http://www.freep.com/article/20120206/COL07/202060320
More evidence of Kid Rock co-opting Detroit. Aren't "Made in" labels supposed to actually identify where a thing is made? You would think that'd be the whole intention/mission of the brand "Made in Detroit." Glad to see the Free Press expose this blatant hypocrisy by dressing down a hometown "hero."
Oh yeah, Kid Rock wasn't "Made in Detroit," either.
Interesting. I'm not really surprised they arent made in the city they claim they are.
There was a story on the Planet Money podcast where the hosts went through the process of having a T-shirt made from scratch - from sourcing the cotton, yarn and dye to packaging and shipping.
They tried for months to get a factory in the US to produce T-shirts, but no existing factories would take the job. Apparently opening a new garment factory is prohibitively expensive if you are making inexpensive clothing - the overhead is just too high and you'll never recoup the costs.
Here we go again. I always thought the "Made in Detroit" label promoted Detroit manufacturing, not where the t-shirt was made.Quote:
Originally Posted by Occurrence
401don, you don't see the glaring hypocrisy of promoting Detroit manufacturing while not producing in Detroit? I find irony in Made in Detroit's branding. Walk the walk. It's possible -- other companies are now going out of their way to do so.
You left out his dad's Buick Dealership was on Van Dyke & 17 Mile, a good 9 miles past Detroit City LimitsQuote:
Originally Posted by partystore
His company is buying blank t-shirts and putting the logo on in the Detroit area. He's then selling them through local retailers. I really didn't expect him to find people to sew the t-shirts together within the city limits. After all, t-shirts are mainly a vehicle to promote a message. It's not like he was putting the "Made in Detroit" label on a lawnmower or dishwasher.Quote:
Originally Posted by partystore
I always took the "Made in Detroit" to refer to the person wearing it. In other words, the person wearing the shirt is a proud Detroiter who was made there. I don't really view it as a glaring hypocrisy that the shirts aren't actually made in Detroit. I see the shirts as promoting the city and it's people and the Made in Detroit being a play on words.
Haha. I've been waiting to see this hayseed cultural appropriator fall on his ass hard for some time. How gratifying.
At the very least, there are bulk shirt manufacturers within the US to consider -- American Apparel, All American Clothing Co., etc.. If local bands can make it a point to order these American-made shirts for their own designs, so can a larger company that solely exists to promote Detroit. It's not expecting too much, since that's the name of the brand. Kid Rock can afford it.
I always figured Kid Rock as someone who uses the Detroit name to better his career. Nobody would take him seriously if he marketed himself as born as raised in Romeo.
I see the hypocrisy with his shirts. Kind of similar to American flags made in Korea.
I couldn't beleive they actually wasted an article on this. Of course a shirt with a screened "Made In Detroit" logo is not the official manufacturing stamp for the actual shirt! What would the message be? This cheap cotton shirt was MADE IN DETROIT! YEAH!
As I'm thinking about how silly this is, do we have a thread started or a news article that analyzes the Imported from Detroit slogan? Not even the GD Chrysler HQ is in the city. No design jobs. Nothing but a manufacturing facility for a portion of one or two models the company makes. NO, because it's the message, the idea, the frame of mind that we're talking about.
THAT is much more relevant than a T-Shirt that has a logo advertising a general attitude/idea and is much more relevant since Detroit is the MOTOR CITY and has never claimed to be some sort of textile or garment industry stronghold. Say what you will about Kid, his heart is in the right place, and he has employed a number of people in the region doing various things including the brewing operation.
If Kid Rock's heart is in the right place like you insist, cramerro, I would expect the sentiment of his brand "Made in Detroit" to be reflected by business practice. Instead, it co-opts Detroit by "promoting" the City while not substantively giving back to it.
The above article is the exception to the rule of local media lauding Kid Rock... some of us are sick of this narrative.
I confess. I bought a Made In Detroit onesy for my little one. Truth is the 'made in' location was more like Berkley or possibly Farmington Hills.
