All the Stylish Essentials to Grab on a Trip to Detroit

Editor’s Note: In the second part of our Off the Beaten Path series in partnership with Montblanc, we’re telling the stories of Detroit — America’s off the beaten path, but rising, city. In this series we look at Detroit through the lens of those who know it best, its tastemakers, experiencing the very places they feel are worth a stop.

The story of Detroit, the underdog, clawing itself back from decades of neglect and mismanagement (culminating with the city’s bankruptcy in 2013) has been told time and time again. The rock bottom home prices attracting transplants, the urban farms popping up and new industry finding its way to the city are well recorded along with the “ruin porn” that defined the outsider’s view of the Motor City for much of the aughts. But in 2019, things are different in Detroit. “America’s Comeback City” is back, but if you’re not there, you may not know that. Whether you are going to Detroit for work or just for a vacation, the city has more than enough to offer and take in. Not least of which is the burgeoning fashion scene of makers and boutiques helping to define the Detroit style.

Why Montblanc?
Montblanc, a company known for its high-end Swiss watches, makes a selection of other luxury goods that can be the perfect companion for the discerning product enthusiast on the go. You may also know Montblanc for its pens, but in addition, the brand makes leather goods and an assortment of bags that are worth a serious evaluation if you travel for business — and even more so if you need quality leather that will stand the test of time. Speaking of time, perhaps the best feature of Montblanc’s leather goods and bags are their timeless aesthetic. Unlike many travel bag brands that come and go in popularity, and will be outdated within the week, Montblanc’s bags are designed to be lifelong travel companions — and have plenty of space for bringing back souvenirs and must-haves from business trips. Learn More: Here

With companies like StockX calling Detroit home, style has a natural place here. And not everyone is a recent transplant. Born and raised in the city, with over 14 years of tailoring experience, Nelson Sanders is one of Detroit’s own defining what it means to get dressed in this city. Sanders runs his own custom tailoring shop in the city’s downtown — a stone’s throw from the Quicken Loans headquarters (which relocated there in 2010 as a bet on Detroit’s future) — aptly named Dandy. Working with Italian and English fabrics, Sanders offers clients a fully custom experience with a knack, as he says, for a certain Detroit flourish. With Sanders as our guide, he took us on a tour of his stylish Detroit for some more à la carte offerings that would be worth bringing back from any trip to Motor City.

The Bag For The Journey

Montblanc’s Extreme 2.0 Duffel is the perfect urban accompaniment. Learn More Below

Sanders’s Dandy is located inside another well-regarded brick and mortar style haven, Détroit Is The New Black. This 2,300-square-foot shop stocks a mix of local designers as well as those on a global scale and has room for Dandy to take in clients for fittings as well. With pieces only to be found in-store — Détroit Is The New Black’s e-commerce is pretty limited — and a rotating crew of Detroit-based designers and a collection of hard to find magazines, the shop is well worth a visit, regardless if you are getting measured for one of Sanders’s suits.

Detroit is, of course, an iconic blue-collar city. Not only the birthplace of the nation’s auto industry but also Carhartt was founded in nearby Dearborn — it seems fitting the next stop would serve up some denim threads. Detroit Denim Co. was founded in 2010 and nearly a decade later they are still making everything there in its Rivertown factory. With the shop right off the factory floor, you can get your new jeans hemmed in a matter of minutes. But it isn’t only handcrafted jeans you can grab to bring back from your trip to the city at Detroit Denim Co., there are also limited runs of workshirts, leather goods and even tote bags — which caught our eye. From custom-tailored suiting to selvedge denim, Detroit is worth a visit if just for the pieces you can bring back.

Along with Sanders, we put together a directory of the must-visit shops and some of the Detroit styles to bring home for yourself.

The Bag for the Journey

Montblanc’s Extreme 2.0 Duffel is the perfect companion for urban exploration as well as for traveling for work and the weekend. With its bold black color, the combination of plain and carbon-fiber print-motif leather and matte black metal fittings, the duffel is perfectly rugged and elevated to handle anything.

Material: Leather
Dimensions: 45 x 22 x 29 cm
Leather type: Italian split calfskin, chrome-tanned,
dyed-through, plain and with carbon fiber print

Buy Now: $1,290

The Stylish Essentials

Extreme 2.0 Duffel by Montblanc Learn More
Peach Wood Comb by Detroit Grooming Learn More
Valet Tray by Douglass & Co. for The Detroit Foundation Hotel Learn More
Love from Michigan Candle by City Bird Learn More
Denim Tote Bag by Detroit Denim Co. Learn More
Essential Oils by Détroit is the New Black Learn More
Crew Neck Tee by Détroit is the New Black Learn More

The Shops

Dandy
If you are a frequent flyer to Detroit, be sure to swing by Dandy for a fitting to get yourself a custom made suit with Sander’s guiding style.

1430 Woodward Ave, Detroit
(313) 333-1112
www.dandydetroit.com

Détroit Is The New Black
An upscale boutique with a changing array of local designers and some elevated accessories. The place to go to see the next up and coming look for Motor City. They also have some great in-house products from t-shirts to hats that are a great bring back.

1430 Woodward Ave, Detroit
(313) 333-1112
www.detroitisthenewblack.com

Detroit Denim Co.
Quality denim goods made right on the spot in Detroit, the brand offers limited edition pieces which means you have to strike while the iron is hot and whatever you pick up will be unique.

2987 Franklin St, Detroit
(313) 626-9216
www.detroitdenim.com

George Gregory
A small independent menswear store in the Corktown neighborhood that stocks an exciting array of young brands that you may not bump into at other shops. A perfect place to find a few pieces to shore up what you packed for the trip.

1422 Michigan Ave, Detroit
(313) 285-8345
www.shopgeorgegregory.com

Also Consider for the Trip

To keep all of your credit cards, business cards and other pocket essentials organized when you’re on the road, take Montblanc’s Extreme 2.0 Pocket Holder along.
Buy Now: $140

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