Today is the first of November. In October, I tried to set more realistic expectations for myself. I’m my own worst critic and tend to view anything less than perfection as a failure. Did I manage to give myself some grace? Here is a random assortment of things on my mind, instead of a heavily polished research article.
I’m struggling to find the words to start this month’s update. Last month, I described the emotional roller coaster of trying to be a writer/creator, but I left out most of what’s been going on in my less-public life. I won’t get into real details here either, but I’ve been struggling with the tumult of real life. After finally finding the bottom, I’m trying to find my way out and learn how to move forward. I’ll be taking some time for myself and writing less in November, but I do have a good bit of content waiting for a rainy day.
“Get off the cross, we need the wood” — my therapist
For better or worse, October was a stable but mostly uneventful month for Indigo & Asphalt. I managed to publish with a regular cadence (completed the natural dye series with Blue and Green, explanations of Brurry and Super Zero denim, and some interesting insights from the Fit Finder database), saw a steady follower increase on Instagram, and made lots of updates and polishes to the Fit Finder.
Since the launch hype of the Denim Fit Finder app died down, app downloads have dwindled, though the web app is still seeing significant traffic. I had hoped to launch the iOS version in October. The biggest comment I got when launching the Android app was “iOS when,” so that’s been my biggest goal ever since. I also hoped I could keep the app momentum going by launching on iOS as the hype for Android began to die down. I submitted the build to the App Store for review on October 11th, and 20 days later, they still haven’t started reviewing it. Apple says 90% of app submissions are reviewed within 48 hours, which makes me a significant outlier. I hope by this time next month you will have already heard the release news.
Last Month’s Goals
- ✅ Finish the natural dye articles on blue and green.
- ✅ Submit the Fit Finder iOS build for testing.
- ✅ Gym 2x a week.
Eighteen East
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I’m a really big fan of everything Eighteen East has been doing this year. The garments themselves don’t look groundbreaking, but they go above and beyond on every little detail. Take their most recent drop, for example. This is a collaboration with a classic skate/streetwear brand, Alphanumeric (A#). I hadn’t heard that name in at least 20 years.
What could have been a basic hoodie with a screen-printed logo became something more. Instead of screen printing, the logos on the arms of the Moto Sweatshirt are block-printed by hand, giving an authentic, human feel with imperfect edges. An old-school afterhood style instead of a standard hoodie. Zippered pockets set inside the front pouch to keep from losing anything while you skate. Diamond gussets on the underarms for flexibility. Even the neck tag is block-printed, and each size is marked with an embroidery stitch. The Camp Hat is also block-printed to emphasize the pattern you normally see on ripstop fabric. I don’t even know how you could block-print on a hat.
This cardigan, to me, also demonstrates their commitment to little details. They started partnering with a Peruvian knitwear maker last year. That in itself, partnering with small workshops that have been knitting for generations without recognition, is already a selling point to me. But they chose Tanguis cotton instead of the more predictable alpaca wool. Tanguis cotton is a long-staple cotton developed by Fermín Tangüis in 1911. It absorbs moisture better than regular cotton and requires less water to grow, which helped save and revitalize Peru’s cotton industry. And I’d never heard of it until I saw this cardigan. The cardigan also features an irregular texture that Eighteen East says is meant to recall the friction ridges of a fingerprint. To me, it also calls to mind the Nazca Lines in Peru.
I also really enjoy the look of this Pilchuck flannel overshirt. With it getting colder out, I’ve been flannel shopping, and the diamonds woven right into the fabric caught my eye. They’ve made other variations of the Pilchuck, usually with some type of intricate embroidery or Kantha stitching, and I’m a fan.
Finding Your Own Pace
If you have 22 minutes, I highly recommend listening to this podcast about not rushing life. I listen to a lot of these types of podcasts in an effort to be more mindful. Especially lately, trying to write and create content on top of my day job and the rest of my life, it feels like every second of downtime needs to be spent moving something forward and making sure nothing falls through the cracks. Sometimes what you really need is just to take a step back and enjoy the view from where you are. You can also find Words of Taoism on Substack.
Freenote Cloth
A couple of pieces I really enjoy from the recent Freenote release. This Jepson Plaid in River Blue has such a beautiful herringbone texture. I’ve been looking for slubby flannels after becoming enamored with the UES version, but I might like this even more.
This Deck Sweatshirt is 25oz for $150. That is double the weight of most heavyweight hoodies on the market and less than half the price of the Wonder Looper Double Heavyweight. I picked this one up and am waiting for delivery this week. (To be fair, I also bought the Wonder Looper hoodie.)
Upcoming Essays
I completed my natural dye series this month, which has been bittersweet. I started the series in June and never imagined I would enjoy researching and writing so much. Now I’m setting my sights on the next recurring topic, which looks like it will be deep dives on interesting fabrics. I wrote about Brurry Denim and Super Zero Denim this month; they weren’t meant to be part of the series, but they got me excited to research new fabrics/textiles and explore unorthodox applications of old textiles. I plan to write about FoxFibre, Ventile, and Dyneema in the not-too-distant future. If there are other textiles you’re interested in learning about, let me know!
Closet Update
I did not intend to purchase much in October, but FOMO got the better of me. I picked up a few thrifted flannels, including this flannel western shirt from Big Mac.
I bought a Wonder Looper Double Heavyweight hoodie as a gift, and when it arrived, I realized my WL hoodie was actually a Super Looper, not the double heavyweight. This thing is so substantial and beautifully knit that I ended up ordering a second one for myself. I also picked up the Freenote Deck Sweatshirt, as mentioned above, and neither has arrived yet. I’m still having sweater envy, so I’m hoping I can find some good thrift deals in November. Given these purchases and life circumstances, I REALLY need to spend some time photographing and listing old items for sale. Maybe this will be the month.
Goals for the Month
I’m keeping my goals light for this month. I need to give myself some grace and not hold myself to too many strict standards while I’m in a period of flux. My main objective is to keep my routine consistent and reach out to friends instead of being too prideful. I’m also upping my gym goal from 2x to 3x per week.
Anyways, thanks for reading.
Chaz
