Williamsburg Garment Company (WGC) is getting a new home in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
On Sept. 15, the “Made in USA” denim purveyor will open a new street-level store at 42 West Street, directly across from its manufacturing facility at 67 West Street. Together, the two spaces will create a hub for domestic denim and manufacturing.
Designed by interior designer Maria Christina Niño, the new store reflects WGC’s vision of creating a welcoming destination where customers can explore premium denim, discuss projects and enjoy an experience built around craftsmanship.
Related Stories
The store will stock Brooklyn-made collections from Williamsburg Garment Company and founder Maurice Malone, as well as a curated range of hard-to-find premium brands including Momotaro and Burgus Plus from Japan and Benzak Denim Developers from the Netherlands. The goal, Malone said, is to bring together some of the finest Japanese and American-made selvedge denim available under one roof.
“For years we’ve dreamed about creating a place where people who love denim could immerse themselves in it,” Malone said. “Not simply buy a pair of jeans, but experience craftsmanship, learn something new, meet people with the same passion, and see that great denim is still being made right here in Brooklyn.”
At the store, WGC will introduce Book a Tailor, a by-appointment service that gives consumers one-on-one time with an expert denim tailor. It will also offer walk-in services for hemming, tapering, waist alterations and repairs.
Building community and fostering creatives will play a large role in the store’s purpose. Malone said denim enthusiasts, photographers, podcasters and content creators will find an authentic setting for producing original content.
By having a separate dedicated retail space, the company gains valuable real estate to increase production of its American-made collections, expand specialized tailoring services, and to continue its education program. This spring, Malone launched a nine-week hands-on program designed to teach students how to make jeans. WGC also offers internships that introduce local college students to manufacturing and tailoring and hosts Denim Talk, an ongoing discussion series with MakingABrand.co that brings together designers, entrepreneurs and denim fans to discuss manufacturing, branding, sourcing and product development.
“Every square foot of additional manufacturing space gives us the opportunity to make more products here in New York, develop new ideas, and continue investing in American craftsmanship,” he said.
The factory also supports one of the company’s newest initiatives: expanding low-MOQ denim manufacturing for independent designers and emerging apparel brands. WGC now offers production runs beginning at 24 pieces per style, providing designers an opportunity to manufacture locally, refine their products and grow their businesses one collection at a time. Services span pattern development and sampling to finished production.
“Some of today’s best brands begin with only a handful of styles,” Malone said. “We want to give those designers an opportunity to manufacture close to home, build responsibly, and grow with a manufacturing partner that understands denim.”
