eggs & wool

i grew up on the kanc, 35 miles from the wild things factory store/outlet. i spent just as many hours outside as i did indoors, from a very young age, especially through the winter. i was lucky. i liked wild things gear because it was what i imagined james bond would have worn had he been up against the white mountains of new hampshire. or, maybe just inspector gadget. but it was always too expensive for old me (ironically, young me), except for that once a year sale, when i’d buy 2-3 pieces, hawk the other 1-2 on ebay, and relish the piece i scored for the rest of the season, and then some. 

here is a company i love, and is an inspirational paradigm of small scale manufacturing: born of climbing roots in the baby 80’s, of european-cum-new englander sensibilities, wt evolved into a role of specialization- of extremely technical gear designed with both motion and mindset from the get-go by a fantastical, diminutive french woman, whom i hear occupies a barn, smokes cigarettes, and is known to indulge in a glass (or bottle) of red wine. she is probably my sentimental favorite outdoor industry heavyweight- a pipsqueak bodhisattva in waterproof clothing.

so i was ecstatic for the opportunity to visit wild things in their fancy new design studio/corporate office in an undisclosed location. despite taking a wrong turn and traversing the most magnificent and unexpected bridge at the southern edge of new england at the last minute- and a painful eight dollar toll- i pulled into their shell laden parking lot as late as possible to count as “on time.” 

i was greeted by a gentleman i’d spoken to on the phone a few times, a very courteous fellow. he was a tough looking bugger. he had a strong jaw, a six o’clock shadow, and a camouflage eye patch that might have even been made by wild things itself. i didn’t have the balls to ask. 

my favorite part was when i asked my gracious hosts about the japanese stuff- the stuff that’s in go out, and all those japanese stores. “oh that?” they asked, and the gentleman in our meeting stood up, walked to the next room- where all their sales samples were in pristine condition- and brought back a crumpled cardboard box. he pried open its dog-eared flaps and sat back down. 

to my credit, i tried really hard not to go a little fireworks- gape jawed, puppy dog. it didn’t help that i had been persuaded to take a double shot of espresso when i sat down for our late afternoon meeting, and had forgotten to eat all day. i couldn’t conceal my excitement. “this is the backpack!”, and “oh my god is this reversible!?”

a text from my boss telling me how i’d done good, and such a feeling of pride that i could use my position in the outdoor clothing industry for justifiable good all came washing over me at once. i couldn’t believe it when they told me that some of the pieces- in fact my favorite jacket in the line- are made in gorham, new hampshire. with the rapid decline of the logging industry, it was so refreshing to learn that there are still safe, honest paying, cut and sew manufacturing jobs in northern new hampshire, and that i am fortunate enough to be in a position to bring their products into a great store with a great clientele like the wilderness workshop. and the best part is that it isn’t pity- in fact, whatever charity might be seen in the act is actually a byproduct. wild things gear is legit. it is so incredibly well made that it proves itself in just a perusal.

this is such a win-win.