Detroit’s luxury goods manufacturing is about to go to another price level.
One of the more active discussions as of late has been about Shinola, a high-end goods maker that makes $550 watches and $150 leather footballs – and their impact on the city.
However, the reality is in the high-end watch market Shinola is on the lower end of the price scale.
Williamson Goods is a new business created by Detroit Cass Tech and University of Michigan grad Shawn Ward, and inspired by the Hamptons. The announcement of the company was made during Crain’s Detroit Homecoming event, an annual conference which aims to bring well-heeled ex-pats back to Detroit to invest.
Here are their initial product offerings, all made in very limited quantities.
First up is a $35,000, Crocodile-seated, Python-wrapped bicycle called “Wheelmen.” There will be 10 of each color (with six variations) made, and the bike will be made-to-measure to your exact specifications.
Secondly, there is a $6,250 Gold (or Black) Crocodile Football called “The Woodward.” There will only be 10 of each type of football made.
On their website, they say:
The Woodward football is made to the official size and weight of professional American football standards. It can be enjoyed as a prized showpiece or for a game of backyard football.
Umm. Real talk moment: Not going to toss around in the dirt a football that’s worth more than my car.
Ward is also the founder of Ward and Fifth Consulting, a Brooklyn, New York-based consulting firm, and has opened a branch of his agency in Detroit’s Eastern Market. They have an “Urban Future Program” that gives Detroit companies 75 percent off of business development services. They’re already working with Citizen Ciao surf brand and Cool Club Clothing.
Williamson Goods launches officially in September. An undisclosed portion of the proceeds of every product sold by Williamson Goods will be donated to Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL).
Each product will be made individually by hand at their Detroit headquarters, but as of yet no specific details on how many will be hired there have been revealed.
“When we decided to build Williamson, our hearts took us to Detroit. We want to show that the heart, passion and grit of Detroit can create some of the most luxurious products in the world,” said Ward in a statement. “Williamson products will be built by Detroit citizens because we believe in the renewed glory of Detroit manufacturing.”
