IT ALL BEGAN with a simple T-shirt. Mill Valley native Sam Kraus (pictured) began screenprinting shirts on his dorm room floor in 2007, a hobby that grew into a grassroots business in just two years. Printing tees led to fashioning one from scratch, which led to Winston Made. “Through my own experience as an active person — I enjoy mountain biking and rock climbing — I realized there was a gap in the market for T-shirts that fit active men well and didn’t fall apart,” says Kraus. “Winston Made grew out of my identity as a maker and a drive to create quality goods that stand the test of time.” The streamlined collection is composed of men’s T-shirts, rugged button-ups, leather belts, travel bags and more, all classically themed, all boasting high-quality construction, natural colorways and an attention to detail. Take the Weekender bag, for example. Assembled in the Winston workshop from mostly domestic materials, the popular carryalls are lined with cotton from the U.K. — more specifically, cotton used for British NATO pilot survival suits due to its extreme insulating capabilities and water resistance. “It’s pretty cool stuff,” says Kraus. PHILOSOPHY Winston Made is inspired by daily life in the Bay Area and brought about by a passionate crew of creatives. “We are fortunate to be working in a time of renewed appreciation for handmade goods,” says Kraus. “We’re happy to be a part of a movement of makers, and we take great care in crafting our garments in every step of the process.” THE SCOOP Winston garments are designed to maintain their integrity after many wears — special wash methods are employed during production to ensure fits remain true long after purchase. Many of the shirts are also garment dyed, meaning they are sewn from a neutral fabric that is dyed once the garment has been crafted, rather than the garment being created from fabric of a certain color. “This process affords us flexibility and lets us play with a diverse color palette,” says Kraus. BEYOND MARIN Aside from 7 on Locust in Mill Valley and Trouvé in Fairfax, the Winston Made line can be found at San Francisco’s William the Beekeeper, at Lifestyle in British Columbia and online at Huckberry. WHAT THEY SAY “We’re fortunate enough to call Marin County home and, better yet, our playground — our products are meant to foster our active and urban lifestyles,” says Kraus. “From biking and hiking on Mount Tam to weekend getaways up Highway 1 and dinners out in San Francisco, every day is a new adventure, and Winston is there to get you through it.” winstonmade.com