Vancouver does not have the Production capacity to support Apparel companies that do larger volume. Finding tech experts to make patterns and run sewing machines locally is a huge problem.
I love companies like Mission and Kitsbow, but their factory orders are quite small, so fulfilment is possible here. If there plan is to grow, they will have to move offshore too.
As comsumers, we killed local manufacturing.
Fair enough… But,
Let's say Mission/Acre, or another brand, wants to grow at a reasonable pace and maintain domestic manufacturing, it isn't like these are black arts that people can't be trained/apprenticed to do?
We can train someone to move to Nothern Alberta and weld/etc, as an apprentice, in ~ 6months? If local manufacturers needed to upsize to do higher quantities how long does it take to train somone to competently cut textiles to patern and do the more basic stitches? (I.E. apprentice at a trade).
In exchange for, undoubtedly, higher up front manufacturing costs companies could do smaller runs, maintain lower inventory, and have less risk of carrying over/clearing out unpopular items/colours? Having spent a lot of time in retail I think a lot of companies fail to see how much extensive, regular, clearouts can erode the value of their brand.
It's funny/sad how long Sugoi maintained their manufacturing capability in Vancouver - when everyone was outsourcing - and then shut it down just as where something is made started to be a factor in more peoples purchasing decisions? Presumably some of that work force is still living in Vancouver and of working age (I.E. not dead yet)?
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Sounds like Neoshell is a good compromise for our, generally, warmer climate? Not as waterproof but less of a monsoon inside the jacket for us sweaty dudes?
Mission also had sort-of pit-zips (inner arm zips).
Fair enough, but the branding is so local that it leaves bad taste when we see more established companies in SF making it work here (at same pricepoint).
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For me it's usually that I have to try and decide how much more I'm willing to pay to get an equivalent domestic product… It's confusing when (I only need one jacket, so the size of product run doesn't affect me) there seems to no penalty for something that is sewn locally?
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