The Double Monk Strap and the Monastery Sandal That Inspired It
The monk strap shoe traces its lineage to the enclosed sandals worn by Alpine monks in the fifteenth century.
Thomas Nakamura · 2026-07-18
The Vault
How Globe-Trotter Has Made Luggage from Vulcanised Fibreboard Since 1897
David Nelken founded Globe-Trotter in Saxony, Germany, in 1897, using a material that was revolutionary for its time: vulcanised fibreboard, a compressed paper product treated with heat and pressure to create a lightweight yet remarkably durable material.
By William Ashford · 2026-07-18
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The Piaget Altiplano and the Pursuit of the Thinnest Watch Ever Made
Piaget has been obsessed with thinness since the 1950s, when the company introduced the calibre 9P, a hand-wound movement measuring just two millimetres thick.
Thomas Nakamura · 2026-07-18
How the Baseball Cap Infiltrated Every Corner of Men's Fashion
The baseball cap's ancestor is the Brooklyn Excelsiors' round-topped cap introduced in 1860, which evolved through various brim shapes and crown structures before settling into the modern six-panel, structured-crown format in the early twentieth century.
Catherine Avery · 2026-07-18
The Camel Hair Coat and the Polo Grounds Where It First Appeared
The camel hair coat entered Western fashion in the 1920s, when polo players at matches in Long Island and Buenos Aires began wearing long, loose-fitting coats made from the soft underhair of the Bactrian camel during breaks between chukkas.
Marcus Wei · 2026-07-18
How Grenson Became Northampton's Most Fashion-Forward Shoemaker
William Green founded his shoemaking company in Northampton in 1866 under the name Green and Sons, later abbreviated to Grenson.
Marcus Wei · 2026-07-18
The Wellington Boot: Military Footwear That Conquered the Garden
The Wellington boot takes its name from Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington, who in the early nineteenth century instructed his bootmaker to modify the standard cavalry boot into something sleeker and more suitable for both riding and evening wear.
Sebastian Cole · 2026-07-17
How Johnstons of Elgin Has Woven Cashmere in Scotland Since 1797
Johnstons of Elgin was founded in 1797 by Alexander Johnston in the Scottish Highlands town of Elgin, Morayshire, originally processing locally sourced wool from Cheviot and Shetland sheep.
James Alderton · 2026-07-17
The Bush Jacket and the Tropical Colonies That Tailored It
The bush jacket, closely related to the safari jacket, emerged in the tropical colonies of the British Empire during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Sebastian Cole · 2026-07-17
The Seiko Diver's Watch and the Olympic Timing Legacy That Followed
In 1965, Seiko introduced the 6217-8000, its first purpose-built diver's watch, rated to 150 metres.
William Ashford · 2026-07-17
How the Dinner Jacket Replaced the Tailcoat and Changed Evening Dress Forever
For most of the nineteenth century, the tailcoat with white waistcoat and white bow tie was the only acceptable form of male evening dress.
Daniel Hurst · 2026-07-17
The Bucket Hat: From Irish Fishermen to Hip-Hop and Back Again
The bucket hat's origins are humbler than fashion mythology sometimes suggests.
Sebastian Cole · 2026-07-17
How Ettinger Supplies the Finest Leather Goods from a Workshop in Walsall
Gerry Ettinger founded his leather goods company in London in 1934, initially producing wallets, billfolds, and small leather accessories for the British market.
James Alderton · 2026-07-17
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A weekly letter on style, substance, and the well-considered life.