AMERICAN TRENCH - OFFICIAL AFFILIATE THREAD

[hammerhead_corvette]

Our first factory visit was in the High Point, NC area, which is known for furniture. We were visiting a hosiery mill, which was a new manufacturing partner for us and our first ever meet and greet. It kinda blew us away, it was the biggest and most advanced hosiery mill I've ever been in. They have 1000 machines and over 350 people work there. They knit for some huge companies (e.g. Walmart sized folks) and had the latest machinery. They also had some really really smart people working there, mechanics and engineers who created their custom machinery. The management team and the owner showed us around. One thing that struck me was how management knew every line worker. Everyone was working hard but there was a real team / family business mentality. Maybe the only bummer about the entire visit was they had so much custom machinery that we were not allowed to take any pictures of hardly anything.

I did press for several pics. this is Chad, the chief mechanic. he has been working in mills since he was 16, he told me. He had a pretty cool shop coat on with weird hosiery tools sticking out of the pockets. his bottom pockets were so ripped up that he had stapled them back together with these crazy big metal staples. Chad is a bit of a mechanical wizard and had a bunch of custom machines and equipment that he built in use at the mill. Most recently he machined and welded custom racks that were then copied at scale for the entire mill so they could feed yarn to the machines more efficiently.

for a hosiery mill, this place was spotless, no mess or dirt was found anywhere. there was a real sense of pride in the work and they were fanatical about quality. They make a military-spec wool sock on double cylinder true rib machines that we are going to make our own version of. It has a compression band and cushioned foot but isn't too thick. It's pretty badass, so stay turned for that.

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I was allowed to take one photos of some of the management and sales team (and Chad the mechanic) on the knitting floor. You can at least get a small feel for the size of this place. this was one of three gigantic buildings we toured, of which the complex had 5 such buildings, so we didn't even see it all. Some of these folks have been in hosiery all of their lives and even came to work at the mill via family members that were there before them.

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I love that you post this kind of stuff. I have been trying to mostly American made products and this helps remind me why I chose make it a priority in my life.

 

[A.T. Hamlin]

"What's a factory like?"

"Well first off.. it's loud."

Check out the video we shot on location last week in Hickory - and make sure your volume is up to ELEVEN.

 

[jms]

"What's a factory like?"

"Well first off.. it's loud."

Check out the video we shot on location last week in Hickory - and make sure your volume is up to ELEVEN.

Love the video and the editing. This is the start of the AT factory documentary.

 

[jah786]

If you didn't get a chance already, check out the video we made from our visit to North Carolina factories. Video made by @A.T. Hamlin with narration by yours truly. It's a great video!

Check out the video we shot on location last week in Hickory - and make sure your volume is up to ELEVEN.

also, we have a restock of OE shorts (from our new Original Equipment sportswear line). Made with love in Phila, PA. Restock of navy, vegas gold, royal, and red. NEW COLORS: Black and Pine green.

 

[MaE]

Hi AT,

I'm in the game for a few pair of socks and would like to know: would your "solids", "mono-stripe" or even the "mil-spec sport socks" work with loafers or are they too thick?

Thanks in advance!

 

[A.T. Hamlin]

Hi AT,

I'm in the game for a few pair of socks and would like to know: would your "solids", "mono-stripe" or even the "mil-spec sport socks" work with loafers or are they too thick?

Thanks in advance!

I wear The Solids in Crew + Quarter Crew with loafers frequently. Both the Solids and the Mono Stripes are the same body, same weight, same thickness. They will definitely slide comfortably into loafers.

I can't speak from experience with the Mil-Spec.

 

[jah786]

Hi AT,

I'm in the game for a few pair of socks and would like to know: would your "solids", "mono-stripe" or even the "mil-spec sport socks" work with loafers or are they too thick?

Thanks in advance!

solids and mono stripe are 100% loafer ready. i recommend natural over bleach white. i think the natural look is just a little more interesting.

