The Clamdigger In Me
One of the fondest memories of my early years in Beach Haven, NJ...
was treading for littleneck clams in and around Little Egg Harbor. Two hours before ebb tide, we’d motor out in a decrepit cedar-plank Garvey from Morrison’s Marina to our “secret” spot just north of Barrel Island. With wool socks to protect our bare feet, overboard we’d go into chest-high water to start the clam dance: pivoting on our heels, shuffling side to side to feel the clams with our toes as we waddled backwards, through the muddy silt and eelgrass. We’d reach down and it was one, maybe two clams at a time. When the incoming tide rose past our armpits, it was quittin’ time.
Back in the Garvey, even before we’d start bailing the 6” or so of water that had seeped in, I’d reach for my salt-washed, sun faded shirt. First to my face and then over the shoulders I’d button it loosely across my chest for the homeward bound ride.
That shirt was a near permanent fixture on my Garvey, laid flat to dry on the foredeck day after day… it saw more fresh water from squalls than it ever did from the laundromat. And it’s that vintage, well-worn, salt marred patina it developed over the summer months that I became hellbent on recreating for one of our early Atlantic Rancher, circa 1996, cotton twill shirts.
At a tradeshow in Paris that year, I little-known Swiss fabric mill caught my attention with its off-course, quirky finishing techniques, and together, we concocted a sea-salt-washed fabric finish that became hugely appreciated.
When launching Atlantic Rancher Co. 2.0 in 2019, I was upside-down after learning that the mill, Hammerly, had gone out of business years ago. And so, the hunt was on… and after 3yrs and literally dozens of mills on the case dissecting my original fabric samples, not one was able to produce anything that even came close.
Except one. And one was all we needed! Add another year of final development and here we are with a near perfect replica of the original sea-salt-washed finish twill. For sure this fabric will be deployed broadly in our builds, but for now,
For sure this fabric will be deployed broadly in our builds, but for now, please enjoy it for its simple utility as it makes its debut here in our Bayman’s Clamdigger Shirt.
Details
- 100% Egyptian long-staple, combed cotton yarn
- 3 oz mid-weight twill weave, yarn dyed
- Brushed finish both sides for softness
- Corozo nut buttons
- Double back box pleats
- Bar stitch reinforcement at key stress points
- Point collar, meticulously contoured from neck-back to shirt front
- Collar stays…let you go from the bay to the boardroom in one smooth move
- Double needle construction throughout
- Signature shirttail flap button
- Two button, adjustable sleeve cuff closure
- Two front pockets with button through closure
- Just-right shirttails…wear tucked or untucked
- Made in Portugal
- Machine wash or dry-clean