Those Viral Cable-Knit Knicks Jerseys? Meet the Creator

HOMEFIELD HEATER OF THE WEEK

It’s summer and there’s no better time to get a hat that you’ll be wearing the rest of the year. Homefield is dropping exclusive new runs of vintage-inspired hats by school and every week, I hide my wallet in another room so I don’t make financially irresponsible decisions.

Seriously, though? That Michigan hat with the slash? Both gorgeous and insane. It’s gor-sane.

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GRAILS OF THE WEEK

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Q&A: FATHER FIGURE 

If you’ve been on any part of sports x fashion IG over the past 6 months, you’ve likely seen this vest:

The hybrid Irish fisherman’s sweater/Knicks jersey is a vintage-inspired streetwear piece…but as you’ll learn from our Q&A with label honcho Duncan McCausland, it’s also a commentary on the current case of sportswear.

(Interview has been lightly edited)

What inspired you to start Father Figure?

I started by making memes and, similarly, modifying things I could access to make them more "me". Anyone who knows me knows how strange it is that I ended up in fashion (laughs).

The cable knit jerseys have been going crazy on TikTok and IG — especially the Dodgers and Knicks joints. What sparked that idea, and did you expect them to resonate the way they have?

Firstly, I love Irish fisherman sweaters and I love New York sports. Regular licensed jerseys have skyrocketed in price while seeing an insane drop in quality and I wanted to comment on that. Also wanted to make a jersey that was purely antithetical to what a jersey should be - traditionally utilitarian and basic, I wanted to make a couture, stylish and plush version.

How do you balance honoring the past with creating something new? I am now Unc and everything I liked as a kid is nostalgic. I just have the ability to make things now.

What are you currently obsessed with — in design, sports, or beyond?

Design: Fire department gear, And1, 08-recession era rave pieces "Party With Sluts etc"

Sports: Mets, Knicks and Jets always.

Beyond: Bodycam footage on YouTube. Battle rap as always (Rum Nitty GOAT). Getting over travel anxiety. I'd like to explore beyond New York.

You’ve built a brand that feels incredibly intentional. How do you approach community-building around your pieces?

It wasn't intentional and I think that is to my benefit. If people like the stuff, they probably have a sense of humor or share my weird taste, and that is the best community to be in. Don't fall for engagement farming parading as "community-building" on Instagram!!

What’s your take on the rise of athlete tunnel fits and sports style becoming a storytelling platform? How does Father Figure fit into that conversation? Any current athletes you want wearing your gear?

It's an authentic result of athletes well-dressed and the natural framing that a dark tunnel provides - makes sense!

The first athlete to cop anything I made was Jordan Clarkson, who grabbed the I Don't Fish hat, so I sent a lil pack including my New York oxford - about a week later he wore it in the tunnel pregame. He brought his daughter, which I'd like to think was a conscious decision after seeing the Father Figure tag haha.

Any and all New York athletes would be sick. Stay tuned for more, and especially keep an eye on the Mets.👀

A lot of creatives struggle with being consistent. How do you stay locked in creatively — especially when things get busy or overwhelming?

It is impossible and unending, so it needs to become unconscious and routine. That being said, it is more about being able to shake off inconsistency than it is being consistent. No one is on 100% of the time. You cannot just create when deeply inspired - the details and tedium after an idea's big conception is where most of the magic happens.

What’s one vintage piece (from any era or sport) that’s inspired your work or stuck with you?

I went to the Baseball Hall of Fame earlier this year and there was a Casey Stengel hat from an Old-Timers Game that had all of his teams embroidered around it like a crown.

What role does storytelling play in how you design collections?

To be honest, very little beyond telling my own story and allowing folks to make their own judgments. I think people are beginning to see right through fashion buzzwords, especially if they are being used to distract from mediocrity. It feels pretentious no matter what. Don't be so caught up in the medium that the product and process get lost.

What advice would you give someone trying to start a brand with strong cultural roots but limited resources?

If it resonates, it will grow roots. Almost every brand owner I know started off by reworking or modifying thrifted or found goods. I see too many brands jump out the gate with like Fear of God-style basics collections that say nothing and are a waste of resources on every level. It may seem safest - it's not. Make what you want to make, within your means.

FATHER FIGURE’S ESSENTIALS

Until next time,