Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Holiday Gift Guide. Made in USA

It is said that the average American spends approximately $700 on holiday gifts and goodies this year, totaling more than $465 billion annually. This makes the holidays an ideal time to support companies that manufacture goods made here in the USA . According to ABC News, if each American spent their $700 entirely on American made products we would create 4.6 million jobs in the U.S.  While it may seem like a challenge to get everyone to buy everything on their holiday list American made, it seems completely realistic for every American to simply invest $64 on American made goods this holiday shopping season, which would create  200,000 new jobs in America!


We make they finding American made products easy, everything on our website and in store is made here in the USA! Shop our Holiday gift guide for amazing products for everyone on your list!


Stocking Stuffers:




Scotch Nail Polishes These polishes come in an array of colors
Leather Bit Bracelet Hand Made, Chunky Leather Cuffs. Adorable alone or stacked.
Leather Card Sleeve Hand Crafted Leather Credit Card and Money Sleeve.
Nell's Compass Soy Candles This is a great gift to give to a friend and charity. For every candle sold, $2.00 goes to Heifer Foundation.


Gifts For Him:


Mettlers Camel Over Shirt The perfect shirt for transitional weather (which is very common here in the MidWest.
Pin Whale Cord Shirt Exude laid back luxury in this relaxed fit shirt. 


Gifts for her:
Authentic Scarves These scarves are a great addition to any outfit, made out of bandanas and hand sewn!
Zents Body Wash and Lotion Gift Set Completely Organic, these come in an array of scents that are sure to be loved by everyone.  


Thursday, December 15, 2011

Owner Lou Mettler on Fox Detroit

(Click photo for VIDEO)

This morning on Fox News Detroit's Style File, I was able to make an appearance and talk about my new store and concept, Mettlers American Mercantile.  It was fun and I was thrilled to share my vision and American made goods with the public.  I had two great models with me, Mary Beth and Rick who looked awesome in our RVTS denim jeans, Motor Club Pea Coat, Perfecto Leather Jacket, and classic shirtings all made in the USA and all items that I carry online and in store.  

It's the first of many interviews and appearances that I hope to make.  I would love everyone to see and hear how each of us can support our American manufacturers and local businesses.  Its all here, you just have to know where to look.

Thanks again to Fox News Detroit for having me, and hope to see you all again soon!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Vintage and Linen



For years I've been telling people "it's all in the material".  If you have a favorite shirt, its the cut, color, and most importantly, the material that you love about it.  For me, I don't have just one favorite.  It depends on the occasion, and definitely the temperature as to what I want to throw on.  My wife and I just went down to Ocean Reef, Florida after Thanksgiving, and the weather was warm and beautiful.  So of course I wore my favorite linen shirt.  I run hot as it is, and going from Northern Michigan's 21 degrees to a warm 76 degrees felt like an enormous heat wave.  Anyway, I love my linen shirt.  Its one I currently carry at our store, the Linen Work Shirt.  Its got a great feel of luxury when I get to wear it.  Usually linen isn't this smooth, but mine is probably the nicest quality I've seen in years.  Its made of course in the United States from start to finish.  
We had the pleasure of being in Ocean Reef, Florida at the same time they were having their Vintage Car, Boat & Plane show.  Man, what a sight.  They had an enormous display of all the crafts and vessels that I grew up seeing in magazines and later in person.  One of the coolest was a Buick from the 1950s that was designed for Harlow Curtis, the President of Buick at the time.  It was made for the time he spent in Florida.  
I love history.  I think its really important for everyone to see how far we've come with innovations.  And if it hadn't been for the ice cold beer, I wouldn't have been able to stay as long as we did.  But innovation is how we breath, learn, and grow.  My head is always running with ideas.  The vintage show gave me a lot of great ideas for how I want my new vision of Made in America Goods to look and feel.  Even the Linen Work Shirt I was wearing related to the whole thing.  Made in America textiles and clothing is where it began years ago, and the very shirt on my back is just one innovation I've made for my store of shirts and goods made in America.  It's all about history, craftsmanship, and knowing that the person who made the shirt lives right here in the States that I find so wonderful and innovative.  It's a classic or 'vintage' style that I feel makes a different statement now.  Reinventing and innovating with a wink and a nod to how it all started:  
Made in America.