If there’s a brand that understands the importance of quality fabric, it’s the small, bicoastal outfit Paa. The nascent brand has come up with a proprietary fabric called “Grainstop” that comprises its entire fourth collection, providing an excellent blend of comfort and protection from the elements.
The fabric is constructed with a blend of nylon, linen, and cotton to create a material that’s durable and repels water. Grainstop originates in Italy, where it’s woven in the Lombardy region, and is cut and sewn in Los Angeles.
Fourth time’s the charm —
The standout piece from the collection is a versatile hooded parka, which comes in either navy blue, a white overcast, or golden lime. It’s the most expensive piece of the bunch, ringing up at $685, followed by a button-up site coat in the same colors for $655. All of the outerwear features an abundance of pockets, either hidden with a zipper or visible as asymmetric gussets, for extra storage.
The rest of the capsule makes room for shorts, windbreaker pants, and pleated caps, all made with Grainstop in the same color options. The most affordable piece is the pleated cap, priced at $98, but you’ll have to cough up a couple hundred for any of the bottoms. Sizes for the Grainstop are fairly limited, ranging from small to extra-large, making the capsule somewhat exclusive in sizing as well as price.
For something a little more stylish to get an everyday fit off, you can shop Paa’s third release, which features a series of 100-percent cotton denim, ranging from a $595 jacket to $398 jeans and $348 jean shorts. They’re constructed using a 14 oz. Japanese selvage quality slub denim — meaning it’s sewn with indigo yarn that varies in thickness to create an irregular texture — and woven in Okayama with U.S. cotton.
Back to basics —
Paa doesn’t claim to be sustainable, but it does know its way around fit and fabrics. The brand was founded in 2013 and prefers to shape its collections around fabric and fit as opposed to “thematic explorations.” In order to fully appreciate the thought that goes into the textiles, shapes, and sounds of its collections, Paa’s philosophy is that the wearer should experience a personal interaction with each piece.
Paa’s fourth collection has arrived just in time for the summer and can be shopped through its website and in-store, as well as through select stockists. It may be on the pricier side, but the quality is worth investing in.
