Kuiu "Made in China"

[Shrek]

Shrek- what hunting clothing mfg do you use?

If you check post 49 I tell you that most of it is east Asian. I have a variety of mismatch stuff from marmot , first lite , Columbia , c4e , and others. Why are you so worried about what's in my closet ? Are you going for a personal attack ? Does your employer want to know ? I was going to add some kuiu attack pants but the personal attacks from the kuiuteers reminded me I didn't want to be associated in any way. No matter how good the product is or isn't. I have no particular loyalty because the is nothing to be loyal to. The are all just companies making a dollar but they are not offensive in their marketing and haven't bs'ed me personally. I've liked the first lite I purchased and might add some and I'm looking at some items from beyond clothing. I'm not going to have much extra cash this year for clothes but they are the top priority next year. How about you texan42 ?

 

[Jager]

...just nude up Shrek, then you can say your wearing 110% US of A.

 

[Shrek]

...just nude up Shrek, then you can say your wearing 110% US of A.

That would be ugly ! Can't imagine the shrinkage on a 15ºf day with a 20 mph wind.

 

[dotman]

...just nude up Shrek, then you can say your wearing 110% US of A.

Man if he did that at least the extra 10% would qualify as designed in Australia purely from the suggestion.

 

[cuerro viejo]

If you check post 49 I tell you that most of it is east Asian. I have a variety of mismatch stuff from marmot , first lite , Columbia , c4e , and others. Why are you so worried about what's in my closet ? Are you going for a personal attack ? Does your employer want to know ? I was going to add some kuiu attack pants but the personal attacks from the kuiuteers reminded me I didn't want to be associated in any way. No matter how good the product is or isn't. I have no particular loyalty because the is nothing to be loyal to. The are all just companies making a dollar but they are not offensive in their marketing and haven't bs'ed me personally. I've liked the first lite I purchased and might add some and I'm looking at some items from beyond clothing. I'm not going to have much extra cash this year for clothes but they are the top priority next year. How about you texan42 ?

How is asking what you wear a personal attack?

I have zero brand loyalty one way or another. You can look at my posts. I have Kuiu, Firstlite, mountain hardware/Columbia, Sawzi, Kuhl, EXO pack, etc. I'm just curious as to why you take so many communist shots at kuiu when you wear the same communist stuff, just a different label. if there is any personal attacks going on it would be your quest against kuiu. Which is hilarious with in it's self since you don't own any kuiu products, and this post is almost three years old

Just calling a spade a spade.

I think kuiu is a great company. I also think the same about Firstlite and kryptek. I think kuiu and Firstlite have done the best in the clothing side bringing higher end technical fabrics to the market place, and their price points are excellent for what you get.

Oh I don't have an employer I own my own company.

 

[jm1607]

I thought they did lower the prices:


Blog entry off their website: KUIU has grown at an incredible pace over the past 36 months. This growth has forced production overseas to increase our manufacturing capacity to keep up with demand. To better cope with our direct to consumer sales model, I developed a vertical manufacturing process with Toray and The Merino Company. After 18 months, the vertical program is catching up with the demand resulting in KUIU carrying the highest inventory levels since its launch in 2011.

Our growth has given me the opportunity to renegotiate better pricing on several of our key, high volume styles in 2014 which has translated into a significant price reduction on fabric, trims and manufacturing. After receiving these discounts, I did not feel it was right to maintain current pricing and increase our margins. Instead, I have chosen to pass these savings onto you by lowering the prices of these key items:

• Attack Pant $149.99 $129.99
• Guide DCS Jacket $229.99 $189.99
• Guide Pant $199.99 $149.99
• Guide DCS Vest $149.99 $119.99
• Chugach NX Pant $249.99 $229.99
• Chugach NX Jacket $299.99 $269.99

I have had people suggest we should raise our prices because we cannot keep up with demand. Going against these suggestions, I believe lowering prices is the right decision for our customers and what this brand stands for.

I want to thank you all for the continued support for KUIU and recommending our products to others. It has given us the opportunity to continue to innovate and now bring industry-leading products to you at even lower prices. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it.

Jason

They lowered prices because supply finally caught up with demand and growth has slowed.. If it was because of the move to China they would have done it 18 months ago.. They have way too much inventory and have to move stuff during the off season.. Plus, with brands like First Lite stepping up and expanding their line to even more outerwear they have more competition..

