I might as well tell you right away, the nuggets that I am going to present to you are not cheap. And their price is not always completely rational, but that is also what passion is , when you have a crush, you have to express it and share it. On the condition that the crush is the beginning of a long relationship with the garment. That is what I will try to do here.
Maharishi Kimono Jacket
Why this brand?
Marahashi has been known for a long time at BonneGueule, often present in our selections and with whom we collaborated in 2016 on a cargo ship .
The more I look at their site, the more I am seduced by their pieces, especially those with camo, except when the embroidery takes up too much space. On my next trip to London, it is a given that I will go to their store.
Why this piece?
When you work at BonneGueule, you are necessarily immersed, influenced by everything that comes from Japan in terms of men's fashion, whether it's the style or the materials. And here, at the moment, we talk a lot about noragi jackets, like David who tested one from Malaysia .
For my part, it was a revisited kimono jacket, notably shorter and with less wide sleeves than the traditional kimono, sand color that caught my attention. Right away, at first glance. Without really knowing why.
While I am a fan of a rather classic style, attracted by workwear, it is a big step for me to fall for this thick cotton jacket, whose design is inspired by the US Navy N1 jacket, worn by GIs during the Second World War.
My style revolution is underway! A piece that will go with my cargo Maharishi.
The fleece lining that you can see makes it possible to wear this jacket when the temperatures are cool.
Clever this strap inside which allows to wear the jacket "on the back", reinforcing the versatility of the piece.
The Strike Gold Hoodie
Why this brand?
It was late at night, while browsing a forum that I discovered the brand The Strike Gold and the piece presented here. Especially known for its jeans, The Strike Gold is a Japanese brand from Okayama that has been working for 20 years to use American know-how that has disappeared or is in the process of disappearing. For the rest, very little information on the brand.
Why this piece?
This is the kind of piece that I have always liked. I find the hoodie warm and I always have one on hand, in almost every room of the house.
When I told Benoît the price of this hoodie, he was clear, "you better explain why this hoodie costs so much". Big pressure. So, I investigated, with the help of Nicolò and Jordan. First of all, the cotton comes from Zimbabwe, a country renowned for its quality, it is woven in Japan on very old tubular machines called "loopwheel" or "tsuri-ami-ki", which Benoît and Geoffrey went to discover during a report on site. They are much slower than modern machines, allowing to produce only 20 to 25 sweatshirts per day.
This is where passion, which is irrational by nature, can become rational, because it is based on factual elements.
Those who like this kind of piece can also take a look at The Real MCCoy's hoodies, a little more reasonable in terms of budget.
Parka 4 Ganci Fay Archive
Why this brand?
A discovery for me, and the editorial pole, via the Instagram account of Alessandro Squarzi, that regular readers of BonneGueule know well. You can also watch an interview conducted in 2016 during a Pitti Uomo.
In this case, Alessandro Squarzi collaborated with the Fay brand to develop the Fay Archive collection. Which would benefit from providing more details on the manufacturing of these garments.
Why this piece?
Three elements on this parka caught my eye immediately. The metal hooks, the corduroy collar and the sleeves with leather inserts at the cuffs give it a lot of character. Made in Italy, in cotton, unlined, it can be paired with a fleece jacket sold separately to face colder temperatures.
