The Arrivals: A Line of Coats From a Venture Capitalist and an Architect

Kal Vepuri, 33, founder of Trisiras Group, an angel investment firm behind a slew of hip startups such as Harry’s, a razor company, and eyeglasses maker Warby Parker, has gone from behind-the-scenes to front-of-house. On Oct. 16, Vepuri, who doesn’t have a fashion background, introduced his own e-commerce outerwear company, the Arrivals. “Outerwear is so compelling,” says Vepuri, who works with another industry outsider, an architect named Jeff Johnson, as his creative director for the nine-coat line. “If you want high-quality clothing that lasts a lifetime and is beautiful and classically inspired, you end up spending two to three times as much as you should,” Vepuri says.

Prices range from $245 to $685, with motorcycle jackets for men and women at the top end. (If leather’s not your thing, minimalist parkas or wool peacoats might be.) “Given the complexity of these garments, I’m applying the same rigor as I would in architecture,” says Johnson, 32, who’s supported by a team with experience at brands such as Tom Ford and Nike. Wool paneling (for men) and neoprene ribbing (for women) help the fit of the motos, which are made in New York over the course of a year. This longer production cycle allows factories to take their time and avoid rush costs, bringing down the price—the jackets go for about a third of what you’d pay for a Burberry.