Mr. James Wilson of Secret Forts, one of my earliest supporters and the deepest fount of inspiration, was kind enough to ask me to contribute again to his round up of great stuff for fall: The Fall Three. I feel so lucky to have been included in the group.
Thanks to James, and thanks to Nathan Michael for the photo, Ken Hunemeder of Goose Island for the beer photo.
Also, a note for James’ many devotees: he moved! He now resides, quite comfortably at – www.secretforts.com. Update your feeds, links, and readers.
On the front page of today’s Wall Street Journal, the A-Hed is devoted to the current, dressed-down trend among the Republican candidates. With quotes referencing Mr. Peanut, the Brawny Paper Towel Guy, and Texas Toast, you can imagine my thrill to have been included in the conversation.
Special thanks to the Journal’s Elizabeth Williamson for getting in touch and to Esquire’s Kurt Soller for providing me with the platform to be noticed.
Pick up today’s Journal and share the story with your friends and loved ones.
You park your car on High Street in Columbus, Ohio’s Short North neighborhood. You’re so excited, you forget to pay the meter. You walk around a shady corner where a red sign reads “HOMAGE.” You walk into the little shop to the sounds of The Brothers Johnson’s “Get the Funk Out Ma Face.” You smell the wood of old backboards that have been repurposed as a checkout counter.
You look to your right. There is a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Larry Bird hanging out by an old Coke machine. You think to yourself, “Oh man, this is so great! ‘The Hick from French Lick’!” You look to your left, there is a working scoreboard and canvas bins filled with colorful sports-themed t-shirts and Starting Lineup figurines. You are immediately transported back to Nipher Middle School. Your friend Bryn is lacing his Nike Air Flights. Just after one last pump on his Reeboks, Danjo is schooling a kid named Duck on his latest version of Tim Hardaway’s killer crossover dribble. There’s a red-headed kid named Robbie who is wearing Etonic sport goggles. And Nick is sporting some tube socks so long David Robinson would be impressed.
My purchases while visiting Homage Clothing in Columbus, Ohio
Then, out of the corner of your eye, you spot a t-shirt, and suddenly you’re seven years old. Your dad puts you to bed in one of his a threadbare oversized University of Kansas T-shirts. He gives you a Coors Light kiss on your forehead. You roll over, a stuffed Jayhawk permanently under your arm. Dad leaves. You hear him descend the stairs. You rush to the floor. You lay awake all night with your head pinned to the berber carpet, soaking up the sounds through the second storey’s floorboards, as the laughs grow louder, the “Oh, no!” the “Oh… YES!” You hear your mom, a Mizzou grad, yell a sacrilegious, “C’mon, K-U!” And finally, everyone shouts, “DANNY!” Shortly thereafter, your dad runs to the staircase, “Max! Benny! Come downstairs! KU just won the National Championship!” Your heart soars. You think, “it doesn’t get better than this.”
Snoopy, Lifelong Buckeye Fan
The late, great Dennis Wilson
As a Midwestern kid whose dad would drive him around with the top down listening to Beach Boys tapes all summer, I totally identify with the desire to Surf Ohio. I still jump on my kickboard at the pool.
This cardigan was made exclusively for Homage by someone in Columbus, Ohio.
That’s what this store does well. This little shop on a side street off the High Street on Columbus’ Short North drums up so many warm recollections of a childhood spent obsessing about sports, it’s a veritable factory of memories. Every time I wear my Surf Ohio or my Danny & The Miracles T-shirt, I spend the whole day thinking about my old favorite T-shirts, hoping Ryan will find one and make a reissue. His shirts fast became my favorite t-shirts, and so too will they be your favorites in no time. Pay homage to your childhood heroes today.
Special thanks to Ryan Vesler and all the wonderful people behind Homage. Thank you for jogging my memory.
For more from my visit to Homage in Columbus, Ohio, see Flickr.
“Bombs away.”
That’s how it started. At least that’s how I remember it starting. Michael Maher won me over when he grabbed a throw pillow from one of the weathered Chesterfields parked in front of The Jane Hotel’s lobby fireplace, and threw it behind his head like a grenade.
He instigated a pillow fight.
After that, a night of unadulterated fun ensued. Jumping on couches. Twisting. Shouting. Fist-pumping. And a fruitless search for the street — I swore — had TONS of late night slices. We were destined to be friends.
When Michael told me about the new line of shirts at Taylor Stitch, I asked him if I could interview him when the time was right. Last Sunday, the time was right. Here’s — roughly — how it went.
More »
So thrilled were we when Michael Maher of Taylor Stitch offered us an exclusive first look at their new line for spring, that we promised him two full days of posts here at all plaidout, which — for those of you playing along at home — is more than we average in a month.
More »
Matt Wertz Promo from Lincoln Supply Co. on Vimeo.
Matt Wertz sent me a video today. Filmed by Joshua Wicker and narrated by Jeremy Beasley of Florida-based Lincoln Supply Co., it documents the collaboration between Matt and Jeremy, and it’s the most elaborate video I’ve ever seen about the process of making a t-shirt.
More »
