Articles of Interest Gear: Epilogue (with Jad Abumrad)
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Dec 17, 2025 
Jad Abumrad, the influential radio producer and founder of Radiolab, engages in a captivating conversation with Avery about her series, Gear. They delve into how outdoor clothing transitioned into everyday fashion and the military's hidden ties to popular brands like Patagonia. Avery shares fascinating insights on the military's influence on design and the dual purpose of military jackets as protest symbols. She reflects on her journey as a fashion journalist and the storytelling evolution inspired by design. Their dialogue unlocks rich layers of fashion's past and future.
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Fashion As A Cultural Barometer
- Fashion externalizes both private feelings and shared cultural states and acts as a visible barometer of time.
- Avery Trufelman argues clothes are the boundary we negotiate between ourselves and the world.
Clothes Blur The Civilian–Military Divide
- The military and civilian wardrobes are deeply intertwined through manufacturers and shared design features.
- Trufelman found civilian outdoor industry often enables military gear, complicating simple 'anti-military' judgments.
Focus Protests On Policy, Not Parkas
- Don't punish jackets for systemic problems; focus on the larger political and ethical fights instead.
- Trufelman suggests transparency about military contracts is better than blanket consumer shaming.