On a side note, and not that I know Kid Rock, but if there is enough stink made about this I feel like he may change where most of the shirts are made.... I don't know why I say this... or he'll just throw a middle finger in the air at it! :cool:
I'm not going to hold this one against him though. How many other Detroit companies sell Detroit t-shirts representing Detroit in this scale and make their shirts in Detroit? I think his multi-day, annual concerts probably have a bigger effect on the area's bottom line.
"Made in Detroit" to me is a brand for the people who live in the Metro Detroit area, who are proud of where they come from and are willing to show their pride by wearing these shirts. Also, I'm willing to bet that most of the people wearing these shirts are living outside of the "city limits" There is absolutely nothing wrong with this.
This was also the fact that University of Detroit t-shirts were some of the best selling apparel along with the USC, UCLA and big name schools in college sales because of the word "Detroit" on the apparel.
As far as Kid Rock's heart not being in the right place, he sure does help out......
2011 Highlights
^ During a concert at Detroit’s Ford Field in January, Kid Rock received the Spirit of Detroit
Award, an honor presented by the Detroit City Council to a person, event or organization for outstanding
achievement or service to the citizens of Detroit.
^ Also at the Ford Field concert, Kid Rock announced a $25,000 donation each to Detroit-based
COTS [[Coalition on Temporary Shelter); Detroit’s Capuchin Soup Kitchen; Pontiac, Michigan-based
HAVEN, a shelter for victims of domestic violence; and Rochester, Michigan-based Rainbow Connection,
an organization dedicated to fulfilling wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses.
^ In April Kid Rock made a surprise visit to his alma mater, Romeo High School, to present the
school’s music program with a $5000 donation on behalf the GRAMMY Foundation and Best Buy. Kid
Rock also made a personal matching donation of $5000 during the presentation.
^ On May 1, the Detroit branch of the NAACP presented Kid Rock with its Great Expectations
Award during its annual Fight For Freedom fundraising dinner. The honor recognized his promotion of
Detroit and support of its citizens. While accepting the award Kid Rock made a $100,000 donation to be
divided equally among the Detroit Recreation Department, Detroit’s Friends of Belle Isle, Mosaic Youth
Theatre of Detroit, YouthVille Detroit, and Habitat for Humanity, as well as the American Red Cross to aid
in its efforts of assisting those communities throughout the South devastated by tornadoes in April.
^ In July, while performing at the Red Sky Music Festival in Omaha, Nebraska, Kid Rock
announced the foundation donated $10,000 to the Nebraska-Southwest Iowa Region of the American Red
Cross to support disaster assistance related to Missouri River flooding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXINj...eature=related
Kid Rock is OK in BGM book
His beer shouldn't be either.Quote:
Originally Posted by partystore
In the early days of Made In Detroit the shirts were printed at Viking Graphics in the Russell Center. I don't think its a huge issue, but I do think it would be a nice gesture on his part to use American made shirts and move his printing operation to the city of Detroit.
It wouldn't matter if he opened a Textile mill here in Detroit. Someone would complain that he didn't grow the cotton here!
Exactly, I get so sick and tired of all the sniveling that goes on this forum when people like Madonna, Jack White, Barry Gordy and the Motown folks all leave Detroit... and then they go "boo hoo" they left our city...." and when someone like Kid Rock [[for whatever reason) tries to take some pride into being from the area... all the armchair quarterbacks on this forum cry foul and whine "he's not really from here, but from someplace farther north..." Get a grip people... you make an accident of birth sound like the plague... :mad:Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheels
kid rock bought the line from the original creator, who endured his own decade of criticism.
Most of the shirts are American Apparel, The denim jackets are acually manufactured in Sterling Heights. The profits from the products are given to charities throughout Detroit and Michigan. I may not be a huge fan of his music, but his products have helped me stay in business for the last 5 years. Don't be such haters.
