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The POP UP FLEA Post

This was first year attending Pop Up Flea, and I finally got a chance to see what I'd been missing. Given my fairly recent transformation into a "blogger," I was forced to pony-up and be a bit more social than I usually am at these events. I will say that having my immaculately dressed former 60's Mad Man father around definitely helped, since the men representing the various brands seemed a lot more at ease explaining themselves to him than to me. It worked out quite well though, and I had a fantastic time.

My initial impression entering Drive-In Studios was that the event was as much about men trying to out-dress one another as it was about the brands and vendors promoting their wares. Warby Parker wasn't there, but it seemed like 8 out of every 10 men was wearing a pair of their frames, with a fresh haircut from some 50's barbershop and cuffed jeans. It reminded me of a less waspy, more hipster Hampton Classic Horse Show scene. I thought it was a little bit funny to be honest, I'm much more accustomed to females being competitive with one another about how they dress, and guys in the Long Island suburbs don't really worry too much about that stuff. Ergo, the summary of my first impression would be: amused, surprised, intrigued.

The impressive beast of a vehicle that the Gerber folks drove to NY from Portland was parked across from the Flea. If the van didn't give you an indication that these guys mean business, their assortment of hardcore purposeful knives will. Anyone equipped with a Gerber knife will have a phenomenal chance of survival in the impending zombie apocalypse (they do sell a zombie survival kit), or car crash, or camping, or basically any task you could think of which necessitates a sharp/insulated/blunt object. My dad was particularly enthralled with those beefy knives in the lower right hand side of the photo there. The end of the handle is made to break through glass as strong as the windshield of an aircraft and the handle is insulated so if you cut a live wire with it you won't get shocked. They're brilliant and clever, because by making specific knives for every imaginable purpose, they have in one stroke both created and filled a need that consumers were previously unaware of. I appreciate that kind of innovation.

The fellas at BillyKirk were hard at work, selling their beautifully crafted leatherwares and showing how they're made as well. I loved seeing this, because it really brought the idea of "conscious commerce" to life. I can't think of anything cooler than buying something from the person who made it, and knowing whose pocket your money is going into. They were the first thing I saw when I walked into Pop Up Flea, and it made me very happy. 

A well-selected assortment of goods at Harding & Wilson, including Otter Wax and Field Notes.

Setting the vibe moto-style at Deus Ex Machina.

The Levis exhibit was very nicely done, and the wolf jacket was hands down my favorite.

Filson, wow. I would rather invest in a Filson duffel than a designer handbag, truth be told.

Hardcore denim enthusiasts were not to be disappointed by the number of heritage and raw denim brands there. Tellason, Imogene+Willie, 3sixteen, and Levis were present, among others. I had a great talk with Andrew from 3sixteen about the demands in the denim market, and of the problematic nature of raw denim for women. I'd always assumed that the reason brands like Tellason didn't cater to women was due to the fitting issues that go along with heavyweight raw denim on the female form. Andrew confirmed this, but showed me some jeans that 3sixteen has designed for women, in a lighter 12oz selvedge denim that they've given a four-way stretch to remedy the fitting problem. The women's line was created exclusively for the retail space Self Edge on Orchard St. in the Lower East Side, and apparently they've done quite well with it. I didn't try a pair on so I honestly can't say if the jeans fit great or not, but I'm very happy that at least, someone is trying. A friend of mine who works in the industry later refuted the possibility that a decent pair of raw denim could be made for women because of the thigh/butt fitting nightmare area, and recommended that I instead try a pair of James Jeans "Twiggy" or Rag+Bones to fit my athletic/tiny butt physique. It seems to be a pretty hotly debated topic, so stay tuned on more about that at some other time.

Another highlight of my time there was finally meeting the charming folks behind General Knot & Co. Andrew Payne and his wife are down-to-earth, passionate about what they do, and completely approachable. The formula is pretty simple: curate unique vintage fabrics, make ties by hand in New England. I got to see the beautiful Donegal Lambswool Hopsacking fabric from my Gift Guide post in both tie and bow-tie form. The fact that these fabrics are vintage makes them a finite resource, much like fossil fuels but a lot more handsome. Only a limited number of ties in each fabric can be produced, making them as rare and valuable as they are an essential wardrobe item. Dressing is an art. By taking the every-day routine of putting on a suit and making it an aesthetic process, you can make your life more beautiful and enjoyable. Basically, just think of yourself as a male, dandy geisha. 

The Terrapin Stationers setup had a full spread of their greeting cards, calling cards, holiday cards, stationery, etc., with enough off-color taste to put a huge smile on my face. Ted Harrington and his wife Jodi were extremely gracious and very cool. I was a little star-struck, to be honest, because I've been admiring Terrapin's stuff for a long time and have a ton of respect for the engraving craft. I scored a Christmas card with Santa flipping the bird, which I've framed because nobody I know is even cool enough to receive it, and some cards with "Fuck yeah" in gold script. Stationery has a pretty huge place in my heart. When I was 8 years old, my 23 year old sister Krista was diagnosed with colon cancer. I lived in New York, she lived in Delaware. For the 5 years that she battled the disease before it finally took her, she and I would send letters back and forth on all different kinds of fun stationery. We talked on the phone too, obviously, but there was something special about getting a hand-written letter that made the distance a little less painful. I still have all of the letters she sent me. Since that time, I've insisted on making rather than buying cards for people, and writing notes by hand whenever I can. As an English M.A. I learned to have a certain respect for the written word... I've seen handwritten notes and manuscripts for Joyce's Ulysses and Stoker's Dracula at the Rosenbach Museum in Philadelphia that left me with goosebumps. Anyway... Terrapin's products are works of art that you can interact with and personalize in a meaningful way. They are tangible pieces of personal history that you can carry with you forever... something we're losing in the iPhone age.

I didn't realize this post would end up so lengthy, but I had a very inspiring time at my first real "field mission" as a blogger. I love this industry, and being around so many other people who share my lifestyle philosophy was a breath of fresh air.