I had the pleasure of visiting the Urban Outfitters offices in Philadelphia yesterday to do some poking around and lunching with the men’s team. It was nice to be able to see everything first hand. Eventually, we walked over to the commissary to get lunch and it was embarrassingly and humorously apparent that everyone was essentially wearing the same thing. I suppose that was symbolic of our shared outlook on menswear at the moment. I’m impressed with the really smart and cool group of people that URBN has assembled. We could have talked forever about 60/40 jackets and vintage shopping and all sorts of other materialistic pursuits. This plus the fact that the UO HQ is located at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and is surrounded by massive U.S. Navy battleships made my adventure the ultimate ACL field trip.
One of the many cool things I saw in Philadelphia was Urban’s collaboration with the iconic American brand Filson. The partnership consists of a limited run of canvas bags that were made especially for Urban Outfitters in the special color ways. Launching in mid-April in selected cities (New York, LA, etc.) the special styles will be priced at $205 for the small duffel and $129 for the zipper tote. These special Filson items come on the heels of the cool Patagonia big label product last fall. Seems like URBN is two-for-two with men’s collaborations – I’m excited to see what is next.
Just curious – aren’t the urban collabs usually cheaper than the main lines? That price point seems to be fairly close to the normal price of the duffel bag. Is it due to the limited availability? Assuming the quality is gonna be the same – doubt Filson would put their name on something inferior.
This isn’t a less expensive line, it is more or less special product. Same quality and all of that. Not co-labeled or anything. The stuff looks good.
ACL
Can I also say, quantities are very limited.
ACL
Too bad there’s no messenger/brief case-type bag. I normally don’t like anything about UO, but these look cool. I prefered UO when I shopped there in the 90’s, and there were no vintage inspired clothes, just vintage.
the tote looks great, I really like the lighter brown leather on it…duffle is great as well, but I like my tan duffle showing its wear…
I visited their store in Seattle and saw the factory, which is worth the trip itself.
The blue is a nice touch, but I can’t see much reason otherwise to buy these version vs. the originals. So if you miss out on these, there are still hundreds of bags available.
I like the floors better than the bags.
Solid collaboration. One can only expect that another classic American brand is up next.
Good looking bags. Maybe Urban is growing up a little bit and deserves another look.
Thanks for the insight.
Does anyone else find this ironic?
Urban working with a brand like Filson, which is known for, proud of, and bought by people because of it’s quality.
Any info on release dates?
Ah scratch that..mid April
These are awesome. That duffle will replace my smaller Supreme one for sure. When will they be available.
Regarding the duffle, Is the handgrip sewn to the strap?
@plaidout
Nope.
to Mark,
Completely agree…….
That is the problem with “so called fashion” these days. America has become ok with anything. HandM for Uniglo. Uniglo for Urban Outfitters,every designer everywhere for Target and all of the above…… geeeez when is it ever going to end? When can we get out of the crappy sportswear Made in China mode and appreciate real fashion and high-end quality crafted clothing again? You walk the Barney’s co-op, Saks, Bloomingdales whatever it may be floor and it is all expensive basics and essentially the same thing you will find at U.Outfitters for much much less. Please people let’s try and make the market less mainstream and perpetual.
What the hell has happened to fashion?
Those are really really nice, do you know if there’s any way to buy them online? I live in Stockholm…
Alas what is being perpetrated with my username?
Have to hand it to Urban for being on top of this stuff, but I still find them distasteful. What Hot Topic (well, and Urban) was in the 90s, Urban is today.
Geez, Urbain Outfitters is basically doing everything with everyone ! It’s kind of ridiculous. Can nothing just remain a boutique brand anymore. Corpus, Steven Alan etc… etc.. I guess bills need to be paid and blah blah blah Money.
I own the original Filson bag and will confess I’m disappointed about this collabo. I could see myself getting self conscious if it becomes the de facto ‘murse’ among Manhattan’s try (too) hards.
I know it’s dumb to get caught up in these sort of feelings, but if a nice piece of something or other, be it Wayfarers or Vans, becomes emblematic of some embarrassing teenie bopper mega-sub-culture you’re going to think twice about rocking it. And for good reason.
I’ll admit it’s a stretch to think your average post ‘neu’ rave rocker hipster is going to start carrying Filson. I’m not sure that’s what I’m worried about. I thinks it’s more like I already see too many guys carrying the tote dressed like they’re heading to a casting call for a period piece about a gay mountain climber/fisherman at the turn of the century. Style wayyy too affected, frequently in a ‘those jeans don’t work with your body type’ type of way. My fragile house of cards can’t take having too many things in common with those guys.
Time will tell if I’m vain enough to sell my shit and pay double for something similar from a smaller brand. I guess it also depends how limited a production run we’re talking and whether the extra exposure increases the brand visibility significantly within certain ‘sets.’
You know what I’m talking about don’t front.
That said, I applaud anyone who doesn’t let these gremlins rattle around in their head. Just don’t let me catch you waiting for the JMZ dressed as a pudgy gay fisherman.
Great post N, I thought the same thing when heard of this collabo, but I can’t lie…..the bags do look nice.
Chaz (the first) – Really dude? Really? You sound like a college freshman high on ambiguous idealism. Kill the vagueries and explain what this actually means –
“Please people let’s try and make the market less mainstream and perpetual.”
How do you reckon the market be made less mainstream and perpetual? It’s a MARKET for crying out loud. Fashion is nothing without mass consumerism, branding, circularity and all that other good stuff. Why do you think this site even exists?
N, you’re a homophobic jackass. And you’re just another “Manhattan try (too) hard” as your murse is already so freakin’ passe it hurts. It’s actually a nice bag and I was thinking about getting one a few months ago but changed my mind after I realized how easy it was to ask friends’ opinions about the bag as we saw them walking down the street again and again. And again.
