Archival Dopp Kit

2011-12-14T21:00:00.000-08:00

Archival Dopps in navy, red and dark brown

It's important to keep your grooming products corralled when traveling, but most dopp kits end up complicated, bulky, and heavy. The Archival Dopp is simple, spacious, and folds up to nearly nothing when not full. Featuring a smooth brass zipper and a handle made of our beloved British military webbing, big enough to fit over a doorknob. Opens very wide for easy access.

The Archival Dopp is constructed from the highest quality materials: waxed canvas (10 oz), Horween leather tab, IDEAL zippers, and thread are of US origin. Webbing is sourced from the UK. All seams are bound in our own US-made waxed cotton bias tape.

Dimensions: 9.5" x 4.5" x 4" (Length x Width x Height)
Zipper opening: 12.5"
Handle loop: 7.5"

Made in USA

Aerial view