Osmium Journal

Gettin’ Hitched

Posted on June 17 2013 by Hartmann

It’s safe to assume that your wedding will be one of the most memorable events of your life, so it’s only natural to be especially particular about what you wear. After all, you want the pictures your grandkids will be looking at one day to accurately reflect your great personal style.

Getting pictures like this from customers always makes our day. As an apparel company, there is no higher honor than having one of your garments chosen by someone to be worn on their wedding day.

More and more, couples are saying no to the bridal industrial complex, rent-a-tux, in favor of styles that have more personality. The fitted vest is becoming as much a staple of modern weddings as an artisan cocktail served in a mason jar.

If you’re tying the knot any time soon, we’d love to be included in your big day. We now offer a groomsmen discount of 15% for anyone interested in purchasing two or more of a style for their wedding party. Contact us at media@osmium.com, or call us at 781-435-0662 and we’ll set your wedding up with a personalized discount code.
And please, we always love to see pictures!

Photo provided by Ben Sasso Photography.

Long Shorts

Posted on June 3 2013 by M Paigen

In Bermuda, shorts with knee socks are considered business attire and worn proudly by businessmen at the highest levels. Looks a bit odd to the American eye, but that is the beauty of regional dress.

In many countries, shorts worn by men only at the beach. Central America is this way as is much of the developing world. In some countries, shorts are worn only by laborers at the bottom of the economic food chain. Wearing shorts in the wrong cultural setting is an avoidable faux pas.

Here in the US, shorts are fine for men, though usually not at work. Osmium offers two styles of shorts, each in 2 colors. Both the Bender and the Bookman fit well through the seat and thigh and have an inseam of 11″, resulting in a short that ends just above the knee. The Bender has a traditional waistband lining and classic cut, while the Bookman has an innovative, integrated waistband and center seams down the front of the legs. Both feather our signature, discrete phone pocket on the right leg. For more coverage, we offer the Point Six Pant, a great choice if below-the-knee coverage is what you want. Travel or uptown environs in the heat of the summer often warrant the Point Six pant.

Whatever you do, avoid the droopy, loose, cargo shorts that add pounds to you waist and subtract points from your IQ. There is no reason to sabotage yourself with these monstrosities. Look sharp my friends!

Big Enough

Posted on May 31 2013 by M Paigen

The current start-up business culture is dominated by high tech, huge ambition and the desire to hit a grand slam. Seeing themselves as the next Apple/Google/Facebook, young entrepreneurs with huge plans are betting on the moon, usually with other people’s money. The dollars continue to flow; a 5% hit rate for venture capital funding is about average and big money is willing to wiff 19 times out of 20 in order to ride the next ‘disruptive technology’ to the bank.

Different strokes for different folks. Plenty of people are enamored with the uber-high stakes game of VC backed tech but I’m not interested in that kind of action. My first company was built organically over a 20 year period and provided a great livelihood for the entire organization. We met interesting challenges and celebrated as a team. Good as it was, I got a major itch to move on, and in 2009 I sold it to a large corporation. I was sure that it was time to move on to less work and more fun. I took off on a big adventure, filled with anticipation of challenges and relaxation rolled together in the Caribbean.

Ultimately, I got bored. I missed the culture of work and the collaboration with others to find creative solutions to the challenges of the day. Vacation was fun but it was time to start again. Osmium was born and it wasn’t long before I realized that building a brand to sell would not give me the life that I wanted. What would suit me best was a tight little company, successful and dynamic, run by a dedicated team that worked well together and enjoyed the fruits of our labors. A company that would challenge me for years to come as it evolved to meet the ever changing culture in which we live.

There are companies out there that have weathered the winds of time, staying true to their values while acknowledging the changes of our times. Filson and Allen Edmonds are two excellent examples. A recent article describing Allen Edmonds embrace of technology is a perfect example of this blend of constant values with changing tactics. Do you know of other companies that have managed to pull this off?

Facebook? Google? I wish them well, am impressed when they are philanthropic in meaningful ways, but would not want to be in their shoes. Where do you think they will be in 100 years?

Sawbones Shirts

Posted on May 29 2013 by M Paigen

In the old days a doctor or surgeon was called a sawbones – for obvious reasons. We take for granted the advances in medical practice. Not so many years ago, medicine, particularly surgery, was a much more dangerous proposition. The docs of old definitely had to roll up their sleeves, or better yet wear a short sleeved shirt.

