Corduroy Is For The Baddies
A look at Sono’s Bo Bomber, the quiet revival of corduroy, and the latest from Polyploid, Rier, and Tarvas. Thoughtful design, conscious shopping, yadda yadda yadda.
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U N’ A Bomber (relax, it’s about a jacket)
I’m stirring my spoon, making sure the honey ratio in my peppermint tea is right — incense burning, hands beginning to thaw after a cold morning. During this, I’m thinking about the progress I’ve made creatively and personally, but most importantly, I’m thinking about what I’m going to wear with my new jacket by Sono.
(Wait, before we dive in — have you seen Kitchen Nightmares? My life hasn’t been the same since I started watching this. I’m too lazy to stream it, so I’ve just been watching full episodes on YouTube.)
You thought I was playing when I said I was getting it, didn’t you? We don’t play here — not in this house. After weeks of deliberation and consulting with others, I finally did the damn thing and bought the Bo Bomber by Sono. It’s surprising to see it still sitting online, considering the quality of materials used — recycled double-face wool, organic cotton lining, and wool–alpaca ribbing — and its overall construction. Great shape, sits beautifully, button closure instead of your typical zip-up bomber — knit cuffs, collar, and hem.
What’s not to love?
Listen, we’ll tackle this later, but I do think the negative reputation tied to bomber jackets needs to end. There are plenty in the market — whether by Dries, Sono, or Unlikely — that deserve homes. But from what I’ve gathered after talking to several people, the hesitancy can’t be shaken, and it makes me wonder why. It’s something I’m going to dig into for a future post — keep your peepers peeled.
Aside from this, the UK label is firing on all cylinders — from their Carl Coats to the Caspa Terra Cardigan — bringing a refreshing and honest approach to design by being conscious of their presence in fashion and transparent about how each piece is made. On top of that, you can’t deny how fair their pricing is for the quality of work they deliver. Take their Shaka Shirt, for example — a wool overshirt inspired by an old house suit — priced at $919 CAD. Meanwhile, a basic cotton shirt from The Row that, if I’m being honest, looks like something you’d find at Walmart will set you back nearly $2.3K.
My goal is to inspire you to shop more consciously and look beyond overpriced status brands like The Row, and toward smaller labels like Sono that are quietly creating thoughtful, lasting, well-made pieces that are deserving of more attention.
What I’ve Been Loving
Speaking of Bomber Jackets, Polyploid released their A/W25 collection which includes their Bomber Jacket C — a spicy alternative to the one above, made from a checkered wool/twill pattern. Also, their Marine Jacket C and Shirt Jacket C — their naming conventions are confusing — are two heaters from their latest collection. Specifically, the Ash Gray for the Marine, and Gray or Dark Green for the shirt.
Kazuki Nagayama is a bit of an enigma. Their website feels like a liminal space; their Instagram, a looping slideshow of “HELLO, I’m KAZUKI NAGAYAMA.” Colour me intrigued. Their site shows a trio of shirts I’d love to pick up — unfortunately, they’re already sold out.
To further fuel the mystery, their stockists page is completely empty — so I’ve got no clue who carries them. Still, after scrolling through their lookbook on Instagram, I’m convinced I need to pick up one of their pieces. Only question now is: how?
With longevity, comfort, and heritage as the brand’s foundation, Rafal Antos — founder of ANTOS. — recently had a few pieces drop at And Father that I’m feeling. The Double Pocket Overshirt, Boxy Double Breasted Blazer & Trousers, and Cavalry Twill Coat have me looking into limb-shortening procedures instead of lengthening.
I recently posted a story of myself wearing the Tyrolean Cardigan by Rier, and it caught fire. The number of DMs I received was surprising — but for those still wondering what I wore, this is it. Its weight, elongated sleeves, and raw-wool finish are incredible. I’ve been scheming ways to pick it up, but with its hefty price tag of $1.4K CAD, it’s fair to say I won’t be grabbing it anytime soon.
