Heddels Blowout

Heddels
  • 4.5 (4)
  • FASHION & BEAUTY

Clothing history...and more! We dive into one clothing item, from Bucket hats to Huarache sandals, and explore: Why it’s important, where it came from, how it’s made, who’s making them today, how to take care of it, and, the real reason people listen to podcasts, at least three fun facts you can share at parties.

  1. Cardigans Again and Again

    FEB 3

    Cardigans Again and Again

    Most of us can’t even hear the word “cardigan” without picturing Mr. Rogers coming home to exchange his suit jacket and dress shoes for one of his zip-up cardigans and a pair of sneakers. Most authors that write histories of this favorite casual sweater act stunned that Mr. Rogers favorite item of clothing was invented by the military. But for those of us better-versed in menswear history, it’s no surprise that the cardigan was a military invention, because… well, most pieces of men’s clothing wouldn’t exist today if not for their military application. The far more interesting angle in the cardigan story is not that the unassuming sweater gained fame for its role in one of the most disastrous cavalry charges of all time, but its position in women’s fashion. It was Coco Chanel who, was probably a Nazi collaborator, but it’s pretty clear she helped bring the cardigan to the masses and it was women who made cardigans cool. Brands mentioned: Inverallan Knitters (also at Clutch Cafe)Dehen 1920Beams PlusDrakesJ.PressIf you liked what you’ve been hearing, please let us and other people know with a review Our email address is blowout@heddels.com and we also have our discord running so you can bother me directly if you like! https://discord.gg/GA978xdP Today’s episode featured writing from Albert Muzquiz in “From Cavalry to Coco Chanel: The Cardigan Unbuttoned” on Heddels.com and the production talents of Sean Thornton

    20 min
  2. Why the USAF Brought Back the A-2 Bomber Jacket

    JAN 16

    Why the USAF Brought Back the A-2 Bomber Jacket

    When you imagine an Air Force pilot, the first image that probably comes to mind is the dashing World War II-era captain in impossibly high-waisted khakis and a brown leather bomber jacket. But you might be surprised to learn then that the first time the U.S. Air Force issued a leather jacket was in 1987. So this is a technicality I’m exploiting, but the U.S. Air Force didn’t exist as a separate branch of the military until 1947. Before then, it was a part of the U.S. Army Air Corps and then U.S. Army Air Forces, which issued its last leather jacket in 1943. But the legacy of this jacket just wouldn’t die so the Air Force brought back a retro piece of equipment over 40 years later due to a combination of Hollywood, one dedicated collector, and deregulation of the airlines, which we’re going to get into in today’s Blowout. Brands mentioned: Cockpit USAGood Wear LeatherBuzz Rickson'sThe Real McCoy'sIf you liked what you’ve been hearing, please let us and other people know. Our email address is blowout@heddels.com and we are also getting our discord fired up again so you can bother me directly if you like. Join our Discord server here: https://discord.gg/KHA5qvKb Today’s episode featured writing from “⁠Why the Air Force Brought Back the A-2 Leather Jacket” by me on Heddels.com and the production talents of Sean Thornton with the theme musical talents of Andrew Ryan. Thank you to our season sponsor, Meermin.

    19 min
  3. We Made the World's Strongest Denim Sneaker with Crown Northampton's Chris Woodford

    2025-11-03

    We Made the World's Strongest Denim Sneaker with Crown Northampton's Chris Woodford

    It’s been a long time since our last collaborative product, but we’re back with a bang. We’ve joined forces with Crown Northampton to launch the Grand Union Wholecut Sneaker, a denim & leather sneaker built to last for years and earn unique fades along the way. But there is much more to this Union than denim and leather – there’s a laundry list of world-class materials, shoemaking expertise, and Northamptonshire heritage in each pair. We visited Crown Northampton to finalize the design and the Grand Union Wholecut turn from a concept into what is arguably the world’s strongest denim sneaker. Hear from David and James as well as fifth generation shoemaker and head of Crown Northampton Chris Woodford about how we brought this unique sneaker to the finish line and how you can fade out a pair yourself! Link to buy: https://crownnorthampton.com/en-us/collections/grand-union-sneaker

    1 hr

  4. 2025-09-29

    Loafers - Lazing in Leather Since 1920

    Today we’re talking about loafers. Those do-nothing idlers who just sit around all day and the leisurely leather shoe that’s come to be named after them. Yes, the penny, the tassel, even the horsebit. These footwear icons might seem like timeless classics, but they are the result of a relatively recent cross-cultural exchange of mutually beneficial cultural appropriation. So slide in, slip on, and get ready for a relaxing ride along Loafer Lane. Brands mentioned: AurlandsMeerminRancourtAldenGrant Stone So this is the end piece of our loaf on loafers and the end piece of this first experimental season. Thank you for listening and learning along with me. If you liked what you’ve been hearing, please let us and other people know. Our email address is blowout@heddels.com and we are also getting our discord fired up again so you can bother me directly if you like. Today’s episode featured writing from “The Lowdown on Loafers - From American to Norway and Back Again” by Albert Muzquiz on Heddels.com and the production talents of Sean Thornton with the theme musical talents of Andrew Ryan.

