Kid Rock's 'Made In Detroit' Clothing Line Subject Of Column, Angry Letter

DETROIT -- Rapper-rocker Kid Rock – incensed over a column questioning where the musician's "Made in Detroit" line of T-shirts actually are made – lashed out at the writer in an expletive-laced letter on the company's website.

The target of Rock's anger was long-time Detroit Free Press columnist Susan Tompor.

On Monday, Tompor wrote that some "Made in Detroit" T-shirts are manufactured overseas, and some adult-sized T-shirts were missing labels. The column questioned "why?"

Kid Rock, who was born Robert Ritchie, bought the struggling company several years ago. He lives north of Detroit in Macomb County and promotes the city often.

Tommy Dubak, who runs operations for "Made in Detroit," acknowledged to Tompor in the column that some shirts with the company's design are made in the U.S., but others could be manufactured elsewhere.

Rock said in his letter that the column misses the point about the company.

"The goal ... is to re-instill a sense of Detroit pride, give back to the community, try to create jobs in our home state and maybe one day build our own facility somewhere close to the riverfront in Detroit," he wrote. " ... we've NEVER laid claim to our items actually being made in Detroit, it's been our website since we took the company out of bankruptcy."

Jeff Taylor, Free Press senior managing editor, told The Associated Press on Friday that "people should read" the column "for themselves."

"We think the column was fair, balanced and accurate and noted the charitable work done by his company," Taylor said.

Comments

[katrock]

10:38 PM on 02/15/2012

Susan Tompor and Detroit Free Press failed to say that the MAJORITY of his products are in fact MADE IN AMERICA and he nor his company Never ever claimed the items were being made in Detroit ! Nor do you realize all the good it does for America! Poor research, negative and lame !!! Not to mention wasteful when it comes to trees and ink !!! Who gives a rats a** where they are made anyway ? Wake up to the fact they are giving to America and to the fact that Kid Rock is doing alot to help out as much as he can and guess what ? he doesn't have to, but he does it out of the goodness of his own heart !!!

[rich3324]

01:33 PM on 02/14/2012

Does this company employ any people from Detroit? At this time I think that is the point. Maybe down the road they will make their own T-shirts, but it's cost prohibited at this time.

BTW I was made in Detroit.

[noemi b]

01:12 PM on 02/12/2012

I think it does matter, when you put something on a shirt saying "made in detroit" it should be made there. He shouldn't get so defensive and btw, I love Kid Rock. http://www.hotcelebration.com

[bonelessfluff]

01:40 PM on 02/12/2012

Especially since he said he wanted to provide jobs for the people of Detroit.

I've never expected too much intelligence from him anyway.

[dogcop29]

04:16 PM on 02/11/2012

Anything to sell newspapers or air time during sweeps week. Who cares where the shirts are made. Look at your car, you think it was made in Detroit? And of course the editor stood by the reporter, like thats news. Keep it up Kid, what you do is far better for Detroit then what the media does on a daily basis.

[sjj734]

05:56 AM on 02/13/2012

I like Kid, but the point isn't so much that it isn't made in Detroit, even though that would be great. It is that there are no tags disclosing where the shirts are made, which could be misleading.

He has good intentions, but they need to have proper labeling. If the remove the tags for comfort, then they need to make sure the imprint has the same information that was on the tag.

[dogcop29]

09:16 PM on 02/14/2012

After a little reflection I guess I understand questioning the made in Detroit thing. But really, how often do we read tags on our shirts? I only look to see size, never really occurred to me to check where made. I also thought about more about his reaction. He could have used a little more class and not give in to his rapper world. Seems awful thin skinned and his reaction does nothing but feed the thug image people have of Detroit. The story as printed failed to present the whole picture and Kids reaction was over the top. Anyway, my two cents. Rock on Kid!! l

[Sistagirl Young]

11:59 AM on 02/11/2012

Just because it was Made In Detroit don't mean it has to be made in Detroit. Or did I miss somethin'? Life.

[Dave Dorris]

09:09 AM on 02/12/2012

You missed something. The idea is that the wearer of the shirt is expressing pride at having been "made in Detroit". He says the goal is to eventually build a mfg. facility.

[Sistagirl Young]

01:34 PM on 02/12/2012

Hello Dave Dorris; You are probably right. I generally miss more than I get. Most times. Perhaps the shirt should've said: Made in Detroit--eventually. Thank you for writin'. Life.

[jgrsuperstar1]

11:47 AM on 02/11/2012

Guess no one that read this post is from Detroit!

[Sistagirl Young]

12:00 PM on 02/11/2012

Hello jgrsuperstar1; Born and raised my Brotha. Life.

[StellaDuBois]

01:08 PM on 02/11/2012

We know he's a poseur.

[trvlndude40]

07:48 AM on 02/12/2012

@StellaDuBois, if by poseur, you mean a guy that takes pride in the area where he grew up bypromoting it, donating time, enegry, and money to the community, createing some jobs in the process - then we need more poseurs like Kid Rock!