A long time friend to and longer term fan of the fellas over at the social responsibility minded Apolis Global, our relationship grew out of early posts on the first Secret Fort on early collections of theirs. One thing that initially got my attention and always stood out for me then (and has continued to ever since) is their outerwear. Being responsible for what now can assuredly be considered a “modern classic”, the indigo wool chore coat, Raan, Shea and co. have once again raised the bar with their recently released Transit Issue technical jackets designed and constructed to take just about anything you can throw at em.
Beginning the process back in 2012, Apolis teamed up with Swiss design partners, Matthieu & Thomas, headquartered just outside of Zurich and are well known for their “expertise with technical performance fabrics” and what sounds like fairly rigorous “product field-testing in Antarctica”. Their goal for this Transit Issue collection (as always) was to develop, produce and provide the most durable and smart range of products with a focus on travel and simple performance in any and all circumstances and climates. A range of products tailored, light weight, functional, smart and practical.
According to the Apolis team, “Regularly we partner with global suppliers to manufacture products that equip and empower global citizens. Over the years we have come to understand that authentic results come from the daily partnerships with our manufacturers that allow us to maintain equal responsibility for all successes and failures.”
With this collection, the fabrication comes from Poland using the “highest social and environmental standards”. Apolis and their Swiss design partners chose for the Transit Issue Field Jacket and my favorite of the lot the Transit Issue Nomad Parka (that hood though…) a densely woven 100% Japanese cotton that is both breathable and when exposed to moisture, swells by as much as 10% becoming waterproof.
My standout favorite of the bunch, the Nomad Parka nods to the classic fishtail parka design while elevating it to a distinctly technical level. Interior taped seams, water resistant zippers, laser cut vent holes, weather proof zips, throat latch to minimize wind exposure, a modern slim fit and minimal bulk. And that hood.
The equally dope Field Jacket shares the same construction, reconfiguring and updating the classic M-65 with a stand collar, a pretty nifty stowable hood in the collar, welded vertical zipped chest pocket and buttoned cuff extensions.
Both the Transit Issue Bomber Jacket and Shirt Jacket are made from lightweight Japanese nylon with Primaloft insulation and smartly pack into a travel pillow(so you don’t have to walk around the airport with that fuzzy, fleece pink leopard print croissant thing around your neck.)
Designed to both stand alone or button into either the Nomad Parka or Field Jacket as liners. Again, smart.
The FW14 Transit Issue outerwear collection is both a seamless continuation of just one of the things Raan and Shea and the rest of the Apolis team do so well and also a clear and significant stepping up of their game. As always, nicely done fellas. All these years later, I’m still a huge fan.
images via Apolis/Ken Tisuthiwongse/Travis Gillett
James! Thanks for your unending support! We’re your biggest fans! -Shea & Raan
I recently saw the transit issue collection at Glasswing in Seattle — and you are right, the Nomad Parka is stand out. It had a great fit and the thin wire brim in the hood is genius.