When Kolbjørn discovered ISTO. in 2021, he was living in Lisbon. Drawn to our timeless, made in Portugal ethos, he became a regular and soon found himself frequenting our stores. Among all the pieces he tried on, one stood out: the Work Jacket. Its blend of utility and elegance resonated with him, and it quickly became his most-worn piece. Little did he know, this Jacket was about to become the protagonist of a story for the ages.

Fast forward to July 2023, when the Jacket joined him on a trip to London with his good friend Narve. The plan was to see Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel perform at Hyde Park. And, as a fan himself of this style, Narve simply had to give the Jacket a try. The trip was off to a perfect start. Over pints of England’s finest ale and Montecristo cigarillos... life was good. But then, as Kolbjørn finished his cigarillo, he noticed something unusual. Smoke was still rising from their table.

Turns out it wasn’t the cigarillo's smoke. Narve’s right pocket had caught fire. In the chaos that followed, water glasses were tossed, the fire extinguished, and damage assessed. The verdict? A 4cm hole burned right through the pocket of his friend's beloved Work Jacket. He quickly offered to replace the jacket, but Kolbjørn refused. This piece had traveled the World with him, and had even developed its own patina. A little hole wasn’t going to end their story.

Instead, Kolbjørn reached out to us with a request: Could we help him restore his Jacket to its full glory? His email, rich in detail and humor, described the incident and his affection for the Jacket. “The above story simply adds to its charm,” he wrote. And he wasn’t wrong.

We were determined to help. After a few email exchanges — and some inevitable jokes about Billy Joel’s song “We Didn’t Start the Fire” — we found a solution. We had a damaged navy Work Jacket in our office, its fabric slightly sunburned but still usable. We shipped him a front panel, along with a fresh piece of navy cotton twill for his local tailor to use. It wasn’t a perfect match, but we knew the new fabric would fade and blend in over time, just like the rest of the Jacket.

Kolbjørn’s gratitude was immediate and heartfelt. Within weeks, he had the pocket repaired. “It looks brand new!” he wrote, sharing photos of the Jacket’s triumphant return. The Work Jacket was back in action. And Narve? He's still around, cigarillo in hand, perhaps keeping a respectful distance from Kolbjørn’s Jacket pockets.

For us, this story isn’t just about a Jacket. It’s about the connection our customers have with the clothes they wear, the memories they create, and the value of making things that last. This story is about the enduring bond between a Man and his favorite Jacket. Here’s to many more adventures, Kolbjørn.