Wear What When

Just Landed: The Graduate

Local letterman’s jackets for postgrads at Deli: pretty cool.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Nov 09, 2010 at 08:00AM4 Comments

Photo: Chris Williams

Slideshow: Your boyfriend’s back. The made-in-Washington varsity jacket at Deli.

View Slideshow » Photo: Chris Williams

Slideshow: Your boyfriend’s back. The made-in-Washington varsity jacket at Deli.

View Slideshow » Photo: Chris Williams
View Slideshow » Photo: Chris Williams
View Slideshow » Photo: Chris Williams

It’s funny. You wouldn’t think the letterman’s jacket would be as timeless and iconic as it is, right? I mean, are there any other high school relics that you pine for? Yet, especially with all the Pendleton plaids and upturned dark denim cuffs, the simple shape and wool-and-leather construction just feels really right. (And if it’s too simple for you, check out these embellished varieties highlighted on vogue.com.)

Max Heigh at Deli on First Ave worked with Eastern Washington’s Skookum Sportswear to create a varsity jacket that even pencil-pushing nerds can get inside. In fact, I think that would be a really good look.

Deli’s varsity jackets are made with hand-stitched, 100 percent virgin wool and leather hide in America. So that the design is their own, and the jacket is distinct from the one you might have earned hurdling over high jumps or tackling 15-year-olds, Deli dropped the elastic from the waist for a tailored suit look and added a signature Skookum/DELI wool tag.

Check the slideshow here for images, starring Heigh. As with each of Heigh’s special product projects, there’s a short film to go with. The varsity jacket’s was shot and edited by Chris Williams; you can see it here. Oh, and as a catch-up: Deli used to be in Pioneer Square, then Heigh opened Butcher Shop up on First, then closed it so that Deli could transfer its goods off of Yesler and up to the across-the-street-from-SAM spot.

Tags: Locally Made, Locally Designed, Seattle Menswear, Just Landed, New in Stores