PRESERVING AN HEIRLOOM

How to Care for Waxwear

Waxwear

The pieces that matter most to us—a tie from a grandfather or the ballcap dad used to wear—don’t get their lasting, enduring quality from being perfectly preserved. They feel that way because every time we look at them we see the story they tell in the patina developed over repeated wears. The ritual of taking care of them was more important than keeping them in pristine shape. We think of our waxwear pieces as the heirloom-worthy style you should invest in now and pass down to someone special someday, imbued with all the moments of a lifetime.

Our new waxwear staples—the Waxed Bond Peacoat and Waxed Chore Jacket—are primed for these times when it's sunny, but not warm, rainy, but not pouring. Our waxed fabrics, sourced from the legendary mill Halley Stevensons in Scotland, block out wind and rain with a treated cotton fabric that molds to your movements the more you wear it. “The garment doesn’t wear you, you wear the garment,” our designer, David Sunderland says. Every person lives a different life, so whatever you do day-to-day, the garment patinas as you go along, the same way a pair of jeans would form to your stride.” The ritual practice of rewaxing your jacket is what keeps it impervious to weather and able to grow with you for years to come. The process is easy: all it takes is a simple kit from Halley Stevensons and to follow these four steps.

Items for caring for your waxwear.

Photo of the brushing step to rewax. Alt text to the left reads -STEP ONE: Prepare the Garment
Set up a clean, flat surface to rewax your jacket. Put down newspaper or a cloth to catch any wax drips. Next, clean the jacket thoroughly with a horsehair brush. Fix any patches or mending before rewaxing to ensure a tight, waterproof seal. Lay the jacket flat on the surface with the undercollar and cuffs exposed.

STEP TWO: Prepare the Wax and Cloth
Take a rag or cloth and dip it into the wax. Let the cloth absorb enough to spread on the jacket evenly without oversaturating it to avoid dripping. Some kits offer semi-solid waxes that are already spreadable. Others will need to be gently warmed up in a hot water bath until ready.

STEP THREE: Apply the Wax
Gently spread the wax over all exposed surfaces. The wax should be worked into the fabric slightly, not just as a shell coating. Make sure that the solution covers all areas that will be exposed to the elements, but without getting on the buttons of lining. Spread the wax evenly so that it doesn’t pool with any excess wax.

Step 4: Air Dry - Hang your jacket and let it air dry naturally. Once the wax has dried, it's ready to start breaking it in again.

Photo shows Halley Stevensons wax wear care instructions