MARITIME
The Introduction
When it comes to maritime core, it should come as no surprise that I would seize this moment to highlight my deep appreciation for such a beautiful place with such an individualized sense of style . Having been born and raised in rural Nova Scotia, I can tell you first hand that fashion is not what puts the maritimes on the map. RICH IN ALL THINGS FROM LAND, SEA AND COMMUNITY, yet, the maritimes continue a cycle of WHAT SEEMS LIKE GENERATIONAL POVERTY IN ITS FASHIONs. FINANCIALLY, THIS statement stands wholeheartedly a fact, BUT in aspects beyond, IT SEEMS WE’VE deeply OVERLOOKED THE TRUE BEAUTY THAT LIES BENEATH FASHION and its unassuming icons of THE MARITIMES.
on the coast, dress is to the majority nothing more than a practical vice. its a convention that keeps you in line with the modern status quo while simultaneously is a way to keep you protected from the ever changing and volatile weather conditions. the concept of maritime core is a very augmented perception of what the vast majority of the maritime people wear, yet it’s the overarching concepts that really capture the roots of the maritime lifestyle.
why are we drawn to MARITIME CORE in 2025?
As the culture shifts to adopt more intentional ways of living, dressing and thinking, (partially due to the impending recession, mixed in with over consumerism leaving every corner of our lives to feel a bit more dull and confusing), we reach for the control to make our lives more meaningful. As the scopes broaden to find solutions to this overwhelming feeling, we find ourselves reaching for slowness and simplicity.
Something I value so very much about visits back home is its pace. I escape the busy and oversaturated life of the city and take shelter in the slowness and simplicity of home. To be greeted with a smile and a chat about the weather are some of the things I admire most about my home. in the rural regions of Nova Scotia (and the maritimes at large), resources are just simply not available at your fingertips. there are no Ubers to drive you home or food to be delivered to your door. this seeming lack of ‘convenience’ inadvertently creates a deeper happiness as it forces you to act out of intention. the intersection of authentic and intentional lifestyle of the maritimes facing authentic and intentional ways of dress is what generates the richness of this movement and what makes it relevant in 2025.
In Essense
Durability - “they don’t make them like they used to” Captured in the essence of maritime core is the concept of durability and having the clothes you wear to fit your lifestyle. Fishermen have never been concerned about the way rubber overalls drape their body, rather, how many years of work they could get out of them before they need a new pair. For them, it’s about how the garment actually serves its purpose. Fishermen are the perfect unsuspecting poster child for personal style.
Now, I want to be abundantly clear… rubber overalls are NOT gospel. The translation from the fishermen of the maritimes to your closet is absolutely in no way a straight line. The translation is much more indirect and can ultimately be as simple as a reflection of how you live your life.
The quality of the material is also another important aspect when it comes to maritime core. Selecting quality knits such as wool or heavy duty cotton from the thrift store is a good thing to keep in mind.
Practicality - is the key to finding your personal style and to provide clarity, I want to break down some concepts that can be dissected from the maritime lifestyle and adopted into your own lifestyle or way in which you live. The first thing to be noted is that the weather in the maritimes plays huge influence on its dress. dressing in layers is the very foundation of maritime core as it gives freedomWhether it be thick billows of fog, 100mm of rain, or 4 feet of snow, dressing for the weather holds a great deal of significance. Emerging from this concept arrives a tall pair of hunter rain boots, a bright yellow raincoat from 1982 and a heavy duty knit that can weather any storm.
The quality of the material is also another important aspect when it comes to maritime core. Selecting quality knits such as wool or heavy duty cotton from the thrift store is a good thing to keep in mind.
Generational - Something I admire most about maritime core and maritime fashion in general is the culture of the ‘hand-me-down’. The wool sweater your grandmother wore when he was 17 trickles down to the hands of your aunt when she was 15, your mom when she was 13, and all 5 of your sisters before it reaches you. The garment lives an unlimited amount of lives and its often all under the same roof. Even this basic example of the way a garment is passed down exemplifies the slowness and simplicity of the maritimes perfectly, as well as certain aspects of maritime core.
items to consider
the very basis of this ‘trend’, and further, my platform as a whole is to consume slower and more thoughtfully. I want to strongly emphasize this and I hope the advice I share with you can be something to keep in mind when shopping for something new. I created this platform to promote curated intention and that’s why i’ve chosen to highlight maritime core. below is a small list of things to look for to help push the longevity of your wardrobe and to help you evoke a stronger expression of personality through your clothes.
with the rapid development of technology and transportation, corporations have been granted short cuts in the way clothing is made. this stems from exploitive and abusive foreign labour, not only creating inhumane environments for their employees, but also eliminating the quality in craftsmanship that reined unto death in the late 90s. the shift to cheaper materials and unethical labour allows brands that were once known for their premium quality to hide behind their ‘est 1853’ stamp on the back of $15 microfibre jeans.
This is why I urge you to shop for vintage clothing, the quality in material and the attention to detail is unmatched to anything on the market today.
- a cable knit sweater (100% wool, 100% cotton, mohair, etc)
- a button-down (flannel, pinstripe, base colour, etc)
- Scarves, hats & sunglasses.
- Rubber Boots & a rain jacket.
To Conclude
ultimately, maritime core focuses on situation and lifestyle, meaning that it’s a much more abstract concept than what’s listed above. the key to unlocking the strongest sense of personal style comes from considering your own lifestyle and what’s durable, practical and generational to you.
how do your hobbies reflect in the clothing you wear, how does your job relate to the clothes hanging in your closet, how do your thoughts, beliefs and opinions influence the way in which you dress?
xoxo, love Linds 💌