Oct 12, 2007

Opportunity in the flight of mass?

I read an article in the New York Times a few weeks ago about American designer jeans companies. Evidently, many small brands choose to manufacture their lines domestically, specifically in Los Angeles, for both economic and quality reasons.

Overseas, they can't afford the required large runs, nor can they find the expertise needed to painstakingly weather, customize and otherwise jack up beautiful, high-quality denim fabric so hipsters will buy it.

The story made me wonder if that might be the States next manufacturing role; creator and producer of truly unique, practically bespoke products that require more hands-on attention than mass or even mass customized.

We certainly can and will do it with ideas. Making actual things, on the other hand, has seemed to slip away from us.

One thing is for certain, however. Products like +$200 denim require have to be what Chip and Dan Heath call "heavy on ideas." In a recent Fast Company article they discuss how luxury has moved from status to personal pleasure and self-expression.

And that means Ninja Warrior branding and fantastic storytelling, two more things we thrive at in this country.

3 comments:

EVK4 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
EVK4 said...

OK, so apparently the fact that I left a comment that the link to my blog is broken offended you. I still haven't read the post again but I am willing to make it up to you in an odd way.

Go to the blog readability test, plug in your URL and note that your writing level is genius. Then fix the link to my blog.

Your friend, Edward

NonstopExpress said...

Genius level? Man, that's a sad comment on the quality of Internet writing. Must be all those $5 words I use.

I will fix your link.

xxoo

Tim