Hence the name for our first short sleeve shirt. Perfect for summer, the Sawbones shirt features a cotton/linen blend for warm weather comfort and a subtle heathered look. Like many Osmium styles, stripes carry the day. Offered in an off white and a medium blue, the sawbones has all the detailing you have come to enjoy from Osmium, hidden button collar, gusseted side seams and a slim, comfortable fit.

Luckily, no one will be doing surgery in these shirts. Think of the shirt’s namesake as a tribute to those that have led us to the level of care we have today.

Incremental

Posted on May 24 2013 by M Paigen

Kids crawl, walk, then run. Socially, we learn to communicate, tolerate and finally co-operate. Life is a collection of incremental advancement, something that we often take for granted.

It is easy for our expectations to get out of kilter with the rate of our progress – in either direction. Sometimes we expect to become instant experts, thinking that we can leap frog the ‘unimportant’ steps to quickly get to the top. Other times, we look at elite performers and assume that we cannot attain similar success. Often the ‘extreme’ is surprisingly attainable. Though natural abilities play a part, incremental training is the key.

At the beginning of 2012, a 40 mile bike ride seemed like a good workout. Riding 100 miles seemed out of reach. I stuck to my training, rode a metric century (62 miles) then worked up to 80 miles. I signed up for a century ride and got lost, logging 100+. Friends invited me to ride out to the summit of Wachusett, west of Boston, and we pulled off a 135 mile day. My juices were starting to flow and I suggested a 300 kilometers (186 miles) ride. My friend Phil said we should just round up to 200. A double century.

On September 1, 2012, four of us pedaled south from Winchester to get through Boston before traffic snarled. Phil had devised a route south to RI and back, 200 miles of gently rolling terrain. The day felt as incremental as the training. The miles rolled by at a steady pace, we worked together as a team taking turns in front, breaking the wind for the group. It was getting dark when we stopped at a liquor store and loaded our jersey pockets with cold ones. At mile 200 we stopped behind the train station and, feeling like teenagers, drank our beers and high fived. Back at home I found soft chairs were best.

In the spring 200 miles in a day seemed as unattainable as speaking Swahili. In September I was amazed how doable it was. Not easy, but well within my abilities. Off to Africa?

Singlehanding

Posted on May 22 2013 by M Paigen

I grew up sailing on Lake Erie in an old wooden sloop. I remember being wet and cold and trying to learn knots from my dad. As a teen, I sailed on a lake in Maine and started to enjoy ocean sailing. I was drawn to the adventure, the proximity to the elements and the feeling of self-reliance. Dad was mentor; on freshwater I could call the shots, in the ocean, he was always captain.

Decades later, I bought Seramon, a classic, double-ended cutter, and sailed from her home port in Annapolis to the Bahamas. Friends came along to help, but I was in charge – making the judgment calls, being the captain. The safety of boat and crew was in my hands and when the shit hit the fan, all eyes turned to me. It was more than a little challenging, but I learned as I went, no one got hurt, and the adventure, elements and self-reliance were all taken to a new level.

Some years later aboard Vela, a bigger, faster boat, I did some short singlehanded trips. No ocean crossings or hard core arctic exploration, but challenging never the less. Alone with my thoughts, I was free from the judgment of others, but free of any help or assistance as well. It was a uniquely solitary experience; surrounded by deep water and wind, awareness and mental acuity became hyper-sensitive. Though the boat was of this age, the thoughts of safety and self-preservation felt primal.

There are many ways to achieve similar experiences. Solo backpacking, paddling a remote river, surfing a solitary break. Not common activities, but all extremely rewarding. The residue left behind by these experiences is nothing short of extra-ordinary.

Osmium is Hiring

Posted on May 15 2013 by M Paigen

Unlike Shackleton, Osmium is gender neutral when it comes to hiring – you may even survive the journey.

Osmium seeks a Digital Marketing Manager with a track record of growing on-line businesses and a desire to work in a start-up environment. We design and sell domestically produced menswear and are located in the center of Stoneham, 7 miles north of Boston. A full job description can be seen here.

This opening is available because Sara, our current Marketing Manager, is leaving. I will miss her tremendously. She has been a great employee – smart, diligent, productive and easy to work with. Her positive attitude and calm demeanor have been delightful. She has a rare combination of creative and analytic ability and is in the minority of those that can write well. When she interviewed in March of 2012, she told me that her true calling was to be a business owner, not an employee. She was very honest about her intentions and told me that she would probably be gone by Christmas. I have been living on borrowed time these last months and am grateful for the time she has been here. Her new venture, Secret Ships, will go live later this summer.

