The Flannel shirt thread

[Hugo Drax]

A video about Filson popped up in my youtube feed last night. Basically about how they jumped the shark. For half a century they made 12 or 13 things. Shirts and jackets. A few venture capital sales later and they're putting their names on Jeeps, bottle openers, dog toys, and tote bags. They still still make shirts and jackets but only trust-fund hipsters can afford them.

I saw that video, too. He seems like a decent guy but his argument doesn't hold up and fashion guys just dont understand.. My Mackinaw was made in 1949 and looks brand new. The tin cloth stuff has a half life measured in centuries. The tin cloth briefcase he mocks has lasted me 20 years of daily use not only without fraying, but without a single piece of scuffed leather on it despite being tossed around.

Buy once, cry once. It's a tough concept and one totally lost on internet clothes horses that want closets full of new things, but the ability to purchase 2 inferior products for the price of 1 superior product results in a net loss to the consumer.

And get on the mailing list for sales. My last Filson flannel cost me 49 dollars and I doubt it will be anything more than broken in after a decade's wear.

Filson is Drax-approved.

[FredS]

A video about Filson popped up in my youtube feed last night. Basically about how they jumped the shark. For half a century they made 12 or 13 things. Shirts and jackets. A few venture capital sales later and they're putting their names on Jeeps, bottle openers, dog toys, and tote bags. They still still make shirts and jackets but only trust-fund hipsters can afford them.

I saw that video, too. He seems like a decent guy but his argument doesn't hold up and fashion guys just dont understand.. My Mackinaw was made in 1949 and looks brand new. The tin cloth stuff has a half life measured in centuries. The tin cloth briefcase he mocks has lasted me 20 years of daily use not only without fraying, but without a single piece of scuffed leather on it despite being tossed around.

Buy once, cry once. It's a tough concept and one totally lost on internet clothes horses that want closets full of new things, but the ability to purchase 2 inferior products for the price of 1 superior product results in a net loss to the consumer.

And get on the mailing list for sales. My last Filson flannel cost me 49 dollars and I doubt it will be anything more than broken in after a decade's wear.

Filson is Drax-approved.

There's actually a green school of thought going 'round that shopping at Old Navy and Walmart are bad for the environment because so many of their clothes are poor quality whereas better stuff can be resold or passed on for years. I don't know if it's still a thing but you certainly know about the Japanese appetite for vintage Levis. They last forever and a few (real) blemishes just add to their history. I wish that same school would teach young people how to mend rather than replace their clothes.

I have an old school canvas Lands End briefcase Mrs FredS bought me 30 years ago. It's no longer used daily but there's not a single serious blemish on the thing.

We weren't flush with Lands-End-type cash as a young couple, but daughter #2 was a cutie as a baby and a photographer saw Mrs FredS and the baby at a mall one day and asked if he could use her for a modeling gig. It was for a Lands End Rugby onesie. Remember their super heavy rugby shirts? Anyway they paid her like $10 and a discount coupon. Back in the day before the internet, she had to order a catalog and used the coupon for a mail order beach tote bag and that briefcase. Both of which are still in service. We have a few copies of the catalogs she appeared in around here someplace.

[Hugo Drax]

A video about Filson popped up in my youtube feed last night. Basically about how they jumped the shark. For half a century they made 12 or 13 things. Shirts and jackets. A few venture capital sales later and they're putting their names on Jeeps, bottle openers, dog toys, and tote bags. They still still make shirts and jackets but only trust-fund hipsters can afford them.

I saw that video, too. He seems like a decent guy but his argument doesn't hold up and fashion guys just dont understand.. My Mackinaw was made in 1949 and looks brand new. The tin cloth stuff has a half life measured in centuries. The tin cloth briefcase he mocks has lasted me 20 years of daily use not only without fraying, but without a single piece of scuffed leather on it despite being tossed around.

Buy once, cry once. It's a tough concept and one totally lost on internet clothes horses that want closets full of new things, but the ability to purchase 2 inferior products for the price of 1 superior product results in a net loss to the consumer.

And get on the mailing list for sales. My last Filson flannel cost me 49 dollars and I doubt it will be anything more than broken in after a decade's wear.

Filson is Drax-approved.

There's actually a green school of thought going 'round that shopping at Old Navy and Walmart are bad for the environment because so many of their clothes are poor quality whereas better stuff can be resold or passed on for years. I don't know if it's still a thing but you certainly know about the Japanese appetite for vintage Levis. They last forever and a few (real) blemishes just add to their history. I wish that same school would teach young people how to mend rather than replace their clothes.

I have an old school canvas Lands End briefcase Mrs FredS bought me 30 years ago. It's no longer used daily but there's not a single serious blemish on the thing.

We weren't flush with Lands-End-type cash as a young couple, but daughter #2 was a cutie as a baby and a photographer saw Mrs FredS and the baby at a mall one day and asked if he could use her for a modeling gig. It was for a Lands End Rugby onesie. Remember their super heavy rugby shirts? Anyway they paid her like $10 and a discount coupon. Back in the day before the internet, she had to order a catalog and used the coupon for a mail order beach tote bag and that briefcase. Both of which are still in service. We have a few copies of the catalogs she appeared in around here someplace.

I just threw out the remains of my last Land's End rugby shirt. Man, was that a good company when we were, ahem, slightly younger.

Interesting what you say about "green clothing" trends. That probably sells to the younger generation. My father taught me to look for longevity in what I buy and I think he is right or, at the least, he sold me on the concept. It's better for my pocketbook to budget for one lifetime item than to buy numerous throw away versions. I suppose we're saving landfill space, too.

I draw the line at clothing made out of recycled plastic bags, though.

[Hovannes]

I'm convinced there is a tactile feel to a quality flannel shirt that improves with wear and laundering.
Many years ago, I bought a coarse flannel shirt (Five Brothers?) gray buffalo plaid on sale from an Orchard Supply Hardware store, not for a shirt, but as a light jacket for cooking over the campfire.
That flannel never did soften, and I admit to being not unhappy when, scorched and stained, I relegated it to the rag bin.

[FredS]

Make Flannel Great Again