Collection Spotlight: Dehen 1920

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Dehen 1920 Varsity Jacket, featured in Made Collection’s “Ivy League” sale

In 1920, German immigrant William Dehen started a knitting company in Portland, Oregon. Business boomed, thanks to a steady demand for their stylish, durable school sweaters and work apparel. Although they’ve been hit with every major historical event in the last century (the Great Depression, WWII, fashion fads), Dehen 1920 has persevered, continuing to make distinctive varsity and athletic-style wool goods on knitting machines that are often older than the people who operate them.

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Collection Spotlight: Julia Sonmi Hegulund

“Sender” by Julia Sonmi Hegulund, featured in the Made + Threadless Partner Collection

Julia Sonmi Heglund loves to incorporate animals into her work and felt a deer would be fitting for a Native American-inspired fall cardigan. She began by creating a mood board with patterns and motifs, then drew sketches to determine how the deer and pattern would sit on the cardigan. For a cozy detail, Julia added elbow patches. Although she expected a limited color palette would be challenging, Julia enjoyed figuring out how to make the colors pop within the details of the design.

Julia Sonmi Heglund grew up in the woods of Georgia and moved to northern Wisconsin where she pursued her art degree. She developed an interest in t-shirt design, which led her to Threadless in 2006. Little did she know that by submitting designs to Threadless, she was launching her artistic career. Julia is now a full-time apparel graphic artist in Los Angeles, dreams about dogs all day, and eat lots of spaghetti.

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A store within a store

Our inaugural Partner Collection with Threadless Select

Today we launched a new Collection concept with our friends at Threadless, featuring a premium line of American-made clothing designed by their community and curated by their staff.

It’s our very first Partner Collection: a store… within a store. That’s right, two stores. One living inside the other. Like a baby kangaroo, in the marsupial pocket of a bigger kangaroo, if both kangaroos sold stuff. Or maybe it’s more like one of those Russian matryoshka dolls, with one delightful shopping experience nested inside another.

Whatever. Pick a thing-within-a-thing analogy that helps you contextualize it, and then come check it out.

Collection Spotlight: Budi Satria Kwan

“Lucy in the Sky” by Budi Satria Kwan featured in the Made + Threadless Partner Collection

Inspired by an old children’s book, Budi Satria Kwan wanted to make a design about a curious girl finding wonder in the world around her. He began by sketching several triangles, then scanned in different patterns and surface textures to create a collage-like psychedelic design.

Budi Satria Kwan is a graphic designer whose work leans towards minimalist, colorful and surreal.

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If you’re not hip to the world record setting scene, there’s a chance you missed “Play-Dead-A-Palooza,” an event we put together with our partners at BIXBI Pet.

On Sunday Sept. 23, officiated by RecordSetter, we successfully set the world record for most dogs playing dead at once. A grand total of 11 canines, including one special Congressional pet guest, hit the ground (voluntarily or otherwise) to raise awareness about the broken dog treat industry.

The effort was a follow-up to our first initiative with BIXBI Pet: Lost Dogs, a short film about thousands of dogs who got sick or died after eating toxic Chinese jerky treats. A documentary that aims to create change, inspired by BIXBI’s mission to help pet owners identify what’s best for their pet.

So if you care about what dogs are eating, where it comes from and what’s in it, help spread the word. You have the power to save a dog’s life.

About BIXBI Pet: The BIXBI Pet mission is to provide dog owners with a high quality, functional, U.S.A. made dog treats and supplements. We accomplish this by providing transparent information on who we are, what our ingredients are and by sourcing all our ingredients from U.S. trusted companies.

Collection spotlight: 2ETN

2ETN Bone Snake Necklace, featured in Made Collection’s “Explore America” sale

Inspired by the belief that precious stones and metals are not the sole elements from which jewelry should derive its value, husband and wife team, Pamela Tuohy and Edward Novinsky, created 2ETN. They create one-of-a-kind pieces in the spirit of American portraiture and mourning miniatures of the 1700’s and 1800’s using original art in acrylic, oil and graphite. Their art is framed in unique, found period antiques, reclaimed metals, and ethically sourced stones, creating a dark but beautiful vintage romanticism in their pieces. 2ETN lives in Sacramento, California.

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Explore America with Refueled’s Chris Brown

Chris Brown, creative director / publisher of Refueled, a multimedia company based in Dallas that specializes in publishing, design and film. Made has teamed up with Chris for our first ever guest-curated Collection, “Explore America.”

When did you realize you had such great f*cking taste?

Taste is in the eye of the beholder, to re-coin a phase. I definitely know what I like. In the end I simply share, through Refueled, what I’m personally in to. It’s always cool to be able to inspire others to check out things, music, locations & goods I dig.

Is Made In USA bigger than “style?” Can it survive as Americana or does it need to encompass more?

Although my goal is “Made in the U.S.A.”, it’s really about supporting great folks who make great products. Whether in the U.S. or overseas, I tend to be drawn to independent designers/makers. I’ve got friends who make incredible products here in the U.S., but I also have friends in Japan crafting amazing things. Quality is key.

How do you go about finding all the amazing talent / products you discover?

My small creative circle of friends consist of designers, artists, musicians, hoteliers, makers, bikers, surfers, photographers, hot-rodders, dreamers, hippies, adventurers, etc., so there is an unlimited resource of great stuff, ideas and inspiration at my fingertips. If I’m not out on the road actually searching and discovering on my own, I receive emails everyday from folks introducing me to what they’re doing.

Do you ever meet the people who actually make the stuff? If so, does it personalize things?

I’m very fortunate to have the opportunity to meet a lot of the amazing people that appear in the pages of Refueled. When I do meet the face behind the products, it goes beyond the intangible. The best part about what I do is connecting, collaborating & contributing to a community.

What are some of your favorite American places / adventures?

Exploring America never ends for me. Any time I can get a few friends together, throw some gear in the Jeep and head out on a new adventure, I’m there. The West Coast always says surf to me. I recharge and come up with a lot of great content in the desert - Joshua Tree in California and Marfa, Texas being among my favorite spots. I dig the South for music and BBQ. The East is for people watching.

What are you going to be for Halloween?

Methadone Sea Captain. [For the record, we have no idea what this means. Which is why we’re currently looking at flights to Texas for the Halloween party.]

Collection spotlight: Alabama Chanin

Alabama Chanin Dress, featured in Made Collection’s “Explore America” sale

One night in New York City, Natalie Chanin found herself holed up in the Chelsea Hotel with nothing amazing to wear to a party. So she decided to make something herself, and Alabama Chanin was born. With a focus on sustainability and organic, recycled materials, Alabama Chanin makes limited edition, hand-stitched pieces that capture the languid glamour of the South. The talented local artisans that comprise Alabama Chanin make unique house-wares and gorgeous couture clothing in the American Gothic style out of Florence, Alabama.

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Collection spotlight: Strawfoot Handmade

Strawfoot Handmade Waxed Canvas Haversack, featured in Made Collection’s “Explore America” sale

Growing up on a farm, Garrett Kautz of Strawfoot Handmade learned to use his hands, but it wasn’t until later in life that he discovered how to use a sewing machine. After receiving a sewing machine as a wedding present, Garrett Kautz developed a desire to make unique and durable products from the highest quality, American-made materials available. He uses primarily waxed canvas and leather to hand make beautiful, long lasting bags inspired by the styles and designs if the early 1900’s. Strawfoot Handmade is from Santa Cruz, California.

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