the woodlands shop | simple threads

I’m sure most of you know of The Hill-Side by now. They handmake pocket squares/bandanas/ties out of creative fabrics and produce their whole line right in New York. I’ve been keeping a chambray bandana in my back pocket for about a year now – it looks rad, and can be worn in a bunch of different ways. Due to the horrible weather I am blessed with every single day of my life here in Florida, I tend to sweat a lot. It’s kept me looking somewhat presentable, and I’m thankful for that. The new line of Hill-Side accessories just came out a few months ago and I decided to pick up the indigo floral bandana for my lovely girlfriend. Not because she sweats, but because its got a really awesome floral pattern thats printed using a discharge method onto a rich indigo dyed fabric. This will definitely age well and look color the more its used & washed. Thanks Michael Andersen at The Woodlands for helping me track this down – it’s pretty much sold out everywhere.

I’m really hoping they’re not. I was in the market for a bag that could function as a daily knapsack to lug around my laptop, digital camera, and whatever else – but also one that I could use for weekend trips whenever they arise.

I searched and searched for something easy on the eyes, but also versatile and durable. I was ready to pull the trigger on a Frost River Nessmuk Pack but after sleeping on it, decided it was too heavy for everyday use. The search was back on, and I thought I found a winner with Duluth pack. I couldn’t even really tell you why I didn’t pull the trigger with them, but I didn’t – and I’m glad I waited.

After browsing around a bit more, I stumbled across my now current backpack. I reached out to Mike at Woodlands Shop of Portland to see if they had anymore of their collaboration bags, the ones they did with the infamous Parrot Canvas. Parrot is known for the durable heavyweight canvas and sturdy construction, both things that I was looking for in a bag. To my surprise, there was a few more left at the shop. This bag had the one of the most important things I was looking for in a bag: subtlety. I wanted something that would go unnoticed because lets be honest, there is nothing worse than a grown-man with an obnoxiously loud backpack. Unnecessary zippers, and awkwardly colored clips, etc. That may have been cool when we were teenagers, but not now. Now we’re in a time where less is more, and it makes more sense to keep most things in life simple. This bag also reminded me of back in grade school; those Jansports with the sueded bottoms and sueded zipper pulls that all the cool kids had. You were cool if you had one of those; and unfortunately – I was not cool. Grabbing this bag was my chance to take that title back.

So I present to you, my Navy Woodlands x Parrot Canvas bag. I’d head over to Woodlands Shop before these are all gone if I were you.