That’s the problem. People never consider the human rights violations happening every day in China. There are literally concentration camps in northern China to “re-educate” indigenous people. China has nearly no enforcement of their meek environmental laws. Just google “denim city China” where the rivers run as blue as your Levi’s.....oh yeah, that’s cause it’s the runoff from a Levi’s factory. Supporting Chinese industry is directly supporting the Chinese Communist Party that commits horrific abuse of its citizens. Wyatt literally cannot say anything negative about China, because the government will literally stop him from every doing any business in China again. It’s that crazy. Do some research people, China Is Scary. Google “belt and road project” and the details of that.....
@@AaronsRandomLife It's funny that you learn everything from Google and the Western propaganda machine instead of actually going to China and see for yourself. There are plenty of Chinese people in literally every corner of the world and you don't bother to ask what their own experiences are. As a Chinese person, I'd say everything you said is either completely fabricated (concentration camps) or greatly distorted (human rights issues). Besides the "One Belt One Road" initiative is among the most honorable endeavors to counterbalance Western imperialism and colonial legacy.
@@Ya0Yao I believe Aaron is talking about the Uyghur Muslims that the CCP have put in camps for extremism aka living their own culture. The part of China where the Uyghurs lived is insanely rich in natural resources, so the CCP needed a way to take over that land.
@@Ya0Yao thankyou for proving my point. The CCP has so much control over its people that they are so afraid of retribution, they will bold face lie. The world knows the truth. It doesn't matter how hard the CCP tries to hide it. You are so obviously just spreading CCP propaganda.
I love my Grant Stone Ottawa Boot Bourbon Suede, They are top notch boots and look great, I feel they have a better quality than most boots under $500. I have bought too many boots/shoes lately and can't justify another purchase but I would highly recommend GS and will buy more in the future.
It is a shame that "made in China" grew to have the stigma that is does. Grant Stone is a good example of the fact that if the right things go into the product and the people making it the quality will be there no matter where it is made. I think the many of us would rather encourage this kind of production with the money we spend. The Diesel boot already caught my eye, but that Brass boot is something I might have to save up for.
Made in Japan and Made in Germany was once the "Stigma" but now they mean good qualities. China grows and now the second largest economy in the world and successfully sent rover on the Mars.
PHENOMENAL interview!!!! Always a joy to hear Wyatt speak, and Nick you asked some great questions and took the conversation to new places for sure. Man, a Grantstone sneaker?!? I'm not a sneaker man, but I will definitely give those a look if they're built in something like Kudu, Badalassi, or CXL!!!!!!!
Check out Crown northampton - they offer Kudu / Suede kudu / CXL and even Shell cordovan!! Im not a shill or something - I bought a pair of their kudu suede and they feels like a tank ( also own koio which is considered one of the best)
I've recently fallen down the service boot rabbit hole. Comparing Red Wing, Grant Stone and Alden, I'd have to say Alden and Grant Stone are my favorites when it comes to comfort, fit and style. I think most Americans have a prejudice about China-made goods (for good reason), but Grant Stone's quality control overrides that concern.
It's tough, because they make great looking boots and all the reviews are very positive, but I just really have a problem giving money to the Chinese government. I have no problem with the people, and for example my most expensive tobacco pipe was handmade by an individual artisan in China. I had no problem giving him the 500 bucks for the pipe. But like you said, the issues a lot of us have with China are for good reason.
