Last year, outdoor lifestyle brand Best Made Co. tapped Argentine chef Francis Mallmann to curate a collection of products that reflected his unique lifestyle. It included both a $98 bandana and a $2,298 towering steel grill — appropriate for the open-fire cooking king whose restaurants serve patrons in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, France and the United States.
Now, Mallmann and Best Made Co. are back again with an expanded holiday collection of clothing and hard goods. These functional products reference Mallmann’s everyday life, whether on his private island in Patagonia, at his chateau in Provence or on the road, traveling between engagements. The items — ranging from stoneware to a shearling coat — explore the balance of function and beauty in everyday goods.
The Mallmann Best Made Capsule features an expanded collection of bandanas, a beautiful travel backgammon set, two hats (a beret and Stetson), a Pendleton wool blanket and a luxurious shearling coat, among other things. While offering real functional value, they also manage to be romantic and, at times, nostalgic. To better understand the pieces in the capsule, we caught up with Mallmann before the holiday season.
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Q: You’ve expanded on your first capsule collection with Best Made Co., offering more and different products. What was your inspiration behind this curation?
A: For me, cooking is an extension of my lifestyle, which includes games, beauty, taste, decor and clothing. This collection speaks to opposites and contradictions — two important departments of my life.
Q: Do you always carry a bandana? What, to you, is special about this humble accessory?
A: A bandana in my back pocket or in the top pocket of my tuxedo is a must. I use it cooking when out in the wild, tied up as a colander for fruits and vegetables, or even pasta and rice — or even to tie my baby to my chest for a walk.
