Shinola: You Don’t Know Sh*t – the Detroit based watchmakers

Boldly striding forward, is Shinola; Detroit-based watchmakers and luxury fine goods brand, hoping to bring American manufacturing back to America….

The second half of the twentieth century has not been kind to the city of Detroit. The once-great ‘Motor City’ has been devastated by the largest municipal filing for bankruptcy in US history, spiralling unemployment and the deterioration of its once-thriving automobile industry.

The city’s struggle however, is not without its heroes. Emerging from the ruins, with the determination and esprit de corps reflective of the city’s former soul and vigour, is what many are calling a renaissance; a revigoration of Detroit’s glory days.

 

 

Within Ford’s former design building sits a team of devoted craftspeople who share the belief that US manufacturing is not dead. Many of them are General Motors veterans. Nostalgic, yet boldly striding forward, is Shinola; a brand of watches made in Detroit and luxury fine goods (also made in Detroit) hoping to bring American manufacturing back to America.

Craftsmen of classic timepieces, leather-bound journals, vintage-style bicycles and leather goods, the company is at the forefront of a new wave of the city’s industry.

Using hides from America’s oldest working tanner, Shinola is keen to showcase its creative enterprise, collaborating with great American suppliers to produce luxury products of the highest quality. Master Swiss watchmakers have been brought over to train their local staff in the art of fine watch-making, which simultaneously ooze timeless beauty. Launching in Europe on 4th November at Colette, Paris, Shinola is about to go global, flying the flag for Ford’s old factories. It is the grit behind this company which make it so compelling, but it just so happens that their products are exquisitely designed and created by proud and skillful Detroiters. The spotlight can now be welcomed back to Detroit, to focus not on their heartbreaks, but on their successes.

To find out more and browse the Shinola watches and Shinola bikes online collections, visit www.shinola.com

words by Catherine Harris

 

 

Tags:

You May Also Like

Central Saint Martins help Save the China Tiger

Tigers are the most enigmatic of creatures. Existing in most people’s perception in an ...

Maiyet new york fashion designer

Maiyet – Crafted with Passion – Fashion Article

Fashion Article by Jim Morrall On doing a little reading around New York fashion ...

Still Good x Spring Court Men's Tennis Shoes

Still Good x Spring Court Men’s Tennis Shoes

The most famous thing about French tennis shoe brand Spring Court is the really ...

formal shirt

10 shirt terms you should know if you’re obsessed with style

10 shirt terms you should know if you’re obsessed with style – words Al ...

Victory Mansions – East London’s most hispter restaurant?

“We went foraging for these elderflowers over on Hackney Marshes this morning” says Stuart ...

paulin watches, unique watches, glasgow creatives

Paulin Watches: Bringing watchmaking back to the workshop

Bringing watchmaking back to the workshop, the Paulin sisters are supporting British craftsmanship and ...