As as native Detroiter, I witnessed first hand how the Globalists (aka The Great Reset lunatics who want two class of people - them, owning everything and us, the enslaved, owning nothing...and we're not happy!) purposefully destroyed our automotive industry by shipping our jobs overseas to their forced, child, slave labor encampments. The Corporations rake in bigger profits not having to pay fair-wages to support a financially robust Middle Class, and we're looking all of jobs and the Middle Class as our textile, steel, furniture, appliance, tool, and so many other manufacturing jobs were lost. Being a proud American, I have serious issues buying Made in China products...even more since I've also had my fair-share of experiences helping companies relocating their information technology over to Beijing and Shanghai. Never again! So it was with some great reluctance that I capitulated to trying Grand Stone boots. Well, they're the "real deal" and by far the best quality boots in now sub-$400 price range; outstanding quality, and superior value. I now own two pairs, and I'm hoping that when I really to buy my next pair in 2025, we have a President and representatives who care about Our Country, who aren't on the CCP/Globalist payroll, and will enact policies that return out manufacturing industries back home to our soil. Perhaps in 2025 I'll be buying a pair of Grant Stone footwear made proudly in Western Michigan. We shall see...
Great interview, thanks. I picked up a pair of their chukkas recently, and they are absolutely on par with Alden - I’ve been wearing Alden boots and dress shoes for over 20 years. Well worth taking a look at Grant Stone shoes IMO. I do wish the China stigma wasn’t so pervasive in the US. I’m all for getting American made goods and I have my share of US made footwear, but this is an American company and bringing money into the US as well. Keep up the great reviews and interviews. Your collabs are very interesting as well (Rose Anvil, Trenton and Heath)!
It's not that I don't think there are good people in china. I also don't think everything from china is crap. I think products made in the US are few and far between. I appreciate a product made by a person at a livable wage, in a way my grate grandfather would recognize. I think their shoes seem good and I would buy them. It's just a different class of items.
Totally agree. I can't afford really nice stuff at the moment but if I'm ever in a position to I think if want it to be made in a way that I can be proud of. I want more stuff made locally and I want more manufacturing jobs near me. If I had the choice of getting something high quality from China or low quality from somewhere else id probably get the high quality thing, but at the same time I'd prefer to just get something high quality that was made somewhere I can drive down and visit.
Just saw a cobbler who did a video of a GS diesel boot resole. He showed that the boot has paper/synthetic material between the insole and the cork. Very disappointing. I was under the impression that GS didn’t use synthetic materials in their construction.
This is such a helpful interview. I have been looking for affordable shoes in eee widths for a long time. Beyond Alden and Allen Edmonds, they’re quite tough to come by and certainly more difficult to purchase at a reasonable price. I’m seriously going to consider purchasing one of their boots or long wings. Although, I wish I could get a pair of those loafers in eee width because they look handsome in natural Cromexcel.
I'm in the same boat. 13 EEE possibly 14EEE. Slim selection outside of those two. You can get an H width with TLB Mallorca with JR soles for a little over $500. My concern is I don't really know what the US equivalent is to an European H width.
Grant Stone is great and there are several other top-notch shoe brands in China. Try Oct Tenth (or TGC), Yeossal, Mattina for the mid-range, and ACME for first-class quality.
I feel like whether its custom like Flame Panda or Yeossal or RTW like Grant Stoke there is a lot of 🔥🔥 coming out of China right now in the shoe game.Shoe folks have long known a great shoe can come from anywhere in the world but now the general public is learning I feel.
I see you rocking your TS shirt. Looks good on ya mate. And stop reading my mind. I'm browsing Grant Stones site last night because how much I love my diesel suede boots. Open youtube and boom. Nick and GS.
I really like the look of Grant Stone boots. Been looking at them since I first heard of this from you a few months back! I'm not in the market for a new pair of shoes yet but I can say that the spiral oxfords I bought from October Tenth (made in China too) are the best quality shoes I've bought so far (I've not really bought any MTO from Europe or US because of the pricing but I have experience with US RTW like AE, Loake and Barker). P.S. Not sure if you want to share but what's your day job Nick? Always been curious what the office your in does ha!
If the components are all US sourced, what would be the premium if they were assembled in the US as well? I’d pay it. Edit: I just bought the GS blue suede loafer, when I was about to pull the trigger on Alden’s. You just saved me $400 lol thank you! Apparently the premium is $300 and I ain’t AINT paying it, at least not for loafers.
