Georgia

A couple years ago after familiarizing myself with all things Matthew Ames, to the extent made possible by an internet connection, I cemented my fandom with a "like" on facebook, and I believe also a "follow" on tumblr. Since then, I've received no signals.

Until today, when I was alerted to "MATTHEW AMES FOR WEEKDAY," and damn. Can someone in Europe or the UK ship me one of each please?

This came into my consciousness moments ago, and I immediately began this post - something I hardly ever do. It just resonated. Then I skimmed this interview with Weekday Magazine, and discovered that Mr. Ames left NYC to teach at Savannah College of Art and Design. The connection thus deepens, since I'm sitting in Atlanta, Georgia right now, down the street from this city's branch of SCAD.

Looking again at the clothing and this editorial, I see how Southern necessities - denim, cotton, coveralls, loose fits - combine with a modern minimalism in cut and design. The angular grayscale backdrop in the editorial also allows for the tree stump stool. These are not costumes of nostalgia for a rustic past, but an acknowledgement of the interconnectedness of technology and raw materials that produce garments necessary in the present. It's a shame, though, that this clothing is not retailed in a venue accessible to most of us living in the U.S., let alone in the South.