A Note on New Balance’s Relationship with the United States Military.

A chance visit to the New Balance store in Friendship Heights (DC) during the holidays revealed a relationship previously missed.

Since 2008, New Balance has been the official supplier of athletic apparel to the US Armed Services. The deal includes apparel, primarily in the form of the Physical Training Layering System. For the Marines, New Balance provides the official issue running suit, Army Rangers wear a specially designed physical training uniform, and the Navy utilizes a number of layering pieces. All these garments come through a dedicated in-house team focused on Military needs, and is advised by a collection of decorated veterans.

The latest portion of the deal launched last November in the form of five editions of the 993. All are made in the United States (obviously) and each features the individual insignia of a distinct service. My personal favorite is the Coast Guard edition (I’ve had the great pleasure of working with several members of the Coast Guard stationed in Philadelphia on tattoo related projects). New Balance celebrates each sector of the military simply and effectively in the collection, and given the locale of production they really stand as the “Americana” sneaker as far as I’m concerned.

Also exciting (as far as I’m concerned), is how the relationship, especially through the footwear, has escaped most of the blog universe. Perhaps actual Military involvement is a touchy subject. But, one would think with all the harping about national identity, core American product, and a slight obsession with garments born from Military use in post war casual clothing, there would be some interest in finding out about contemporary goods.

The 993 itself has obvious appeal. Beside being domestically produce, its heritage and lineage within one of the most enduring lines of technical running footwear is obvious. The color schemes and individual service branding fit the silhouette well. This set has reinvigorated my own interest in the 993, hampered recently by vapid collaborative efforts.

The New Balance 993 United States Military editions make sense. Far beyond the Jordan pieces I’ve seen, which seem more fashion and PR than anything, these are pieces that serve function. Easily part of training kit, they establish a link between New Balance’s commitment to fitness and commitment to American manufacture.

If they strike your fancy too, head to New Balance. My friend Gary’s blog is well worth a visit, his essay on modern Military footwear is simply superb.

I’ve been in New York for (capsule) and the varied and wonderful events that make up Americana Week. Took in several antique shows and two of the auction previews. I’ve got many more images, and some actual thoughts, but wanted to get a few pieces up before the weekend officially came to close.

Much more to come later in the week.

One thing I genuinely miss about drinking is the paraphernalia.

I’m an object guy, plain and simple. The items that allow (or promote) an activity are of tantamount importance. In my drinking days I collected flasks, shakers, black and tan spoons, assorted coozies. You name it. I had all sorts that facilitated boozing.

This collection extended to a baffling selection of glassware. Tulip pint glasses for imperial pints, Riedel wineglasses, etc, etc. Like most good drinkers, it didn’t really much matter what the sauce was poured from, but having the “correct” accoutrement made it a bit more fun.

After all, martini glasses seem to just make more sense than downing chilled vodka from a coffee mug.

It’s with that mindset that, almost four years on from my last drink, I appreciate the care taken by my friends at Denim Demon in how they carry their favored drink. Oskar tells me, “Galliano Hot Shot is the world’s greatest shot, so we wanted to celebrate that with the worlds first Galliano Hot Shot case. Custom made interior for everything you need in order to make four perfect Hot Shots. Excellent to bring along when your on the road visiting clients.”

A testament to the Denim Demon sense of fun and a dedication to doing things right.

Awesome promotional tool.

Here’s my dirty little secret.

My favorite garment? Not the sugar cane denim I’ve worn 4 out of every 7 days for two years. Not the Barbour Beaufort. And no, not Patagonia merino wool shirts. I like these pieces, a lot, but they’ve not produced any unhealthy addictions.

I’ve got a fetish for Under Armour HeatGear longsleeve tees. They have to be grey. They have to have a college name/logo across the front. I stop at damn near every college bookstore I pass to nab one (ordering them would take away from the fun).

These are among some of the least fashionable pieces out. Under Armour being so ubiquitous that it has almost (dare I say) become the fabric of American life.