    21 min
  5. Raw Denim - Back to the Indigo Well

    2025-09-20

    Raw Denim - Back to the Indigo Well

    That’s right, this is a denim episode! Longtime listeners will remember our 13-part, 7-hour audio epic about the history of denim where we covered 500 years of history of our favorite fabric. Relax, we’re not doing that again. That was a graduate level seminar, instead, this is denim 101 and by the end of it you should have all the tools and info needed to make an informed purchase and join the wonderful fraternity of people who talk about their jeans way too much. If you only know whispers of the discomfort associated with raw denim, the supposed high cost, or even about people putting their jeans in the freezer or wearing them to the beach, then this is for you. Brands mentioned: Levi’sLeft FieldHiroshi KatoTildenToday’s episode featured writing from “The Essential Raw Denim Breakdown” by yours truly on Heddels.com and the producing talents of Sean Thornton and theme music by Andrew Ryan. If you have any questions, comments, feedback or suggestions for other topics, email us at blowout@heddels.com.

    26 min
  6. Polarized Sunglasses - Women Love Them, Fish Fear Them

    2025-09-12

    Polarized Sunglasses - Women Love Them, Fish Fear Them

    Today we’re talking polarization. I’m not talking about the bears, Santa Claus, or the state of global politics. Rather something a bit more anodyne, and seasonally appropriate, cool shades! You may have heard of the many benefits of polarized sunglasses, how they reduce glare, let you see through the surface of water, or make it easier to drive. But why? How? Where to find? There isn’t that much technical information for consumers explaining how they work or the very different quality of materials they can be made from. But listen on and you’ll soon be an expert on all things polarized! SerengetiShinzo TamuraAmerican OpticalRandolph Engineering If you have any questions, comments, concerns, want to suggest a topic or pump your favorite sunglasses, drop us a line at blowout@heddels.com Today’s episode featured writing from “Polarized Sunglasses - How do they Work” by yours truly, “Randolph Engineering — History, Philosophy, and Iconic Products” by Albert Muzquiz, and “American Optical – History, Philosophy, and Iconic Products” by John Bobey all on Heddels.com and the production talents of Sean Thornton with theme music by Andrew Ryan.

    21 min
  7. Graphic Tees - Fashion Gets Explicit

    2025-09-05

    Graphic Tees - Fashion Gets Explicit

    They say all clothing is a type of language. Even refusing to participate in the conversation is a way to say something. Whether you’re in a top hat and tails or Canadian tuxedo or naked, it’s all saying something about you and how you chose to present yourself. But some clothes speak a little louder than others. Today we’re talking about arguably the loudest and most explicit of them all. That’s right, it’s graphic tee time, the shirt that literally spells out its message for you right across your chest for anyone who cares to read it. They may feel like the most ubiquitous item in the world, and that’s because they are with an estimated 8 billion of them produced every year, but they’ve been around for less than a hundred years. Brands mentioned: BARNSBuzz RicksonThe Real McCoy’sHuman Made If you have any questions, comments or concerns or any topics you’d like to hear covered, please let us know at blowout@heddels.com  Today’s episode featured writing from Brad Lanphear’s 2023 Heddels article “History & Evolution of the Graphic Tee”, the production talents of Sean Thornton, and theme music by Andrew Ryan.

    22 min

  8. 2025-08-29

    Madras - Bleeding Out a Colonial Fabric

    Hi, I’m Heddels publisher David Shuck. You may remember me from previous Heddels podcasts like our History of Denim series, the Rise and Fall of Made in USA, and the one where Reed, Albert, and I just shot the breeze for an hour every week.  I’ve been writing about owning things you want to use forever for well over a decade now. I’ve been everywhere from downtown Los Angeles to the deserts of Pakistan to understand where and how to find quality goods and the history of the people that make them. I’ve written and edited thousands of articles on jeans, boots, backpacks, bandanas, and nearly anything else made of cloth and leather. And, looking back, there are a few topics that I want to go a little deeper on in this new seasonal podcast series. Each episode, we’ll tackle a single item, whether that’s huarache sandals, Type II denim jackets, or the cast iron frying pan and I promise that by the end of it you’ll know: Why it’s important Where it came from How it’s made Who’s making them today How to take care of it And, the real reason people listen to podcasts, at least three fun facts you can share at parties We’ll be releasing these in mini-seasons with items appropriate to the weather, at least in the northern hemisphere (sorry Australians!) This first episode is about Madras, the Indian fabric that’s really only famous in the US because Brooks Brothers cleverly remarketed a bad batch of it in the 50s. Let me know what you think and if you have any topics you’d like to hear about by emailing us at blowout@heddels.com, I hope you enjoy. Brands mentioned: The Original Madras Trading CompanyJ.PressGitman Bros. VintageIron HeartBeams Plus Read the full article by Albert Muzquiz here: https://www.heddels.com/2018/05/history-madras-fabric/ Production by Sean Thornton and theme music by Andrew Ryan.

    21 min
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Clothing history...and more! We dive into one clothing item, from Bucket hats to Huarache sandals, and explore: Why it’s important, where it came from, how it’s made, who’s making them today, how to take care of it, and, the real reason people listen to podcasts, at least three fun facts you can share at parties.

Information

  • Creator
    Heddels
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    119
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Heddels
  • Show Website
    Heddels Blowout

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