As pointed out above, the guy has done more to give back to Detroit than anyone that has posted on this thread. He bought out the Made In Detroit franchise so it wouldn't go out of business and has never taken a paycheck from the business so of course there's going to be a bunch of whiners crying about what he's not doing. Partystore, how much have you given to help Detroit and its people?
Sure, his beer sucks but at least he's employing people in Webberville, MI. How many people is Occurence signing the paycheck for? I'm going to go out on a limb and say the KR has donated more to the poor in the Detroit area than Occurence and Partystore combined.
Well stated Detroitrobert... when celebrities actually stay to live here and try to help out, the mere act of helping out is going to cause "positive spin" for themselves... that goes with the territory.
Using celebrity status to help give back in some way to the community that helped make them famous should be appreciated, and not be prone to so much suspicion... especially when it is shown that charities and other worthy funded sources get the money.
P.S. Never tried his beer though....
When I read the above line in bold I thought of Paul McCartney having to be the one that payed for the refurblshment of the Steinway grand piano at the Motown Museum. The former Motown stars should be embarrassed by that.Quote:
Originally Posted by partystore
Not any more embarrassing than Barry Gordy leaving for LA.Quote:
Originally Posted by rjk
While I applaud any artist that gives back to the area, there shouldn't be any shame associated with not giving back as much either. People give back in their own way. We ALL could probably give back to our roots and civic causes a lot more than we do now.
I would disagree with that. The move to LA was a buisness decision.Quote:
Originally Posted by Thruster315
I'm talking about a non functioning piano. A few of them couldn't have done a benifit concert to raise money to fix a damn piano? Or even give the museum some money, word has it that some of them are quite wealthy.
This "giving back to the community" stuff is horsecrap.
Barry Gordy made a lot of money because he made music that people like so they bought it. They didn't buy it out of charity - it was good music and he deserved it. For every Barry Gordy there are dozens of failed musicians and producers in Detroit - if Barry Gordy owes the people of Detroit something then the people of Detroit owe those failed musicians something. It's a ridiculous concept.
The only argument you'd have is if he took tax breaks or something - then he should pay those back. Other than that - whatever charity work people do for the community should be lauded - it's beyond what they "owe."
I don't care what he calls it. It's his money.
As I recall, the piano that was restored by Paul McCartney was not an original instrument from the recording studio at Motown. It was a prop for the sake of having instruments in the recording studio for Motown museum visitors.Quote:
Originally Posted by rjk
http://detroithistoryrevealed.blogsp...m-misstep.html
This. It's funny his haters are so quick to bash him for something so petty but ignore all the good he does. Some people need to just get over it.Quote:
Originally Posted by 313rd
Well they ain't Detroit prices. $34 for a T-shirt?
Funny, we sell them for $24, though you can buy a $34 premium tee if you choose. I assume the $90 Denim jacket that is actually produced in Michigan is a bit rich for your blood though.
We use his same printing facility in Maddy Heights.
I noticed this morning that CNN is running this story. It sounded like the kid is going to try to back step a little after so much bad publicity.
You mean to say that it's not made of Detroit-grown cotton? jkjk
I understand the shirt not being made in Detroit, but I would have an expectation that it at least would be made in the USA.
Kid Rock bought the Made In Detroit business and expanded it's appeal nationwide to make it's image iconic for Detroit. It's not KR's fault that the textile industry relocated decades ago to south Asia. He remains a local guy, donating his time and money to various local charities and is supportive of all things Detroit. I think Kid Rock is due for some slack being cut in his favor.
I think I'll incorporate a label called "Fraud".
Dare to cal me a cheat! :)
They even make a throwback t-shirt for a long-dead CANADIAN amusement park, i am OUTRAGED!:
http://dev.detroitoutfitters.com/pro...&pfid=DTO00916
I've committed two years of my life to community service in the City of Detroit by working in Detroit Public Schools and planning/performing neighborhood beautification and hands-on revitalization projects. I've arranged fundraisers for music programs. I also happen to live in the City of Detroit. This is silly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Detroitrobert
I'm just sayin'... is Kid Rock absolved from criticism?
