Photos via @Knickerbockermfgco on Instagram
Knickerbocker Mfg. Co. was founded in 2013 by young entrepreneurs Kyle Mosholder, Daniel Rickard Guy, and Andrew Livingston with the goal of preserving traditional manufacturing processes.
Located in Brooklyn, the Knickerbocker Mfg. Co. space was formerly a sixty-year-old, family-owned hat manufacturing company. The trio purchased the aging factory from its owner, Steven Watman, with the promise that they would take care of his prized worker, Felix Pantaleon. Pantaleon taught the guys everything he knew about handcrafting garments and hats, and now presides over the production process.
Inside the factory, the guys also discovered vast archives of silhouettes. To bring these pieces back to life, they slowly assembled a team of highly skilled craftsmen who create Knickerbocker Mfg. Co.’s heritage coats, trousers, and hats.
Because nothing is automated, each worker has a solid knowledge of production at every level.
Each piece has its origin in vintage Americana, albeit tweaked ever so slightly to look good on the modern man.
The factory layout reflects this old-meets-new mentality, with hundred-year-old machines sitting next to a skateboard ramp. Inside, you'll find a small group of Brooklynites sewing away, learning the trade by teaching one another.
The open space, sectioned off only by thin industrial pillars, houses both production and offices so every step of the process is transparent.
If you’re looking for classic clothing made with intention, Knickerbocker is quite simply one of the best out there. Think Sack Coats produced on a 1950’s needle loom using cotton twill woven in America, and Conductor Caps crafted from brown weft selvedge cone denim.
To shop Knickerbocker’s goods, visit their website here. You can also check out their high-quality garments and hats at Manready Mercantile.
