Woohoo…I always get excited to get one of Will’s articles…this one maybe a little bit of reality, but he leaves it with a motivating point, which is that out of these times, new businesses/products/people will emerge and exciting things will happen. I just know it!!  Now Will you are going to get yourself in trouble if you keep intruding on Ken’s day by sending your article late! I’m just saying…. haha -Julia

Notes From The Field – Sobering Thoughts From The Minds of Garmentos

If you have access to HBO, I urge everyone to tune in to a documentary they are running called “Schmattas”; it is a look at the origin, rise and fall of the garment industry in New York City.

I will begrudgingly overlook the fact that they spell this Yiddish word (meaning “old, raggedy garment”) incorrectly.  You’d think — since I’m pretty confident the majority of the interviewees in this film are quite conversant in Yiddish — they could have checked the spelling before they were done.  Alas, no.

Kidding aside, the film is fascinating, funny, wildly entertaining…and ultimately very, very sad – both for many who are featured, for anyone who works in a field that produces a tangible good (i.e. footwear) and for the future of the U.S. economy.

Net, net: in 1965, 95% (yes, you read that correctly) of ladies’ clothing was made in the U.S. (specifically in the garment district of New York City).  In 2009 (are you ready for this?) 5% is made in the U.S.  You could probably guess that the number is much lower these days, but it’s frightening to see it in print.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m no jingoistic, “buy American, dammit”, love-it-or-leave it type…far from it.  It is, however frightening to watch the demise of a major source of economic prosperity – for an industry, the country, and millions of individuals – go down the tubes.

The shoe business went through a similar exodus over the years, and I’m sure a similar film could be made about it (though HBO would probably further bastardize Yiddish and call it “Oy! Shoes!”).   A similar number of jobs were lost, a similar hit to our GDP was endured. 

As more and more production goes offshore, one starts thinking about the impact this has on the nuts and bolts of our economy.  We are largely a consumption based culture in the U.S. – using everything the world produces, but creating a much smaller amount in return.  And the act of creation results in the wealth we need…to keep consuming.  Without one, the other can’t happen!

There’s a conventional wisdom that entrepreneurship is what brings economies out of a recession/depression; the innovation and imagination that gave us the technologies that enabled the Microsofts and Apples of the world came out of the Great Depression.  Here’s hoping that similar high-mindedness is taking root now!  In the meantime, check out “Schmattas” — it’ll give you pause.

Best regards,

William Weiss

National Director of Sales

Hush Puppies USA

william.weiss@wwwinc.com

203 746 3620

203 746 3815 fax