nico wearing the ojai model wearing the peacoat models hanging out in Colorado
2020

Year In Review

Responsibly Built, through thick & thin. A look back at the best of 2020

There’s no dancing around the fact that 2020 was full of compromises and adjustments, but with your help we managed to accomplish some pretty amazing things this year in spite of it all. So, as we approach the conclusion of what has been an occasionally trying twelve months, we want to highlight some of the things that made the journey worthwhile.

Like many, we were grounded for much of 2020, but we did manage to take in some sights—and shoot some great photos—throughout Arizona, the Pacific Northwest (which inspired our Cascadia Collection), Montana and Texas before buckling down at our respective home bases. We didn’t get a chance to travel personally outside of the US, but the TS name took a trip across the ocean to take part in a Men’s Health Australia spotlight (worn by Liam Hemsworth, no less!).

A Year Of Collaboration

We may not have traveled as much as we would’ve liked, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t make new friends. We collaborated with an enormous roster of talented people: style icons (Efe Efeturi, Amanda Arends, Francis Kenneth, Josh Beech), musicians (Kirk Thurmond, Brandon Lay), and artists (Dani Vergés, Shane Miller, Billy Made For Friends), among many, many others. We also developed new gear alongside brands we’ve admired for years, including Stetson, Alpha Industries, Fourtillfour, Brother Moto, and Mission Workshop. It’d take all day to list everybody, but needless to say, we’re incredibly grateful to have worked with so many amazing people on so many amazing projects this year.

The Friends We Made Along The Way

amanda wearing our stetson hat dani wearing the ojai efe in the UK rocking the cuyama

Responsibly Built, Through Thick & Thin

We also made major strides towards our Responsibility initiative, not only shifting towards 99% organic cotton across our entire range of products, but also introducing gear made with deadstock materials as well as a Refurbished collection as part of our Restitch program. Additionally, we launched our first ever collection of natural-dyed gear and expanded our lineup of eco-friendly merino wool offerings. It’s been a big year for Responsibility at Taylor Stitch, and next year will be even bigger, so stay tuned.

It goes without saying that 2020 wasn’t all wine and roses: COVID-19, wildfires, and a long overdue conversation about racial justice occupied much of our thoughts this year. There’s still a ton of work to be done on all fronts, but we’re proud to have lent our strength to these causes, starting with our #StandSmall campaign, which highlighted hundreds of our customers’ favorite local restaurants, shops, and more. Be sure to check out the list next time you’re looking for a new coffeeshop in your neighborhood (and if you need some fresh tunes for the trip, check out our ever growing collection of staff playlists on Spotify!).

Additionally, we sold gear to support causes we care about, including custom-stitched editions of our Piston Jacket for The New South Wales Rural Fire Service, The Hope and Solidarity Tee to support essential workers, The Wildland Heroes Firefighters Blanket (developed with our buddies at Pendleton) to benefit The Wildland Heroes Foundation, and a print series highlighting the work of Jack Ludlam that benefitted the ACLU and Campaign Zero. We also provided logistical support to The Open Innovation Coalition, partnered with Calvin of Ornot to raise money for The Hidden Genius Project, and donated to the NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund. We’re by no means finished—and we’ve got a ton of fresh initiatives, partnerships, and more planned for 2021—but we’re truly proud of the work we’ve done with your help this year, and we think you should be, too.

We asked a few of our close friends and partners who their favorite small businesses are—

Andrew Calisterio

Andrew Calisterio

Bar Culture / Photography / Coffee Cult / TS Ambassador @boozehoundcc

Glass Key Photo is the best. It's my go-to for film and cameras. They've helped me become a better photographer and find my style.

Sean Hotchkiss

Sean Hotchkiss

LA Based Writer @sean_hotchkiss

Pine & Crane is hands down the best Taiwanese in Silver Lake. Be sure to order the spicy shrimp wontons and dan dan noodles —they won't disappoint.

Ryan Tatar

Ryan Tatar

Photographer @ryantatar

For the tastiest burrito with the freshest ingredients, you have to go to Tako. I mean, it's a no brainer.

Russell Kelly

Russell Kelly

CCO at Hodinkee @rslkly

I wouldn't be where I am today without the many hours of space, caffeine, and support provided by Black Cow Coffee.

Eric Toda

Eric Toda

Marketing Whiz, Bagel La Famiglia, Bike Rider @toda

Buon Vino is my go-to spot for grabbing a glass of wine. Their tasting room in the East Bay is the best.

Chef Chris Cosentino

Chef Chris Cosentino

Author, Chef, Cyclist, & Philanthropist @chefchriscosentino

There's nothing quite like a James Brand knife. I've had mine for years, and I'm confident I'll be using the very same knife for the rest of my life.

Read The #StandSmall Letter

For The People, For The Planet

  • Gallons of water saved
    from using 100% organic denim: 8.4M
  • Gallons of water saved by
    using recycled fabric in our Heavy Bag Tee: 7.9M
  • Gallons of water saved from
    switching to 100% organic woven shirting: 33.6M
  • Tons of carbon offset
    since joining Flexport’s
    carbon program: 331.69
  • Number of chats: 18k+
  • Number of text messages: 500+
  • Number of direct messages: 1k+

We’ll close this post out with some numbers that really put things in perspective for us. Taylor Stitch has evolved over the years, but at the heart of everything we do is the desire to do right by our customers and to do right by the planet. In keeping with the aforementioned Responsibility initiatives (99% organic cotton, deadstock and refurbished collections, natural dyes, etc.), we’ve worked hard to limit our carbon footprint this year. Since joining Flexport.org’s carbon offset program in 2018, we’ve offset the equivalent of 331.69 tons of CO₂. For perspective, it’d take 430 acres of forest a full year to absorb that quantity! Last but not least, we donated tens of thousands of dollars worth of Dyneema® denim to recycling organizations—in their hands, it will be put to use for future apparel projects, provided to educators, and kept out of landfills.

2020 had its ups and downs, but as we approach the finish line, what we feel above all else is gratitude for what we’ve been able to accomplish and for the people who made it all possible—people like you. There’s a ton of amazing stuff on the horizon, and we’re so glad to have you along for the ride. Happy New Year—

Stay Wild, Forever,
Mike Maher, CEO

& The Taylor Stitch Crew

black and white shot of water

Recent Dispatches

Get There Quicker

Keyboard Shortcuts

General

  • Keyboard Help Shift+?
  • Search S
  • Go to Account/Login ME
  • Go to Help HELP

Main Navigation

  • Go to Home GH
  • Go to Workshop GS
  • Go to Men's Home GM
  • Go to The Dispatch GD
  • MAG
  • Go to Cart GC

Categories

  • Go to Shirts GCS
  • Go to Outerwear GCO
  • Go to Bottoms GCB
  • Go to Denim GCD
  • Go to Footwear GCF
  • Go to Accessories GCA
  • Go to Essentials GCE