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Dressing in crowdfunded culture is even easier for men. There are many, many options; highlighted below include successful kickstarter campaigns, most of which morphed into dynamic product lines. [*Full pretail/retail disclosure: some items are still in production, and hence, untested. Others’ crowdfunding campaigns have successfully transitioned to e-boutiques.]
Wool T-Shirts & Button-downs: Mac Bishop, Mike Major and Katie Elks launched 2 successful crowdfunding campaigns for their brand Wool&Prince, 100% wool Button-downs and t-shirts, both “light, breathable & soft” odorless. How? Their “Wool Science” shows proof and detailed illustrations
Wool&Prince combined campaigns generated over $400,000 for their wool shirt “worn for 100 days straight. No washing. No dry cleaning. No wrinkles. No odor” and wool T-shirt “that looks—and smells—great, no matter what you put it through.”
Jeans: Last winter SF based handcrafted GUSTIN jeans started “redefining menswear” when 4,010 backers helped raise $449,654, well over their original $20,000 goal. Up and running, consumers can buy jeans , waxed brown trucker jackets, and shirts. Keep a look out for PARKE Jeans on the street; word has it that PARKE just sent their jeans to backers.
An extra layer: L.A. based Ace Rivington’s Homespun Sweatshirt successfully funded last month, closing with $60,000 in funding, surpassing the initial goal by $30K with 546 backers. The sweatshirt styled sweater will soon be available to backers in charcoal or oatmeal heather.
For underneath: Flint and Tinder’s 100% American-produced men’s underwear secured funding in 2012. Since launching its site, Esquire named Flint and Tinder one of the 10 Best New Online Men’s Shopping Sites. Among other items, the brand now sells belts, pea coats, wool throws, board shorts and jeans.
On the wrist: What else would be on the crowdfunder’s wrist, but the Pebble Watch, which raised over $10 million in its stellar crowdfunding campaign and remains the talk of the planet. The more traditionally styled wood Original Grain watch is also contender for someone seeking a fashionable crowdfunded timepiece.
Back pocket: The Simple 2.0 wallet (two successful crowdfunding campaigns last year generated $100K ) is now available on goSimpleWallet.com. Constructed from soft Italian leather, a smart phone also slides into its elastic band. Overall, a well-styled wallet.
For work and travel: U.S. Army Intelligence Officer Emily and Betsy Núñez, sisters and owners of the Sword & Plough bag company , saw their kickstarter campaign go viral last year with 1553 backers raising over $312,000. After winning the Harvard’s Pitch for Change Competition, they continued their “Repurposed for a Purpose” mission, recycling military surplus and working with veterans. Carrying a Sword & Plough’s two-tone olive and forest green Signature Messenger Bag makes a statement.
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Erin Hobey taught college literature and writing for several years. She currently serves on the board at Hopewell, a therapeutic farm community in Cleveland. She graduated from Brown, was a Bosch Fellow in eastern Germany, and then earned her MA from Dartmouth. Food, fashion and film crowdfunding particularly interest Erin; she looks forward to exploring creative projects. Erin may be contacted via email at CrowdfundInfo@gmail.com or Twitter.
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