Made in America Since 1884

 

There aren't too many shoe makers left in America.  In the dress shoe space, Allen Edmonds is still manufacturing in the US, but they have also outsourced production to South America to keep costs down.  They make great shoes, but when you trully want to go American, you have to go with Alden.  Founded by Charles Alden in 1884 and located in Middleborough, MA, the company's shoes and boots are some of the highest quality products still manufactured in the USA. 

It is difficult to imagine just how active and important the shoe industry was in Massachusetts so long ago. Early New England shoemaking was a trade based upon one craftsman making a pair a day in one room cottages (called "ten footers"). Beginning in 1850 a series of inventions led to mechanized stitching and lasting.operations and the birth of New England shoe industry followed rapidly. The productivity gains over the traditional shoemaker were on the order of 500 - 700%, yet the new methods also led to an extraordinary improvement in both quality and consistency. The explosive growth of the shoe industry in eastern Massachusetts at the turn of the century was impressive. Numerous companies were being started, and demand soared as product made its way west and south on newly expanded rail routes. Charles Alden's factory prospered, adding children's shoes to their offering of men's shoes and custom boots.  While the company doesn't really advertise, they have continued to prosper as consumers have had a renewed interest in quality craftmanship and supporting local businesses. 

Joint marketing efforts with retailers such as Unionmade in San Fransisco and J.Crew have renewed interest in the veriable brand as their classic style will certainly stand the test of time.  Even Indiana Jones has been known to wear his Aldens...

Alden is now the only original New England shoe and bootmaker remaining of the hundreds who began so long ago. Still a family owned business, still carrying forward a tradition of quality genuine-welted shoemaking that is exceptional in every way.

American Tradition Since 1932

From leather hides to the intricate stitches that bind them together, boot manufacturing is one of the last great American arts that is still deeply rooted in American tradition. 

Crafted in Portland Oregon,  Danner boots are a mark of unsacrificing quality. It’s been that way since 1932, the year Charles Danner decided to open his boot making business in the midst of the Great Depression and risk his future on a stubborn belief that - regardless of the economy - superior craftsmanship matters.

The Pacific Northwest was the ultimate proving ground for Danner boots, and Danner boot makers.
From the earliest days, they have only used the best materials and only the most skilled craftsmen. In the decades that followed, Danner became the favorite of tradespeople and outdoorsmen who understood that a well-made boot, though more costly, would outperform and outlast several pairs of inexpensive ones.

Within just a few years, Danner boots gained a reputation for enduring the ruggedness of the Pacific Northwest, and in the process earned the respect of a generation.
Today, Danner quality remains legendary because Danner standards remain high.
It’s easy to talk about higher standards, but it’s incredibly difficult to live up to them.
Since 1932, that’s exactly what they've been doing.

The Son of the South - Billy Reid

Over the last couple of month I have become a big fan of Southern Style and especially the designs of Billy Reid.  I discovered upon moving to Houston, that it is one of six locations in the country that has a stand-alone Billy Reid store.

William “Billy” Reid grew up Amite, Louisiana, just south of the Mississippi line, where, in his grandmother’s onetime home, his mother operated a women’s clothing boutique. The shop would later influence his interest and pursuits in design.

Reid’s first foray into the world of designer fashion came in 1998 with the launch of William Reid. The brand went on hiatus in 2001 until the Spring of 2004 when Reid re-launched under the name Billy Reid by way of a new business model: to build a designer brand around his authentic lifestyle and establish retail shops that reflect his upbringing, his personality, his aesthetic.

The brand employs fine artisians from mainly Italy and the USA to produce high quality wardrobe staples that will stay in fashion throughout the seasons.  While the products sold by the brand are certainly not cheap, the quality is unparreled and if you get a chance to visit one of the stores, the service is excellent.  They even offer free burbon, neat if you prefer.

It is probably one of the first clothing stores that I have ever been in that I could truly say that I would take one of each.  Unfortunately my budget does not allow for that, but it certainly will be a place that I will visit as the seasons change to add a couple of key staples to my wardrobe. 

The Best Things To Happen to Brownies Since Chocolate

Maybe it's all the intense chocolate flavor baked into one perfect square.  Whatever it is, a fresh-baked brownie is the ultimate comfort food.  Born on New Years Day 2008, Vermont Brownie Company was created to support the local community and pair gourmet chocolate with local farm fresh ingredients.

Using fresh seasonal ingredients from local farms, Vermont Brownie Company has kept it simple and bake brownies that are just heavenly.  The chevre and dark chocolate brownies have thrown down against Bobby Flay and come out victorious.  The perfect brownie is not too cakey, not too fudgy - just right.

We encourage you to visit the company's website (www.vermontbrownie.com) and order a sampler pack.  The seasonal flavors (Apple Blondies/White Chocolate Raspberry) are a treat and they are always committed to using the freshest local ingredients.

Imogene + Willie

So the purpose of this blog is to highlight those artisians that are dedicated to producing the highest quality goods, using local resources, and materials.  Our first post is highlighting Nashville, TN denim manufacturers Imogene + Willie. 

Housed in a converted gas station in Nashville, TN, Imogene + Willie is keeping the tradition alive by producing quality blue jeans made in the USA, from the finest quality denim from Cone Denim's White Oak Factory in Greensboro, NC.  White Oak’s 107-year-old, red brick facility—America’s oldest working denim mill—has outlived its namesake, a massive tree that stood next to the mill, but much of the sprawling complex has been shuttered. The weave room that once stretched 400 yards is today a quarter as long.

While some mills make fabric, Cone Denim makes history, as they continue to produce fabric steeped in tradition, made on vintage fly shuttle looms that produce the highest quality selvedge denim. 

Imogene + Willie realizes the importance of keeping production local and operates under a mentality that you should buy good things and own them a long time.  Our society has become too focused on quantity before quality and its time to go back to the roots.  Invest in those things that you love the most and realize that investing in quality is much more important than saving a few dollars. 

I encourge you to learn more about their story and their mission as I truly believe it is focused on passion and love for what they do.