As Minneapolis furniture designer/builder Greg Horvitz’s business starting taking off, he was finding he had less and less time to change clothes between the shop and sales meetings.
“I was missing clothes that could fit into my evolving, multi-dimensional lifestyle,” he says.
He literally went to the drawing board and began sketching the initial designs for what would become Fisher + Baker – a men’s clothing line meant to live “at the intersection of fashion and function.”
Once Horvitz had his desired look, he brought on Mike Arbeiter (a longtime industry veteran) and a small supplementary team to help refine the business model and feasibility of making the jump from furniture to fashion.
With 20 years of experience sitting around the table, their flagship piece – the Birmingham CPO Jacket – came to life.
It’s their interpretation of a Chief Petty Officer’s jacket. Ultrasuede trim and an elevated water resistant coating reflects a jacket that stands up to rain and can jump into a night out.
“I almost never travel without it,” Horvitz says.
For heavier downpours, he also developed the Greenwich Anorak – a half-zip pullover made out of fabrics initially used in the British army in WWII. The shell is made from Ventile (a unique woven cotton) and insulated with “Powerwool” (from fabric technology company Polartec) – working together to create clothing ready for the elements.
“Once you break it in, it can really feel like your favorite hoodie,” he says.
Fisher + Baker has a few other pieces including a DownTek-filled hooded jacket and and vest filled with the same insulation as the Birmingham. With this variety, Horvitz and his team believe they’ve created one of the most functional winter/spring lines out there.
“I see menswear trying to get more technical and technical wear trying to get more fashionable,” he says. “So we’re meeting in the middle.”
You can get your new Fisher + Baker pieces here.
