The Hogtown Rake turns one
Just over a year ago I started this site as a way to share my knowledge and experience of Toronto’s menswear industry with like-minded folks. I could not have imagined what it would develop into and how it would change my life.
I have spent the year learning an enormous amount about style and elegance from meeting so many talented craftspeople and passionate dressers. But this site has also afforded me the opportunity to analyse the complex relationship our society (and I myself) have with clothes.
To mark this small anniversary, I decided the site needed a bit of a freshening up, especially considering how much it has grown. Initially, I only intended to post store reviews and interviews. Now there is a growing list of memoirs, articles on skill development and even politics. The new design, I hope, helps bring all this content to the fore so the site is more useful and easy to navigate. There are still some bugs I’m working out and if you notice anything amiss, please let me know in the comments below.
I also want to take this opportunity to share where I intend to direct this site in the next year. I feel that I have covered the basics, which you can find in the “Most Useful Posts” list on the right sidebar. Also, I don’t have as much time to visit as many shops as I did in year one. So instead I will be focusing more on personal stories about clothing and why it matters, as well as how to care for your wardrobe. Learning to invest in quality clothes is one thing, but if you don’t take care of them, it is a waste. So look forward to articles on laundering, pressing, shining, buffing and properly storing your fine wearables.
And finally, I want to thank you for all the support and kind words I have received. Traffic to the site has been astronomical in year one and that included many notes and comments from readers. Some have congratulated me while others have challenged me. And I am thankful to everyone who took the time to read, share and email.
On to another year of dressing and living a more elegant life.
2 Comments
B
October 15, 2015 at 3:17 pm
Pedro Mendes
October 15, 2015 at 7:42 pm
Congrats Pedro, I’ve really enjoyed reading your articles and also following you on twitter. You definitely “take things farther” sartorially than I can (on Bay St), but I appreciate you pushing the limits and getting people (me included) thinking about dressing better.
I got the chance to meet a NYC legend the other week: Paul at Chipp Neckwear, the YS$55 grenadine tie shop. Was a pleasure. It would be interesting to touch on places to get cheap classic clothing, like Chipp, or ehaberdasher (US$500 full canvas suits), or Spier & Mackay (ditto). Another neat idea might be a guide to buying AE seconds for Canadians.
Thank you so much for the comment, B, and the kind words. While I have never met Paul from Chipp, I have two of his ties in my collection, including one of those lovely grenadines. Great ideas for posts too.