3sixteen is a brand that I have always really appreciated, from a distance, but when I finally had the chance to see the product and more importantly meet the team in Paris I knew I was in trouble...
The store is small, and I wasn't planning to take on a new brand, but sometimes you have to trust your gut, and I am delighted to now have this brand in store and introduce you to Brandon DaConceicao.
GA - Can you tell us about 3sixteen and how the brand came to be?
BC - 3sixteen was founded in 2003 as a denim brand with roots in streetwear. While longtime followers may recall our early colorful graphic t-shirts—which remain an important part of our history—denim is the category we are most known for and where we focus our pride. Since our first cut, the SL-100x, we have expanded our denim assortment to include fits ranging from slim tapered to relaxed straight.
Our foundations in denim naturally lead us to draw inspiration from workwear, military, and Ivy styles. In our seasonal collections, you will find everything from classic oxford shirts inspired by vintage Brooks Brothers and Ralph Lauren to French chore coats, military-style BDU jackets, and casual blazers. Ultimately, 3sixteen was born out of a love for clothing that ages beautifully, utilizing some of the finest fabrics from around the world.
GA - What roles do you play?
BC - I serve as the Sales Director at 3sixteen, and Matt spearheads our sales efforts in the EU. Our primary responsibility is to ensure that our retailers have the product they need while providing the guidance necessary for their success in carrying our brand. We strive to be strong communicators and a reliable resource whenever shops need our advice or updates on the latest happenings at 3sixteen. Building personal relationships with our partners is very important to us. Matt and I value the time we spend meeting with owners and sales associates during the seasonal tradeshows in Paris. While these meetings are a great time to discuss business, we truly enjoy getting to know the people behind the shops and hearing about your lives outside of work.
GA - Who or what inspires what you do as a brand at 3sixteen?
BC - We inspire each other. We are a small team with only 15 employees and we are very fortunate to be able to talk to one another on a daily basis. We come from all different backgrounds, we have many different interests, and upbringings which ultimately manifests itself in our own personal style. Andrew, one of the co-founders of 3sixteen, often references that even though all of us wear the product, each individual on the team wears it in their own unique way. I believe that this is a big reason why our collection can speak to such a broad range of people from all walks of life.
GA - You are known for your denim, for people getting started in the category what are some simple things to look out for when choosing a pair?
BC - The simple answer is to find the fit and fabric that allows you to select your outfits seamlessly. With denim being such versatile and hard wearing fabric, it's important to find a pair that can be worn in just about any scenario. With all of us at 3sixteen being inspired by vintage denim and workwear, we love to fade our jeans and wear them in as much as possible so my suggestion is to search for the jean that you can pair with some derbys or loafers as well as your work boots or sneakers.
GA - What is your favourite piece from our original order we have made and why?
BC - It's hard to select just one item so I'm going to have to give you two. First, it has to be the French Work Jacket in a light indigo nep denim which is part of our first delivery for SS26. As someone who has probably too many chore jackets, our FWJ really speaks to me and checks a lot of boxes. I've collected many vintage chore jackets over the years and I've always loved the versions with rounded collars and own a few in moleskin and cotton twill. This season's iteration of a traditional French chore jacket features a beautiful light indigo denim with a subtle neppy texture. This is a piece that you can easily wear to a nice dinner and is equally utilitarian to wear to work to hold your pens, phone, snacks, you name it!
The second item that I'm looking forward to is the Utility Shirt in Black Cupro. Our designers Wesley and Romeo do a great job using classic workwear silhouettes and applying unconventional fabrics like Cupro, which has a silky hand feel. This shirt is great for the spring summer season, but can easily be layered all year.
GA - What is a key piece you think everyone should have in their wardrobe?
BC - While it is difficult to narrow down my recommendations to just one item, I believe everyone should own a versatile pair of black shoes. Ideally, these should be capable of being dressed up for formal occasions while still looking great with a t-shirt and jeans for more casual settings.
Brands that execute this balance particularly well include Sanders, Paraboot, and Alden.
GA - We always ask the same 3 questions at the everyone, to try to help us build up a little bit of a catalogue.
- What are you listening to? Built To Spill - Keep It Like a Secret. This album makes me really happy.
- What are you watching? Twin Peaks, Mad Men, and Monarch
- What are you reading? The Factory by Hiroko Oyamada
BC - Had fun answering these!
