Ketums was started by my family in Paris around 1925.
My great-grandfather, Joseph Smutek, set up a raincoat business on 66 rue de Bondy. He handmade bespoke rainwear and groomed his oldest sons, Saul and Rudy, to work by his side. They took pride in crafting tailored goods that kept the elements at bay.
In 1940, as my grandfather and his brother took over operations, the Nazis invaded Paris. My family left Europe, their shop was destroyed, and Ketums was all but forgotten.
After a seventy five year hiatus, I'm picking up where my family left off and rebuilding the Ketums legacy here in San Francisco. The first project is an all-weather heritage coat, sewn by hand in Oakland. We start with the finest waxed cotton from Scotland and pair it with a combed flannel lining and soft corduroy from Japan. We produce in small batches to ensure the highest quality and attention to detail. The result is a timeless, tailored coat that feels at home by the cold ocean and underneath the city lights.
It's the next chapter of the Ketums story and I'm proud to share it with you.
-Daniel