He performs in Detroit. That's fine. Good. You'll also see Sesame Street Live and Rick Springfield on nearby marquees. This is part of my problem with Kid Rock: just because he performs in Detroit and maintains association, this is seen as a favor in itself. People believe that any association with Detroit is a favor, and the City should be grateful. I find this condescending. I'm not discounting his charitable givings... that's great. Really. But this wasn't about his charity...
Since Kid Rock is lauded by so many in this area [[who spit their own venom in defense of the man), isn't there a level of expectation? If so, isn't the question of where his clothing brand "Made in Detroit" is produced, somewhat relevant to the context of his apparent passion and love for the City? I just found it ironic that "Made in Detroit" would be made anywhere else -- and owned by a hometown hero.
You're right. It is his money.
Lemme help you! ...........am the Frito Bandito.Give me Frito's corn chips and I'll be your friend. The Frito Bandito you must not offend.Quote:
Originally Posted by partystore
Better Made, man.
I can't believe you support Better Made. They claim to be from Detroit but where do they get their potatoes from? It's bullshit.
Are Chris Rock and Kid Rock somehow related?
Would this be a good time for me to mention that he's a traitorous, racist bastard because he flies the Confederate flag during his concerts and claims it's ok because it's just part of the show and we shouldn't be offended; yet wraps his ass in the United States of America flag when it's convenient?
Filed under: Just Sayin' ...
The potatoes are actually cut, packaged and transported from Gratiot and Harper in Detroit contributing to Detroit's GDP, not 26 Mile and Van Dyke in Romeo [[or wherever that "Made In Detroit" factory is, it's not in Detroit and not contributing to Detroit's GDP). I'll also bet the vast majority of the potatoes come from within Michigan. Who would realistically expect to find agricultural items grown on a large scale basis in a major american city? That's completely different from actually using those agricultural items to MANUFACTURE items in a major american city.Quote:
Originally Posted by Detroitrobert
DetroitYes: where no good deed goes unpunished.
I bet that Senator from Alabama who wanted Michigan to go down the drain is reading this forum and rubbing his hands together and laughing about all the infighting.
"One bus system in the city only and another for the suburbs? Hahaha!"
"They divide and fight depending on what side of the street they live on? Hahaha!"
"They go to their own tax subsidized schools and then leave? Hahaha!"
"They hate their own industry, buy crap from China, and then wonder where the jobs are? Hahaha!"
"More, more! They're doing it to themselves!!"
I wouldn't expect you to get such obvious sarcasm.Quote:
Originally Posted by 313WX
Substitute "agricultural" with Textile and substitute "grown" with manufatured.Quote:
Who would realistically expect to find agricultural items grown on a large scale basis in a major american city?
I, as do others from the looks of it, think you are. Because the amount that he does give to the city far, far exceeds that a few fucking T-shirts aren't made there. The business is there and that business is epitome of promotion of the city and that in of itself far outweighs where some of the shirts come from.Quote:
I'm not discounting his charitable givings
No, but only when the criticism is valid.Quote:
Originally Posted by partystore
Seriously, Detroit hasn't had a major textile industry since beaver pelts were traded at Trapper's Alley. There are, maybe, a half dozen factories in the US producing T-shirts. Unless you are going to be producing hundreds of thousands of units a year, you aren't going to break even, much less turn a profit, making T-shirts in the US.
It's so much cheaper importing them, it would be more cost effective to outsource them and just give some people the money they'd otherwise get working in the factory as charity. Which is essentially what Kid Rock is doing.
You may as well complain that GM doesn't buy tires made of rubber that has been vulcanized in Detroit.
Im not a huge fan of his music but have bought and enjoyed one of his works and find myself tappin my foot often enough to him on the radio. The guy promotes Detroit, as a Detroiter I'll take all the help we can get. Wherever he lives he's a booster, a big booster. Fuckin A Kid Rock. I dont care where the shirt was sewn. I would think the promotion of Detroit he does outweighs the jobs it might produce if the shirts were actually made within the city.
