back to basics

Welcome to clipboard, a weekly newsletter about clothes, hospo and Tāmaki Makaurau, by Reilly Hodson. This week, we’re talking about my #essentials, because a strong foundation is exactly what you need when there’s nothing to do. Also: Mitchell Tan returns to talk about the joy of custom clothing. If you enjoy clipboard, tell your picnic pals about it, and consider chipping in financially by clicking the button below:

the 5 things Reilly Hodson can’t lockdown without

After experiencing a bit of burnout last week, and a fair amount of stress and anxiety about whether our new post-elimination strategy is going to work, I’ve been trying to figure out how to cope, and get through. The solution that I’ve come to is going, more or less, back to basics. Pouring myself into the little things, the things I can control, and attempting not to be too worried about the things I can’t, even though those things include a pandemic shaping the way the entire world operates.

In that vein, I thought it would be worth revisiting the trope of “my essentials” this week, but instead of “what’s in my bag,” this is a more lockdown-appropriate “what’s in my one-bedroom apartment.”

my new favourite socks

I’ve been looking for great crew socks for a while, as my collection of Uniqlo socks, the best value for money shoe underwear that you’ll find anywhere, start to get a bit old and manky. This week, I found these Gramicci socks at Good As Gold and bought a three pack to try them out. I’m already gearing up to buy two more packs. They hit a great price point ($45 for 3 pairs of high quality socks is a great deal), are the perfect height just over the ankle, fit great (as long as your feet aren’t bigger than a men’s US9), come in great colours, and are made entirely from recycled materials. Tick, tick tick, and tick. I probably need to buy some more Gramicci, come to think of it.

a good book

If I achieve one thing this lockdown, I want it to be retraining myself to read books. I’ve been a very engaged reader on and off during my life, but as ~~waves hands~~ gets in the way, I’ve fallen off of it. I really enjoyed my first lockdown read, How To Do Nothing by Jenny Oddell, and now I’m cracking into the new Colson Whitehead, Harlem Shuffle, which is great so far. If you’d like more book content on clipboard, let me know, I’m more than happy to oblige.

incense

We’re stuck at home, it might as well smell good, right? I love a good scented candle, but increasingly we’ve been burning incense, which allows you to accumulate cool paraphernalia, like incense holders and lighters and little trays to catch the ash. My favourite incense is Kuumba, which I buy from Shakes, but Everyday Needs also stocks a great selection.

the perfect lockdown sneaker

I spoke about my new Salomon XT-6 sneakers recently, but I think they deserve a more thorough shout out. I’ve barely taken these off since I got them two and a half weeks ago. They’re definitely more expensive than sneakers should be, but they have been perfect for lockdown. The lacing system means you don’t have to tie your shoes, which is great when you’re feeling lazy. They’re also great support on a long weekend walk when that’s all you can do, they stand up to the elements if you’re picnicking in a muddy park, and they’re running shoes, which means they can enable your Grave Runners Instagram Nike Running Club screenshots, if you’re that kind of person.

video games

Last year, during lockdown, I bought a Nintendo Switch Lite, as did many people, I think. I have used it very sparingly, and I’m by no means a gamer, but being able to fire up NBA 2K or Hades on a device that doesn’t also receive texts or do Instagram is honestly really quite nice during lockdown. Would recommend!

clips

• The new alert level system makes not a ton of sense. What sense can be made of it can be found in this Re News article. Anyway, get your vaccine and move up your second dose if you’ve had your first one more than three weeks so that we can all move on with our lives. I’ll be at the airport drive through, this morning.

• I love this GQ article about “dirtbag Ivy,” a look that I aspire to.

• I can’t skateboard, but it’s unquestionably a cool thing to do, so this jumper is also cool.

• Last weekend I saw three kids wandering around Wynyard quarter, all in matching navy shorts and heather grey jumpers, and decided I had to steal these children’s swag. I’ll be doing it with this perfect grey jumper and navy Patagonia baggies, and you should too.

• Send this to your family that don’t wear masks when they’re out and about.

• I’m still waiting for good mask recommendations: please send me where you bought your masks, I want a cool new one to make my signature look in the new normal.

take it or leave it: the made to order garment experience

by Mitchell Tan, proprietor of Rubbish Bin

Slow fashion's name is antithetical to fast fashion. On one end, fast fashion goliaths like H&M, Zara, Asos, Boohoo, etc. utilise less-than-ethical practices, producing clothing with no regard for the environment or their employees, actively exploiting blind consumers and those who have less disposable income. Hell, I even hesitate to use the word "employee" as it implies that workers are getting compensated for their labour. On the other hand is "slow fashion", which encompasses a broad gamut of clothing. This can span from producing in small batches to just making sure workers are paid adequately. The movement is inherently grassroots. 

Obviously, at the extremity of slow fashion is purchasing made to order garments. These pieces of clothing are made on-demand, requiring more time but allowing more client control through considered design which brings with it countless benefits. Not only does it produce less waste, as garments are only produced as they are needed, and it actively promotes responsible consumption, the personality that is displayed through the garment d allows for greater longevity through a personal connection.

Reilly and I have both recently taken our first forays into this realm. I am excited to see how Reilly's blazer from master tailors at Doran & Doran turns out (I am also seriously considering begging my parents to help me fund a bespoke suit from them as my graduation present next year).1 They slot into the old-school idea of made-to-order, evoking Savile Row associations. On the other hand, I recently purchased a shirt from Inward Goods, which was custom made to my specifications and materials. The short-sleeve shirt is something I have worn every summer, from the high school uniform to the festival shirt, and it has been cemented in my permanent rotation till death. Therefore, it was a natural progression for me to buy something that fulfils the platonic ideal of what I want a SS shirt to be - equal parts smart, casual, fun, and serious. The result is something that I hold very dear to my heart, and thus will hopefully be in my summer rotation for years to come, well worth the higher price. 

I'm not here to brag about my spending 240-odd dollars on a shirt. For many, this makes little financial sense. Instead, I want to highlight how important perspective is on consumption, and how my involvement in the making process has changed this. Of all the pieces I have written so far, I implore you to consider this advice and TAKE IT if not for just now, LEAVE IT in the back of your head until the time is right for you to venture deeper into slow fashion. 

That’s all for clipboard this week, thanks for reading! I’ll be back with another issue next Sunday in the morning, and in the meantime you can find me on Instagram, or get in touch over email (reader emails are the only emails I enjoy receiving). If you enjoy clipboard, send it to all your friends, talk about it from a 2 metre distance outside, and consider subscribing with money. See you next week!