Tuesday, December 30, 2008

STEAMER/BANKER/NAVIGATOR [REDUX]

What's old today is new tomorrow. And invention always seems new. So when Jason brought back a Louis Vuitton steamer bag circa 1911 he had dug-up at a specialist shop in Japan, two things happened.


First; we bought a book. Paul-Gerard Pasols' Louis Vuitton: The Birth of Modern Luxury. Honestly we're on the fence as to the idea of luxury these days. But for sure we're all agreed on quality and innovation so it was inspiring to flip through the pages and find out about the sort of crazy inventions coming from the Vuitton clan back in the day. Some to do with transformer-style travel bags (like the case that sprouts a daybed) and some to do with travel itself (like DaVinci looking airplanes and helicopters).


Around here we try to worship tradition while destroying convention, so this stuff was spiritually right up our street.


Second; Jason collaborated with a small English bag atelier to re-imagine our own steamer, banker and ww2 pilot's navigator bags in Japanese selvedge denim, British saddle leather and solid brass hardware.

THE CUTTERS PRACTICAL GUIDE


The book, The Cutters Practical Guide turned out to be the gift that kept-on giving. Passed down as a family heirloom printed in 1910 and sold at the time for 15 shillings and providing "economical cutting guides" for every garment in the wardrobe along with adverts for additional resources like uniform designs for "Military, Naval, Police and Fireman".

Long live utility tailoring.


Our attempts to carry the torch are modest enough. A dart (or two) to ease the sleeves into a curve, selvege down the spine, boxed button holes... An homage as honest as we can offer.