Choosing Better Clothing
1. Tell us about yourself
Hello everyone! I’m Brynn, on the brink of 50, with two sons (28 & 20), and soon to be married! I work as the Digital Technology Manager for a major mountain bike and off-road vehicle suspension company.
Born and raised in the Santa Cruz mountains, I moved back into my childhood home in 2019, so most of the photos you see on my Instagram are taken on the property that I spent my childhood roaming. Encouraged to be outside as much as possible as a child (didn’t have a TV), and spending a handful of summers in Alaska, I am naturally drawn to the outdoors. I’m an avid mountain biker, hiker, camper, and recently got into off-roading and overlanding, in part thanks to the industry I work in.
I was never very concerned with fashion, but I did like dressing up for the Renaissance Faire, and I did dress up for the Goth club. Yes, I used to DJ Industrial music weekly at the local Goth Industrial club, and on a couple occasions opening for bands in SF. I ran the local club night for a few years, and designed the logo during that time. A bunch of folks now have that logo tattooed on them, and though I never did, and haven’t gone to the club in 8 years or so, I think I should, as an homage to that part of my life. After all, that’s where I met my soon-to-be wife.
2. Has Instagram helped you to build your confidence and connect with people you wouldn't have?
It’s definitely helped build confidence in my style. I always like photography, and when I started the account, I used it as a way to hold myself accountable to my style goals, and shoot some interesting photos at the same time. I never intended for the account to have the followers it has today, but that sort of positive feedback was very encouraging. It hasn’t cured my shyness when it comes to reaching out to people, however. I’ve connected with a few, but not nearly enough.
3. You’ve mentioned that turning 40 was a turning point in choosing better clothing. Can you tell us what shifted at that time?
When I hit 40, I looked down at what I was wearing, cheap jeans, t-shirts with hoodies, and skate-type shoes. Not saying there’s anything wrong with that, or any style, if it makes you feel good. It made me feel like a kid, and at 40 I thought I should feel like an adult. Influenced by living in the mountains and my time in, I started to search the web for rugged men’s style. That’s when I came across the denim and boots community, and then my world expanded. I had never really thought about the quality of materials and manufacturing that exists with quality garments. The depth of choice in fabrics and leathers. The wide variety of style directions you can within the genre. It was immediately addicting.
My first pairs of both denim and boots were second hand off eBay. They were like a 12oz with some stretch. I liked the style, but knew the fabric wasn’t what I was looking for. I went steadily heavier over time, all the way up to 22oz, but settled on 17/18oz as my sweet spot.
4. What does the denim community mean to you today, both personally and creatively?
Even after all these years, the denim community continues to be a source of inspiration, both in clothing styles, and how to shoot photos creatively.
5. How did KATO’s Mammoth denim fit into your lifestyle?
As I mentioned earlier, 17/18oz denim was my favorite, but it wasn’t very livable. Ever try climbing up onto a rock or log, or even kneeling down, wearing that weight? It’s not fun. The Mammoth, with the included stretch was a game changer. Coupled with the fact they fit me perfectly, I wore them almost every day for 2 years, even on days where I would have previously worn a different pant. So far they are the only pair of denim I’ve worn until they could no longer be repaired.
6.In a world of constant newness, what does it mean to you to choose one great pair and keep wearing it?
Sustainability is important to me, but more than that, watching the evolution of the denim, how it fades and molds to my legs, is extraordinarily gratifying. And it makes getting dressed every morning much easier!
