Patina

A hobo kid I kicked around with taught me his method for staying clothed. He’d buy a pair of Carhartt overalls, wear them hard for a year or so, then auction the custom-fatigued garment to a rich young fashion enthusiast on Ebay for hundreds of dollars.

Two things ensure a well-worn item becomes even more desirable than the original article with age.

Quality materials and proper care mean the difference between trash and treasure over time. From fine cheese and wine to woodworking tools and leather boots, when you start with superior substance and treat it how it should be, it gets better.

You may question whether this idea fits with my train-hopper example. Passing out on top of a secondhand box of fried rice while a spilled 40 oz soaks through the leg isn’t how to treat your dungarees — right? Well, that duck canvas was made for anything, and and above all hard use — so it fits.