Editor’s Note: In the second part of our Off the Beaten Path series in partnership with Montblanc, we’re telling the stories of Detroit — America’s off the beaten path, but rising, city. In this series we look at Detroit through the lens of those who know it best, its tastemakers, experiencing the very places they feel are worth a stop.
The story of Detroit, the underdog, clawing itself back from decades of neglect and mismanagement (culminating with the city’s bankruptcy in 2013) has been told time and time again. The rock bottom home prices attracting transplants, the urban farms popping up and new industry finding its way to the city are well recorded along with the “ruin porn” that defined the outsider’s view of the Motor City for much of the aughts. But in 2019, things are different in Detroit. “America’s Comeback City” is back, but if you’re not there, you may not know that. Whether you are going to Detroit for work or just for a vacation, the city has more than enough to offer and take in. Not least of which is the burgeoning fashion scene of makers and boutiques helping to define the Detroit style.
Why Montblanc?
Montblanc, a company known for its high-end Swiss watches, makes a selection of other luxury goods that can be the perfect companion for the discerning product enthusiast on the go. You may also know Montblanc for its pens, but in addition, the brand makes leather goods and an assortment of bags that are worth a serious evaluation if you travel for business — and even more so if you need quality leather that will stand the test of time. Speaking of time, perhaps the best feature of Montblanc’s leather goods and bags are their timeless aesthetic. Unlike many travel bag brands that come and go in popularity, and will be outdated within the week, Montblanc’s bags are designed to be lifelong travel companions — and have plenty of space for bringing back souvenirs and must-haves from business trips. Learn More: Here
With companies like StockX calling Detroit home, style has a natural place here. And not everyone is a recent transplant. Born and raised in the city, with over 14 years of tailoring experience, Nelson Sanders is one of Detroit’s own defining what it means to get dressed in this city. Sanders runs his own custom tailoring shop in the city’s downtown — a stone’s throw from the Quicken Loans headquarters (which relocated there in 2010 as a bet on Detroit’s future) — aptly named Dandy. Working with Italian and English fabrics, Sanders offers clients a fully custom experience with a knack, as he says, for a certain Detroit flourish. With Sanders as our guide, he took us on a tour of his stylish Detroit for some more à la carte offerings that would be worth bringing back from any trip to Motor City.
The Bag For The Journey
Montblanc’s Extreme 2.0 Duffel is the perfect urban accompaniment. Learn More Below
