The guest in the 14th episode of the Garmology podcast is Bryan Shettig. Bryan owns the brand The Rite-Stuff, specialising in the reproduction of early 1900’s workwear. From growing up in the US to his current base in Taiwan, Bryan has developed a keen interest in the workwear of the early 1900s, going so far into it that he set up his company to reproduce designs of the era. I wanted to talk to him about having garments made in Japan, whether the quality is as legends say and also about the challenges involved in finding a factory.
Bryan has gained both insights and friends among the Japanese makers, including John Lofgren, especially known for his quality boots. We get into clothing subcultures in Japan and Taiwan and how the denim industry has changed since the dawn of Japanese enthusiast denim from narrow-width looms and the early days of the legendary Osaka 5 makers.
We get into quite a lot of other stuff as well, so it made for an interesting hour-long chat. If you have an interest in any of the above, you will likely also enjoy it.
You can listen to Garmology here on the blog, or via the usual podcast services, such as Apple Podcast, Itunes, Spotify etc. Just search for Garmology.
Bryan Shettig is RiteStuff_Bryan on Instagram and his company is The Rite-Stuff
The host of the podcast is me, Nick Johannessen, and you can email me comments at WellDressedDad (@) gmail.com
Reading this I thought of something I’ve just watched on YouTube, which is the videos of the Conners Sewing Factory in Japan. One here of a lady making jeans –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QORC6wPhkjQ&list=PLw2fz7YKQTnFIy6YtzQ62zo5WabpmXaVs
And this one “The ConnersSewingFactory” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QORC6wPhkjQ&list=PLw2fz7YKQTnFIy6YtzQ62zo5WabpmXaVs
I came across the first one when I was googling vintage Singer industrial sewing machines. The second I have yet to watch all the way through. I think they would be right up your street!! This is their website – https://www.onepieceofrock.com/
Very much so! In fact, they are one of the “if you know, you know” (awful expression, but it fits here) places, where the really dedicated denim enthusiasts look to for their toolroom grade reproduction vintage styles. I’ll take a look at the videos, watching true craftspeople at work is deeply fascinating.
Yes it is – the lady making the jeans uses no pins, just eyeballs it all! And I love the vintage machines they use. Glad to know I’m in the know now…
You’re an inner-circle, top-table garmology elitist, now, Lizzie 🙂 Sorry I’m not around this Summer to gripe about the poor conditions for cyclists in Sommerset. Will be back next Summer!