This is a story about Detroit Style.
Detroit is well known for producing cars, winning sports teams and bringing a sound called, “Motown” to the masses. Lately, the city is also known for something a little unexpected: fashion and style.
In the heart of the Motor City– or Hockey Town, depending on who you ask, there’s a fashion brand called, “Shinola” that isn’t taking sh*t from anyone.
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Shinola products are lovingly produced in Detroit’s historic Argonaut Building. The company’s commitment to domestic quality and production has touched a nerve with consumers like me who want to spend their disposable income on high quality American made products that either have traditions or are creating them.
The watches have Swiss parts, but are made in the USA, the only watch of its kind.
When I found out about Shinola, I became obsessed with making sure that my husband got a watch. So much so that I stalked Peter, one of Shinola’s customer service reps. My husband and I are inspired by Detroit, and the city’s desire to rebuild and innovate. In ways large and small, we’re committed to promoting the city and its success. I was determined to support Shinola back when it was a small, unheard of watch company committed to bringing jobs to Detroit.
Peter was nice enough not to file a restraining order against me {although he probably thought about it once or twice} and helped me secure one of the first 1,000 watches the company produced. When I bought my husband’s watch the company had 100 employees and was still in the early stages of sourcing products, filling jobs and fulfilling orders.
We were early adopters, and the company was so new that when I purchased Rob’s watch my mom and I went to the Shinola offices to pick it up! Peter gave me a tour of the showroom, factory floor and offices. Everyone in the office {even a team on a conference call} seemed happy and upbeat, and even stopped to talk to us and thank us for supporting their company. I still think about the spirit of the company, when I’m in its many stores today.
Rob’s watch was packaged in a beautiful wooden, made-in-Minnesota box. Inside the box they included a balm to apply on its leather strap. The watch is has an adorable little sub-dial and luminescent hands so you can see what time it is, even when it’s dark outside. And rare for a watch at its price point, it has a sapphire crystal dome. On its face are the words, “Argonite” which are a reference to the building the watch was made in, the former GM design center.
After a few years, the band began to weaken, and as if on cue, we received a letter in the mail, a few years later, thanking us for our purchase, and.gif"http://www.shinola.com/shop/leather/womens-leather/wide-double-wrap-leather-bracelet.html#color=Gunmetal">wide double wrap bracelet. I bought it in one of those “treat-yo-self” moments, when my boss sent me to a sustainability meeting he was unable to attend. My friend and I attended the meeting together and visited Shinola’s office. We did the meeting and met with their staff. Of course, the office doubles as a store, and I’m a sucker for anything that smells like leather and can be personalized. I bought a bracelet on the spot!
Shinola is an exciting synergy of steel, leather and labor. And, it’s something to be inspired by. I feel great knowing that I’m supporting a company that’s re-imagining American industry by producing small batches of high quality products at an affordable price point. Sometimes you just have to put your money where your heart is!
This watch is so nice. I love the big face. Thank you so much for sharing
Thanks, Linda. I love things that are made in America.