Mission Workshop x Afterschool Projects

The last time we spoke to the team at Afterschool Projects (ASP), the trio gave us a crash course introduction to the new Los Angeles-based brand and offshoot of Mission Workshop (MW). Lyle and Mark have been running MW for years, but when they started the So-Cal sister brand, they knew they needed the design and production chops of Cesar to round out the team. As explained in our introduction article, Afterschool Projects is all about the best materials, and carefree, laid back, vibes of the LA neighborhoods and what happens after you clock out.

During the interview, the team hinted that a very special collaboration would be coming and they were trying out a new technique. Finally, the veil has been lifted and we see ASP coming full circle and partnering with Mission Workshop to drop a collection of tie-dye technical bags and apparel. After handling Dimension Polyant’s X-Pac cotton duck face fabric a few years ago, the team knew it was the perfect canvas for their vision. After plenty of trial and error, the MW and ASP teams developed a unique process to tie-dye the X-Pac material. This resulted in three unique camouflage-inspired dyes – Inyo, Mojave, and Hippie.

All pieces are cut one at a time and individually dyed. While dying the tees were straightforward, careful attention had to be paid to the packs to assure the laminate backing the cotton wasn’t damaged. The team expects the dyed cotton to wear-in nicely and change its character over time.

Let’s take a look at what the collection entails.

Speedwell Backpack

The keystone of the collection is the Speedwell backpack. It blends DNA from the ASP Rucksack and the MW Hauser packs to create the best of both. It’s a 20L pack with a built-in laptop compartment, dual exterior water bottle holders, support for an internal hydration reservoir, and magnetic Fidlock closure. An adjustable waist belt, YKK zippers throughout, and a light loop attachment round out the spec sheet. It’s available in three tie-dye camo patterns (each pattern unique), plus black.

Saccoche EDC Accessory Bags

The Saccoche’s are based on the existing ASP designs and come in two sizes: standard and Grande. The smaller utility pouch measures 7″ wide by 6″ tall while the Grande checks in at 10″ wide by 6.5″ tall. Both come with a removable strap that can be worn across the shoulder or around the waist. The inside includes a mesh divider pocket and key loop. Like the Speedwell, the Saccoche is made from X-Pac X10 fabric and is available in four colorways.

Tie-Dyed T-Shirts

Utility Shorts

The Utility Shorts are based on the ASP design but for the collaboration, they extended the inseam to match the Mission Workshop Stahl Short. The cotton twill from the ASP version has also been swapped out for the technical 4-way stretch woven fabric developed exclusively for Mission Workshop by Italian mill Mectex.

Working closely with partners in the garment district in Los Angeles, the tees are custom cut, sewn and dyed in California from 100% cotton tees. They are constructed with a loose performance fit and available in the three camo colorways, each invoking a psychedelic vibe.

Limited Edition Water Bottles

Available in 21oz (black) and 24 oz (aqua), the limited edition bottles are made using Specialized’s Purist bottle technology. In addition to the vibrant colors, the bottles show off the flat design logos of both brands.

Mission Workshop and Afterschool Projects did not disappoint with this long anticipated collection. It plays on the strengths of each brand (the technical performance focus of Mission Workshop and the playful unencumbered design mindset of Afterschool Projects) and brings a well rounded capsule to outfit you with an EDC pack, accessory pouch, top and bottoms and hydration. And it does all this with ease while rocking never before seen tie-dyed X-Pac!