Fans of Euphoria – that is to say, all people under the age of 40 – will be well aware of this song by Jerry Rafferty. Repackaged via the yacht-rock-heavy soundtrack of the latest series, it has found a new Gen-Z audience, and even made the leap to TikTok, where thirst-traps and get-ready-with-me's have been uploaded to a bed of Rafferty's low-key sound.
This is pertinent, because lots of things that your dad likes, and that up until now have been verboten for anyone concerned with being trendy, have suddenly become cool. For example, hiking is cool now, as is pottery, and the latest middle-aged hobby to make it into the zeitgeist is fishing.
It's been coming for some time, to be fair. Perhaps angling's big glow-up began with Gone Fishing, the cockle-warming, reality-comedy series that saw Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse take to the riverbank and talk about their feelings. It helped to reposition fishing as something mindful and honorific, rather than lonely and ecologically damaging. And when you realise there is a whole swathe of Japan's technical clothing output dedicated to fishing, it was only a matter of time until the menswear fraternity came knocking.
Enter Aimé Leon Dore and Woolrich, who have combined on a capsule collection of apparel and accessories that lean into the latter's sporting heritage (pictured above). Founded in 1830, Woolrich has long been one of the mainstay outfitters to the North American outdoorsman. And inspired by pieces in the brand's archive, the collection features wading jackets, utility vests, shirts, sweaters, custom-print fleeces and zip-down trousers. And as the look book suggests, all of which could be styled in ALD's (or anyone else's) vintage sportswear vibe. (The waders might be tricky, but we believe in you.)
In Australia, tailoring house P Johnson has launched its own collection of angling apparel, which features bellows-pocketed shorts, quarter-zip tops and functional vests, all realised in technical Japanese fabrics. There are baseball hats, too, but it's P Johnson, so they all sold out instantly.
And at Snow Peak, a collaboration with Japanese fishing brand Toned Trout has seen SP extend its kill zone of technical outdoor apparel. Fans of the utility vest trend will meet their final boss in the collection's 'Flexible Guide Vest', which features "multiple accessory docking points, velcro-style fly drying patches, tabbed front pockets, multiple internal pockets, rear accessory keep ring, large rear pocket and adjustable straps". hubba-hubba.
And our tip for the summer would be to scope out Columbia's PFG (performance fishing gear) range, which features one especially brilliant, surprisingly cheap long-sleeve fishing shirt that will pass muster away from the riverbank. Available in 14 - FOURTEEN! - colours, it offers mesh ventilation and even SPF-50 protection from the sun. Pop your collar and settle in.
