The Executive Edition (1/16/2022)

Colin here. We’ve covered clothing resellers like the Real Real in the past in WITI. It is interesting to see how the upcycling trend is moving from big, bold luxury names (that hold their value) to more niche, in-the-know labels. Take Drake’s. It’s probably a brand that doesn’t do a ton of volume on the bigger resale sites, but now places like the UK’s Marrkt seem to be doing a lot of trade. It’s an expensive, thoughtful brand that is made well so it is not super surprising the clothing is trading on the aftermarket for high-ish prices. Markkt is running at the non-mass market; it is a site marketed towards menswear connaisseurs:  their sweet spot is not for the lux labels, per se, but the labels with a lot of integrity and quality. Labels like CP Company, Engineered Garments, Visvim, Crockett & Jones (shoes), as well as the sleek urban sub-line from Arcteryx, Veilance.

I’ve been paying attention and they seem to have gone from zero to 60 very quickly. And one would assume the margins are good: they payout consignments but are getting very healthy prices on selling used clothing, due to the brands, gravitas, and patina. They are also applying a curatorial eye: they know what they want, and they know what people are looking for: it isn’t the needle in a haystack vintage store sort. Worth keeping an eye on the space, and also pursuing some of their stuff if you are so inclined. 

Optimo 

Optimo 

Two of my favorite DJs in the world are JD Twitch and JG Wilkes, who have been playing under the Optimo moniker since the late 90s. I recently re-read the oral history of their legendary Sunday night party in Glasgow at the Sub Club. Thankfully they are still DJing and putting out lots of music and mixes. But this was something magic and it is fun to read about the history. The Guardian also did a rock-solid retrospective. Have a spin through their Soundcloud, as well. 

ICYMI:

We had an excellent appearance from David Marx on Japanese Fashion Mags

Emanuel threw a great changeup to our normal pieces with a great edition on Childhood Amnesia

Brier went wonky on P vs NP

Eurof brought his hyper obsessive detail to Olive Oil Buying

Maud gave us a very good health and longevity focused MMD

Elsewhere this week: 

• WITI contributor Jann shared this interesting doc on Pan Am during wartime. 

• Even if you can’t read Thai, it is worth checking this beautiful residence in Bangkok, Thailand built for two pilots. 

• Hadn’t ever seen this 2009 Grammys performance from Radiohead with the USC marching band. 

• A deep recommendation for the YOLO Journal Substack. It is one of the best travel resources out right now, written by a former editor of CN Traveller. Awesome and worth subscribing. 

• Tokyo’s cult shop for Indigo clothing. 

• Sasha Frere Jones has amazing Spotify playlists and you should go dig in

• A long read from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. (PDF)

• Go sign up for a Fat Gold subscription from friend of WITI Robin Sloan. 

• The best hoodie I have ever found is this one from Nanamica. 

• Intrigued by this freewrite device for focused writing.

Remarks complete. Nothing follows. 

-Colin and Noah