My Favorite Emerging Brands Pt. 7: SMOCK
Small, sustainable, and built to last
SMOCK
Over a decade into owning and operating one of the most carefully curated stores in the country, consisting of menswear, womenswear and all sorts of home goods, Bo and Kevin Carney’s in house label SMOCK is ready for take off. Located in Silver Lake, a neighborhood just north of Los Angeles, Mohawk General Store belongs on any itinerary for west coast travel, whether you’re in the area or not, the trip is well worth it. Stocking under the radar Japanese brands like Auralee and Sillage, menswear “grail” brands like Bode and Dries Van Noten, to immortal, legendary streetwear behemoth Stussy, Bo and Kevin’s SMOCK is making a name for itself among these giants.
The brand is designed with Los Angelenos laid back approach in mind, characterized by oversized, unfussy silhouettes in breathable beach ready fabrics, with a Japanese-utilitarian twist. SMOCK elevates core staples to a whole ‘nother level by using high quality fabrics, in mostly earthy, but sometimes bright, neon colors, that are used across different styles within the same collection. While SMOCK began as a small in-house label, it has grown to offer just about every closet necessity, thoughtfully designed and executed down to the smallest detail. Oversized terrycloth polos, shorts, casual blazers, cotton brushed french terry sweats, and pants in varying unique fabrics, fits and colors are some highlights from the brand’s recent offerings, almost always sourcing world renown Japanese fabrics for their designs.
SMOCK’s Yoyogi pant is a core staple in the label’s every season. Made in Los Angeles from Japanese fabrics, the pant is constructed with an elasticated waistband and interior drawstring for creating, with a mid-rise and a dropped crotch, perfect for quick grocery runs and easily transformed into a more tailored look for evening events. The Yoyogi pant’s effortless design and undeniable comfort has made it a silhouette that can handle a wide range of fabrics choices. Recently SMOCK has offered the pant in summer ready Panama Cloth and Seersucker fabrics, while they have also used washed denims and cotton Jacquard fabrics, all sourced from Japanese Cotton. A personal favorite, SMOCK’s Carbonate Dye Yoyogi Pant in Navy was a limited iteration of the bestselling pant, featuring 100% cotton jacquard fabric that was hand dyed in small batches of multiple color pigments in Okayama, Japan. This same process was executed beautifully in an Olive/Brown color, pictured below.
SMOCK recently came out with their Tab Trouser in deep blue Marina, earthy Tobacco and Sage, Graphite, and an extraordinary purplish grey Ume color. The pant’s design references a vintage convalescent pant from the late 1920s with an updated fit and appearance in Japanese reverse sateen fabrics that bring out color in such a distinct way, that will age and develop individual patina with every wash and wear. The trouser features buttoned tabs at the sides of the wast that allow the wearer to pleat and even double pleat their trouser without awkwardly pinching the waistband due to an elasticated waistband in the back. The pant has belt loops, usable regardless of how or if you pleat the pant, and is constructed using flat-felled seam construction for added durability. This unisex pant’s straight-leg, voluminous silhouette, and incredibly detailed design make for the perfect every day trouser, worn comfortably with sandals and an open collar shirt, or more formally with derby lace ups and a blazer.
SMOCK’s printed short sleeve shirts, some through an ongoing collaboration with legendary shirtmaker Gitman Vintage, and others designed and produced on their own have helped put SMOCK on the map. Most recently, their playful collaborations with Gitman Vintage have sold out quickly and have been produced in very limited runs. Two of my favorites are the recently released Tarot Camp Shirt, which features an all over Tarot card print, and the Omakase floral shirt fashioned from two identical prints in two different colors, creating a mismatched pocket and sleeves. I also love SMOCK’s in house produced Haus Shirt which features two juxtaposed earth toned tropical patterns, one predominantly brown and the other forest green, this coconut and pineapple printed shirt has mismatched sleeves and features, like the Tarot and Omakase floral shirts, an open collar, relaxed fit, and is Made in the USA.
Without as much detail, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite offerings from SMOCK, seen below, all linked to their website for purchase. This was literally all that was fit to print, so apologies for no description around the product.