Yeah, there also is the issue of Alden cheaping out in some areas. You can check out Bedo's Leatherworks for more information, but the general idea is that they started to use paperboard midsoles and heel stacks where Grant Stone uses vegetable tanned leather. That said, Parkhurst offers a really great Made in America boot for the same price as Grant Stone. Might be something you want to look into.
I wonder how much Grant Stone shoe makers make in China . I would hope at least $12,000 a year which is a good living wage in China they make such a good product and the quality is excellent . Apple workers only make around $6200 a year which is the equivalent to minimum wage in the U.S. considering the cost of living and I think that’s a shame considering the prices the charge for Apple products .
If the company is putting out good products, then it's likely they're actually "free" individuals. That typical Chinese near slave labor conditions is what breeds poor quality because things being made by unwilling people. For example, look into the drop in quality of many German military goods of WWII as they started using concentration camp and eastern European forced labor to produce their supplies.
He gave the wrong response about made in China, he took the politics side of it , I don't think it's that , when people looking for quality China is easily dismissed because they are known for cheap quality , Japan is know for quality stuff. So saying politics he thinks people saying they dislike China as a country and won't buy ..so yes China history in cheap things they make . A man won't be proud and say , I bought some expensive size shoes it's made in China...by the way I bought the Diesel boot .
It's just proof it doesn't matter the nationality of the hands that craft something, but it's the integrity of the people and company that actually make the difference.
@@tommysmith7031 Meermin's quality control and mediocre customer service could certainly use some improvement. I ordered one of their Chelsea boot offerings and it came with noticeable scratches and some creasing on the counters. Despite sending them emails with photos of the issues, they basically just told me that this was normal. To make matters worse, they then proceeded to ignore my subsequent emails when I asked what they could do to compensate for the faults. I've ordered boots from 3 other GYW manufacturers and by far Meermin was the worst in terms of customer service and accountability for QC issues. That said, they have some great lasts and the best looking Chelsea boots for those who don't want to spend Carmina or RM Williams prices. I think that ordering from them can be a gambit that can pay off when the shoes have no issues, but can be frustrating when issues are present. I admit that the risks are somewhat mitigated with their new $10 "easy returns" policy.
@@ZeonNoOukoku I agree with your assessment of Meermin QC and Customer Service. I have ordered 4 shoes/boots Meermin, one had some minor scratches etc. Meermin response was basically what do you us to do about it? Meermin shoes can be anywhere from 60 to 100 dollars cheaper than Grant Stone. Do you think that is what to expect at that price point? Do you think there are other companies who offer same or better quality, better service etc at the same price point?
My thought with where ever a product is made is if you are the owner and are proud of/ or stand by your product, you would live where your product is made to have your country benefit fully. An example would be J.K. boots the owner is an immigrant from Europe to America and is proud to be an American now making boots in his new country. If the owner of Grant Stone is an American that decided he wanted to move to China and stand by his boots I would have a deeper respect and would think twice about maybe making a purchase but from the outside looking in it seems like something else is going on.
It doesn't matter where you make the boots. Humans can be skilled at making boots no matter where it happens. We are all created equally right? Not to mention that iphones and other high quality products are made there.
tbh, very dicey discussion on made in china.I believe most manufacturers and workers in china come from farming jobs. Something like 500 million in China are still farmers,. There are good, bad and okay manufacturers in China. It is what you expect when most of the workers are previously farmers, and entrepreneurs are farmers. The real topic is really the made in china moniker , which is mostly a racist, white nationalist, or white supremacist issue. There is no debate as to made in vietnam, africa, india when it is has the same range of quality. It is the racism/xenophobia towards chinese. Which is a waste of effort.
This guy is the worst storyteller ever! He didn’t answer any question directly, and provided vague information that would only make sense to someone who already knows him well. It’s proof that if you have enough money, any fool can be a CEO.
