Posted on by

Pivot Schmivot. Scattered is the new big thing…

It’s a balmy November morning here in Duluth…

Yeah, it felt weird to write that. My wife jokes that we have 23 different seasons up here, you just need to figure out which one you are waking up to. This morning is early Autumn. I’m gonna ride with my kid before one of those Thyroid-smacking cold fronts rolls in tonight.

This month’s focus is shell garments. I’ve got ruff bases heading out to Boundaryfursewing.com, followed by camo XL Snowshoe Hare Pullovers. My crafty and reliable sewer is busy with size Large. I’ve been careful to stay ahead on textiles, buying just enough to ensure that supply chain hiccups don’t derail us.

The shelves fill and drain like a colander, 4-5 in, 3 out. It may look static to the casual observer, but there’s always product cycling through. Thanks, BTW to everyone who grabbed wool, Parkas, and mittens over the Summer months! Bold decision.That must have felt like getting new roller skates for Christmas in Bangor, Maine. I hope you’ve been able to use them in your particular climate(s).

Watch for a few Parkas in the coming week. Enjoy the early winter!

-Kevin

Posted on by

Marsh.

It’s Marsh. That’s what I call this month. Blech.

I hope you’ve enjoyed your Winter. Ours was fun.

Right now I’m sitting atop an absolute horde of Charcoal Grey 100% Wool Blankets. I’m gonna sew them into Jackpine Vests. Watch the website for stock in Small, Medium, Medium/Wide, Medium/Tall, Large, Large/Wide, and Large/Tall. If I can hit my targets for early stock, I’ll consider some other sizes as needed.

Cheers,

Kevin

Posted on by

As it happens

Whoa. December already?

Where did the time go? Who knows, but I’m lucky enough to have counted it in base tens (all my fingers work. Whew.) I’m recovered enough to resume full production, just in time for material shortages. Right now it’s Parka and Mitten time. I’ve got Black 10.10 Army Duck, so that’s what I’m sewing.  I’ll let my guard down again after the holidays, and take in your blankets for conversions. The last round went pretty smoothly.

I wish you all a merry and safe season.

-Kevin

 

 

Posted on by

Minor glitch.

Sewing is sooo much easier with two hands.

I’ll be taking some time off to rehab my left arm after an injury. I should make a full recovery over the course of the Winter.

In the short term I’ll tinker with ways to move fabric, set grommets, and spend countless hours on my stationary bike trainer. Maybe I can develop enough stealth to whack a Grouse with my wife’s Cricket Bat.  I’m a terrible shot with a pistol.

Sorry folks.

-Kevin

Posted on by

Taking it in our shorts…

Howdy rabble.

Smokey August 2021 ends, and September arrives in Duluth. What a weird summer.

Jason (LRB) and I have been pounding our heads on the table. The market crunch of the last 18 months shows on our bottom line. Our material prices have increased as much as 40%, as well as shipping.  The only course for us both was a price reset.

Most of my retail prices increased $30-$40 to keep pace with jumps in fabric, hardware, and thread. Jason made the same adjustments.

Neither of us can take it in the shorts and stay in business. Get it. Shorts?

Posted on by

Get your popcorn ready..

Howdy folks.

It was only a matter of time before this Empire Hoaxes showed up**.  Keep your eyes open, and your wallet safe. The internet really is the Wild West of commerce. I fully expect  liberal use of all my photos and text as the years go by. You will see our brand, and similar gear in grainy videos with loud music. You’ll find amazing prices on whole categories of Empire Gear. You’ll Camp Coats and Boreal Shirts on Amazon.com. This is the retail equivalent of Herpes.

Kevin.

** I can offer sympathy to folks who might jump on this link, but little else.