Vancouver-based label Wings + Horns has gathered a devoted following thanks to their well-made clothes that are simple in design, clever in cut and comfortable on the body. We recently caught up with the man behind that philosophy, founder Craig Atkinson.
We heard that you lived in Japan for a bit before starting W + H. How did that influence your aesthetic?
I lived there for seven years and the biggest lesson was about the value of quality and longevity. They really dissect everything to the nth degree. Balancing that with our Canadian heritage, I think, has really set us apart.
Your sweatshirts are beloved. What makes a good one?
The foundation, really, starts with a great fabric. A lot of research and development goes into our fabrics. We've been designing and having them custom knitted since before the inception of the brand.
Shawl collar cardigan, $156 at Context; Quilted chambray jacket, $346 at Blackbird; Oxford stripe shirt, $150 at Farinelli's
And what's up for 2010?
We just bought machines to produce jeans here. We've been considering it for some time and our factory manager used to produce jeans for Levi's here in Vancouver, so it was only a matter of time before we made the move to crafting Wings + Horns denim in-house.
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