Launched just one month ago, Gamine Co. out of Boston, Massachusetts is creating workwear for women. Thoughtful, considered, high-quality workwear. For women. The company is new and tiny, but this is a big deal.
Gamine workwear is the brainchild of Taylor Johnston, the head horticulturist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. If you've ever stepped foot in this museum, you know. It is one of New England's ultimate public treasures. Johnston has always loved using her hands and being around plants and when she moved from Maryland to Boston she fell in love with the austere way of dressing in New England. "It's all about 800 year old L.L. Bean everything," Johnston said to me over the phone.
After exhausting brand after brand after brand, from Carhartt to Japanese denim, to vintage Madewell, and not finding clothing for women that fit well, looked smart, and could hold up to her job's demands, she decided to put her head down and make it herself.
Two years later, Gamine Co. was born. Johnston worked with a star pattern maker from Levi's, the oldest American workwear manufacturer L.C. King Mfg. Co. (which makes Pointer Brand), and Cone Denim's White Oak mill in North Carolina. That's a lot of American heritage name dropping right there! After extensive field trials, Gamine's first product, their Slim Slouch Dungaree ($150) was released. It's made from 13 oz. raw, redline selvage denim and is built to take abuse and get better looking with age. What I love about Taylor is her dedication to the strong tradition of American-made workwear, she doesn't want to merely imitate it and add to the waste pile, she wants to add something honest and good. And she is.
Gamine has also worked on a collaboration with one of my favorite t-shirt makers, Jungmaven, and has another denim fit coming down the pike as well. Exciting things to follow!