February 20th, 2025
Inspiration for the Modern Merchant
February 20th, 2025
Welcome to the Purnell Mover and Maker Missive – the newsletter for retail trailblazers and tailors of change, delivering a handy mash-up of adventure, nifty knowledge and actionable innovation as comfortably and stylishly as our own apparel.
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In this issue: We brag about our sister (company), dig in to denim's European cousin, find the best tri-tip sandwich and a "wheely" useful invention.
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STORY
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Purnell's Plug: Check Out SeaWell’s Splashy New Invention
At Purnell, we’ve always believed that the right gear can make anything possible—from conquering a mountain trail to enduring another day at your desk. But here’s something you might not know: we share our Santa Barbara HQ with some seriously sharp minds over at SeaWell.
Yep, we’re all under the same roof. But while we’re busy making clothes, SeaWell is tackling one of Earth's’s toughest challenges: water shortages. As droughts and fires intensify across the planet, the need for reliable water sources is more urgent than ever. That’s where SeaWell comes in with an ingenious solution: The SeaWell Buoy. If you think it sounds cool, wait till you hear what it does.
Photo of the SeaWell test unit on dry land. Once deployed, the buoy can crank out almost a million gallons of fresh water daily -- enough to fill a pool about the size of a football field (if you’re into spontaneous pool-party scenarios).
The Buoy is an innovative marvel that pulls off a hat-trick—turning ocean water into refreshingly potable water while sidestepping those clunky desalination plants that take a decade or more to complete! It’s designed to operate quietly under the sea, converting seawater into fresh drinking water anywhere there's an ocean. Instead of using energy to pump massive amounts of seawater to shore like traditional desalination plants, these buoys get rid of the salt right there on the spot. They only send freshwater back to shore, making the whole process much more efficient.
This fast-to-deploy module sends freshwater magically (okay, scientifically) to nearby “Water Stations” for a final polish. Think of it like giving a rough diamond its final cut. These stations then send the sparkling water straight to homes or businesses that need it, ensuring that water shortages don’t cramp anyone’s style—whether you’re farming, fighting fires, or just trying to keep your plants alive.
Up to five Buoys can connect to a Water Station to serve the household needs of 75,000 people. By deploying small clusters of Buoys along any coastline, we can safeguard our world's most basic need – a dependable water supply. Talk about efficiency meeting innovation!
SeaWell's finest, rolling up their Purnell shirt sleeves to bring us the next big breakthrough in fresh water solutions.
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MATERIAL
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Moleskin: Not Fuzzy Critters but the Fabric Hero of the Workwear World
Think workwear, and your brain's probably painting a picture of those trusty denim jeans, that no-nonsense canvas jacket, and boots so heavy you'd swear they have their own gravitational pull—classic Americana, through and through. But hop on a plane, cross the ol' pond to the land of baguettes and berets—oui, France, my friend—and you'll spot a different kind of tough: moleskin.
First off, let's clear the air: no actual moles were harmed in the making of this legendary textile. Moleskin is as much about moles as peanut butter is about peanuts... okay, bad example, but you get the gist. This heavyweight champ of the fabric world is softer than your favorite lounge pants but doesn't wimp out when the going gets rough.
Originating from a place where sturdy materials are as necessary as a good pair of boots, moleskin fabric was first introduced in medieval Europe. Picture this: craftsmen and laborers bustling about, all draped in this durable, wind-resistant material. Moleskin was primarily used for workwear due to its tough yet comfortable nature, making it an instant hit among those who valued both resilience and comfort (sound familiar?).
Workers in "Bleu de Travail", French blue moleskin workwear
Cut to the industrial revolution in France, and those steelworkers needed something that didn't flinch at flying molten goo. Enter moleskin stage left, wearing pants and aprons, taking a bow. Now, moleskin's more than just a one-trick pony. Depending on your day job, this fabric came in a Crayola box of colors—steel blue for the mechanics, midnight black for the carpenters, and for an army? Olive/grey, because fashion faux pas don't fly even when you're marching.
Close-up alert: Our moleskin workshirt. Ready for whatever, especially Monday.
Let's nerd out for a sec. Moleskin is in the fustian family—think the love child of corduroy and velveteen after a steamy novel affair. It's woven tight, with warp and weft threads playing nice in matching hues. One side gets a shave and a brush, making it peachy-keen soft. Moleskin isn't just one-size-fits-all; it's got variables, like that friend who keeps changing their hair. Density, yarn size, level of shaving or brushing—all these factors mean you can pick your moleskin flavor from vanilla-wind-resistant to double-fudge-extra-warm.
