In this episode, we chat with Alex Kutches, the vice president of sales and marketing at Mystery Ranch and Kletterwerks, about the challenges and rewards of producing gear in the U.S. Kutches discusses the impacts of the TPP on domestic gear manufacturers and how his brands have navigated the Berry Amendment. As a heritage brand with strong ties to the U.S. military and strong consumer appeal in high-fashion channels, Kletterwerks has established its reputation as a premium brand.
In 2012, the Gleason family (owners of Mystery Ranch and formally Dana Designs) re-launched Kletterwerks, a company that was originally started in 1975 by Dana Gleason. Today's line of Kletterwerks packs reflects the style of those built 40 years ago.
We sit down with Mike Cangi, vice president of United By Blue, to talk about the production of two products made entirely in the USA: the Ultimate American Sock (made of bison wool) and the Ultimate American Jacket (made of bison down). Mike discusses Made in the USA branding, the challenges of domestic manufacturing, and what needs to happen for this patriotic movement to continue.
United By Blue is a lifestyle apparel and accessories brand designed for the urban and outdoor adventurer. Catering to men, women, and children, products include eco centric organic cotton t-shirts, knits, and sweaters along with rugged waxed canvas bags with classic details and artisan jewelry. For every product sold, United By Blue removes 1 pound of trash from oceans and waterways through company organized cleanups.