18 East Releases Annual Summer Outdoor Capsule Inspired by Nostalgic Camp Memories
Get ready to relive your childhood memories with 18 East’s latest release, the “Summer Outdoor Capsule.” Inspired by founder Kenny Ciongoli’s summers at Camp Billings, this collection is filled with cross-season staples that will transport you back to your days at summer camp.
Featuring hand-stitched details, washed fleeces, and a vintage color palette, the collection includes pieces like a check shirt with embroidered accents, a cozy sherpa full-zip, and a retro rugby shirt with “Camp Billings” graphics. To add to the nostalgia, 18 East has also created a special zine that delves deeper into the inspiration behind the collection.
In a personal collaboration with Vermont’s Camp Billings, Ciongoli drew from his own experiences at the camp to create this unique and thoughtful collection. “Every year, when Eighteen East’s design calendar shifts towards our summer outdoor capsule, my mind immediately heads north to the banks of Lake Fairlee, on the eastern border of Vermont,” he shared in an open letter on Instagram. “I spent nine unforgettable summers there – first as a camper and then a counselor – at an extraordinary sleepaway camp called Camp Billings.”
The collection is filled with details that will transport you back to your days at summer camp, including sashiko-inspired stitching, retro graphics, and a vintage color palette. Standout pieces include a brown check shirt with hand-stitched embroidery and the RC2 Fullzip, made with high pile sherpa and retro contrast nylon. “Billings provided me with my first true taste of independence, a safe, supportive environment for self-discovery and the opportunity to explore – and fall in love with the natural world,” Ciongoli added, highlighting the central role of the camp in the collection.
Other summertime silhouettes include a green rugby shirt with a bubble-letter “Camp Billings” logo and primary-colored nylon swim trunks. The collection also features accessories like an outdoor backpack and classic caps, adorned with appliques resembling Lake Fairlee/Billings decals and iron-on patches.
To further pay homage to Camp Billings, 18 East has also produced a special zine filled with camp memories and detailed stories about the key pieces in the collection. Featuring photography by Vinny Picone and words by Kenny Ciongoli, this zine is a must-have for any fan of the brand.
The 18 East Summer Outdoor Capsule and the Camp Store zine are now available at the official 18 East web store and physical locations. Don’t miss out on this nostalgic and thoughtfully crafted collection.
