Sick Staples from Gustin

Acolytes of style! Mages of menswear! Clerics of high-caliber living! Take heed. Today we feature a brand that's been quietly conducting menswear alchemy since 2005. It's GUSTIN, the San Francisco-based clothing mages who rock manufacturing paradigm so precisely calibrated it would make the astral architects of Saturn's rings jealous. You know what I mean.

Gustin's Unique Business Model

First let's talk about Gustin's unique way of whipping up wearable goodness. In 2013, Gustin started pioneering the normies may call a "crowdfunding model," but what's really happening here is some thoughtful supply-chain sorcery. They collect orders FIRST, then manifest exactly what's needed into material reality, straight to the consumer.

No mas excess inventory clogging up the material plane. Just pure, crystalline efficiency that keeps prices way lower for you guys. Take a look at Gustin's website— they do a stellar job of showing the savings you get when you invest in their manufacturing model. Typical savings range from 30-60% of what you might usually pay.

And, the crew at Gustin now offers a selection of available stock, so if you want to navigate to products that have already been fully funded, you can take a look and see if they have your size.

A Trinity of Gustin Staples

When Gustin reached to YON HIEROPHANT to sample some wares, the message back said "show me the basics". We wanted to get a good look at what these boys are doing from the ground up.

Sure, I usually jump at the most limited, misty stuff I can find, and I certainly have my eye on some recent releases, like THIS MOLESKIN WORKSHIRT, but PRACTICAL me wanted to dig into some staples to see if Gustin is on par with all the hype. And really, the best way to do that is to do what my old curmudgeon of a basketball coach used to shout: "Master the fundamentals!"

After a month's sampling these three items, I can report that they have all found a consistent spot in the "fundamentals" section of my wardrobe.

The Heavyweight Sweatshirt - Black

Spoiler: this is a no-bs sweatshirt that successfully tosses it back to the substantiality that we of advancing ages and nostalgic memories all yearn for. Classic, cool, crisp. Saturnian black pairs with most everything, and really, every man should have a black sweatshirt for when the time calls. It's a must have item.

The cut on this particular piece is pristine, and the construction channels the vintage energy you find in some of the most desirable 90's-era joints— but maintaining modern proportions that'll have you looking like you just stepped out of the time machine back from the best of parallel universes.

Milled in Canada, the fabric feels heavy+substantial, but not ridiculous, managing some sorcery that makes it feel sturdy AND soft. I bumped into my favorite bartender/denimhound in town while I was rocking this Gustin sweatshirt, and guess what? He owns the same sweatshirt, his go-to while spending long evenings slinging finely-brewed nectar of the gods to mere mortals. He even pointed out that I had complimented his own black heavyweight Gustin sweatshirt a few months earlier while I was turning a couple of hard Kombucha's back at the brewery. Well played, my friend.

Highlights: Leather patch and label is a luxurious touch, wide cuffs feel nice, ribbed sides allow for flexibility.

The takeaway: Manly-feeling material meets modern cut for a sturdy, comfy, do-anything sweatshirt.

Titanium Super Slub Selvedge

Everybody needs a neutral-shaded pant when the blue denims need a day off, and these beautifully-textured selvedge winners have been enchanted with a really enticing, versatile shade of grey.

It can be painfully difficult to find a pair of paints that hits the target when you start looking for colored selvedge. What you really want is something you can pull on during those times when your blue denim is just too casual, but you don't want go full adulting with lame chinos or something.

These definitely do the trick. YOU could wear these badboys to the office, to church, riding a motorcycle— anything and everything. I appreciate Gustin's commitment to trying new styles when it comes to their pants, and this color was just what I was looking for. Goes perfect with the aforementioned heavyweight sweatshirt. The selvedge detail is clean and smooth.

I opted for the straight fit, and was pleased that I got the relaxed look of a traditional straight, but with a perfectly sized waist and no excess sag up top. This is a nice fitting, versatile pant.

Note: When it comes to pants, I recommending coordinating with the Gustin crew before you buy, as they do sizing a little different, eschewing the traditional "vanity sizing" and leaving a bit more length than you are used to in case you want to get dem badboys hemmed— or fold the cuffs for Uranian steez like the Hierophant.

Highlights: Extra length to get hemmed or to rock the epic cuff like me. Wicked cool color (this style has sold out multiple times).

The takeaway: Very comfortable pant with beautiful selvedge detail.

The Vintage Heavyweight T-Shirt

A crucial reading of the cards from the Hierophant: these tees are TALISMANIC. The heavyweight cotton is giving "ancient scroll with heft but make it buttery soft" energy. The cut not too slim, not too boxy, just sitting in that golden mean sweet spot that's harder to nail than squaring the circle.

You're gonna want to perform the ritual of buying multiple packs because trust me, once you start wearing these 8oz cotton beauties, lesser shirts feel like they're made of sadness and broken promises. For the classic look and great comfort, I wouldn't hesitate to wear these every day, as undershirts or as the top layer when kicking it casual.

Highlights: Sturdy but very comfortable on the first wear.

The takeaway: The t-shirt version of the Heavyweight sweatshirt, it doesn't skimp on the leather patches and heavy stitching. Definitely worth the investment as your everyday t.

The Final Word on my Gustin Experience.

Stoked on these staples. If you are looking for solid, quality everyday pieces, I wouldn't hesitate to buy any of the Gustin items I featured today.

I kinda like the idea that Gustin is running a clean, efficient operation, keeping prices reasonable enough to make you question if you've accidentally stumbled into some kind of benevolent clothing conspiracy.

Prices fluctuate based on materials and specific campaigns, but expect to pay around $68 for the tee 2-pack, $135 for the sweatshirt, and $205 for those supernatural selvedge joints - numbers that'll have you thinking you've discovered some kind of clothing arbitrage situation.

Enjoy Gustin!