Photos by Albert Thomas Words by Pete Anderson The United States has a mixed record with cultural appropriations from Australia. We love our Outback Steakhouses (although
we had a kiwi voice the ads), yet we regret our fling with Yahoo Serious. We love their Miranda Kerr; we’re slightly confused by their football. Regarding clothing, the demands of Australia’s climate and topography have led to designs that the rest of the world has been happy to take away.* Kakadu Traders Australia has been exporting those designs, like oil-cloth, caped dusters; work jackets; and wide-brimmed hats since the 1970s. A scion of the family behind Kakadu has taken the Kakadu ethic and applied it to younger designs for Whillas and Gunn, which we got to check out alongside lines like Oliver Spencer and Universal Works at the Peregrine Showroom in NY. Whillas and Gunn's palette is the dusty browns, tans, and olives you might expect from an offshoot of a down-under outfitter. It's well-styled and detailed enough to look the part without being a costume, or getting into picayune features that drive up prices. The whole line is less expensive than you might expect. The Whillas and Gunn lineup for fall 2011 seems to cover everything but shoes. On the racks we saw tapered trousers with a ghurka-style waist, work shirts, vests, and heavier outerwear, as well as a lot of bags that should appeal to Filson fans looking for something new.
These canvas bags were a standout to me. 
Outerwear was also a strong suit. 
W+G's take on a workshirt. 
You can buy Whillas and Gunn merch at
Drinkwater's.
Visit Whillas and Gunn online. *Very proud I went an entire paragraph on Australia with NO mention of Paul Hogan or Men at Work.
