Correspondents Cap. Tony Sylvester x Papa Nui Collboration - ON SALE

We are inexplicably connected through our collective histories.

It’s a parallel universe where contemporaries are joined in the ether by like-mindedness, by experience, by travel, by interest. 

And so it is with Papa Nui and AWMS.

Tony and I have long talked about collaborating on ideas and now we have joined forces after finding an intersection that combines both our sartorial commonalities.

Taking Tony’s stylistic preference for bucket hats we’ve taken the common ‘On Golden Pond’, and turned it into something quite extraordinary.

Using the conceptual premise that visiting Congressmen, government officials, and Newspaper Correspondents to the Vietnam capital of Saigon wanted to blend their civilian occupations with in-country style, we’ve created a wonderful ‘what if’, where non-combatants meet martial styling at the hands of Mama-san’s workshop. We call it transferable aesthetics.

The Correspondents hat comes in an all cotton Japanese milled Tiger Stripe Camouflage pattern. It features a red and blue ribbon band, a detail synonymous with the bucket hat styling and reminiscent of the colors of Grenadier Coldstream, Scotch, Irish and Welsh regiments. It comes with an in-country made UPI press patch which can be hand sewn at your preference.

The Congressman’s version is a rugged Olive drab herringbone twill, beautifully constructed in the finest facilities in Japan. Its Guards ribbon enhances the simplicity of the styling and adds a vibrant flash of brilliance against the jungle drab of the hue. A perfect vehicle for your own customization. We’ve included a Vung Tau surf permit badge to wear on R’n’R, but add a Snoopy patch or a ‘We try Harder’ pin badge and make this one your own.

Both styles are available in sizes Medium 57-58cm and Large 59-60cm and are exclusive to the webstore of Papa Nui, AWMS, Those That Know and America’s finest retailer, Standard and Strange.

"I've always admired John's single minded dedication to the co-mingling of his muses -  surfing and military clothing - and have been a follower and customer of his for over a decade. When thinking about the kind of products I wanted to make that did not already exist in the world, Papa Nui was right on top for inspiration. Putting our collective heads together, we wanted to hit that sweet spot where militaria and civiliana meet, where clothing gets adapted to fit the task in hand." 

This project thanks the combined efforts of:

@namasteterimahkasih who valiantly ventured forth to the Moscow flea markets to find the grenadiers ribbon when all other resources failed and then going back and finding another 24 metres when we were short.. so grateful!

@yesterdayvietnam for your awesome attentiveness to replicating period in-country patches and using your mama-san sewing team to add authenticity to our project.

@johnlofgrenbootmaker for allowing us to use your fantastic production facilities. Our all Japan make caps and hats are the best because of your watchful eye.

@wes_art_and_design for Tony’s stellar logo idea.

@punkpower76 the best graphic design in the business! Thank you for pulling all the elements together and creating such a beautiful swing tag.

Many minds are involved in the making of beautiful products for the few.