Vintage Summit 11: A Vintage Summit of the industry's leading eccentrics discussing vintage clothing.

Kurihara:I thought I would start by showing you a pile jacket from Synergy Works, established in 1971 in Oakland, Northern California.

Fujiwara:This is rare. I think I may have seen it for the first time.

Kurihara:Yes, that's right. I think I have seen GORE-TEX mountain parkas a few times, but this pile was the first time I saw one in person. When I was still unfamiliar with the brand, I searched for it on the Internet, and found that it was a "pile" jacket.monosyllabic swampI found a hit on a blog called "The Outdoor Apparel Blog" (a personal blog by a well-informed person focusing on high-tech outdoor apparel, gear, brands, etc. from the 1970s and '80s). I think it is a well-known blog for people in our line of work. That blog was the catalyst for you to dig deeper and become even more interested in the subject.

Abe:I see. I knew the brand existed, but as I recall, it has already disappeared, right?

Kurihara:Yes.' It disappeared in the 80's, right?

Abe:Certainly, mountain parkas and other brands might give the impression of unusual detail work.

Konno:The design of this collar is also a specification that we have not seen elsewhere. It is set at a length that covers the chin.

Kurihara:That's right. Like the mountain parka, it has large-diameter ventilation under the arms, and it seems to have been a product with total layering well thought out since that time, and it seems that pile pants made of the same material also exist.

Abe:Wow. The detail work of the now highly regarded extinct brands of this era, such as "Early Winters" and "Alpine Design," is generally very original.

Kurihara:That's right. Synergy Works also has optional parts for felt face guards that look like masks, and many of its products are both practical and unique, so they seem to be gaining popularity among outdoor apparel enthusiasts.