Loved the Detroit grown cotton remark^.
KR's response to all this:
Quote:
Susan Tompor: Kid Rock's clothing line says 'Made in Detroit' -- but isn't
Posted by Kid Rock
February 10, 2012
http://flash.atlrec.com/kid_rock/susan.png
Dear Susan Tompor,
Let me first start off by cordially inviting you to go fuck yourself. I have always said that I do care what people in my hometown think of me, and the hatchet job you have just written about The Made In Detroit company in The Detroit Free Press has made me so upset that I am left with no choice but to defend myself and my company. I purchased MID out of bankruptcy and asked a friend of mine [[Tom Dubak) to give up the security of a good paying job at a car dealership for a chance to help revitalize this brand. The goal of MID is to re-instill a sense of Detroit pride, give back to the community, try to create jobs in our home state and maybe one day build our own facility somewhere close to the riverfront in Detroit. We have succeeded in most of the this and have big plans for the future, not to mention the scholarship fund we have created at Wayne State, the numerous sponsorships we do every year and the hundreds of thousands of dollars we have given to local charities [[all of which somehow had no place in your attempt to slander us in your article).
You failed to say that the majority of our products are in fact MADE IN AMERICA. Let me address the small number of MID products not made in America, which were explained to you, but that you felt unimportant to print as part of a well-balanced and fair story. You didn’t care about printing the fact that 98 percent of all clothing sold in America is not made in America. It’s very difficult to even find quality and affordable USA made products, lord knows we have been looking from day one, not only for the MID brand but also for the Kid Rock merchandise we sell on tour. A simple phone call to my KR merchandise company FEA or calls to our suppliers or any other clothing company in America would have told you this. The majority of the clothes that are made in America still import the cottons and other parts needed to make these items from outside of the country.
In addition, we have NEVER laid claim to our items actually being made in Detroit, it’s been on our website since we took the company out of bankruptcy what we are about –
http://flash.atlrec.com/kid_rock/Wrench.png
Made In Detroit has created jobs for people in and around Detroit, we’ve made money for local merchants and donated money to many local charities on behalf of MID, Badass Beer and The Kid Rock Foundation along with creating 7 jobs at MID alone. As the owner of Made In Detroit I’ve never taken a dime of salary or profit or even expensed a meal. We, like most brands in America, use some products that are not created in America. That doesn’t mean we can’t do better. We’re trying to move away from those products while still keeping our prices affordable and keeping us and the stores that depend on us in business. You will find a list of things we have done with MID below in which we are extremely proud and because of these and the many other things I have been able to do I walk around my hometown with my head held high. You and your editors ought to be ashamed of yourselves for not only entirely missing the point of what we do but trying to knock down MID, myself and other local brands that have done nothing more than try to prop our city and state up.
I’ll finish by saying that as a result of your article and the lack of respect from not only you but from your editors, The Detroit Free press is on my shit list and my subscription has been canceled. And yes, I will go so far as to ask other like minded folks to do the same if they are tired of garbage, irresponsible reporting like yours.
If there is one thing I have learned from growing up in and around Detroit it’s “Don’t take any shit from no one and be proud of where you come from!” I am. FUCK YOU.
And to the bloggers and press, if you choose to only print part of my statement, please give a link to my website or make my whole statement available on yours.
Sincerely,
Kid Rock
PS. If you’re interested in a fair look at the clothing industry in America check out this ABC News story:
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/MadeI...8#.TzJya5iId9l
PPS. Here’s a list of charities Made In Detroit has supported since I’ve taken over. This doesn’t include the well over $1,000,000 the Kid Rock Foundation has donated since just 2010.
