Having grown up in the Michigan and then moving around the country I’ve noticed a few things about fashion in the United States. Before the Internet and the World Wide Web fashion seemed to always start on the outsides and work their way to the middle. More specifically there was East Coast fashion and West Coast fashion and sometime a few years after it had gone out of style, it arrived in the Midwest. I remember in the early 80s taking a trip to Florida and I might have been accused of wearing an authentic retro outfit. I’m afraid it was just a hand-me-down from my older brother’s wardrobe from last year.

Now however, we see a great re-emergence of the Midwest keeping up with trends and even starting a few of our own. How long ago was it that Marshall Mathers reminded folks that Detroit did have street cred? And a kid who grew up on Michigan apple orchard could set the standard for what is cool (tip of the hat to Robert Ritchie). And we don’t even need to mention the Mississippi girl who was raised in Milwaukee and grew to be one of the most powerful talk show hosts of our time.

All these things though are a reminder to those on the coasts. We’ve been around for a real long time. Motown, the Grand Ole’ Opry, Memphis, Lubbock, Chicago, and a long list of Midwest achievements are how we directed society to decide what is cool. The Midwest is not all about farmland, cows and overall jeans. It’s even more then the auto industry, meatpacking plants and coal. The Midwest is people who work hard and play hard.

While the country moved to either side of the nation, the Midwest maintained its solid place in its own style. Where else could you purchase a 3 story Victorian home with 5 bedrooms and three baths for under a half million dollars? The Midwest is home to what is America and American Fashion is here.

A few blogs ago I mentioned the non-employer and the small business owners of America. In the fashion industry, these folks work hard to get seen in New York or LA. It think its time to remind everyone that maybe New York and LA need to start looking to be seen in Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee and Memphis.

Posted: May 17th, 2009 under News.
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