I think milspec is too thick for loafers. the foot has a thick cushion that doesn't really compress that much. they are meant for boots or trail sneakers or whatever name the outdoor performance world calls "sneakers you hike in."

 

[A.T. Hamlin]

Okay S.F. - Father's Day is fast approaching. My dad's a pretty particular guy - sometimes I'd get a soft smile "thanks" when gifting a tie or a sleeve of personalized golf balls growing up. Last year I broke through with the Negroni Book from W.M. Brown - this was, to say the least, the most successful Father's Day gift i've ever given.

We put together a small collection for Father's Day that we'll make live this weekend - but take a peak today or tomorrow before it goes live.

I'm attaching descriptions of 3 of my faves - a Knit Polo and two hats that will be fresh textures for anyone, let alone your pop.

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[K. Nights]

I was previously familiar with your socks, but this thread inspired me to take a look at your other offerings.
I'm really intrigued by your made to order items, I dig this model of manufacturing and its ability to eliminate waste and excess inventory. How long have you been offering these MTO items? Has it been successful so far? (If you don't mind me asking)

 

[smtipu]

well come. I love your product & also your color seance.

 

[fatsu]

If you didn't get a chance already, check out the video we made from our visit to North Carolina factories. Video made by @A.T. Hamlin with narration by yours truly. It's a great video!

also, we have a restock of OE shorts (from our new Original Equipment sportswear line). Made with love in Phila, PA. Restock of navy, vegas gold, royal, and red. NEW COLORS: Black and Pine green.

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Question about the mesh shorts, are they double layer? Do they have an inner lining (like swim trunks)?

 

[A.T. Hamlin]

Question about the mesh shorts, are they double layer? Do they have an inner lining (like swim trunks)?

They do not have an inner lining like swim trunks. But now I'm curious - is that something you'd like to see in shorts in the future?

 

[A.T. Hamlin]

We're sampling Sweatpants for FW22.

We've done sweats in the past - but this fall we're looking to go full custom.

A few years ago, when we first decided to dive into sweatpants, we weren't totally sure about how they'd sell. So for SS20 we bought blanks and dyed them. They were pretty good despite being almost Gildan-level- basic patterns in less-than loud colors. We did the same for SS21, again in cool colors (they were Sky Blue, Creamsicle and Cotton Candy). But for FW21 we needed to break out of our shell a little bit. We did a hybrid custom-blank type, cut and sewn in Detroit. The colors, Indigo, Yam and Raven, were smash hits. It felt good to sell something that we'd tried a few different times in a few different iterations. But still, we wanted to do something more original, more our own.

For FW22, for the first time, we're doing fully custom sweats. From the ground up, this pattern will be keyed in on the details, down to the stitch. We're stoked about the waistband - we think this will look awesome once it takes to dye, as well.

I've attached a photo of one of our samples, to ask this question: what kind of cuff do ya'll prefer at the bottom of your sweat pant? We've done a longer, ribbed jogger-type before, as well as the elastic, scrunched-ankle type (more like the 80's gym-set). In general, any feedback on the waistband and cuff? Any colors you'd like to see? We'll have more to add to this thread about these sweats - including pictures/samples/questions about hoodies and crewnecks.

 

[fatsu]

They do not have an inner lining like swim trunks. But now I'm curious - is that something you'd like to see in shorts in the future?

I think opinions are pretty split when it comes to lining. Personally, yes, I like to have the lining, so I don't have to wear underwear, which keeps me a little bit cooler in those dog days of summer.

 

[jah786]

Question about the mesh shorts, are they double layer? Do they have an inner lining (like swim trunks)?

It is two layers of mesh. the mesh is a medium weight. but there is no liner like swim trunks. I personally have been wearing vegas gold at home every day now. I love the color. For reasons of absurd vanity I don't wear shorts to the office (of any kind) but all male employees wear them to office other than me. Color selections vary but I'm seeing vegas gold, pine, royal, red, and black. One guy went nuts on the braids and has every braid color; he wears them with oversized tee-shirts.