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Form that follows function is a philosophy of design that is like catnip to us, and the esoterica of ‘gear’
and how these garments were tools of our heroes and archetypes is a source of never ending fascination.
The archetypes fill the role of heroes, those to emulate, and it’s those heroes we champion as the models of our gear.
The photographer as an archetype is a fascinating one, intrepid explorers hunting the perfect shot,
with tools specialised and refined. Cameras slung across the body like rifles, with all the associated ‘gear’ close to hand,
inclement weather or conflict struck locations to be braved in the hunt to record the world for the collective knowledge.
Our friend, an explorer at heart - Nick Ashley plays the part of our Ansel Adams, and our very own Janet Wong his very patient assistant,
quietly making sure his lens falls where she wants it. Our great explorer Nick’s childhood hometown,
Llanwrthwl in Wales and the Elan Valley, serves as our great outdoors.
USN Chambray Work Shirt, Shaggy Shetland Sweater Cream, Easy Jacket Corduroy Light Brown, Army Chinos Corduroy Light Brown
The Gear
-The Hunting Jacket-
Based on a 30’s duck cloth hunting jacket, ours is made in Okayama from a locally milled black duck cloth, a tightly woven plain weave canvas with a long heritage of work and sportswear applications.
With sectioned patch pockets protected by oversized flaps, half moon pass-through pocket fronts that open the entire jacket to storage, and an expanding game pocket in back, it is our take on the functionality
of hunting and how it interprets into the modern world.
-The Hunting Vest-
Continuing the hunting theme with the pass-through half-moons and sectioned pockets, our Hunting Vest is realised
in a 1 by 1 plain weave, a super dense and waterproof cloth. Cut narrow at the shoulder and A-Line, the volume
wants to be layered over blousons and chunky knits, a vest that serves to carry all the flotsam and jetsam,
whether passing through fields and streams or airports and train stations.
-The BryceDown 60/40 Anorak-
An icon of our wears was inspired by a WWII USN waxed cotton anorak, part of a kit alongside the waxed cotton brace overalls that would have been worn on deck in inclement weather. Reimagined in a hardy, 1960’s inspired 60/40 cotton/nylon, with a large kangaroo pocket for easy access. I imagine this as a piece of 40’s militaria modernised to 60’s outdoor wear, something that was never actually historically made, but so easily could have been.
