I’m wearing a very unique shirt right now, from a company called BraeVal. It’s not a dress shirt and it’s not really a sport shirt. It has a nice tattersall look to it; big chest pockets to store lots of gear, zip-out underarm vents and a handy secret stash pocket down along the bottom hem.
From the outside though, it looks like a dressy casual weekend shirt, maybe something you could wear under a sport jacket. This shirt, called the ExVenturer, is a bit of a hybrid; technically ready for adventure but in a classy bourbon-on-the-rocks kind of way.
The shirt’s red and black contrast edging, peeking out from the collar and placket – that All American Buffalo Plaid – isn’t a mere marketing design play. It’s actually the family tartan of Gregor McCluskey, the guy who designed the shirt. Gregor is the founder of BraeVal Sporting Apparel, a Connecticut based hi-performance collection of rough and rugged, wilderness-themed apparel.
McCluskey is a genuine adventurer and outdoor sportsman – not just a stylized brand character. A noted falconer, marksman, sailor and globe-trotting sportsman who counts fly- and salt-water fishing, competitive skeet and clay shooting and game hunting among his passions, he created his BraeVal Sporting Apparel to fill what he saw as a a yawning void in the market for a line-up of sportswear that stylishly marries high-tech functional performance with high-end fashion.
Named for his ancestral homeland, every BraeVal garment is a built to perform. Whether shirts, trousers, shorts or outerwear, all are designed to effortlessly satisfy the rigorous demands of field wear and, at the same time, deliver a stylishly handsome savior faire worthy of a G&T on the country club’s veranda.
And all are colorfully accented with the Rob Roy MacGregor tartan that has symbolized his family clan for more than 800 years. In fact, each BraeVal order is accompanied by a MacGregor tartan handkerchief.
Anchored by a collection of functionally mountain-ready tops that McCluskey calls the “Range Rover” of Shirts,” all tout visually dramatic colors interpreted in authentic Scottish checks, tattersalls, plaids and Tartans. Despite their smart looks, and remarkable comfort, these shirts are built for use and abuse. Many are woven from a propriety wicking fabric that feel just like a silky cotton but pulls moisture away from your body, ensuring comfort out in the field.
When ordering, consider going down a size as the shirts are cut very full; especially of your adventures will consist of running errands and a back yard cookout. BraeVal Sporting Apparel is headquartered in Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills. Learn more about this remarkable company HERE.
These are great shirts. I used to own several before they shrank (or I grew, I forget which). Unusual on this side of the pond, but great for an outdoorsy look or a true outdoorsman.
McCluskey is a genuine adventurer and outdoor sportsman – not just a stylized brand character.