ON THE WATER: THE DRAKE'S COLLABORATION
Hey now!
I’m very happy to let you know about my collaboration with Drake’s, which comes out today. Sometimes a project aligns correctly, and I’m very excited about this. It’s a collection inspired by fly fishing, designed and made for the country, that I think will work everywhere you go.
The idea began with my long search for a waxed cotton sport coat. One with big billows pockets that could be worn at a lodge but, in truth, anywhere else. So Michael Hill and I started talking—which we’ve done a lot over the years. The next thing I knew the team at Drake’s and I were looking at archival photos of shooting and fishing jackets and vests, studying old labels and scouring eBay. Old field clothes always inspiring to me because they were made first with a view to function, but also happened to look terrific.
We worked to include the details I always look for when I’m fishing—large pockets that fit fly boxes, fabrics that wear well, and a slightly looser fit. So we’ve got that the sport coat made in Scottish waxed cotton and a fly fishing coat (very much like a field coat) that I think you’ll really like. Naturally I got carried away with shirts—it’s hard to find shirts with the right great Drake’s long point collar, but also big pockets. There’s one in a classic tattersall, a wonderfully soft olive flannel and a check. And there’s a vest too for good measure.
You can see the whole collection here. You can watch a film shot at our family cabin here, shot by the most excellent Spencer Wells, who happens to be a Green Bay Packers fan, which we won’t hold against him. He’s a terrific photographer and I think he really captures what we both love about Wisconsin. With an appearance by Milo!
Thanks to Michael Hill and Matt Coles and all my friends at Drake’s. This is our third collection together, which is hard to believe. We’ve also published quite a few issues of Common Thread (and another one hopefully in the future). That’s a lot of work. It’s good to have a relationship like that—one that’s gone from London to Florence to New York. And now Wisconsin.
Hope you like this collection as much as we enjoyed working on it.
Salut!