Tarboo The Location The name of a unique bay in the Hood Canal of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. One of the last remaining saltwater/freshwater estuaries protected by the state. From a local, Native American dialect meaning "windy", Tarboo is home to some of the world's most sought after clams, oysters, salmon and old-growth timber as well as a few locals fortunate enough to call this Northwest treasure home.  

Tarboo The Company Tarboo produces high quality shirts that are "Built By Hand To Last," in Tarboo's garment factory, located in Seattle's historic Pioneer Square. A quality product made ethically with durability in mind.

Founding Matt Noren and Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes founded Tarboo to reignite Seattle's long history of producing high quality garments engineered to withstand the heavy rains, colds and winds of the Pacific Northwest. Tarboo sources, designs and produces each and every shirt it sells. Through online sales and in-shop fittings, Tarboo consistently provides customers with garments that perfectly combine style with functionality. It is Tarboo's mission to provide excellent garments that look and wear well year after year. Shopping with Tarboo supports local business and manufacturing and is an investment in a product that will withstand the test of time.

Fit Casual yet refined. Fit for the weekend. Tails that sit comfortably on the hip without  stretching too long. Sides that taper nicely but don't restrict. Well-rounded shoulders, a pleatless back. Perfect for traveling, a weekend on the boat or a cross-country train ride. Designed for a life on the go where ease, comfort and movement are necessity. 

Sizing We work with the world's greatest graders. The Tarboo fit begins with a size 36" in the chest and is scaled up from there.

Chest Measurement        Size

36"                                       S
38"                                       M
40"                                       L
42"                                       XL

Design Function over fashion as principle. Trim out the excess. Innovate on storage and usability. More pockets at times. Less at others. Create transitional pieces. From beach, to plane to boardroom. Style that transends.

Materials

Cotton Hailed from around the globe. High quality with an emphasis on durability. Our premium cottons come form Italy. Our others from leading mills in India and Pakistan. We look for deadstock and create limited edition runs. What's here today might be gone tomorrow. Reusing the waste of others.

Wool A tale of locality. Oregon, only a couple hundred miles to the south. Quality since the 1800's. A 150 year history. At times deadstock, at others, unique design. Durable and built to last across the board.

Manufacturing 

Machines Single needle Juki's housed in a small factory. Brother buttonholes tightly stitched for year-on-year use. Well kept, well maintained and well used.

Sewers A training process passed down through the company. What was learned in a garment factory in New York City, amongst dresses, silks and jackets. An eternal knowledge. Each member of the team trained in cutting, sewing and finishing. A company in which every member can pick up and make a product. Whether traveling in the Baltics or retreating in the sun, at any moment, any member can tap into the ancient wisdom and produce.

Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes Born in the Enchanted Emerald Isle known as Seattle, Washington, Maikoiyo Alley- Barnes began honing his craft as a Maker actively at an early age. His exposure to Northwest  garments came quite naturally and organically through both paternal and maternal grandfathers; His mother’ s father, was a career Navy man and avid outdoors man.  His father’ s father was a longshoreman on the piers of the Puget Sound. Since his late teens, he has spent his time as a “ finder of rare items.” With countless hours spent in thrift stores, garage and estate sales, he has been a resource for those in search of clothing, furniture and affects that have stood the test of time. At present, he is the Creative Director of Pun( c)tuation, a mixed use space on Capitol Hill. He also works as an art director and production designer for What Matter’ s Most Productions and as Creative Consultant for Sub Pop recording artists Shabazz Palaces. Last year he partnered with Matt Noren to found Tarboo, a local clothing company focused on small batch production of men’ s and women’ s shirts. Beyond constructing timeless items,  he is, “...focused on returning the history of production to the Northwest that once made it famous.”

Matt Noren Matt Noren has called Seattle home since birth.  He has lived through wet and cold winters, warm summers and fantastic springs. He’s spent his free time climbing mountains, blazing trails through forests and falling giant timbers. After living in New York, graduating from The Cooper Union and working in the fashion and apparel industry, Noren moved back to the great Pacific Northwest to found Tarboo, a Seattle-based clothing company that seeks to embody the great utilitarian spirit of the Northwest. This part of the world has a great history in garment making and is poised both locally and nationally to reclaim that status. For Noren, the Pacific Northwest is an identity that places function and utility as two, paramount values. He maintains, “The Pacific Northwest, while a home and a location, is more than that. It's a lifestyle. A decision that chooses rugged over smooth, function over fashion and, above all, views utility as paramount.”