Now, with a smart, made-in-the-USA approach (all garments are produced in Brooklyn), the military-inspired label is thriving. Here, a few of the pair’s inspirations.
Schmidt: “This is the jacket that solidified our brand. We purchased one at the Brooklyn Flea, and it brought together the name of our label (the bronze buttons on the jacket have the word CADET on them) and our overall direction.”
Arévalo: “It’s a 4-by-5-foot oil painting we purchased on a trip to Hanoi. It’s a portrait of an imaginary person with multiracial features that challenges your mind to categorize the subject.”
Arévalo: “We have these chairs around our dining room table, in our design studio, and even at some of our stores. They’re simple, classic, and comfortable.”
Arévalo: “I used this book while studying at FIT and found it again when we started Cadet. It’s my tailoring bible.”
Maison Martin Margiela 20th Anniversary Collector's Item Pumps (Spring/Summer 2009)
Schmidt: “A pair of size-15 pumps with a 12-inch heel covered in mirrored tiles. These are not meant to be worn. I'm not sure why I like them, they’re just cool looking. They’re the perfect example of the fine line between gaudy and tasteful.”
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