Charitable Donations and Sponsorships since 2006
Light House Women’s Shelter
Tara Grant Children Fund
Rainbow Connection
Arts, Beats and Eats - Every year
Stars & Stripes Festival – Every year
Movement Festival – Every year
Detroit Music Awards – Every year
St. Mary’s Prep
Wayne State University Scholarship
DKWIO
Mikie’s Minutes
Karmanos Cancer
Capuchin Soup Kitchen
Coalition on Temporary Shelter
Haven Inc.
American Red Cross
Friends of Belle Isle
Habitat for Humanity Detroit
Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit
Youthville Detroit
Ronald McDonald House
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Boy Scouts of America [[local pack)
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Mitten's For Detroit
Boys Club of Flint Relay For Life-American Cancer Society
Thanks Kid. You defended yourself far better than rest of us who tried to instill a little common sense into this thread on your behalf.
[[Standing Ovation)
Thats what I'm talking about!
Kid on the corner of 8 mile and pelkey a new
DETROIT business just opened maybe you could
throw them some business. They print T shirts.
I just got a Paul Newman DATSUN one today.
http://scm-l3.technorati.com/11/09/2...20110926122940
Werd!!!!!!!
Your FUCKING weird.
Kid comes out swinging for sure.
:cool:
There is something in that reply that makes one think Kid Rock may have been insulted and perhaps was a wee bit upset by the Freep article, in substance if not in tone. I may be wrong but I stand by my assertion. What do you guys think? I mean the F word comes up a couple of times and that is usually a sign in and of itself that a negative emotion is conveyed by the author on some level.
I also think it's hypocritical, but.... That's how the free market works. It's the American way.
While I've never been a fan of this gentleman's music or persona, I think his response was clear, concise, and explained the situation perfectly. I certainly don't view anything about this business as a misrepresentation, but then I don't see "Detroit" as only what's within the city limits.
Making a blanket statement is easy.Quote:
Originally Posted by XDetroitr
Would you care to elaborate?
We get it. You like Datsun's.Move on.Quote:
Originally Posted by black gold man
Hell yes he was insulted! He was called to task with ridiculous acquisitions. I mean really, did anyone think that just because the shirt says Made In Detroit it was actually made in Detroit? The slogan is a mantra not a fricken' production location!Quote:
Originally Posted by canuck
I find your lack of sarcasm detection disturbing. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by adamjab19
Wow, Mr. Richie's response surely put her in her place.
/eyeroll
Let me first start off by cordially inviting you to go fuck yourself.
Well said.
If you actually read both and aren't totally oblivious, it surely did.Quote:
Originally Posted by Baselinepunk
haha! My 'sarcastic' meter actually was beeping a bit....use smilies people! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Islandman
"If you actually read both and aren't totally oblivious, it surely did."
I did and to me, Mr. Richie came across to me as very defensive and narcissistic; trying to be a bit too much "Detroit" for a poser like him.
Look, the guy sure has give a lot of money to a lot of things; looks to me that he'll use that white-wash for when situations like this come up pretty quickly. He can self-aggrandize all he wants; I ain't buying it. Blaming corporate America for his inability to get US-made T-Shirts is a cop-out.
Shit like this coming from a punk who flies the Confederate flag [[and knows just what it represents) at his concerts is just noise to me, noise.
That was 'Werd' vernacular for 'word'. And it's not my FUCKING weird...Quote:
Originally Posted by black gold man
Baselinepunk ....Name fits.Quote:
Originally Posted by Baselinepunk
Quote:
Originally Posted by Islandman
It's a good thing to have my bullshitmeter connected in line to my sarcasmmeter and have both of them on at high all the time.:[[:)
"Let me first start off by cordially inviting you to go fuck yourself."
That's a great line.
Even if Kid Rock just wrote the first line and then had someone else finish up, at least you know he had something to do with the response.
I'm tempted to go out and buy a MID t-shirt this weekend.
Seems like a strange target to me. How many rich folks do much less? Why does it matter, either way?Quote:
Originally Posted by Baselinepunk
whew! hot tempers on this subject!
http://www.motorgay.net/