10 Stylish Items That Prove Americana Is Still Awesome

All photos by Kristine Erickson

"Americana is dead! Streetwear lives on!" is something you are likely to hear screamed at the top of the blogosphere mountain these days. "Made in the USA" just doesn't hold the same clout to many as it did two or three years ago. Phrases like "painstakingly crafted" or "meticulously made" are exchanged for words like "assymetrical," "gothic," or "elongated" because times are a'changing. Trends move on and the urban lumberjack had his day in the sun.

While many brands have adapted to the change in guard because relevancy is the name of the game, other brands have stayed true to tradition because it's just that; tradition. These heritage brands are "heritage" for a reason, and it's because they bring tried and true menswear to the arena that outlasts any fad. They make items that don't necessarily have to fall under a trend-riddled label because they are that dope and fit any aeshetic.

Northern Grade brought together many of these brands this past Sunday in Minneapolis for one of the best American-made menswear pop-up markets to date. While there, we got to feast our eyes and get our hands on a bunch of items that transcend trends and can be labeled as "unfuckwittable wear. If you thought this type of stuff was dead, you are sorely mistaken. These are 10 Stylish Items That Prove Americana Is Still Awesome.

Buy It Now in Store at Stock Mfg. Co., $275

Stock Mfg. Co. from Chicago came correct, showing off a couple of new items not quite yet available to the public, including this beautiful Waxed Cotton Trenchcoat in burgundy. A center back vent, hidden placket, and a rich color all make for a waxed coat you'd be stupid not to try and wear with just about anything. It's that wildly nice and that incredibly versatile.

Buy It in December at Woolrich, $42

Longstanding heritage brand Woolrich has teamed up with W. America, an outdoor lifestyle experiment traveling across the country on motorcycles, for a capsule collection that's extremely limited and extremely covetable. One of the pieces that snapped necks was the Duck Camo 6-Panel unstructured cap, made with vintage wool fabric that dates back to the early 1900's, and of which only 18 yards ever existed. Much rarer than the last tee you camped out for.

Buy It Now in Store at BlackBlue, $380

Combinations of navy and black are the move this winter, especially when you throw it on a duffle bag with a canvas body and leather accents. St. Paul, MN shop BlackBlue teamed up with Duluth Pack for this exclusive carryall that's the perfect size for weekend getaways with your boo or your boys. It'll fit perfectly with your new all-black-everything aesthetic. And the bag is also guaranteed for life, so you won't need another bag ever.

Buy It Now at Leatherworks MN, $20

It's quite simple. These black or brown double-wrap bracelets in heavy oak shoulder leather will patina beautifully and break in tremendously. And the kicker? Leatherworks Minnesota is selling them for $20. TWENTY DOLLAR DOUBLE-WRAP LEATHER BRACELETS. Leather bracelets will always be the shit and the fact you can stack your arm for just $60 is just mind-boggling.

Buy It Now at Martin Patrick 3, $475

The Pepin Boot is a masterpiece from this relatively new label, and it's a boot for all aspiring stylish dudes. The sexy-ass Jodhpur-style boot with burgundy Chromexcel uppers and crepe sole is out of the ordinary, which is perfect for style's "clothes get weirder" attitude of today. And the fact there's only one current location that carries them in the U.S. along with world famous United Arrows in Japan means that these are hecka exclusive.

Buy It Now at Pierrepont Hicks, $325

Pierrepont Hicks is the overlord of Northern Grade, amasing incredible crowds at the event. It's also amasing emotional boners from menswear dudes fawning over the Gadwall Vest. The vest is 100% wool on the exterior with a 700 fill down with 100% nylon interior. Vests are a huge go this winter and this one is a must-have.

Buy It Now at Askov Finlayson, $218

Northern Grade Minneapolis co-host Askov Finlayson didn't want to get into creating a capsule collection for the first in-house pieces from the shop. The brand wanted to concentrate on perfecting one, solid piece. Without a doubt, the shop obtained its goal in the form of its Explorer's Pant. The Minnesota store added seat and knee reinforcement for proper life and style function to the amazingly tailored, custom-dyed 100% Kurabo Mills cotton canvas trousers.

But It Now at Stowe Provisions, $155

The leatherworks company out of Austin, TX blew the handcrafted belt game out of the water with its intricate designs, use of colors, and unique adornments. This particular belt, the NW Crosses belt, destroyed the competition, and features three panels bolted together with crazy detailing. Definitely looks like something that Hiroki Nakamura would wear religiously.

Buy It on November 15 at Faribault Woolen Mill, $524

Owning a Faribault Woolen Mill blanket is enough to make any man happy, but wearing an Engineered Garments CPO made of it? It's okay if your mind is exploding right now. Heavy wool, mismatched pockets, leather elbow patches and a dope U.S. print over the pocket, all in Engineered Garments' reinterpretive CPO cut. This could go down as one of the best pieces this season.

Buy It Now in Store at BlackBlue, $250

Red Wing is a major part of the Americana push of the late 2000s. The brand repositioned itself with the "Heritage" line that is still kicking ass today, especially as it keeps evolving with footwear like these "Super Boots." The all-black beaut has Red Wing's exclusive SuperSole for comfort, so you can feel dandy in these shit-kickers. Red Wing is synonymous with fantastic construction and this style transcends any label that you assign to your personal look.