Spotlight: Bare Knuckles
Watch collectors will have their crazy Cartiers, fragrance heads will have their 15 variations of oud smells, and I will have my niche brands to gatekeep at my own choosing. However, a brand as good as this one deserves to be shared and not without reason: Bare Knuckles is the epitome of everything that I love—quality, personality, and prices I can afford after a one rotation of a particularly well-behaved Christmas and a very generous birthday (and even then, probably not).
The brand was started by Jacob Keller and Cole McBride and my god, they’ve taken this brand into a great direction. Their advertising alone is something to marvel at; people who have taken the risk of investing in a small brand actively spread their appreciation across Instagram and social media, with Bare Knuckles helping to spread this love. They post videos (some of which I would go as far as to label them educational) that provide reasoning, context, and better depth into both the products and the brand itself. From upcoming designers to dedicated consumers, it’s this type of content that is like a diamond in the rough: information on how a small brand gets bigger while also providing a nugget of interest to the culture of the clothing itself. On top of that, the modeling of their clothes attracts a certain (and very widespread) niche of people who love their specific style of clothing.
Founders of Bare Knuckles — Credit: Bare Knuckles Instagram
So then the question remains: what does Bare Knuckles cover?
For me, it’s very difficult to boil it down to just one genre. In my opinion, it’s boiled down to mainly streetwear but with heavy hints of American heritage and Japanese craftsmanship. For example, their HBT service pant (a grail piece of mine that unfortunately has been sold out for the longest time) uses a wide-fit silhouette for a more modern-day touch while taking influence from old militia-type trousers; the fabric alone, with subtle herringbone twill, makes this quite the unique piece in it of itself. Other details such as garment-dying, custom hardware buttons, and traditional chino-type pockets come together to create an absolute beauty of a pant, one I hope will come back in stock soon.
But the fact that a small brand like this is able to explore so creatively, while operating with some of the finest manufacturing and quality, is absolutely stunning. The things to love just don’t end either. Almost all, if not everything, is produced in the United States, more specifically Los Angeles. Now, clothing made from Asian or European countries isn’t bad, but usually, made in U.S.A is always a good sign for quality. Also, when you purchase clothing manufactured in this country, you support smaller businesses and also the laborers working to manufacture the clothing.
So many of their pieces are based off of essentials in wardrobes but, with a hint of artistic flair, they’re able to craft something entirely unique to them. Whether it be the fabric, construction, or the hardware, they breathe life into an otherwise ordinary piece of clothing. Using their Serge Studded bootcut jean, it’s an ordinary pant otherwise—classic wide-fit silhouette with a slight flare and a faded black wash.
But it says studded because quite literally, the entire side seam of the jean is studded with custom-designed nickel pieces to make an intricate design. A clear reference to the spikes (or also known as spurs) on classic western cowboy boots, it’s a subtle nod to the history of the wild west while still being a modern pant. And that is where Bare Knuckles has found its niche. Quality clothing with heavy hints to a time before us, all woven into the very fabric they use.
Credit: Bare Knuckles; you think it’s just a normal pair of jeans
Snowflake-esque shapes embedded into sideseam
The founders literally mentioned that the entire point of the brand is to create clothing they would wear and to share it with others so I think this kind of creativity paired with a genuine passion is something quite admirable. Because of this, they create a large range of clothing, from the above mentioned pants (a specialty of theirs at this point) to other varying pieces. Some of my favorites include the tan canvas work jacket, Euston knit sweater, and their Alexandria knit sweater. Also, the reason I love a brand such as this one is because, unlike many of the other corporations peddling neon-colored shirts, I’m guaranteed of quality at the very least and that takes a lot of my mind when I’m perusing the site.
A concern that I very much sympathize with is the cost of the clothing. No doubt it’s very expensive; most people, sensibly, aren’t willing to shell out a couple hundred dollars on pieces of clothing and that’s completely understandable. However, to that note, I will say that the consumer doesn’t necessarily have to agree with the price but at the very least, should try and understand it. Realize that the amount of care and attention that these smaller brands put into their clothing is much higher than places like Zara or H&M; they’re using very expensive fabrics, a painstaking amount of hours into labor, and at the end of they day, trying to run a business. The price that a consumer pays is meant to cover all this while also allowing the brand to actually make some semblance of a profit. So, am I recommending you spend an egregious amount of money on clothing? No. What I am saying though is to understand the precision of which these clothes are made and how a business is run. Once you can get past that stepping stone of immediately rejecting a brand’s price, you’re perspective begins to widen up and you’ll appreciate the clothing itself just a little bit more.
