Jack Carlson’s Little ACK Book
It almost feels like an injustice to limit who Jack Carlson is to a quick parenthetical stuffed within a sentence. To most, Carlson is recognized as the founder of Rowing Blazers (the outfitter redefining American prep) or the man responsible for reissuing Princess Diana’s iconic black sheep sweater (of which the original recently sold at auction for a whopping $1.14 million) through British knitwear label Warm & Wonderful, in addition to reviving heritage brands Gyles & George and Arther Ashe. But fashion ventures aside, Carlson is celebrated as the former three-time coxswain of the U.S. national rowing team (a bronze-decorated one, at that) and member of the Boat Club at Oxford University, where he also earned his doctorate in archaeology and went on to conduct fieldwork in Italy.
Raised between Boston and Hampstead, England, Carlson grew up visiting Nantucket. Since, he has established strong ties to the island through collaborations (with Murray’s Toggery, forming a Rowing Blazers store-in-store at the Main Street shop) and celebrations (his last two birthdays, likely surrounding The Club Car piano with his nearest and dearest, as indicated by his Little ACK Book).
“The island has an easiness to it,” he says. “People often contrast it with the Hamptons, which is so much more New York, so much fancier and flashier. Nantucket brings me back to my New England childhood, and New England style, if there is such a thing.” Carlson infuses a similar sentiment into his brands, reinventing the historic and iconic through his own contemporary lens that he hopes evokes “a sense of fun, a sense of nostalgia, a sense of happiness. A sense of story and meaning.”
Below, Carlson reveals his favorite places, pastimes, and products on Nantucket, exclusively for Little ACK Book. While he’s currently off-island (he’s busy launching a highly anticipated collaboration with Target, among many other things), you may find him there soon—once he has a second to breathe, he says the first item on his agenda is “a trip to Nantucket!”
Restaurant for Breakfast: The Downyflake, of course, for eggs and a chocolate doughnut.
Restaurant for Lunch: Gemelle.
Restaurant for Dinner: Lola.
Bar: Club Car. Sweet Caroline! (NB: this is not a drink, but a song. Club Car has a pianist that takes requests, and I love it.)
Ice Cream Order: Mint Chocolate Chip in a waffle cone.
Small Business: Murray’s Toggery
Activity or Attraction for Groups: A bike ride!
Activity or Attraction for Children: A bike ride!
Activity or Attraction for Yourself: A bike ride!
Activity or Attraction for Pets: Hmm…
Beach: Quidnet
Beach Reads: Tom Wolfe
Person to Know: Ron, the Downyflake chef!
Must-Pack Item: A good book.
Item to Leave at Home: Your laptop.
Souvenir: Nantucket Reds.
Time of Year: May and September.
Rainy Day Plan: Board games.
Spot on Island: Quidnet Beach, or next to the piano at Club Car!
Morning or Night?: Afternoon
Sun or Fog?: Sun
Land or Sea?: You need both!
Nantucket’s Best-Kept Secret: My lips are sealed!
Follow Jack and his ventures: @jackcarlson, @rowingblazers, @warmandwonderful, @arthurashe, @gylesandgeorge