 

[Ben]

Nevermind.

 

[Schleppy]

I can't say I've met a lot of young Americans who want to spend a career in front of a sewing machine. American made clothing is simply not viable economically when you factor in the labor cost of a job that nobody wants to do anyways.

I suppose if somebody came up with a robot that could sew, thus employing maybe one maintenance guy, you'd all be happy buying American made? Of course that robot would probably be made in Japan. But hey the tag has a little American flag on it.

And for all of you "Patriots" who are pissed about this please turn in your German made optics, Italian made boots and Mexican er American made trucks.

The global supply chain bus left the terminal in the 90's!

And if you really want someone to blame this on go ahead and blame it on me as I build large freighter airliners for a living reducing the cost of bringing these types of items to market so that we can all afford them.

Of course the Co. I work for is the largest exporter in America so while you're bitching about me I'll just wrap myself in an American flag knowing my employer is carrying the load of American manufacturing

I'll continue to buy the best quality for the best value with solid customer service. And I don't really give a crap where it's built. Especially if I hit the overnight air button

I'm so sick of hearing this BS argument about all the lazy Americans who wouldnt want to do such and such job. Wow, is it really that hard to understand that people will do any job if they GET PAID ENOUGH TO MAKE A LIVING!!! I have a cousin who had a sewing business and employed a dozen local women who were very happy to have jobs. This argument also gets used to explain why all the dairy farms are shutting down in WI, Americans are too lazy, it isnt the vast quantity of illegal south american labor willing to live dozens in one small room and sending their 10 bucks an hour home to Mexico. In the early 90's you could get a job milking cows part time for $15 an hour and guess what, there were plenty of lazy Americans wanting those jobs. I went to business school and I understand how the global economy works, but there are still people out there that want to support the USA and buy American. And not "north american" either. I always thought that was BS. It's ok if it's made in "north america/ AKA Canada" but not Mexico? When I hear that something is American made I expect it to be made in the US not somewhere in north or south america. I guess that's technically correct to say, but there is an attempt to decieve people in that wording. This whole argument is because Kuiu wanted to be different and heavily played up their made in America bit, and then sold out and moved overseas to make more money. It could be made in "America" but it no longer is, and people who were excited to spend their dollars on an "american" product are upset about being lied to. Simple as that.

 

[tipsntails7]

I'm so sick of hearing this BS argument about all the lazy Americans who wouldnt want to do such and such job. Wow, is it really that hard to understand that people will do any job if they GET PAID ENOUGH TO MAKE A LIVING!!! I have a cousin who had a sewing business and employed a dozen local women who were very happy to have jobs. This argument also gets used to explain why all the dairy farms are shutting down in WI, Americans are too lazy, it isnt the vast quantity of illegal south american labor willing to live dozens in one small room and sending their 10 bucks an hour home to Mexico. In the early 90's you could get a job milking cows part time for $15 an hour and guess what, there were plenty of lazy Americans wanting those jobs. I went to business school and I understand how the global economy works, but there are still people out there that want to support the USA and buy American. And not "north american" either. I always thought that was BS. It's ok if it's made in "north america/ AKA Canada" but not Mexico? When I hear that something is American made I expect it to be made in the US not somewhere in north or south america. I guess that's technically correct to say, but there is an attempt to decieve people in that wording. This whole argument is because Kuiu wanted to be different and heavily played up their made in America bit, and then sold out and moved overseas to make more money. It could be made in "America" but it no longer is, and people who were excited to spend their dollars on an "american" product are upset about being lied to. Simple as that.

The problem is no one would buy any of it. I doubt a lot of people would buy attack pants for 200 plus dollars. In order to pay a living wage ( which by the way is not minimum wage) the price of the product would go up drastically. But again not a lot of Americans want to be life seamstresses. And not a lot of companies want to go through the hassle of setting up a sow shop, let alone benefits, dealing with more payroll and the inevitable demand for higher wages.

It's also clear that a vat majority I companies are out to make as much as they possibly can. Kuiu clearly fit into that majority

 

[Shrek]

The problem is no one would buy any of it. I doubt a lot of people would buy attack pants for 200 plus dollars. In order to pay a living wage ( which by the way is not minimum wage) the price of the product would go up drastically. But again not a lot of Americans want to be life seamstresses. And not a lot of companies want to go through the hassle of setting up a sow shop, let alone benefits, dealing with more payroll and the inevitable demand for higher wages.

