Start / CRAFTED / Dearborn denim founder rob mcmillan on building a premium affordable ethical apparel manufacturing company in chicago

Dearborn Denim founder, Rob McMillan, on Building a Premium, Affordable, & Ethical Apparel Manufacturing Company in Chicago

60 min • 13 september 2023

Dearborn Denim founder, Rob McMillan is a thoughtful guy with some grand ambitions. He’s working on building a big apparel company that ethically manufactures premium products at an affordable price, right in Chicago. Impossible you say? This past Monday, Jonathan Ellsworth met up with Rob at Dearborn Denim’s factory in Chicago to tour the factory with him, then record this conversation where he lays out the blueprint.

TOPICS & TIMES:

Why Rob started Dearborn Denim (2:47)

Profitability vs Mission/Ethics (7:25)

Why Chicago for Apparel Manufacturing? (13:38)

Misconceptions about US Manufacturing (18:46)

‘Made in the USA’ Debate & Shopping Local (22:11)

Cost (28:33)

Solving for Fit & Advertising Challenges (33:39)

Premium -- but Affordable?? -- Products (38:03)

Growth & Scale (41:11)

Materials & Fabrics: What Should We Know? (49:46)

New Products & Contract Work (56:08)