Made in America: it’s constantly evolving, and always sparking conversations. We sat down with Maker’s Row co-founder, CEO and chief curator, Matthew Burnett, to talk about what the new Made in America looks like – and what The General Store represents.
You’re from Detroit. How has that influenced your view of American manufacturing?
Growing up in Detroit has influenced my perspective on products because I grew up with the experience of seeing what happens behind the scenes. Had i not been in that environment of witnessing manufacturing with my grandfather and other family members, I doubt that I would have the same appreciation for craftsmanship, design and even art – as products are very much a form of art reflecting the community that they’ve come from.
Detroit is a strong base of creativity, from music to the arts. Motown, soul and hip-hop all have deep roots in Detroit. It’s also a center for fine and performing arts. I used to go to the College of Creative Studies in the summer, and took classes at Wayne State University, where I learned jazz saxophone. At the Detroit School for the Performing Arts, I learned how to hone my creative interests and turn them into a profession. All of this influenced my vision of what is creatively possible, and how much can be done in America.
As someone from a design background, what do you look for in good design?
I look for a message, a deeper meaning. I look for self-expression. I look for certain rules to be broken, and a playfulness in the designer’s approach. There’s a certain way you see some people play with things that have been standardized, and they can break the rules with finesse. Kind of like when Barry Sanders was playing for the Lions, he had that ability to untangle himself, to play with the constraints. That’s the type of thing I look for in design: an innate ability to transcend standards in an effort to form your own visual representation of your individuality.
How do you define the new Made in America aesthetic?
There’s no singular Made in America aesthetic. The new Made in America is a palette of several colors, with each city’s design influenced by its own locality and idiosyncrasies. Different cities will develop products that are reflective of their environment, their ethnic makeup, their surroundings, even the weather. For example, Miami uses hot colors – bold, bright colors. Portland is more rustic, more natural hues and textures. And they’ll all change over time. As the makeup of the city evolves, so does the art.
What stood out to you about the products you’ve selected as your inaugural picks?
My taste in products, like my taste in music, can shift from time to time. Sometimes I listen to hip-hop, sometimes I listen to soul, sometimes I listen to classical. As such, I wanted to pick something that reflected each of those moods and each period of time.
I’ve always been into cartoon imagery; the Michiko Shimada apple box really played into that aesthetic. There’s an almost fairytale influence. There’s so much imagination that you almost don’t need to worry about the utility – it’s all about aesthetic. Honestly, I’d choose it even if it didn’t have a function, because it looks so good
The Feltmark floor lamp is super creative. David Okum is playing with a few different things that we know to be true, like that gravity always pushes down, but the light stands in a way that doesn’t seem right. It’s about re-imagining and understanding how the world works in small ways. He intentionally broke a rule, and made a product out of the result.
The Pacific side table by VOLK is the kind of piece that could be overlooked, until you realize how beautiful it is. There are recognizable angles and shapes, but when you look at the wood and the finish, it’s a perfect balance. It’s uniquely familiar. It breaks the mold, but it’s still informed by the mold: there’s a certain point of reference that guides it.
What excites you about the launch of The General Store by Maker’s Row?
The General Store is exciting to me because we’re in constant show-and-tell mode. We’re like the six-year-old bringing in something that people have never seen before, and we get to tell the story. Things that are going to wow, and make you think. I communicate with designers, entrepreneurs, artists and musicians, and all of these people have informed the collection. Whether you like the product or dislike the product, you’re going to have an opinion. We’re all about community, and community is about dialogue. That’s the beauty of the General Store.
Shop Matthew’s edit here.
