Marigolds keep pests away, they taste good, and they bloom like crazy. I think it’s a great metaphor for the work that I want to support.
It’s no secret that the team at Taylor Stitch loves music. Over the years, we’ve shared a series of staff-curated Spotify playlists to keep fans clued into our current favs, and from time to time we’ve even partnered with musicians to tell stories and bring gear to life. Whether we’re at our desks or out in the field, we listen to all types of tunes, but one artist who’s been on consistent rotation from day one is Nathaniel Rateliff. As anyone who’s stopped by TS HQ will tell you, the Denver-based singer/songwriter has been a long-time office fixture, so we were thrilled to learn that the admiration is mutual.
Though Nathaniel took an early interest in music during his childhood in Missouri, it wasn’t until he relocated to Denver, Colorado that he began building a following, first with his band Born in the Flood and then as a solo act with support from other musicians (as Nathaniel Rateliff and the Wheel, and later as Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats). Over the course of more than half a dozen full-length albums, he established his songwriting bonafides, hitting high notes across a wide variety of genres: soul, folk, classic R&B, and beyond. The records are crucial, but if you ever get the chance to see him live, that’s where Rateliff’s powerful voice and virtuosic musicianship are at their most potent. Trust us.
Right now, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats are embarking on a short tour through the US, hot on the heels of recording The Future, an all-new full-length featuring eleven electrifying tracks inspired by the uncertainty of the modern era. To quote the man behind the music: “when I was writing the record, we were in the middle of a pandemic and our future looked pretty bleak. I just continue to try and write from a place of hope.” Given the album’s thematic origins, it’s perhaps no surprise that its first single is a raucous, full-throated tribute to strength in the face of fear titled “Survivor.” The Future is out now on the legendary Stax Records imprint—do yourself a favor and check it out, and then snag tickets to one of the band’s upcoming gigs if you can!
Believe it or not, in between extensive recording and touring, and even high-profile appearances on Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show, Nathaniel also runs his own charitable foundation: The Marigold Project. Named for the resilient, ecosystem-sustaining flowers Nathaniel and his father used to plant as ground cover, The Marigold Project was founded to confront racial, social, and economic injustices by providing support to individuals and institutions dedicated to making the world a better, more equitable place. They’ve provided material aid to organizations as diverse as The Black Mesa Water Coalition, Detroit Action, Farm Aid, The Sierra Club, and many, many more. It’s a fantastic organization, and we’re truly proud to be lending our strength to the cause with The Better Together Capsule.
Working together with Nathaniel, we developed four new pieces built to withstand the tumult—and the triumph—of life on the road. First up, there’s The Cotton Hemp Tee in Flower Power, a soft, Responsibly Built tee featuring an awesome graphic celebrating The Marigold Project’s mission. Next, The Lined Long Haul Jacket returns in a stunning Sand Suede finish that looks and feels absolutely incredible (judging by the photos, Nathaniel agrees). Next, for the first time ever, we’ve cooked up a fresh edition of our signature Western Shirt in a rich Espresso Suede finish that really brings the style’s vintage-inspired details to life. Last but not least: The Western Shirt in Better Together, an indigo-dyed take on this timeless silhouette that features some seriously sweet chainstitch detailing (note the marigolds on the back!). We’re so proud of these pieces, and even more proud of the fact that a portion of the proceeds from each sale will go directly to The Marigold Project to help them with their mission.
Of course, before we could start sending these pieces to customers, we had to do some in-the-field stress testing. Luckily, we’ve got some musician buddies (you know the ones) who agreed to help us out. Despite the rigors of the road, the gear held up, and from the looks of things, we probably won’t be getting those testers back any time soon. That’s fine by us—after all of the work Nathaniel and his band puts in, whether they’re entertaining fans in far-flung cities, tracking all night long in the studio, or carving time out to support The Marigold Project, they’ve earned some fresh duds. We hope you dig The Better Together Capsule, and that once you’ve browsed the pieces you’ll head over The Marigold Project to learn more about the amazing things they’re doing. If you need some tunes for the trip, you know where to start.
