Hey fam,
What a week it has been. After a rough encounter with covid, I feel lucky to be sitting upright today and typing this. Thank you for the well-wishes and support while I was down for the count. I’m glad to be back in the shop this week, just in time for the dog days of summer.
Did you know the “dog days” are a real thing on the calendar and not just a phrase about it being too hot for your dog? The dogs days are officially from July 3rd to August 11th.
The phrase is actually in reference to the star Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, which is also a part of the constellation Canis Major (the great dog). Throughout the summer, Sirius rises and sets with the sun, and the ancient Roman’s believed its brightness meant it was close to earth and actually contributing to the heat of the summer!
While the brightest star in the night sky isn’t contributing to the rise in temperatures, it is HOT right now. To beat the heat, I’ve brought in a few of my favorite quality basics starting with two new organic pima cotton tees in white and canvas from our German pals at Merz B. Schwanen.
What is Pima Cotton?
Pima is considered the finest cotton in the world with its heavyweight, silk-like feel. Using extra-long, organic pima cotton fibers ensures these tees are resistant to pilling (remember, pilling happens when shorter threads are used—typically to save money—and is a result of those threads breaking) and will only get softer with age and wear.
What makes Merz B. Schwanen so great?
For one, their loopwheelers. Only a few remain in operation today in Japan, Germany, and Canada. These 100 year old machines knit fabric for clothing in a continuous circle, using only gravity. The process is manpowered and painstakingly slow. One machine can produce only enough fabric per day to make roughly 20 shirts, whereas newer, automated machines can crank out enough fabric for nearly 600 shirts per day.
So why would anyone use a looperwheeler?
It’s the love and admiration for an old way of production. The quality of loopwheel fabric is unmatched. The slow pace of the loopwheeler creates zero tension in the fabric so that the yarn never stretches or pulls before it ends up on your body. This means that loopwheel fabrics will not lose their shape after years of wear and wash.
I was shocked to learn recently just how much pulling and stretching our clothing goes through during production before it gets to us. It makes so much sense why the wash and daily wear causes some clothing to be so short-lived.
Lastly, loopwheel machines contain 1000s of needles that are SET BY HAND. It’s an entirely analogue process run by experts, and these old looms create some of the highest quality fabrics in circulation today. It’s a dying art and one we respect the hell out of here at FG.
The shirt Carmy wears in The Bear is made by Merz B. Schwanen on one of these looperwheelers pictured above. And I am expecting an arrival of these unbelievably beautiful white tees any week now. To further drive home the slow production process, I ordered a run of these shirts back in February.
Also, if you’re not watching The Bear, it is, in my opinion, the best show currently on television.
Next up, I’m bringing polos back. I mean, I personally am not single-handedly bringing polos back. Polos never left. But I rarely have them in stock at the shop because it’s difficult to find ones that I feel are versatile and exceptional.
Recently, our LA friends at Jungmaven dropped a lightweight hemp polo that I think fits the bill. This genderless polo is great for the one that lives in Lulu Lemon and needs to branch out without stepping outside of their comfort zone. It’ll go the distance on the golf course or tennis court, then follow you out to dinner or poolside on vacation. I’m really happy with how this one turned out and am excited to have them in the shop.
And finally, coming soon from Alex Crane - your favorite linen tee is now a short sleeve button-up.
This one is going to feel completely different from the Alex Crane linen you’re used to, due to these shirts being knit vs woven.
What’s the difference between knit and woven?
The short, short version? Knitwear is a looser weave with stretch in all directions. Woven fabrics have a lot of structure and very little give. Alex Crane’s knitwear is the ideal summer fabric to beat the heat. It’s slubby texture and breezy, loose fit can take you from the pool to the office.
These have not arrived yet, but will be in stock very, very soon.
Okay friends, that’s what’s new at the shop this week. Thanks for reading and I hope you feel like you learned a little something about how your clothing is made!
Stay safe out there and remember to wash your hands,
Max