Wear What When

Filson’s New Guy on the Runway

Images from Richard Chai’s February 9 runway show, featuring Filson-inspired accessories.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Feb 10, 2012 at 10:00AM 2 Comments

Photo: Style.com

SLIDESHOW: Richard Chai Love by Filson creative director Richard Chai. The fall/winter ‘12 collection sparked what would become the formal relationship between the designer and the local brand; many of the upcoming season’s pieces feature Filson-informed elements. Check the fanny pack-belt-coat situation here. Swoon.

View Slideshow » Photo: Style.com

SLIDESHOW: Richard Chai Love by Filson creative director Richard Chai. The fall/winter ‘12 collection sparked what would become the formal relationship between the designer and the local brand; many of the upcoming season’s pieces feature Filson-informed elements. Check the fanny pack-belt-coat situation here. Swoon.

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Filson’s tried and true shooting bag was one of Chai’s big inspirations. Why should hunters get all the fanny packs, after all? (And why have I not seen this thing before and worked it into my personal collection?)

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And a version for the guys. Overall, the collection has a sort of androgynous egalitarian/utilitarian thing going on.

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The designer riffed on the shooting bag in a number of different ways. According to style.com, his aim was ‘handsome femininity.’

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Filson’s backpacks were also adapted for the runway. Personally, I think backpacks are better left in elementary schools, but to each his/her own.

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Another gorgeous, shooting-bag coat.

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Though not strictly Filson-informed, this outerwear example also fuses the urban setting with an outdoors one. It would be interesting to see this piece in person; it’s a little unclear what’s going on with that mock drawstring neck …

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I think it’s exciting that a designer who shows shooting bags, tin cloth, and rugged backpacks in the same narrative as classic prep knitwear and voluminous free-form slacks is now working for our favorite local brand.

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Same thing goes here. Sheer pants and oversized menswear? Please pack those ideas when you come out west, Chai.

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If you see this guy on streets of Seattle—maybe down around SoDo—wave back.

Filson must have given him the day off. The brand’s new creative director, Richard Chai, presented the fall ‘12 collection for his Richard Chai Love line in New York yesterday. Of course, it was this collection that sparked the partnership and the Filson-informed uptown/outdoor vibe was prominent, so I’m sure local HQ was more than accommodating.

By the way: Richard Chai Love isn’t available in Seattle. No one carries it. Let’s see if that doesn’t change here soon …

For now, click through the slideshow here to see highlights from the runway presentation and get some background knowledge on the practical, rugged pieces that Chai adapted for his no less practical or rugged ready-to-wear.

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Tags: Filson, New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2012, Richard Chai

Headlines: Filson Hires Richard Chai

Now the local brand is really in fashion.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Feb 09, 2012 at 08:05AM 8 Comments

The guy who designed this, Richard Chai, now has his hands in Seattle’s 115-year old pride and joy, Filson. Hunting, fishing, and blue runway lipstick? We can’t wait to see what comes of it.

A short list of people attending New York Fashion Week while you and I order double espressos in the rain: Anna Wintour, Kanye West, local photographer and Seattle Met contributor Alvin Nguyen, and the dude from Filson.

Seattle-based CEO and president Mark Korros is previewing the fall ‘12 shows and mingling with editors, stylists, and buyers because, as Style.com recently reported, his brand new coworker is a big player in the week’s events. Hot young American designer Richard Chai has been named Filson’s new creative director. This is no contract gig or one-off collaboration. Chai’s on staff.

Sure, our beloved SoDo-based retailer of all things rugged and hipster-approved has been in fashion for the last few years, but this new partnership means they’re really in fashion.

When Chai shows later today, his models will be sporting gear inspired and informed by Filson sport gear. The New York–based designer, a longtime Filson fan, worked with the Seattle company last year to negotiate this; it was during these collaboration conversations that Chai was offered a position with the company.

I exchanged emails with Korros just after he touched down in NYC yesterday; next up (fingers crossed), I’ll be able to chat with Chai when he comes into town. Korros says Chai is “very anxious to experience the brand in its environment.” Is it just me? I can’t help compiling a mental list of restaurant recommendations and shopping stops for him.

Check back tomorrow for images from Chai’s show; for now, read my dialog with the Filson boss.

WWW: Filson’s collaborations with fashion brands of late have been really exciting—I’m thinking of the Levis x Filson thing. I imagine these kinds of projects will only get more interesting if Chai is encouraged to bring in other exciting young designers.
Korros: We will continue to work with Iconic American brands on a select basis to bring new and exciting products to market. Richard’s influence will be focused on helping us build out our “Rugged Casual Apparel" offerings as we work to provide our customers great Filson apparel and accessories to fit their everyday needs.

I know it’s always been important for the company to stay loyal to outdoorsmen and those who don’t necessarily have fashion on their compass. At the same time, a new customer is finding Filson every minute … and looking for fashion pieces. Presumably, Chai will offer more for the latter than the former—do you foresee him having a hand with utilitarian duck hunting vests, too?
It is as important that we maintain our commitment to function as our commitment to building high quality everyday apparel with a focus on Filson classic styling and comfort. Our customers can enjoy both from Filson, but they do not need to be the same.

Should we expect radical changes and new product lines from Chai as creative head?
We do not see this as change as much as expanding upon the heritage we have enjoyed for 115 years. Richard shares in our passion of Filson’s classic design. Together, we will continue to build approachable, timeless styles from the best materials and combine craftsmanship that is built to last the test of time.

Some Filson pieces are now being produced in China; are there any plans to move all manufacturing back to the U.S.—back to Seattle? Does Chai have an interest in domestically produced goods?
Over 70 percent of what we sell today comes from our Filson Seattle-based factory. We employ 95 people here with several who have decades of experience crafting our apparel, luggage, and accessories. [Seattle] is very important as it relates to the core of our brand. We would choose to produce everything here in Seattle if possible. Resource limitations we’ve faced have forced us to source elsewhere in the U.S.A. and other countries around the world. Made in the U.S.A. is very important and is part of what the Filson Brand is; we are looking to keep producing [Chai’s] designs in our [Seattle] factory or with our other authorized sewing partners in the U.S.A.

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Tags: Filson, Retail News, Seattle Retail News, New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2012, Richard Chai