Tyrolean Cardigan Oversized Camosicio by Rier, from their AW25 collection. Currently in the market for new frames, and after scouring a few sites, I’m now convinced that I need a pair by Yuki Iwasaki. These are my favourites right now — simple, sleek, and easy to wear.
Unfortunately, I’ve yet to find a leather bag that ticks every box without costing three arms, two legs, and a finger. However, this goat leather messenger bag by Morphée has caught my eye. Maybe I can trade just one limb for it — we’ll see.
Yoko Sakamoto’s AW25 collection was surprisingly dark — and I mean that literally. Most of it leans black, grey, and navy, with pops of white scattered throughout. The antithesis to their SS25 collection, but I mean that positively — there are several pieces I’d pick up if I could: the Sumi Ink Micro Corduroy Shirt, High Count Hemp Pleat Jacket, Zip Brown Nubuck Blouson, and this Regular Collar Shirt.
A few more pieces at And Father that I really like — Wool Blazer and SP Cruiser by Barbell Object, Stand Collar Wool Coat, Wool/Silk Utility Coat and Wool Wide Trousers by POSTELEGANT.
Corduroy: The Nice Guy, Always Finishing Last
We’ve all heard the saying “nice guys finish last” — whether in one of the many 2000s rom-coms featuring a hapless “nice guy” chasing love, or in the angsty lyrics of musicians like Rivers Cuomo. In fashion, though, what would be the equivalent of a nice guy? After weeks of thinking about it, I’ve realized the answer is one you might not expect — corduroy.
It’s honest. It’s wholesome. It’s the kind of fabric you take home to meet your parents. When most people think of corduroy, they picture an academic in a brown blazer with suede elbow patches, studying philosophy in their dorm — incense burning, Alice Coltrane playing softly in the background. But lately, corduroy’s been taking a feistier turn. Labels like Gabriela Coll Garments have reimagined it through a sexier, sharper lens — her Puffer Zipper Jacket feels more rebel than romantic. Lea Boberg’s oversized Taupe Jacket brings a similar energy, while Evan Kinori’s latest Zip Jacket Two in Sumi Ink Corduroy Brown proves the fabric still has soul left to show.
After falling toward the bottom of the batting order in recent years — while materials like cashmere and leather continued to take the lead — the 18th-century fabric is finally being modernized, cared for again. We’re witnessing a quiet revival of an old soul: an iconic, historical fabric spinning once more within the ever-turning cog of the fashion industry.
Maybe corduroy was never meant to win. Maybe it’s better this way — steady, sincere, and impossibly soft, reminding us that sometimes finishing last may not be so bad after all.
Upcoming Release
Gather close, lizards — there’s something dropping next week that’s got me thinking things, girl-mathing my way into possibly picking them up.
We’ve gone from roaming the sea floor to walking on land with bare feet, and now we’ve reached the next evolutionary step in footwear. The Wanderers by Tarvas, released earlier this year, were built for all terrains — inspired by the climates our Finnish friends endure in their hometown of Helsinki. It’s a beautiful shoe: designed with intention, purpose, and soul.
Now they’re releasing a new iteration of the Wanderer in collaboration with Blackbird Spyplane and Nitty Gritty Worldwide. This version features a single slab of Repello suede on the upper — folded and stitched together — wrapped with a rubberized leather mudguard, and, of course, finished with a sturdy Vibram sole.
I can’t recommend them enough. Pick up a pair, walk through the forest, get them scuffed and muddy. They’re exceptional shoes — but have fun with them: wear them across the terrains they were made for, and on your daily bitchy walks around the city, like I do.
Available in-store November 10th at Ven Space, Neighbour, Rendez-Vous, Nitty Gritty, Understory, and Maidens Shop; online November 13th. Tarvas will release them on their site November 14th.
Thanks for making it to the end — I genuinely appreciate it.
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- Chris
That Bo Bomber really is da 💣