Northern Grade is a menswear popup market where consumers go to find original brands from the US. Emphasizing the national, often local, pride of owning an item not made overseas in a factory by an anonymous (hopefully ethically-treated) worker but by someone you can reach out and shake hands with, Northern Grade collects brands that manufacture in the same place where they design. In today’s fashion marketplace, there is a growing trend toward quality over quantity; the savvy American male wants to buy an item that he knows will last, and he wants to meet the person who made it. Connecting at the market, the consumer-craftsman relationship is forged in person and then mirrored through the social web. One can view a Twitter Feed of their favourite designer, even know their favourite spots to eat in New York. At each Northern Grade market there is music, spirits, local food and of course, the excitement of limited stock.
Filson, the 100+ year old Seattle-based manufacturing brand that prides itself on making “practically indestructible” garments and bags has built its new headquarters on a promise many established brands prefer to keep abstract. Rather than slick offices full of suits, the HQ doubles as a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and showroom; designing, manufacturing, displaying and talking business all happen under the same roof. The converted warehouse features a transparent view into the manufacturing facility that is visible on the first floor, where all of Filson’s bags and luggage are sewn. The new facility is part of a freshly energized direction to expand distribution globally while elevating the Filson brand. “This expansion furthers our 116 year commitment to our customers to provide unfailing goods[...]” said CEO Alan Kirk in a recent Life and Times interview. At the moment, Filson has stores located in Portland, Oregon, and London, England, but this new multi-use space in their Seattle stomping grounds is beaming with ‘All-American’ pride.
1555 4th Avenue South, Seattle