Founded in 1996, Under Armour began like many t-shirt brands… by selling from the boot of a car (just like FUBU!). The mission was simple – to sell a better t-shirt. A technical t-shirt with superior wicking qualities and all the good stuff that makes life easier on the athlete.

The brand has grown rapidly, I’d say. From the wicking t-shirt they now sell everything from running shoes to hunting apparel. They can outfit your family ski trip. And, they made a brilliant decision in signing Brandon Jennings. It is an American success story. But no, not a “MADE IN THE USA” story.

Under Armour is a new notch in a life long obsession with athletic gear. A short run through – in the late 80s, I tried to own every color of Umbro shorts on the market. In the mid-90s, the NEED was to own as many pairs of authentic Nike college basketball shorts as humanly possible (difficult given extremely high cost). From 1996 to 2001 I bought such a large number of authentic basketball jerseys that to admit to it would be to reveal a streak of insanity. (Sample jersey’s include a Chris Herren Celtics tank, Cavs DeJuan Wagner, several Iverson jerseys, more than one of the same Michael Finley Mavs jersey… you may begin to see the problem).

Now, its long sleeve shirts that fill my closet with names of schools I didn’t attend and institutions I don’t rate academically. Division 3 schools known for lacrosse. A Cincinnati tee marking a trip to watch UCONN at Fifth Third. I’ll draw the line at Purdue, but almost any other place is within reason.

In winter, this collection is regularly hidden under “classier” garments. A long underwear of sorts. More so a secret reminder of my love of average, American sportswear and college athletics.

I am not ashamed to admit to looking at all the “cool guy” Champion collaborations and thinking “damn, that would be better if the blank was Under Armour.”

The fit, weight, hand feel, all perfect. It’s not handcrafted, or even sustainable (as far as I know), but the Under Armour heatgear shirt matches needs like few other pieces.

I love these garments. My dirty little fashion pleasure.

Seems so odd to admit, but Boston’s retail scene has provided more personal and professional opportunity than any other venue. After all, it was the discovery of Concepts as a high school student that changed my sneaker collection for the better (and larger). And, years later a previously unplanned move brought me back to Cambridge, Concepts, and this strange world on the internet.

During that second stint as a Concepts shop rat, Boston’s scene developed in two distinct ways. First, it attracted a major corporate destination in Barney’s. Without wanting to sound like a nut, I have a feeling that the arrival of a Barney’s in a given city marks that place as something specific. What that specific should be, or is, I haven’t quite decided. Almost akin to a Harvey Nichols in a British city. Anyway, it arrived, and with it a change (ever so subtle) in Bean towns shopping feel.

At the same time, this being an era of streetwear explosion, a number of new independent boutiques opened. The famed Bodega stood out for concept and content. There were also others, capitalizing on sneaker fetish and the market growth. They added something new and something fresh.

Of course, the streetwear explosion and the arrival of a Barney’s is not a full explanation of the city’s retail scope. My then girlfriend, who had just begun her Ph. D work at Harvard, was writing about Downtown Crossing as a shopping district. Her focus was pre-1900, and our street level investigations revealed past, present, and sometimes future.

Future often has revealed itself in the people we met along the way. Steve Costello, a prime example, has slowly built up the fantastic RAW brand since I left the region.

Peter Tam is another acquaintance who has managed to realize personal goal. Suffice to say, the above ramble has pretty much been a lame attempt at introducing the meat of this post – Peter’s new shop Uncle Pete’s. Starting his career with Diesel, Pete has been a central figure in Boston’s retail landscape for some time. His own stamp, Uncle Pete’s, carries personal favorites like Comme des Garcons, Porter, Rag & Bone, and Rogues Gallery.

Pete joins a lineage of shops in Boston that have had unexpected impact on my life. Given my current professional life, the discovery of a new brand (as so often happened at Louis of Boston years ago) is unlikely. However, the opportunity to learn, to soak in a bit of wisdom, and to draw from years of experience seems quite possible.

The selected brands, and the merchandising expertise behind the choices, should provide similar experience for new customers of Uncle Pete’s.

Welcome to Boston. 125 Charles Street to be exact.