It's also clear that a vat majority I companies are out to make as much as they possibly can. Kuiu clearly fit into that majority

I don't think that recent history of Kuiu bears that out. They presold every stitch of Canadian sewn clothing they could make. If they had invested in expanding Canadian or US manufacturing they would have continued to sell all they could sew. They went the quick and easy way to get rich and to hell with western workers.

 

[Shrek]

Some more thought on outsourcing to SE Asia. I believe that it is a well orchestrated plan going back to the late '60s to destroy the American middle class. Although the kids in the streets are what most think of when remembering the anti war movement it was also deeply unpopular with the middle and working class whose sons were being killed for Western imperialism. The political rejection of the desires of the economic elite was a shock and shortly there after Nixon went to china to get the leverage he needed to undermine the American working class's economic and political power. We don't outsource to central and south America because if we did it would stabilize their economies and reduce and eventually cut off the flow of illegal immigrants to that help depress wages here. I do nor believe it is done at an individual small company level but it is planned and implemented by government policy at the behest of old ultra wealthy society throughout the west. If it was just about outsourcing to cheap labor that could be done in the Americas and help alleviate illegal immigration and strengthen our neighbors. That would in turn reduce drug smuggling and associated crime that is much of the excuse for the modern militarized internal police state.

 

[Shrek]

On a bittersweet note , I believe much if not all of the manufacturing for the west is coming back to the west over the next 15 years or so. The recent near economic collapse showed the elites the abbiss that could swallow their wealth and power and the true shift in world dominance that was happening. With the creation of the police surveillance state and modern robotics the wealthy are feeling confident that they can return manufacturing to the west without a loss of internal power or a need to share wealth while diminishing the growing power of china. The current monetary policy of printing money is the most obvious facet of the policy but there is more policy at work in more subtle ways.

 

[tater]

I'll throw in my penny's worth: The cut/sew house in North Vancouver Kuiu first used? The same cut house Arc'Teryx (a Canadian company) used before moving clothing production to Vietnam and China ( and pack production to the Phillipines).

I knew from the outset that Kuiu would move back off-shore. If Arc'Teryx had to make the shift it was inevitable Kuiu would.
North Americans refined capitalism, exported the ideas and ideals and are now getting our asses handed to us by those who have learned the lessons well.

 

[boom]

Kuiu. It love you long time!

 

[hawkhunts]

Great opportunity for Kifaru to think about expanding and growing. They could produce a great clothing line Made in the US and even if at a higher price I would off load all Kuiu items and upgrade to Kifaru. What do you say Kifaru? Maybe an event line and work with First Lite on bringing back their production to the states for a wool based product?

Heck even if they had it made in Canada at the now old Kuiu sewing facility. Also Kuiu did a poor job on obtaining materials in my opinion. Kuiu would have been better off looking at a different material like event then moving to China.

I wasn't aware the production changed- I would have been all in for a lot of the Kuiu clothing based on North American production- now they are really no different than any other clothing manufacturer. Sure wish my king of the mountain was a little more flexible. It is still what I would reach for if it were a pick up or backpack late season hunt.

 

[Violent Hippie]

The attack pants are one of my favorite outdoors clothing pieces BUT if they end up being made in China I will NOT buy them. China ! Really ? What a joke !

 

[tipsntails7]

The attack pants are one of my favorite outdoors clothing pieces BUT if they end up being made in China I will NOT buy them. China ! Really ? What a joke !

Umm... You Should probably check your tags...

 

[Where's Bruce?]

An American manufacturer...really? Hate to burst your bubble but the overwhelming majority of material used in the Kuiu line is made in China by Toray. The merino is from New Zealand and the leather from England. Clearly it is cheaper (hence more profitable) to have centralized production nearer these suppliers and China has cheap labor. You can piss and moan all you want but to believe Kuiu was "American made" is frankly hysterical!

 

[todd kelly]

maybe they need to find a carbon fiber mfg in china as well, I've seen two cracked ultra frames already and hunting season has only been open for 44 hours......

 

[tipsntails7]

maybe they need to find a carbon fiber mfg in china as well, I've seen two cracked ultra frames already and hunting season has only been open for 44 hours......

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