John Elliot + Co Makes Us Check Our Bank Accounts
John Elliot + Co made a name for itself in the beginning of the brand's career by making good basics that weren't readily available to consumers at such a low price point. Items like well-made t-shirts, sweatpants, and sweaters were all being sold expensively by brands like Alexander Wang, and when JE came on the scene and sold product that rivaled Wang in quality, while being much cheaper, it fucked the whole game up.
JE created a good platform to start from with this strategy, but the public was waiting to see what the brand had in store for the future, especially after being named one of GQ's Best New Menswear Designers in America in 2014. The founders have been slow with releasing new product, but that's all a part of their plan. Why overexert yourself and create shitty product while you can take your time and create something that will truly last? Take, for example, this varsity jacket from the brand: Is it at all new and revolutionizing? Not at all, but the subtle detailing and the quality of the jacket are bar-none, which is something JE has always and will always hang its hat on at the end of the day.
The jacket features USA-made knit terry through the body, and lambskin sleeves shipped in from Italy. It's finished off with RiRi buttons and a satin lining — pure fucking class. The varsity is available at the JE web store but ain't gon' come cheap, currently listed at $675. And while we're kind of like, "chill," we're also kind of like, "Fuck, how much do I have in my bank account?"