Thoughts on New Balance, Ebbets Field rebrand, and the rise of in-house labels
A little roundup of some things I'm loving right now.
A little housekeeping
Alright — quick note: as you know, I’ve previously worked with DbJourney (a luggage brand I've talked about, and one that I love). I basically only use these bags for travel.
They’re really interested in learning how people in the Sprezza community travel, what bags they use, all that good stuff.
So, they made a quick 2-minute survey, and if you fill it out, you’ll be entered to win a $100 Amazon gift card as a thank-you.
Easy win if you’ve got a few minutes to help them out.
I'm not being paid for this; just helping the team out!
Someone interviewed me 😃
It’s rare that I’m on the other side of this. I’m usually the one asking questions.
BUT, I got to speak with the homies at Baskèts, a great independent clothing and footwear shop here in Amsterdam, about my journey into clothing, my thoughts and ideas on personal style/taste, and a closer look at the Allerdale shoe that New Balance dropped.
I’m genuinely excited about this shoe; I think it represents a significant shift away from the sneaker culture we’ve been accustomed to, and I hope it brings more intentionality back into product design and storytelling.
Rise of the in-house brand
Retail is in a weird spot.
Big names are struggling. Shops are closing. There are so many brands and so many products, yet it feels like there are not enough customers to absorb what’s out there.
And while a lot of independent ones are continuing to grow, I’ve noticed a recent shift in the market: multi-brand retailers are investing energy into their own labels as a way of growing.
From Canadian-based HAVEN shop to NYC’s beloved Colbo, well-curated shops are looking inward.
One business that I’ve been particularly interested in is London’s own Couverture & The Garbstore. If you’ve been to their iconic Notting Hill shop, you know what a mecca it’s become for customers from around the world.
They’re a well-respected retailer, and recently they dropped TDR, their own label.
I have to say, their stuff is genuinely incredible—especially bottoms. Their denim is easily one fo the best relaxed-fit denims I’ve ever worn (that’s coming from someone who has to alter almost everything to fit the way I want).
Here’s a look at some of my favorite pieces from them right now.
Here’s the full collection if you wanna peep that.
Annnd they sent me a couple pieces from their SS25 collection (thanks, Tommy!), so I wanted to show a visual of how everything fits. Here’s a look below.
What other great retailers out there are investing in their own in-house labels?
Ebbets Field is baaack
But for me, Ebbets Field always stood out. They weren’t chasing trends or trying to be flashy—they were just obsessed with telling stories through the details. I used to buy their caps back when everything was made in the US, and you could feel the care they put into it. It wasn’t just merch—it felt like owning a piece of history.
Then they kinda went quiet for a bit, and I wasn’t sure what was next for them… but they just relaunched, and I’m actually really excited about the direction they’re going. It’s not just a comeback—it’s a rework of the whole brand.
They’re still rooted in vintage baseball, but now they’re taking that DNA and evolving it into a full menswear line. Think tailored jackets, premium knitwear, solid trousers—all inspired by old-school sports uniforms, but made for now. It’s still got that heritage feel, but it’s cleaner, more elevated, and honestly just super wearable.
What I love is they’re not trying to cash in on nostalgia—they’re building on it. The new team is clearly thinking about how to make this stuff relevant today without losing the soul of what made Ebbets special in the first place.
And in a market full of brands doing the same throwback playbook, it’s cool to see Ebbets doing something that feels thoughtful.
They’re honoring the past—but they’re not stuck in it.
Love the Ebbets Field jacket. Has the old varsity jacket look!
The washing on that denim jacket is soooo good