So, for those about to rock some killer threads with a dollop of European charm, we salute you. Moleskin's got history, it's got panache, and it's got a place in Purnell's heart.
Ready to share the moleskin experience with your customers? Click here to pre-book our Moleskin Workshirt for next fall -- or heck, why not take a look at our entire F25 Men's Pre-Season Collection?
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EXPLORE
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History With a Side of Tri-Tip: The Cold Spring Tavern
Ah, the Cold Spring Tavern! Not your average pit stop unless your usual hangouts are nestled in time capsules. Established back in the good ol' days of 1868, when "horsepower" actually involved horses, this spot is more than just a place to fill your belly. It's like stepping into a living, breathing postcard from the days of yore, without the inconvenience of no internet.
Tucked away on the San Marcos Pass, close enough to Santa Barbara to smell the sophistication but far enough to spit out the pretense, this tavern's been dishing out grub and good times before your great-great-granddaddy knew how to lace up his boots. And let's talk about the menu. If your idea of a good time involves devouring tri-tip sandwiches that could make a grown man cry tears of joy, or onion rings that have their own fan club, then welcome home, friend.
Weekends at Cold Spring Tavern aren’t just about refueling your stomach, though. They’re about live music that makes your toe tap against your will and a vibe so unique, it makes other taverns look like fast-food joints. It’s where the ghosts of stagecoaches past raise a glass to you, the modern traveler, seeking the authentic in a pre-packaged world.
So, next time you’re itching for an adventure that doesn’t require a password, swing by the Cold Spring Tavern. It’s a testament to the belief that some things – like the perfect tri-tip sandwich or the charm of rustic wood – just don't need improving.
Wrap up your visit to the Tavern with a short, windy trip down the 154 to our showroom in Santa Barbara on E. Victoria Street. And if California’s not on your road map this year, check out our preliminary summer tradeshow schedule here.
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MAKERSPACE
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Here’s where we give a nod to the minds whose "aha" moments have left an indelible mark, turning simple ideas into our everyday "can't live withouts". It's like reading history, but without the risk of dozing off.
Who Really Invented the Rolling Suitcase? Spoiler: It Wasn’t a Guy at the Airport?
Gather round, folks, because it's story time with a twist - the never-heard saga of a rolling suitcase that could've changed our travel game way before we even knew we had a game. Picture this: it's the roaring twenties, and while most folks are worried about jazz and prohibition, Anita Willets-Burnham, an unsung inventor par excellence, decides to put wheels on a suitcase. Yeah, you heard that right. Wheels. On a suitcase. Because why should moving from A to B feel like a workout?
Anita, in a move that combined motherly ingenuity with the "why didn’t I think of that?" kind of brilliance, looked at the hassle of lugging hefty luggage and said, "Not today." So, with the help of her son Bud – who we can only assume was the original DIY king – they slapped some wheels from an old baby carriage onto a suitcase and bam! Travel suddenly looked a lot less like a strongman competition.
Now, if this were a tale where merit equals recognition, Anita would have been hailed as the patron saint of travelers.
But alas, despite her rolling suitcases turning heads and probably saving backs, the official hats off went to Bernard D. Sadow in the 70s, followed by Robert Plath in the 80s, who both basically said, "Great idea, Anita," and ran with it to the patent office.
So, in the spirit of Anita and all early makers, let’s not forget: innovation isn’t just about creating something new; it’s about looking at the old, giving it a cheeky wink, and asking, “How can I make you better?” That's the heart and soul of the Purnell spirit – never afraid to tinker, always ready to solve a problem, and occasionally wondering, “Should we have patented that?” But hey, if you forget, just roll with it.
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INSIGHT
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Ed Catmull, cofounder of Pixar, on how they make great movies:
“Initially, the films we put together, they’re a mess. It’s like everything else in life—the first time you do it, it’s a mess. Sometimes it’s labeled … “a failure” … but that’s not even the right word to use. It’s just like, you get the first one out, you learn from it, and the only failure is if you don’t learn from it, you don’t progress.”
Source: Keep Your Crises Small
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ABOUT
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Nestled between the surf and the serenity of Santa Barbara, Purnell is the brainchild of a family that decided "good enough" was never, well, good enough. We are all movers, makers, and sometimes shakers (though, usually that's just because we’ve had too much coffee). But we aren't just about making clothes—we are the outfitters of everyday adventures, stitching together the daily grind with the weekend unwind. We're about forging an outdoor lifestyle for both the boardroom and the backwoods, all without breaking a sweat—or at least looking good while doing it.
