May 27, 2010

While in San Francisco a few weeks back for work, I happened upon Union Made Goods, one of the most adorable men's clothing stores I've ever encountered. Full of interesting and wearable menswear, the shop was 100 percent San Franciscan. Like the city, it too charmed me. I chatted up Union Made Goods' proprietor, Todd Barket, who answered my questions below.

Your store sits on a nondescript block in San Francisco's Castro district. What made you open the store there?
I have always liked the location, and I remember when it was a corner liquor store. The storefront has a great presence, and the trees in front give it great character. The location is at a crossroads and gets a great mix of people. It's very San Francisco.

The brands you carry are casual yet not boring. How did you curate the collection?
The brands I chose I was familiar with, and I personally own many of them. Many of the items are building blocks of every guy's wardrobe. The one thing that holds it all together is quality.

What are your favorite items in the shop right now?
The custom Alden saddle shoe we did, the J.Crew Urban Slim Khaki, the Farm Tactics Slub tee.

How does a small boutique compete against major brands? What's been your strategy?
Luckily San Francisco is very supportive of small businesses as well as neighborhood businesses. Customer service and quality are what differentiates us from large stores. It's old-fashioned, but people have walked away from the basics.

I love the store's look, from the pair of Saarinen Womb chairs to the doll collection. Who designed the shop?
I designed the shop. I love interior design, and I was close to store design in my past positions.

What is your background?
I worked for Gap Inc. for 19 years. I started when I was 17 in Los Angeles as a salesperson. I stuck with it and last held the senior-creative-director position for Old Navy marketing. Prior to that I was the visual director at Gap for many, many years.

I had no clue that sock monkeys came from a particular sock brand until I happened upon Union Made Goods. Have you made a sock puppet?
I never have. But a customer of ours made the one that is on display in the store. We tend to get a lot of great creative customers, which we love.

What are five must-haves for any urban-dwelling man?
A good pair of shoes (don't scrimp on shoes).
A white T-shirt.
Levi's 501s.
A white oxford.
A nice watch.