Look in the mirror buddy. From the sound of it you already have plenty in common with “those guys”. Oops. Here comes the house of cards.
200$? Really? For Canvas? Can’t I just go to a military surplus store and cop one for 20$?
I agree with J.P. that maybe UO might be worth considering again. I rarely shop there because if its association with trends. I mean, they have their basics likes tees and their own jeans line etc… But I can’t count on anything being there in a few months when I want it again. That’s why FIlson is such a great company. They keep making the same high quality products year after year. Integrity.
T,
I’m sorry you didn’t like my revealing tale of Skinny Jean Hemingway from the subway platform.
I’m also sorry my charmingly self effacing commenting personality didn’t resonate with you and instead inspired the sort of vitriol that keeps sensible people from commenting on blogs. ;-(
N
P.S. before you call me a hypocrite: “some of my best friends are gays”
Love Filson. Always have. Make the best fishing pants in the world. Always have. UO will not ruin that. Filson will keep going long after chumps have moved onto wearing space themed clothes, or togas, or whatever cheese-ass unoriginal thing comes next.
Blue Filson bags are sweet! Not for me tho . . .
Whoever you are “N” that was a hilarious post. Truly a funny read.
I echo your sentiment although I don’t live in NY. Especially since I am a retailer and am basically discouraged every time I see the next UO collabo simply because they have too much power to exploit not to mention these brands can’t resist a quick buck.
Either way, good jokes!
Holy crap, this is a hoot.
I haven’t seen anything like this since the Barbour/Alden/Williamsburg hipster massacre…
the bag is amazing. love the shoes to match. what are they? camp mocs? quoddy’s? would love to know
got baggage?
Nice bag and even better shoes.
Visited UO brick&mortar in Philly and was thoroughly unimpressed. It felt like a crowded thrift store back in Idaho…in fact, it had a pair of distressed/worn out/look what I found in the Salvation Army down the street boots with Gucci-esque prices.
My first visit to a UO was in Cambridge in the early 90s. Now that store was worth calling home about. And I did. “This place sells jeans for $90!” I was labeled a liar because no store in their right mind could get more than $30, so said my 501 family back west.
But I do like the bags!
N – well put.
Dear Amit,
To address your less than lame comment. I will first have to say you must truly support all these fine mass establishments that continue to do less than exciting collaborations.
What I simply meant by that comment was that boutique shops should do more to individualize themselves. The reason the marketplace is in such a bad place is because everyone carries the exact same fucking product. If you can go to Odin/Oak/Opening Ceremony and then find the same thing on the co-op floor. What is the damn point? Another ex. is Steven Alan for Urban. Aren’t his shirts already affordable enough? $165…All this does is completely take the value out of fashion even more than the economy and “the world sale” already has.
And as far as your loud mouth freshman attack, just because you have a blog where you “blample”-that would be blatantly blog sample from so many other blogs it makes you blogger than thou? Or the bloggiest “dude” (as you would say) around? Give it a rest and get your own vision.
Play nice everybody. We’re just talkin’ clothes here.
ACL
i think the floors also get my vote, Michael
Hey High Life, your blog has turned into brooklynvegan in terms of bitchiness. Everyone just chillllllllll.
like the floors & N’s comments
I wanted to grab the Patagonia jacket when it first came out at UO. Then I waited. And waited. And waited some more.
I got it for $20, which is more then 75% off retail. I am likely going to do the same for this collaboration.
That Jansport jumpoff was also insanely cheap; I think $9.99.
Please do more collaborations with indie brands UO. As a LA native, I will certainly reap the benefits.
Off hand do you know if its made in China, or made in the U.S.A.?
Made here in America, in the same Filson factory as the rest of the product.
ACL
@pbr. Yes they are quoddy canoe mocs.
Good eye.
Those floors are probably refinished to Urban specs I imagine. Unless you are making a living fishing in those fishing pants…
Michael,
Do you know anything more about which cities the bags are going to be dropped in? I live in Chicago, and I have a feeling if I just call any UO they would have no idea what I was talking about.
Thanks.
Guess these won’t be making their way to the UK =(
this bag is so white. Yeah I said it.
80 of the duffel being made, 65 of the tote.
10 of each will be available on the urban website, the remainder will be split amongst stores. each store will only receive 2-3 of each style. they will be in chicago, just not sure which store yet. should be on the floor end of april/early may.
I’ve been salivating from this collaboration, I especially hope that the tote comes in the color variation of the duffel. I know with some stores, one can order an item through the phone and get it shipped. Considering that URBN is a large company, I’m not sure if they’re able to do this transaction. Do you have any idea?
Glad to see you enjoyed SXSW. I think I encountered enough madness at the festival to last me a month.
i love the bag. and comment controversy, always amusing :)
anyone know of a brand that makes a similar style duffel bag for half the price? call me crazy, but regardless of how high quality these bags are, i refuse to pay that much money for something that i will be throwing lunch/magazines/books/gym clothes in…
– ant
So will these be available online as well?
When is this supposed to come out?
I called the 6th Avenue UO and they had no idea what I was talking about.
I went to the SOHO Uo and the associate said he had no idea. He said it should come up on the website before they stock it in the store.
Bags are now available on UO’s website
I got mine last night.
I was coming into the city from East Hampton and decided to check the UO website in the car. I called as soon as I saw the website.
What shoes are those? They look awesome.
Read the comments, they are Quoddy Canoe Mocs.
ACL
They are collaborating with a super fresh accessories label called “Poverty Flats”. Select styles just hit their website. Full lines are due in store and online in August. Check them out!