The Story

This collaboration didn’t start with a marketing plan; it started with a cold email. When Antonio Ciongoli (18 East) reached out to Johnson Woolen Mills for his "Homegrown" project, he was a designer looking to work with the heritage wool company he’d admired since childhood. Shortly after hitting send, he got a call from an unknown Vermont area code.

"Kenny?" (Antonio's middle name)

The voice on the other end was Gene Richards. Gene and his family had lived across the street from Antonio growing up and his son, Eugene, was childhood friends with Antonio. The Richards family had just purchased Johnson Woolen Mills a month prior. "Got your email," Gene said. "We are wide open. Come home and let’s get to work."

The Outworker is the result of that homecoming, digging through vintage patterns with old friends to create a rugged, functional jacket that honors the Johnson legacy while pushing our apparel design forward.

The Design 

The Outworker looks like something Johnson has been making for 100 years, but the 18 East DNA is as clear as day. This is a work jacket that balances Vermont grit with modern utility. We’ve replaced the traditional button-front with a two-way semi-exposed zipper (like the iconic M65 Field Jacket), offering a cleaner profile and better mobility for a jacket that’s built to work.

Technical Features

Two-Way Zipper: Features a semi-exposed two-way front zip, allowing the jacket to be unzipped from the bottom for comfort while sitting or driving.

Signature Pocketing: Features bias-cut asymmetrical chest pockets and hidden side pockets integrated into the side seams at the hips.

Handmade in Johnson: Every unit is hand-cut and finished at our factory mill in Johnson, VT.

Fit Guide This jacket features an oversized "18 East" aesthetic. It runs slightly large. We recommend sizing down one full size from your standard jacket size for a truer fit.

Materials

Loden: 80% Wool / 20% Nylon

#78 Dark Green Navy Tan Plaid: 85% Wool / 15% Nylon