Stores help to restore Detroit pride

During a speech made on Labor Day, President Obama said the following of Detroit: “This is a city where people, brave and bold, courageous and clever, are dreaming up ways to prove the skeptics wrong and write the next proud chapter in our history.”

Local stores are aiming to renew Detroit pride through a variety of Detroit merchandise and apparel. Down With Detroit, Made in Detroit and The Detroit Shoppe are three area businesses that are doing just that.

Down With Detroit was founded by childhood friends Patrick Duggan and Matthew Zebari in 2006 when the duo returned to the city after attending school in Chicago.  Both men grew up in Farmington.

When they returned to Michigan, after being surrounded by Chicago sports teams for so long, the pair had a renewed sense of pride in Detroit. Duggan and Zebari decided to create their own business that sold what they had been missing in Illinois.

“We wanted to give people another outlet to represent the city they love,” Duggan said. “We didn’t want to just stamp a logo, or ‘Detroit’ on shirts we kind of wanted to give people something they could grab a hold of more.”

The store is currently completely online and the designs incorporate aspects of Detroit culture and Michigan culture in order to give the consumers something to connect with.

Duggan was also tired of the negative images often associated with Detroit.  Although it would be easy to make a few bucks off of the violent images linked to the city, he believes that keeping attitudes positive is more important.

“I think it’s important to the community that the perception is changed and that we’re kind of out there putting a positive light on Detroit rather than making a few jokes,” Duggan said.

For more information on Down with Detroit visit their website  www.downwithdetroit.com.

Another local business striving to keep the spirit of Detroit alive is Made in Detroit. The company was started in 1991, but revived in 2005 after Kid Rock purchased the design rights of the then bankrupt company.

“As (Kid Rock) was coming up in the early ‘90s he always wore Made in Detroit,” Thomas Dubak, vice president of the company, said.  “His fear was that someone would buy it, bastardize it and kind of ruin something that was so near and dear to his heart.”

Dubak believes that Made in Detroit clothing offers comfort to natives who have had to leave Michigan.

“There are so many people that have had to leave the Detroit area to find work,” Dubak said.  “We do a huge internet business and it’s mostly transplants looking for a little taste of home.”

One of Dubak’s favorite parts about working for made in Detroit is the positive interactions that the company has with the consumers looking for a nostalgic or optimistic view of Detroit.

Dubak also feels that there has been a disconnect between the younger generation and Detroit which is being healed by the recovering economy.

“I guess it’s like when you’re driving down the road and you see a car stranded, you feel bad for the person, but you blow right by them,” Dubak said.  “I think that’s people felt about Detroit.  Now I definitely think people want to show it.  They wanna pull over and help the person on the side of the road, so to speak.”

Made in Detroit merchandise is available in almost 50 stores in metro-Detroit or online at  www.madeindetroit.com.

The Detroit Shoppe at the Somerset Collection is also proof that people in the metro-Detroit area are looking to more positive ways to consider the city.

The Detroit Shoppe was originally slated to stay open only until the close of the 2010 holiday season, but customers of the store fought to keep the business open.

“After we closed, the mall got so much feedback from customers,” Kelly Breckenridge, general manager of the Detroit Shoppe said.  “(Customers said) that they really wanted to keep the Detroit Shoppe open and we really helped them remember their younger years of Detroit and get the iconic Detroit products.”

The store is also different in that it has a museum in it. The museum contains Bobolo memorabilia, Tiger Stadium remnants, and items from the old downtown Hudson’s.

The store is also completely non-profit.  All proceeds from the shop are donated to Detroit area charities.

“Our goal is to really revive the city of Detroit,” Breckenridge said.

She also believes that although their reasons may be different, people of all ages have a new curiosity in Detroit.

“I think (the renewed interest) could be from a couple of different things.  It could be from individuals who grew up in the city and want to renew memories with their grandkids,” Breckenridge said.  “There is also I think a very resurgence of what’s called the under 30 group who are moving back into to the city for different businesses, internet businesses and greening businesses that do urban farming.”

The Detroit Shoppe is located at the Sommerset Collection-North.  For more information call (248) 816-5470.