About the name
A century-old British fixture, the rag and bone man was known for practicing
the first form of recycling. The rag and bone man would travel by horse and
cart (traditionally a Shire or Clydesdale), circling the neighborhood in search
of scrap metal, old furniture, wood or anything else that he could sell or reuse
to support himself. Children would come running at the shouts of "rag and bone"
to collect sweets and candies in exchange for the items they loaded onto his cart.
Garbage collection began to supplant the rag and bone trade by the late 1970s,
and today there are very few rag and bone men. As an homage to their pioneering
ingenuity and conservation, Rag&Bone derived their name from this legendary
practice.
About the brand
Founded in 2002, Rag&Bone had one very clear vision in mind: to make clothes
that they and their friends would love to wear every day. With no formal fashion
training, Marcus Wainwright & David Neville set about learning how to make jeans.
They believed that denim represented the history, authenticity and fundamentals
of classic work wear that they would strive to reflect in their designs.Beginning
in Kentucky, Rag&Bone surrounded themselves with people who had been making
patterns, cutting fabric and sewing their whole lives. Working with these kinds of
craftsmen taught them the importance of quality, craftsman-ship and attention to
detail early on.
These principles soon became the keystones of the rag & bone philosophy, the
definition of what clothing can and should be. Each season the designers seek
out both innovative and classic fabrics, which, when blended together, give Rag&Bone
a modern relevance while retaining a timeless feel. Accordingly, the designers also
employ a variety of traditional manufacturers and suppliers, who lend their superb
workmanship and time-honored techniques to the collection, such as Martin Greenfield
Tailors of Brooklyn, Norton & Sons of Savile Row and Waterbury Button, the oldest
button manufacturer in the US.
For example, for their hats, Rag & Bone has proudly been partnering with Bollman Hat
Company since 2006. The oldest hat company in America, the factory is renowned for
quality product, and maintains its reputation as one of the leading hat factories in America.
The employee-owned company has passed down the craft through four generations of
employees, continuing the tradition of craftsmanship and excellence that it is known for.
Shop Rag&bone here
