Our Mission

a silverthorn editorial

the great cheapening

how standards fell — and why silverthorn exists to raise them again.

TL;DR — Why Quality Declined

As costs rose over the past fifty years, most brands chose to protect margins rather than raise prices.
Natural fibers were replaced with cheaper synthetics.
Craftsmanship gave way to mass production.
Marketing grew louder as materials grew weaker.

Silverthorn exists to restore standards.

The Timeline

Incentives shift. Quality fades.

1971

The End of the Gold Standard

The dollar loses purchasing power, and the cost of natural materials and U.S. labor rises sharply.

Brands face a choice: raise prices and risk losing customers, or quietly lower quality.

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Impact: Most choose the hidden option — reduce quality to keep prices stable.

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Late 1970s:

Polyester Overtakes Cotton

Polyester surpasses cotton in global production.

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Cheaper synthetic inputs replace natural fibers to protect margins.

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1990s–2000s

Offshoring Begins (NAFTA + China WTO)

Domestic manufacturing becomes too expensive, so brands turn to overseas factories offering far cheaper labor and massive scale.

Low cost and high volume become the new formula.

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Impact: Craftsmanship gives way to mass production.

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U.S. apparel jobs: down ~50% in a decade.

China’s apparel output: up 400% following WTO entry.

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When volume wins, quality loses.

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2000s

Fast Fashion Takes Over

Offshoring unlocks near-limitless production capacity.

More styles mean more sales.
And when sales depend on novelty, longevity becomes a liability.

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Impact: Clothes are no longer built to last —they’re built to sell.

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H&M expands from 4 collections per year to 52.

The average garment is worn just 7 times before being discarded.

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The goal shifts from timeless pieces to constant novelty.

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2010s

Marketing Replaces Materials

As quality falls, the story must rise to justify it.

Use marketing — not materials — to create the illusion of value.

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Impact: “Performance” synthetics, “recycled” polyester, eco badges, influencers — hype over substance.

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Influencer spending rises 24-fold in under a decade.

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Trust shifts from craftsmanship to charisma.

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2025

Silverthorn is Founded

A different set of choices begins.

Our Incentive:
Make the best garment possible — not the cheapest to produce.

Our Standards:
Natural fibers only.
Small batches.
Structured collars.
Timeless construction.
Craftsmanship restored.

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Reserved for those who know.

Edition No. 001 — The Heritage Polo

The return to what a polo should be.

Crafted in small batches from 100% Peruvian Pima Piqué — among the finest natural cottons in the world.

A structured collar that keeps its shape.
An elongated four-button placket.
Natural corozo buttons.
Reinforced seams.
A timeless, athletic-classic fit.

Made in Peru, where Pima cotton and its craftsmanship have been refined for generations.

Coming soon.

for men who still care about quality

Natural fibers. Purposeful construction.
Made for men who value standards over shortcuts.

Edition No. 001 is on its way.
Founding Member spots are limited by design.