Despite our proud affiliation with San Francisco, there’s a case to be made that Taylor Stitch unofficially originated back East. Both of our co-founders, Mikey Armenta and Michael Maher, were born and raised in Maine, and we like to think that some of that distinctive New England character is etched into our very DNA. We’ve joked before that some of our gear is almost too impenetrable for the mild climate of the Bay Area, but that’s only because we know what a real winter feels like.

The DownEast Collection — Maine

Of course, it’s not just the culture and the climate of New England that’s had a lasting impact on our approach to style. The landscape itself—often breathtaking, occasionally treacherous—is no doubt responsible for our enduring love of exploration. From spectacular coastal scenes (lighthouse optional) to sprawling forests to snow-dappled mountain ranges, our early exposure to unspoiled nature informs everything we do—up to and including our unwavering commitment to Responsibility.

We’re paying tribute to that hallowed wilderness with The DownEast Collection, a celebration of the exceptional natural beauty of New England. Each piece in The DownEast Collection is directly inspired by the landscape we so cherish, and accordingly we’ve built them to take a little cold and damp—or a lot of cold and damp, for that matter—in stride. We’ve also adopted an understated, natural color palette and made use of organic and otherwise sustainable materials.

To properly tell the story of The DownEast Collection, we’ve enlisted the help of Maine-based open air painter Tim Wilson (photographed here by Greta Rybus). Tim’s work covers a lot of thematic ground, but he has a special talent for capturing the distinctive character of his home state’s natural spaces. Open air (or en plein air, if you want to be fancy) painting requires an artist to set up their easel right in the middle of the scene they’re capturing, so it makes sense that Tim has become a dedicated conservationist since his art career took off.

The impulse to honor and conserve the natural spaces that mean so much to Tim, and to us, is at the heart of The DownEast Collection. This is as much about showcasing exceptional gear as it is about celebrating where we came from and paying tribute to the wilderness that inspires us. We call San Francisco home these days, but no matter where life takes us, one thing’s for sure—we’ll Protect Wild, Forever.