I believe that supporting employees’ career goals is the right thing to do, even if it means losing them. Its the ethical thing to do and its good management. You want employees to feel valued for who they are, not just the work they do for you. If their aspirations take them in other directions, trying to hold on to them is not good policy.

Finding a replacement for Sara will be difficult. I doubt I will find the same mix of talents, skills and attitude, but trust that I will find someone with a different, but equally appealing mix to help grow Osmium.

This is where you come in. I need your help to find a digital marketing expert who is energetic and enthusiastic about Osmium. If you know someone who fits the role or know someone who knows someone… please email me (mpaigen@osmium.com). Having the right people on our team is the most important ingredient for success.

Road Holland Cycling Apparel

Posted on May 13 2013 by M Paigen

Finding clothing and gear that is domestically produced can be a challenge, finding domestically produced stuff that is truly great is harder still. For those that appreciate the Osmium aesthetic, check out Road Holland, a small cycling apparel company that produces their premium apparel in Florida. Domestic is cool, but this stuff has lots more to offer than just being made in the USA.

Their styling is understated and restrained. Garish ‘billboard’ jerseys seem to rule the roost and it is refreshing to see a refined, classic approach. Differentiation is enhanced by their choice of fabric. A blend of 39% Merino Wool and 61% polyester, is constructed with the Merino on the inside to wick the moisture to the polyester where it will evaporate quickly. Merino is naturally antimicrobial, and a wonderful fabric overall. I also appreciate their color choices. Good classic hues and a bright orange safety option; much preferred to the ubiquitous yellow/green that is everywhere.

Their collection is small, and their product is spot on. Prices are higher than the mass produced stuff from Asia, but very accessible compared to the boutique brands. Sounds like Osmium. Give it a look and try some on. Let us know how it works out.

Thai Fisherman Pants

Posted on May 10 2013 by M Paigen

These simple, one-size-fits-all pants are perfect for lounging at home or keeping the sun off your legs after a long day at the beach. They have no zippers, buttons or elastic, they fasten with a simple tie that works for nearly every body shape. Leave it to indigenous people to come up with such a straightforward design. I got my first pair in the Caribbean at the urging of my son (who got his in Thailand). They were perfect for life aboard; light and cool, they kept the relentless sun off my legs and looked fine at the cafes along the beach.

This style has broad appeal and I wanted to enhance the design for the Osmium market. We shortened and tapered the legs, a change that tends to make people look slimmer and taller. The ultra-lightweight fabric on my original pair was great when it was scorching, but did not hold up over time. In its place we chose a 4.5 oz, micro sanded 100% cotton twill that is a bit more substantial and breaks in beautifully. At the waist, where the tie secures to the pant, we created a daisy chain that allows adjustment of the rise of the pant, further enhancing the one-size-fits-all concept.

Give these pants a try and you will be pleasantly surprised. They cross age and gender lines seamlessly and are way better than any other lounge pant you have. I promise. As usual, shipping and returns are fast and free and your satisfaction is our goal.

Point Six Pants

Posted on May 8 2013 by M Paigen

Many years ago, preparing for my first trip to Central America, I read that men in those countries did not wear shorts. Perhaps at the beach to swim, but not for casual, daily use. Though it was hot, I heeded the advice and wore long pants except when I was at the beach. It was dramatic how out-of-place Americans looked wearing shorts in town. Many years later, I find that there are plenty of times when shorts are not quite enough for the situation.

In airports, and for traveling in other countries, shorts leave me feeling overexposed and unprepared. At the same time, summer travel can be hot and even lightweight pants can get steamy at times. Seeking more than a short and less than a pant, we designed a below-the-knee alternative just for those occasions. We named it the Point Six Pant, as it was literally 6/10ths of a pant.

Like all Osmium pants, the Point Six has a slim fit. We chose a 97% cotton, 3% Lycra twill to provide ease and a feeling of active comfort. The leg is tapered and the knee is articulated to keep the hem close to the leg. Anything else looks pretty silly. Details include: an antiqued metal button at the waist, beefy YKK brass zipper, striped pocketing and a convenient pocket for your phone. Great on a bike, perfect for when the mercury soars and coverage is appropriate.

Style note – The shoes that you wear with your Point Six Pants will catch the eye. The safe choice will be boat mocs, low profile Pumas, or flips. Or, strut your stuff with sockless wingtips, chukkas or a nice pair of white bucks.

Gettin’ Hitched

Long Shorts

Big Enough

Sawbones Shirts

Incremental

Singlehanding

Osmium is Hiring

Road Holland Cycling Apparel

Thai Fisherman Pants

Point Six Pants

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