The phrase ‘heritage brand’ in California’s Orange County refers to something else. There is no garment maker whose origins can be traced back to the courthouse of Louis the Great or a tailoring house with one family as its owner for centuries. SoCal has conventionally been a casual region, and almost all of Orange County’s clothing companies are utilitarian and practical.
A combination of Vans apparel and t-shirts is the dominant look in California, not a three-button suit with roped shoulders. Therefore, sportswear brands do well in the county, particular beach apparel products. Almost all boardshorts may be disposable, but the commitment of Birdwell to quality has made it an Orange County favorite for more than 50 years.
An aspect of the longevity of the apparel brand was the fact that it entered the business at the appropriate period. Birdwell was founded in 1961, when surf culture in the US was peaking. However, the US apparel sector had not yet caught up with surf-wear as a trend; canvas and wool were still used to make swim trunks. Birdwell founder Carrie Birdwell Mann aimed to produce a better item for her kids who were also surfing enthusiasts. The Birdwell founder introduced a 2-Ply fabric construction for better durability and utilized the spinnaker cloth that she noticed on Newport Beach boat sails.
Soon, Carrie enlisted the help of her family with keeping up with manufacturing. Demand increased to such a level that the family had to buy a Santa Ana factory, where almost all of Birdwell products are produced even today. Former Facebook client partner Geoff Clawson and many other investors bought Birdwell seven years ago. For your information, Clawson is serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Birdwell.
In the recent past, Birdwell worked with brands such as J. Crew, Todd Snyder, and RVCA. Apart from the collaboration, Birdwell has gained the esteem of high-profile international brands. Clawson stated that Birdwell ends up conversing with those global brands thanks to their mutual respect for a commitment to excellent craft for decades. The craftsmanship concerns not just an ethos linked to product development focusing on making timeless items but also an approach towards scaling a US manufacturing capacity for manual cutting and sewing.
As for Clawson, the brands have an ethos resonating particularly with retailers in Japan. The continuous improvement-related objective, whether it is associated with handmade production or product design, is a significant part of Birdwell’s conversation with those retailers. Clawson stated that Birdwell also thinks about the decades of garment design and manufacturing that lie ahead. As for Clawson, it is important for things to improve over time and become as applicable down the line as in the bygone time.
Birdwell has provided custom clothes ever since its inception. Potential shoppers used to deliver letters with illustrations and descriptions of their desired products to Birdwell. The internet has made the process easier for Birdwell and its customers. Clawson stated that customers could design their own racing jackets, Competition Jackets, tote bags, or board shorts. He said that Birdwell would create the product as per customer specifications, a service that it offers as it produces everything manually in its Santa Ana factory. The custom manufacturing process is part of this brand’s legacy as well.
The brand may not have as extensive a product line now as compared to the early 1960’s, but it does not mean that it is afraid of making changes. Clawson stated that Birdwell does not want its future to be formed on the basis of what it has done previously. Of late, it launched not only boardshorts for women but also the so-called Tac-Short, with a Mediterranean superyacht crew’s shorts as a basis for it.
Birdwell typifies something uncommon in the fashion industry of the 21st century. When almost every brand uses cost-cutting in whatever possible way, it crafts products manually with quality raw materials crafted in the United States of America. Are you seeking a set of boardshorts with a classic style that can last for a long time? If so, consider buying a fresh pair of Birdwell boardshorts. When the brand uses ‘Quality Is Our Gimmick’ as its slogan for marketing, it means what it says.
