The Rite Record-Journal
A Brief History of Tupelo Madras Chambray
Tupelo, Mississippi: it’s best known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, but to those interested in the history of American workwear, it’s also likely the home of a special fabric. That textile is Tupelo madras chambray, a much sought after vintage collectible that’s rarely reproduced, and one that might have an Elvis connection, too, as we’ll see. What is Tupelo madras chambray? It’s a shirting and dress fabric woven with ‘fancy’ patterns, popularly used for work clothing between the late 1920s and late 1930s. Catalogs from Sears Roebuck, Montgomery Ward and more featured Tupelo madras work shirts for men and fabric sold...
A Brief History of the Work Shirt, Part 2 - 1930-1940
1930s america style vintage work shirt workwear
And we're back! But wait, you're probably thinking, "What, just one decade this time?" I know, I know, but there are two reasons for that.
A Brief History of the Work Shirt - 1900-1930
Hey there everyone, I'm back with another blog post, this time after I started writing an email reply about how work shirts have changed over time. Admittedly, this is a bit of a rough sketch attempt I'll make below, but I want to go into some detail to explain how styles changed (and didn't) in various eras. I suppose I could go way, way back regarding "work shirts" (like, ancient Greece or China, or the Ice Age) but let's stick with the more semi-modern era, starting with the turn of the century. The 1900s-1910s The turn of the century is...
Denim Mythbusting: Why Is It Called 'Wabash' Fabric?
calico denim heritage indigo rite stuff stifel the rite stuff wabash workwear
How did the term "wabash" really originate and is that what people called it in the past?
What does 'Made in Japan' mean?
ethics heritage john lofgren made in japan the rite stuff workwear
It's been a while, huh? Sorry about the lack of blog posts, but life has been hectic for me these days. I moved out of the city, got a new job, went to Sendai, have been looking to (and signed to) buy a house, and more. So, it's been crazy this past month, but that's no excuse! Today I'd like to write about what exactly "Made in Japan" means for me, for my brand, and explain a bit more about why working with John Lofgren is so important. More than just helping with production in Japan, John helps to make...