Creating the Champagne of running attire in NYC
I speak to Ben Morrow about his brand, Miler Running – a premium running apparel designed, tested, and made in New York City
In an ever-more-globalized world of international supply chains, ensuring jobs are being kept in America is an emotive topic. The digital revolution has forced segments of the manual labor workforce into the economic mud, and people running for President like to lean on that desperation.
For instance, Joe Biden was at pains to point out that his pithy clapback, the Dark Brandon mug was made in the USA while Trump’s signature red hats, with their violent messaging that suckles on the teat of rabid nationalistic bravado, are made in China.
Restoring both taxes and the minimum wage to something more deserving of humanity would solve a lot, but I digress.
An exercise: take a moment to look inside your favorite running clothes and you’ll likely see one of the following on the tag:
MADE IN VIETNAM
MADE IN TURKEY
MADE IN PORTUGAL
MADE IN BANGLADESH
MADE IN NEW YORK CITY, then, is something of a statement, and it’s a statement that Ben Morrow is making with his premium running apparel brand, Miler Running. Born in 2019, the clothes are designed, tested, and made in NYC.
When I ask Ben why he’s committed to supporting a local factory, when brighter economics point to overseas manufacturing, he’s very clear that he’s intent on building Miler with quality first, and it shows. You can position Miler with the likes of District Vision, Soar, and Satisfy in terms of premium apparel, and a big differentiator between those brands is the narrative; the brand storytelling.
The Value of Place as Identity
While the challenge of higher manufacturing costs leads to greater reward, so does geographical identity and the story that goes with it. In a world where there is little to no protection of intellectual property in fashion, Ben talks about the brand moat – the intangible assets – that has been achieved by aligning Miler so deeply with New York.
