While the heritage trends of the late 2000s and #menswear are behind us, the ideals of Made in the USA and Made in Japan still stay strong. Of course, there are products that are made in the USA or Japan (and many other countries immediately associated with a perceived higher level or quality of production) that are at the top of their respective fields. But in contrast, quality can be found in other corners of the globe which have been previously associated with lesser standards of production or undesirable working conditions. In an effort to highlight the skills and opportunity in producing garments elsewhere on earth, Seattle’s Division Road is bucking the trend and changing what Made in China means.
Teaming up with Chinese label MotivMfg, the new capsule collection is “made in the new East by the ways of the old West” and aims to exemplify the attention to detail and high quality production Division Road are known to offer. Even though Motiv manufactures in China, its practices more closely resemble that of a bespoke European tailor from the 19th century. Division Road see the collaborators as a “re-establishment of bespoke garment workshop studios where designs, patterns, and complete production are all accomplished under one roof.”
Both labels hope Made in China is no longer a stigma or taboo, but rather a stamp of quality and assurance. A stand out piece is the English Hunt Work Jacket which combines the workwear fashions of the industrial age and the regality of high society heritage tailoring. Made from a heavy duty 10 wale Fawn Corduroy from England’s signature corduroy and moleskin mill Brisbane Moss, the fabric was originally designed for workwear purposes but is reimagined here with a refined yet rugged aesthetic.
To see more from the Division Road x MotivMfg capsule collection, click here.
