Archive for the ‘essentials’ Category

They Get It, Vol. 2: Tanner Goods

Posted by Neal Shaffer on Thursday, August 12th, 2010

A few months ago the time came for a new wallet. I’d had my old one for something like ten years and it never should have lasted that long. It was a random Wal-Mart buy, originally intended only as a temporary replacement. Weirdly, it stuck around. Solidly for maybe seven or eight years, then I kept nursing it along. That it lasted as long as it did is actually kind of amazing.

Still, the time had come to go in a new direction. No more “cheap/disposable/temporary,” even if it might accidentally last. It was time to buy a real wallet. One I could carry proudly. Something well-made, stylish, trustworthy, and crafted in the US if possible.

I found all of the above at Tanner Goods.

I’m now a proud owner of this piece and couldn’t be happier. It’s beautifully constructed and a pleasure to carry. The profile is very slim at first, so much so that I had to remove some extraneous cards before carrying it. Three months in, though, it’s loosening up nicely. Think breaking in a new baseball glove — the process is much the same. It wears the way I wear it, which means it fits me and always will.

As for Tanner Goods, they’re doing things the right way all around. From their “about” page:

Our small team of craftsmen produce every piece by hand in our studios here in the Northwest. We utilize the same tools that have been put to work for decades manufacturing heritage leather goods, and in many cases have sought out antique equipment that produce the best results. All of our sewing is done by a heritage saddle maker who started as an apprentice in the industry in 1964. For the past 45+ years he has been honing his craft, and has been generous enough to pass along his knowledge and skill to the rest of our team.

When they say “every piece by hand,” they mean it. After I placed my order I emailed them a question about when I might expect to receive it (I was hoping to get it in time for a trip). They responded quickly and pleasantly with news that it would take some time because, well, they had to make it first. I’ve never felt better about waiting.

The price might seem high but what you get for it — the product and the craft behind it — is if anything a bargain. You know where your money is going (which you can’t always say) and you can be sure you won’t need another wallet for a long time. Hell, maybe ever.

Craftsmanship, folks. Love it.

(photo via the Tanner Goods site)

Posted in apparel, business, essentials, they get it | 1 Comment »

Levi’s Goes Beyond the Clothes in Braddock, PA

Posted by Neal Shaffer on Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

limited edition Levi's Field NotesLast Sunday I checked into the Levi’s store with a goal of picking up a couple packs of limited edition “Notes From the Road” notebooks (mission accomplished). I’m a Field Notes fan* going back to their original launch and a Levi’s fan going back even farther. Indeed, rare is the day that I won’t be found rocking a pair of 505s. They’re not perfect but they get the job done nicely and their low cost makes them easy to acquire and replace (as opposed to my other favorite denim option).

Levi’s is one of those classic American heritage brands that has earned a healthy measure of cachet and respect, and it’d be easy for them to embrace that angle as nothing more than a matter of advertising. That’s the cynical approach, yes, but it’s also the approach most companies would take. It’s easier to rest on reputation than it is to actually push it. Levi’s, to their credit, is pushing it.

The aforementioned Field Notes collab is a great example, and the Pioneer Sessions project is another. The ongoing “Go Forth” campaign is yet another. There’s also the Workshops project, which is amazing and will probably get a post of its own sometime soon.

Today, though, it’s about what I found on Sunday as I paid for my notebooks: their involvement with Braddock, Pennsylvania.

I first heard about Braddock maybe a year or so ago via an article in Rolling Stone (sadly not available online). What’s happening there, essentially, is that people are taking the future into their own hands and revitalizing a dying city piece-by-piece, one project and one idea at a time. One person at a time. As Levi’s puts it:

Braddock, PA is a town of pioneers. It’s a place where artists, farmers and activists are building a new America where another once stood. This is their story.

It’s also the story of the people who were originally responsible for Levi’s becoming what they are today, a fact the company seems to get.

Stories like this are the real economic recovery. Messages like these are the ones that need to be heard. Real solutions never come from the top down. That doesn’t mean the other way always works, but I’ll take the odds any day.

*more on them soon

Posted in americana, apparel, essentials, icons | 3 Comments »

The Essentials: Pocket Knife

Posted by Neal Shaffer on Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

Victorinox classic SD pocket knifeAlong with identification, means of payment, and keys there’s one thing that should always be with you when you head out into the world: a decent pocket knife.

Male or female, young or old, the pocket knife is critical. I rarely go more than a few days without using mine for some small task or another. Accessing (then later breaking down) a box, cutting through packaging, opening difficult mail, trimming an overgrown vine or weed, defeating an errant thread or shoelace, etc. Little things come up all the time.

Most could be resolved another way, sure, but the convenience and utility of a decent knife is always welcome. To say nothing of how I wouldn’t want to be caught without one in any number of emergency situations.

There are three main things to consider when choosing your everyday knife: size, quality, and disposability. Let’s take them one-by-one.

Size
The term “pocket knife” should be taken literally. You need to be able to carry it comfortably, so much so that you won’t notice it’s there any more than you notice loose change. Look for a closed length of around two inches and a light weight.

Quality
A poorly constructed knife is less useful than nothing. And more dangerous. You want something that’ll hold up to repeated use, won’t break under a little stress, and which is capable of taking a decent edge so you can keep it sharp.

Disposability
Given the casual, everyday nature of a tool like this it can’t be something you’d feel too bad about losing. Which is to say that you probably don’t want to drop more than $15 to get it. That’s a tough balance to strike given the need for quality, but it’s doable.

I’ve found that you can’t miss with the Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD. It’s light but durable and versatile, and you can pick one up at Target for around $10.

For the past few months I’ve been simplifying things a bit and carrying the beautiful Opinel No. 3 (carbon steel). It’s just one blade and as such is less versatile than the Victorinox, but it’s both lighter and more aesthetically pleasing. Plus, the carbon steel blade (as opposed to stainless) holds a better edge. Requires more maintenance, too, but that’s not such a big deal.

In general, avoid anything that doesn’t feel right in your hand. Trust your gut on that. Whatever option you choose you’ll want to make sure to keep it both clean and sharp. A dull and/or dirty knife spells trouble.

Modern conveniences are nice but there are some situations where a smartphone just won’t get the job done. Carry a knife. I can guarantee that at some point you’ll be happy you did.

Posted in essentials | 7 Comments »