Comments on: A Closer Look at Rag & Bone Mercer Street

By: Ro

Ro — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:23:18 +0000

I’m no longer impressed with their items. The store design is ok, but poorly laid out. Prices have increased, while the fit and style has degenerated into a hipster haven. Frankly, it’s stupid. APC next door has better items, with slight more classic cuts, which is all some of us can ask for in modern attire. Go around the corner to Seize and get a vingt shirt for $180 that will last you for years and fit just about every occasion.

By: The Fashion Informer

The Fashion Informer — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:38:40 +0000

If you want to learn more about why nothing’s made in the USA anymore (currently, only 5 percent of clothing designed in America is produced in America), watch the HBO documentary “Schmatta: From Rags to Riches to Rags.” Not sure what can be done to bring clothing manufacturing back to the USA since we began willingly outsourcing to China, India, et al. in the 60s, but it’s a really fascinating exploration of the topic.

By: Maid in the USA

Maid in the USA — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:26:24 +0000

Adam, it’s the profit margin on the USA vs China items that are the sticking point for me. Sure they’re ‘lower’ price points on the Chinese items but the real difference is the profit margin that can be tacked onto the imports once the higher USA price point has been established.

By: Adam Humphreys

Adam Humphreys — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:29:02 +0000

I work in the store.
@Dean we produce knits and shoes in china; the rest of our line is produced in the garment district
@patrick those shoes are made by rag and bone, they are a grey wool trainer; yes, something like a samba
@rob re “Why do brands use Made in USA as a way to charge high prices for their garments.”
we make clothes in the USA because it allows us greater oversight of the production process, resulting in better overall quality – also allows us to support the garment district, local business etc.
@maidintheusa
re: “It’s not an issue of China vs USA, it’s an issue of companies (like R&B) that create a brand based on US manufacturing and charge a premium price for a shirt manufactured in NYC. Then these same companies outsource the manufacturing to ‘bring the costs down’ and the prices to the consumer are virtually unchanged.”
our shirts are made in the USA, they retail between 200 and 300$; the tees, sweaters and polos made in china have a lower price point
@nick sorry about your bad experiences

By: Dean

Dean — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:45:22 +0000

For the last four years I’ve acquired at least one Rag & Bone jacket or coat. I can’t wear everything but I’m small and I like the fit of their clothes because they’re slim. Aside from their basic aesthetics I’ve always loved the fact they were creating mixtures of the classics and fashion-forward looks for the most here in the U.S. Great design created and manufactured here is the best of all worlds to me.

Very disappointing to find out they’ve moved some production to China after spending some much time establishing themselves as an American company. To me has to do with the feeling or subtle (?) nuance that pervades the manufacturing. The reason the Japanese for instance are so crazy about hertiage brands like Alden is the fact they are actually made here in the U.S. by people who actually have a history with the said product as opposed to having some laborer in Thailand or China who has no cultural connection with wearing suits or jackets or certain styles of pants or shoes. “Made in China” at this stage in R & B’s life is sad and in my opinion goes against everything they apparently stood for.

By: a.b.

a.b. — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:22:29 +0000

if you look a the labels, the only r&b things that are made in china are fully fashioned knits and sweaters and shoes- things that you clearly cannot produce here in the states at a reasonable price. i asked a store employee while i was there, everything else is made is good old u. s. of a.

By: Elliot

Elliot — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:51:23 +0000

SO maybe we should all just buy brands that are less greedy and don’t rip us off ? R&B is nice, but only if you pay wholesale !

By: Testa di Cazzo

Testa di Cazzo — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:41:24 +0000

Check any catalog and notice that when the product featured is made in Italy, it says “Made in Italy” — when it is anywhere else (particularly Asia), it says “Imported”. Why is that? Because the perception of quality when made in Asia (except Japan) is that the quality is inferior — that’s not say that it’s always the reality, it’s just that when MOST of the product that comes from China/India/Vietnam, etc. is low-quality, it hurts the overall image of products made in those countries. Italy never exports poor quality products (except Berlusconi) — they’ve done a brilliant job of keeping the bar high with their “Made in Italy” exports.

By: Mad in USA

Mad in USA — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:32:36 +0000

Maid in the USA, I hear you. Different issue, but very true, and much more disturbing than the country of origin.

Christopher Baus, how many “authentic brands” do you have left reasoning like that?
Levis started producing their jeans overseas like 30 years ago.
(I’ve got a bunch of Redline 501′s made in Malta, they’re still kind of nice you know..)

Name one clothing brand that is concidered more American than Levi’s with the general public. (I’m not talking within our nerdy little community of obsessive bloggers)

Keep in mind, China & India where making beautiful Madras and Indigo fabrics while you guys where still Brittish/Dutch/French, pondering how much booze and glass pearls it would take to lure Manhattan from a bunch of clueless Native Americans.
What you’re experiencing is just remnants of the cold war and a MCarthy-ish fear of the unknown, you feelin’ me, dawg?

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:51:39 +0000

http://www.acontinuouslean.com/wp-content/gallery/rag-bone-mercer/rag_bone_mercer_10.jpg

In this picture, does anyone know who makes those shoes? They look like wool sambas.