Sporting Classics Digital

Sporting Lifestyle 2017

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I never really thought of it, but suddenly it hit me like a ton of bricks at my grandmother's funeral in Scotland. Braeval, in Gaelic, means 'upland river valley.' Suddenly I had a name for my new company, a name associated with my family's heritage," explains Gregor McCluskey, founder of BraeVal, the "boutique" outdoor clothing manufacturer operating since 2004 in Litchfield, Connecticut. As McCluskey developed his concept, he realized it had to start with the fabric. Not just any fabric—a special fabric. Averse to synthetics, McCluskey embarked upon a quest that would take more than five years, experimenting with natural fibers before perfecting a combination of merino wool, one of nature's strongest fibers, woven with exceptionally long staple cotton (ELS), whose strong, silky fibers are naturally resistant to insects and fungus. Formerly a corporate brand developer, McCluskey introduced Timex, the American watch manufacturer, to the outdoor industry. While attending trade exhibitions such as the SHOT Show and Outdoor Retailer, he was struck by the widespread use of synthetic Sporting Life by Laurie bogart WiLeS GreGor Mccluskey's passion for MakinG fine apparel steMs froM faMily roots in scotland. fabrics by outdoor clothing manufacturers. Synthetic fabrics, while warm, waterproof, and moisture-wicking, were not how "God clothed animals to survive in even the harshest conditions." He determined to develop a natural fabric that would similarly clothe men and women. I'm not an artist," he reasons, "but I am a visionary. Once I see something that makes sense, I have the stubbornness to go out and get it. Then I got lucky. "I met someone on a plane who worked at Cotton Incorporated. They helped me out and told me to trademark and patent my fabric when they saw I had created something unique." McCluskey named it Tiera. "Everything that's BraeVal is Tiera—I called it 'Nature's technology— no factory required,' and branded it as 'all natural performance fabric.' "The beauty of merino wool and ELS cotton is it cools the body when it's hot outside, warms when it's cold, and keeps you comfortable in moderate temperatures. The design of our clothing performs, as well. A BraeVal shirt looks as good in town as it does in the field." BraeVal enjoys a loyal clientele of outdoor enthusiasts and adventure- seekers who know that the right clothing can make or break a hunting or fishing trip, or an excursion into the back of beyond. "For every color or pattern, we weave just over a mile of fabric," McCluskey explains. "Our clothing line for men and women has expanded, but the mainstay remains BraeVal's shirts. They're engineered to stay tucked in, which we've termed 'active-fit sizing,' and are longer in the sleeve. That way, when you cast a line across a stream on a rising trout or swing your shotgun on a high-flying pheasant, the sleeve won't tug your arm and restrict motion. "Sporting adventurer," he says, "is the term 68 • S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S Big Jock, Gregor McCluskey's great uncle, brought the Rob Roy MacGregor tartan to America in the 19th century. Like many things that crossed the Atlantic, the tartan gained a new American name, Buffalo Plaid. Today it is the symbol of BraeVal. Opposite: Gregor McCluskey and his son, Connor, with his red setter, Laddie, a national field trial champion.

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