Thought this might be of interest, given all the discussion on Ford embracing local culture... ---------- Detroit, in style
Detroit Motor Co.¹s clothing line catches fire with club kids, rappers and automaker by JEFFREY KOSSEFF Special to CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS Notorious Detroit rapper Eminem and Ford Motor Co. CEO Jac Nasser probably don¹t shop at the same clothing stores. But they promote the same local apparel line. Earlier this month at a trade show, Nasser¹s company unveiled a concept car model branded with a Detroit clothing designer¹s "Made in Detroit" logo, which Eminem has sported during recent appearances in Spin Magazine and on television. "Made in Detroit" is the trademark of Detroit Motor Co., a 10-year-old clothing designer based in a loft in Detroit¹s Eastern Market. Its target audience is the young, club-going crowd. The company, which for the first time ever expects annual revenue to exceed $1 million, is struggling to meet quickly growing demand while maintaining its independent Detroit roots. The Motor City, the company claims, is hip again. "The line has sort of a rust belt industrial mood to it," said Robert Stanzler, principal in Detroit Motor Co. "The whole mission has been to forge a link between what Detroit has been and what it could become. It¹s resonating to an audience far and wide." The Ford Focus, which sports Made in Detroit¹s logo, was unveiled at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 in Las Vegas. Unlike the marketing of its popular Eddie Bauer-brand Expedition, Ford doesn¹t plan to sell the Made in Detroit car to the public. Ford will present it at auto shows as a marketing tool. -- There4IM
