:-D
If you preceive Kuiu is going to go limp on the value that distinguished them from the dictatorship led labor producers enabling "wal mart" types of business to dominate hunting clothing sales before Kuiu entered the industry, you need to think more closely about what it takes to produce anything of qualtiy and distinction while staying "competitive" with a commerce system which shuns those values for the benefit of stockholders supporting cheap material and high volume business models.
Unfortunately, we hear complaints like the above and if it's not that we hear people complaining about the Kuiu cost. When in reality, these folks are just oblivious to what truly defines "quality", "cost" and how a business can even exist in this slave driven commerce system controlled by banksters and their minions.
Additionally, if you take a moment to dive into to the true motivators of any given business, you'll undoubetly learn to assess what methods/actions the company is using to ensure their Values are consistently producing Their Objectives. And, you will pay attention to how their marketing is being actualized. Kuiu's no BS warranty and return policy exemplifies their committment to providing the best quality. They have stated in their "insider" presentations that they prioritize the sourcing of American made raw materials.
The fact of cheap China products is not exclusively a Kuiu issue, it's a commerce designed outcome which the wealthy, and quality ignorant, ushered into the American marketplace. And, this has made it difficult for businesses who prioritize quality and American manufacturing.
Their dversified product lineup might have a defect or mass made product in there, but they undoubtedly will address your concern and provide you with a transparent response. A industrially produced hat might not be the benmark to which you assess the value committment and quality control standards that a company consistently preforms year to year. It's also possible that they tried out a new vendor and the vendor failed. Rather than trashing it, they gifted it or sold it for $15. Hardly a "going downhill" cause for concern.
Hard to atain perfect as a manufacturer or consumer, but I've used their pro-fit blaze orange hat as seen in my profile pic for 4 years and I'll probably use it another year; which will have cost me 10 notes/year. Notes which I believe are well on their way to being as valueable as toilet paper.