Munro ro ro your boat

Umber & Ochre has officially released their Munro Denim Jacket for the Spring 2013 season!  Named in honor of Burt Munro, this jacket was designed for speed!  It features overlay chest pockets, which are easily accessed thanks to the action pleats across the back yoke.  Produced in limited runs, these jackets are going fast!

The jacket self fabric is 12oz. Japanese Indigo White-selvedge Denim, with waxed cotton used as contrast.  The lining is an organic cotton flannel.

Overlay pocket with patch pocket detail.  The pocket flap even features a bar-tac pen-pocket! If you're sharp, you can also see the zig-zag stitch up the front placket and on to the contrast under collar.

Cuff details -- the sleeve placket is riveted for reinforcement.

Jacket back.

Action pleat detail.  The pleats are held in place by parallel elastic bands above and below the yoke line.  The lining also features these pleats, so freedom of movement is ensured!

Waistband tab detail

A couple of the jackets were also made without contrast pieces.  Yummy.

View of the lining, interior patch pocket (with peek-a-boo selvedge) & branding labels.  *whew*

Vigons Football Club

A request came in from Umber & Ochre owner Kunal, to come up with some t-shirt designs for his son's soccer team "Vigons FC".  Kunal provided me with their existing logo and wanted to see what I could come up with. Since Kunal owns and operates some factories in India, I figured the sky was the limit, and tackled this thing head on!

Vigons' existing crest

Sketching out some ideas for revamping the crest.  The dragon looked a little too clip-arty for me, so I was excited to play around with the graphic opportunities a subject like a wyvern presents.  Also, the pooch in the corner was from a separate project -- Peasants & Travelers was making some pet beds and needed some mock-ups done :)

Trying some sketches in Photoshop with my Wacom.  Trying to capture the fluid twisting of the dragon.

Playing with a couple font directions.

 Quick flats of some possible jersey directions.  With only the crest to go off, I wanted the jerseys to be fairly non-partisan.  Just mesh and pipping, thank you.

In the end, Kunal really only wanted patches sewn on some black Tshirts to sell to the parents.  O well, but we can do that too!

Outdoor Retailers Convention!

Umber & Ochre's co-owner Kunal Desai invited me to attend this year's Outdoor Retailers' Convention held bi-annually in Salt Lake City.  Featuring exhibitors like adidas, Arc'teryx, Mountain Khaki, Puma, Burton, Quicksilver, North Face & many more, the decision was an easy one for me!  The only trick wound up being that 2:30am wake-up call to catch my shuttle to the Oakland airport...the things we do for fashion

...sometimes I forget it snows in places still

Our first stop was at the brand Kavu.  Kunal was trying to arrange a fabric order, which allowed me some time to check out their collection of plaid flannels.  

Arc'teryx.  The only place that didn't want pictures :,(

Line-up of skis by Black Diamond.  I'm liking the geometric gradients

The climbing wall in a rare moment of solitude

adidas booth featuring the new Terrex line of featherweight jackets.  

Runway fashion show at Mountain Khakis.  The boys from Jackson Hole served as my hosts -- Kunal has a history of selling fabric and finished production garments and was able to arrange for our attendance.  Thanks -- great to meet you, Ned & Noah!

Swatch wall at the trend booths

Hi-lite contrast back pieces on a North Face running jacket

Wall of graphic Ts!  Digging the vintage chateau travel poster aesthetic.

Here to answer your flannel queries

 

Inspiring Salt Palace artwork

Helly Hansen's lining nodules!  The jacket is turned inside-out, so each packet (stuffed with down) targets warmth to the most advantageous points across your back...and you know, it makes you look like a dinosaur!

Single-piece knit top.  Well done New Balance -- might want to tighten up that weave along the side seams though

The Mountain Khaki folks ended the night Friday by setting up a mechanical bull-riding competition!  Neither Kunal nor myself took home a prize, but it was a fun ride none the less

Umber & Ochre Ts

Working to expand my graphic design experience -- here are some of the graphic Ts I've been developing for Umber & Ochre's Spring/Summer '13 line.  Enjoy!

So...what is it you'd say you DO here?

Inquiring minds have been asking, so Dave, now that you're graduated, what exactly are you doing with yourself?!  Why, working at the 440 Brannan boutique of course!  My school chums Gerhart and Kunal started their own fashion label named Umber & Ochre (website in development) and I've come on as the third wheel.  Here are some shots of the boutique / work space, as the storefront is a converted production factory:

Cutting table and some straight-stich machines

Light table and the Mens' Wear racks

Cutting saws and Art!

Yes, that's all very nice David, but what do YOU do?!  Glad you asked!  Bit of everything, as the business is a start-up.  Some pattern drafting and cutting...

some sample sewing / production...

a little graphic design...

lending a helping hand during sales...

...every once in awhile, doing some amateur entomology!  Found this little guy in a box full of samples.

 and of course, offering to grab some lunch for the crew!  This is the (hour long; yes, a legitimately full hour long) lunch line for the Korean diner HRD.  The kimchi burritos and Mongolian cheesesteak sammies are TOTALLY worth it!

Welp, that's all for now folks!  Gotta go get ready for work -- big sales planned for today!