A Letter from Clark Street Mercantile

Read on to learn more about the collection in the words of Scott Meleskie, Founder of CSM and head over to Clark Street Mercantile to shop the new collection.

David, Stephanie and I have been chatting about collaborating on something since 2018, over a coffee in a great little spot in Tokyo’s Shibuya district. I remember it well (perhaps because I have a few photos in my phone from that day) —it was the end of March and the sakura had just bloomed overnight. As a perfectly fluffy light snow fell, we sat and chatted while my then 3 year old son played with some wooden toys scattered about the café. It had been a complete coincidence that we both found ourselves in Japan at the same time. We talked about our love for military-inspired design, and creating purposeful pieces that can be worn by anyone and everyone. I’ve always been inspired by David & Stephanie’s eye for style, the way they put together outfits, the focus on fabrics and how Universal Works design great looking and long lasting clothing. While nothing concrete came out of that meeting in Tokyo, it lay the groundwork for this collaboration together. Dubbed the “Friendship Project”, we celebrate our 10th anniversary here in Montreal, and almost 10yrs of partnership between our two brands.

Included in the capsule are 3 separate, yet interlinked pieces: a heavyweight Melton Wool Goodwill Jacket, a sleeveless Quilted Flight Nylon Military Liner Jacket, and a Flight Nylon Tote Bag. Like our shared friendship, each piece works perfectly well on its own, but really stands out when together. For the highlight of the collection, the Goodwill Jacket, we wanted to create something that would withstand a colder Montreal climate. Taking Universal Works Goodwill Jacket original pattern, a modern take on a 1960s Hunting jacket, we’ve made the body slightly longer to help keep your body warmer, and crafted it out of heavyweight melton wool. The quilted Flight Nylon shoulder patch ties in the other pieces in the collection, and the tonal corduroy detailing throughout adds a subtle touch to the overall aesthetics. You will also find tons of utilitarian pockets throughout: two large front flap pockets, multiple internal ‘poacher’ pockets, and a large back through-pocket. On days when the thermometer dips too far in the negative, the loose fit allows for easy layering with the second item we have, the Military Liner Jacket.

The Quilted Flight Nylon Military Liner Jacket is already a personal favourite of mine, I’ve actually been wearing one for a week now and absolutely love it. The self-colour Quilted pattern on the Caramel Flight Nylon is absolument parfait, and looks great paired with the warm Sherpa-lined interior. We’ve used the same navy corduroy as on the Goodwill jacket for the chest pocket and overall trim, and highlighted the military-inspired collaborative label by placing it on the outside of the garment.

Last but not least, we finish off the collection with a Tote Bag made from the same Caramel Flight Nylon, and lined with the same navy cotton that lines the Goodwill Jacket. One can never have enough Totes, right? This one is the perfect size for your daily errands, coming in at 22” x 14” x 6.5” deep.

On behalf of the teams at Universal Works and Clark Street Mercantile, we hope you enjoy the 10yr Friendship Project Collection. Here’s to another 10 years of good times!

The new collection is available now at Clark Street Mercantile.