Some things, like a watch passed down to us from a family member, or maybe a trusted coffee
mug we rely on each morning, can engender feelings of genuine affection and admiration. The
object is bestowed with personal meaning, perhaps embodying some of the characteristics we
aspire to ourselves, or serving as a reliable companion through life’s ups and downs.

Certain clothes can create these feelings for me. The satisfaction I get from reaching for a wellworn
coat or pair of shoes is akin to greeting an old friend and settling into our comfortable
rhythms and patterns. I know them, and they know me, as evidenced by each wrinkle and sign
of wear acquired over time. With them I feel more myself, even calmer and more confident.

I feel like fabrics and materials with a bit of heft and substantialness are more likely to gain our
affection and hold it for years. There’s simply more “there” to appreciate. Cordovan shoes,
heavy cotton khakis, a denim shirt… we admire these things as they break in and break down,
and we are witness to the same kind of humble but glorious life arch we go through ourselves.

While these things are pristine at first, what underlies our attachment to them is their
robustness, a strength that gradually yields to a welcoming softness. Through our wear and
care these things become unmistakably ours, the patterns of our daily life evidenced in their
gentle creases and worn surfaces, the outline of our lives imprinted on these objects we love.

Seiji McCarthy is a bespoke shoemaker based in Tokyo. www.seijimccarthy.com/
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He is wearing the Uniform Shirt. Click link below to see it