A Watch For Everyone

Started by the baby of an Italian shoemaker who loves watches and two eco-smart entrepreneurs with a crush on the environment, WEwood fashions wooden timepieces from mostly scrap-wood and uses state-of-the-art Miyota movements for the guts, resulting in a unique watch that's good-looking, earth-friendly, and splash-proof.

The first timepiece was designed in Florence, Italy (2010) and with the widespread craving for newstalgia and eco-friendly ethos, WEwood hit the scene as the avant-garde approach to sophisticated sustainability. A few months later, WEwood opened a branch in Los Angeles, CA and teamed up with tree-planting-partner, American Forests.

With this pact, the goal is to help restore Mother Nature, one watch at a time, by planting a tree for every WEwood watch purchased. In the first three months, WEwood planted 5,000 trees with American Forests, and sets challenging targets for 2011 and beyond. According to WEwood, "Keeping forests healthy and happy keeps us healthy and happy, we like to keep our reminder on our wrist."

Now-a-days, It seems as if every company has some sort of charitable initiative (and with good reason). I would suggest that part of the reason has been a result of Tom's shoes, with their get-to-give program, where for every shoe bought, one pair is donated to those in need. Not only have charity initiatives given back to the community, but they have really been a driving force for sales. In the current economic landscape, brands are relying on some extra efforts in order to promote and sell their products, and taking a sophisticated sustainability approach has caught the attention of a widespread audience. For example, with the WEwood watch, not only do they cater to the fashion forward, hip young individual, but they also can sell to the eco-conscious consumer or tree huger. In short, brands are finding that having a focused cause can increase their bottom line, as well as look more attractive to retailers.

In WEwood’s case, by being an emblem of eco-luxury and design as well as committed to the health of our planet, they have found a recipe for success in today’s apparel/accessory market. And to the benefit of the consumer, timepieces range from only $119-139, which in the luxury watches market, is very inexpensive.

So in conclusion, the WEwood is another one of those brands that really catches my eye because they are really on to something. With so much competition in the apparel industry, those who can bring a product that is inspired, unique, sustainable, and cost effective will find success. Society has put a premium on companies who can deliver these things. There are too many companies that use the charity model as a front just to look appealing. In contrast, WEwood has a convincing initiative. They have a story behind their products, and the consumer can feel good about their purchase. WEwood lets us rediscover nature in its beauty, simplicity and design. And on the manufacturing front, WEwood's watches are completely absent of artificial and toxic materials, so the watches are as natural as your wrist. So check out some of these beauties below:

The Ampal Creative: Dreamed, Designed & Crafted in USA

The Ampal Creative - Made in LA from Ampal Creative on Vimeo.

You know that one article of clothing that you are really stoked on? It has to be a special occasion to whip it out. Or, maybe you are having an off day, and you put that thing on it makes you happy? Well, for most people, that "thing" is an Ampal Creative hat. Part sexy, part trendy, part classic, this brand has nailed it with making some fresh hats which are an absolute must in a guy's hat collection.

Everything from their marketing, design philosophy, and overall product from this Los Angeles brand is very fresh, unique, and well, creative. Not to mention, since 2010, they have manufactured their products in the USA, creating jobs in an industry that has dried up in since the early 2000s. More interestingly, at a time when the hat market seems to be very saturated with an abundance of brands, the Ampal still brings something different to the table: a collection of snapback/painters caps made with premium textiles and unique prints, which has developed a diverse following. Some of their offerings include a staple snapback hat, which has an 80s feel to it, which comes in a variety of prints ranging from floral, pin-up hawaiian girl, to tribal Aztec. They also bring some cool fabrications too their snapbacks as well, including a luxurious red corduroy, denim, and the traditional felt. If those don't do it for you, then maybe their dressier options, including a wide-backed fedora, traditional porkpie, and bowler, will. These classic molds look like they came from the 50s, but have a unique interpretation. For instance each hat comes with a double-sided strap with a dressier design on one side (think croc skin, full grain leather, etc) and a flashy one on the other (polka dots, patent leather, etc); they've also got a few different driver caps, ranging from a billowy dotted design to a grey and black checkered pattern to a worn-looking blue & purple, each of which has a front button embroidered into the pattern, allowing the hat to also be worn open like a captain's cap.

Ampal's attention to detail and quality construction cannot be overlooked either. Often, they find a single roll of deadstock material and make as many hats as they can from it. Not only does this allow them to hands on in the all the stages of development, but they are supporting local fabric businesses, as well as emplying apparel manufactures. It is a win win situation.

The video above gives you an inside look at the design and creative process, as well as an inside look on how the products get manufactured. It is really interesting to see something from start to finish. From idea, to concept, to design, to fabrication, to manufacturing, to final product, the stages of production are very lengthy, and often overlooked. So next time you are shopping, just think of how the garment you are looking at got there. It's a very complex, technical, and creative process, and I think few brands really do it well. The Ampal Creative is one of them.

Club Monaco: Made in the U.S.A.

Often times both consumers and apparel manufacturers overlook the benefits of production within our country. Some of these benefits are social, ethical, environmental, and economic. With so much manufacturing lost to overseas contractors, it is very satisfying to see the high-end clothing company, Club Monaco, launch a "Made in the U.S.A." collection in its stores in New York City's storied Fifth Avenue and its near-equivalent in Toronto, Canada, on Bloor Street. Here is a behind the scenes look at the manufacturing process, as well as the back-story of how this project came about. Enjoy:

As I mentioned earlier, there are many benefits to manufacturing within our borders. First of all, for the apparel manufacturer, you have much more control over your product from start to finish. For example, the advantage of being within close proximity to your factories allows the company more quality control, allowing them to look and feel the product throughout its manufacturing process. Producing in a factory in China, on the other hand, is much more of a gamble. You may not see you product you designed until 3 months after its inception. What if the hem isn’t right, or the waistband stitching? Anything can happen.

In addition, think about how many jobs an apparel manufacturer creates when producing domestically. Some of the necessary jobs performed are fabric mills, markers, graders, cutters, sewers, dye houses, packaging companies, etc etc. To give you some scope, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 154,700 apparel manufacturing jobs in the country as of September. Imagine if more apparel companies followed suit!

Moreover, the consumer is happier. Knowing that your clothing is made in America and your money is staying in the US is a much more satisfying feeling, not to mentioned the idea of craftsmanship, quality, and America is definitely catching on the fashion industry.

Products are more cleaned up, tailored, neat, traditional, and quality driven, something that America has always fostered.

In addition, there is an ethical benefit, which makes everyone feel good. Factories in the United States are rigorously regulated. Workers are paid a fair wage, and working conditions are far superior to the rest of the world. Imagine if the shirt you are wearing was made by a 12 year old girl trapped inside a basement in India, without food or water until she completes her quota. Pretty gnarly right? It happens.

Not to mention, producing domestically reduces the environmental impact. For instance, shipping from China via air or boat is very costly and has many negative consequences on our environment (oil, pollution, etc.). I could go on and on about how advantageous manufacturing apparel is in the US, but the bottom line is that our country needs to be more competitive with the rest of the world, and provide more incentives for doing so.

In the end, however, by producing here, everyone wins. Club Monaco is on the right track and has really helped our country and themselves out (think of all the good press they are getting out of this!). It's time for change: “Create Jobs, Buy American, Go America” (Alex Maine).