The Material Review

Issue 043: A Defense of America's Most Hated Appliance, Pour One Out for Baseball's Losers, Private Train Cars, A Spotlight On Corduroy and A New Collab from Battenwear.

Stories worth reading. Stop indexing the internet.

A Defense of the Leaf Blower

“Reassessing America’s most hated appliance” [The Atlantic]

Baseball is for the Losers

“As two moneyed titans vie for a championship, it’s time to pour one out for the vanquished.” [The New Yorker]

The Private Train Car

“On hitching your luxury shuttle to an Amtrak, codependency, and industrial barons.” [WITI]

He Knows What Men Want (to Buy)

“Ven. Space, an in-person-only boutique in Brooklyn, can’t seem to keep the clothes on the racks.” [NYT]

I ate my way around Alsace – and survived

“One man takes on the choucroute garnie, pretzels and pork knuckles of eastern France’s haute-calorie hinterland” [HTSI]

A shortlist of things we’ve got our eye on.

Adsum Field Parka

Kellsport 1/4 Zip Hoodie

TOYO Steel Cantilever Toolbox

Viyella Bathrobe - Blackwatch Tartan

Goods & Services Vegetable Tanned Leather Day Hiker

Corduroy

Drake’s Turquoise Corduroy Two-Pocket Western Shirt

FrizmWORKS Corduroy French Work Jacket

A Kind of Guise Samurai Trousers

Beams Plus 6-panel baseball cap

The Anthology Workman Oatmeal Corduroy Shirt

Battenwear x Nanga Camping Poncho

Battenwear x Nanga Eitherway Down Jacket

Classifieds

Welcome to our weekly “Classifieds” section of the newsletter. The idea is to find an easy way to promote things happening in our ecosystem. Think of this space to promote your eBay shop, event, newsletter, app, book, tool or your personal brand (if you must). Drop us a line at if you’re interested in buying an item in an upcoming issue. Price: $200 for four ads. Maximum 280 character per ad.

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🏨 Hiring! Head Men’s Buyer for Luxury Hotel Group

Recruiting a head men’s buyer for collection of incredible properties including: Four Seasons Maui, Hualalai, Vail and Naples Beach Club, among others. Setting a new standard for curation and collaborations in hotel retail.

Send all resumes to Jillian.McAndrews@fourseasons.com

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🛒 Mohawk Annual Archive Sale

Saturday, Nov. 2, 10AM-5PM and Sunday, Nov. 3rd 11AM-4PM. 5215 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Up to 80% off new + vintage pieces. Card Payment only. All sales final.

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🥂 Mothfood November Pop Up Brooklyn Opening Party

Sunday, Nov. 3rd, 4PM-7PM. Sorbaras Pop-Up Shop. 135 Wythe Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11249

Pop-Up is open daily through the end of the month. 11AM-7PM.