I've known Jordan of West America for some time now, so it was wonderful to hear from Danner, a client of Cold Splinters, that they were using the WA boys for their FW13 video lookbook. Needless to say, it's a real humdinger.CS is out in California at the moment and had a few minutes with Jordan yesterday before he continued south on a year-long trip to Patagonia and back. Safe travels, y'all.
FairEnds x Cold Splinters Prickly Pear Hat
The Green Pepper
The Green Pepper was established in the fall of 1973 in Eugene, Oregon as a small retail fabric store:
Eugene is located between the Cascade Mountains and the Coast Mountain Range, and is only 50 miles from the Pacific Ocean to the west, and The Pacific Crest Trail to the east, so it isn't surprising that many of our customers were avid outdoors people who wanted to learn to make their own camping, hiking, and skiing clothing and gear.Since outdoor fabrics were not readily available at the fabric trade shows, it took both determination and a great deal of research to find sources for the same fabrics, zippers and hardware the manufacturers were using. Once we found the fabrics and hardware, we needed the patterns-- so in 1976 we produced our first Green Pepper Patterns.We no longer have a retail fabric store, but we do have a Mail-Order warehouse where we stock 75 Green Pepper Patterns for active sportswear and outdoor gear, as well as the popular outdoor fabrics, hardware, zippers, webbing, and notions needed for making any of our patterns!
Order your Green Pepper patterns here.
Burns
If you've ever been to Park City (which I know some of you have as there are a few readers out there who attend Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City), then you've probably noticed Burns Cowboy Shop on Main Street. Burns, which also has a shop in Carmel, CA, a store I spent a lot of time in last week while traveling down the coast, was started in 1876, making them the oldest same family owned western retail business in the world. And holy hell do they make a hat. One of the best cowboy hats I've ever had the honor of putting on my dome. And there have been many.Next time you're in Utah, mosey on up to one of their stores and try a few on.
Topo x Cold Splinters
Jedd and Mark at Topo Designs are two of the sweetest guys you'll ever meet. As soon as I heard about Topo a few years ago, I was so psyched that there was THAT kind of company making such great looking STUFF in Colorado. (The Topo Fleece rarely leaves my chest in the fall.) As I mention on this rag a lot, I went to college out in The Centennial State, and while I didn't grow up there by any means, I still think of it as another home. (As my friend Trevor used to say, "Boulder Boy From Ill-inois.")Anyway, I've been a big fan of these guys and what they're doing for a long time. I've written about them a bunch - on Cold Splinters and elsewhere - and am always excited to see them at all of the NYC/SLC/LV hoopla. So when we discussed doing a t-shirt together, I was all on it. K.I.S.S.
TOPOCOLORADO
The Topo Designs x Cold Splinters tee can be bought here.
PDX BOUND
Cold Splinters is off to Portland for a few days to hang with the good folks at Danner. Hit me if you're around and have a fantastic week in the sunshine.MP3: Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - This Love Of Mine
CS ON COOL MATERIAL
Cool Material tapped Cold Splinters for its "Wear This" feature and we happily obliged. Check it out here.
SealLine Black Canyon Bags
Cold Splinters got back late last week from an amazing paddling excursion down to Everglades National Park with our friend, partner-in-crime and frequent collaborator, Mikael Kennedy. (That article will be out this fall.) It was a real time down there in Florida, but we couldn't have done it without these SealLine Black Canyon Bags. Sure, dry bags would have sufficed, but if you've got to get on a plane to get to the water, these are going to be your huckleberries.Enjoy all your canoe/kayaking adventures this spring and summer, folks. And don't forget the coolers, ice and wine.
New Balance Classics
It was a few months back that Mikael Kennedy, Chris Black and I went down to Southwest Texas with a trunk full of Made in the USA New Balance kicks. Mikael took some photos (yes, I'm the model) around Marfa and Big Bend that are now starting to be posted on the New Balance Classics Tumblr. Lots more to see and lots more to come.
Snow Peak Store
If you live in the Portland, OR area - and I know that some of you do - you should be happy to know that Snow Peak, one of our favorites around these parts, is scheduled to open their first store tomorrow, March 1st. Spring Fever ensues.The shop is located at 410 NW 14th Avenue. Have at it.
Worn Wear
I'm sure most of your are hip to Patagonia's new Worn Wear site, but if you're not, get on over there today and start diving in. There's not too much up yet, but even in its early stages, you know it's gonna be a hell of a time in the months (years?) to come. Thanks for the picture above, Nick Yardly of Yorkshire:
Dear Patagonia,In December of 1986, I left the dark, dripping, wet landscape of my native Yorkshire, England and arrived wide eyed in New England. I had two backpacks and $500 in my pocket and couldn’t have been happier.I worked at a climbing school that had its office at the back of IME, THE climbing store in North Conway, NH and a Patagonia dealer. Everyday as I walked into the store my eyes fell on a Patagonia Snap-T fleece jacket. To me it stood out as a prime example of this brave new world I had arrived in. I purchased it with my very first paycheck in the USA ― I was sleeping on a mattress and barely had a couple of dollars to my name. That jacket was my constant companion for 7 years. Here it is living every Brit climber’s dream, road tripping across the country and sleeping in the desert. Oh, the car cost $450 ― my second purchase in the states.―Nick