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Indian Summer
By: Lisa Horn, Editor
Issue: 2005jun
“The air is perfectly quiescent and all is stillness, as if Nature, after her exertions during the Summer, were now at rest.”
—John Bradbury, 1817
As summer transitions into autumn, nature’s color palette becomes softer…more subdued. Gone are the bright orange, lemon and cherry shades—replaced with the subtle pumpkin, mustard and poppy colors derived from earth’s bountiful fall harvest.
Whether by training or instinct, we humans often follow nature’s lead, adjusting our clothing choices to mirror the ecological transformation around us. As the calendar winds down, we crave mellow, understated colors and relaxed fabrics. Fulfillment can be found in the pigment-dyed and garment-washed apparel featured in this special edition of Editor’s Picks.
Capture Free Spirit
Tie dye—the name conjures up the free-wheeling spirit of the ’60s. It may seem like a long time ago, but those colorful days are closer than you think with the Authentic Pigment chest-stripe dye tee. Made from 100-percent heavyweight cotton, this tee features a tie-dye process that creates a single stripe across the chest. Choose from black, Carolina blue, navy, pumpkin or spruce in sizes S-2XL, and live your own free-spirited version of that celebrated era.
A Simple Vacation
To get the incredible softness in this Authentic Pigment hooded pullover, the 100-percent preshrunk ringspun cotton is brushed on the inside so it feels like you’ve loved it—and worn it—for years. Sized S-2XL, it is finished nicely with 1x1 rib-knit trim cuffs and bottom band, jersey-lined drawstring hood and double-needle stitching throughout. Add a weathered palette—brick, denim, goldenrod, hemp, mocha, moss, periwinkle, smoke and yam—and you can’t help but feel completely relaxed. Consider it a vacation in sweatshirt form.
Casual Chic
The raw edge gives this tote a casual feel, but the sleek design makes it chic. Made from 100-percent cotton canvas, the Authentic Pigment raw edge tote features natural canvas web straps, antique brass hardware and an inside hanging pocket. It is sized 14 by 13½ by 3½ inches and offered in cilantro, java, kumquat, shadow, stone and strawberry. Get casual by pairing it with a coordinating tee and jeans, or get chic by using it as the accent color for an otherwise all-black workplace ensemble. This is over-the-shoulder versatility you can take with you.
Natural Inspiration
River rocks—polished to smooth perfection by years of rushing mountain streams—have a color palette of browns, golds and greys only nature can create. Colors inspired by nature but formulated to be vibrant, alluring and soft are the foundation of Comfort Colors by Chouinard. Pigment dyed in six color combinations—blue jean/denim, brown/pepper, denim/pepper, grey/pepper, khaki/denim and yam/denim—this tee has contrasting raglan sleeves and collar. Sized S-3XL, it is constructed of 100-percent preshrunk ringspun cotton, which has been enzyme washed for softness. Reminiscent of vacations to red-rock destinations, it’s also ideal for excursions closer to home.
Tropical Paradise
You don’t have to change your latitude to change your attitude—although a trip to the Caribbean couldn’t hurt. To capture the ease of the tropics, just don the Islander cap from Toppers. This 100-percent cotton, six-panel cap has an unstructured, relaxed fit that can be adjusted using the self-fabric back with brass buckle. It has been stone washed and pigment dyed in desert, lemon, lime, periwinkle, strawberry and tangerine. Wear it, and you’ll be in style while searching for your lost shaker of salt.
An Appealing Alternative
Looking for a t-shirt, but want it to have more than the traditional detailing? The football jersey offers an appealing alternative, and we’re not talking about your little brother’s mesh pullover. Today’s football jersey has a fashionable silhouette, and the Desert Wash version has a rugged sensibility. Constructed from 100-percent cotton jersey, it features a front yoke with split double-needle stitching that also extends around the armholes and collar. The men’s version (sizes S-2XL) has double-needle stitched sleeves and bottom hem, while the ladies’ style (sizes S-XL) has raw-edge sleeves and bottom hem. Shown in prairie for him and sand verbena for her, it’s offered in seven additional colors—aquamarine, chuparosa, mariposa, palo verde, raven, river rock and sunset—that are slightly weathered and sure to become wardrobe favorites.
Get Carried Away
Desert Wash bags carry pigment dye to the next level. This medium grommet tote is fabricated from 100-percent cotton canvas with a fully lined interior, which features a zippered storage pocket. It’s completed with thick braided rope shoulder straps with nickel hardware. Measuring 15¾ by 15 inches, it’s offered in adobe, chili, mineral, peyote, Santa Fe blue and stone. With the usefulness of this tote, you’ll surely get carried away.
Evolution Revolution
In nature, a sudden improvement allows a species to advance and thrive. In the apparel world, an innovation creates the same exact effect. chromaZONE by Anvil—a new breed of garment-dyed apparel—is more than a shade richer, more than a touch softer, lighter on the body and more fluid on the move. Made from 100-percent preshrunk, ringspun cotton, the piqué polo is detail rich: contoured collar and welt sleeve bands, twill-taped neck seam, reinforced clean-finished placket, high-gloss wood-tone buttons, side seams, side vents and double-needle stitched hem. Sized S-2XL, it is offered in six colors—coal, denim blue, dijon, red rock, safari and taupe—that would make Darwin proud.
Lisa Horn is PPB’s editor.
WHERE TO BUY
To find the featured garments, check out these suppliers:
Authentic Pigment
Alpha Shirt Co. Phone: 800-523-4585. Website: www.alphashirt.com. UPIC: ALPH0003.
chromaZONE™ by Anvil
Bodek and Rhodes. Phone: 800-523-2721. Website: www.bodekandrhodes.com. UPIC: ULTRACLB.
Comfort Colors by Chouinard
S&S Activewear. Phone: 800-523-2155. Website: www.ssactivewear.com. UPIC: SSAC8463.
Desert Wash
Broder Bros. Phone: 800-521-0850. Website: www.broderbros.com. UPIC: BRODER.
Toppers
S&S Activewear. Phone: 800-523-2155. Website: www.ssactivewear.com. UPIC: SSAC8463.
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