Rob McMillan, a resident of the South Loop and founder of Dearborn Denim & Apparel, will open the online retailer’s first-ever brick-and-mortar store in Hyde Park at 1504 E. 53rd Street on May 20, in between Modern Cooperative and The Silver Room.
The opening of the store is part of the University of Chicago’s effort to bring new retailers to 53rd Street – particularly soft goods and apparel – creating a diverse mix of local and national retailers, as mentioned by participants in recent community focus groups.
At a time when “shop local” and “made in America” are becoming increasingly important to conscientious shoppers, Dearborn Denim & Apparel is a rarity – offering denim jeans for men and women designed and manufactured at the company’s factory in the Garfield Park neighborhood.
The jeans are made from premium stretch denim loomed in Georgia from West Texas long staple cotton, and sewn by Dearborn’s local Chicago staff of 15 employees. McMillan sells directly to customers.
In announcing the new Hyde Park store, McMillan said, “This is a major development for Dearborn Denim & Apparel – until this point we’ve primarily been selling our jeans online, but our new store will allow customers to try on all the different fits and washes – experiencing the quality first-hand before making a purchase. Hyde Park is a great community, and we’re excited to become a part of it.”
In speaking with McMillan, we learned that the concept for Dearborn Denim & Apparel, officially started in 2016, came when McMillan, formerly a Chicago Board of Trade bond trader, heard his wife Katy’s complaints that the expensive jeans she was buying would start sagging midday, and become unwearable after several washes. McMillan was intrigued, and recounted, “OK, what if we started making jeans in Chicago, what would that look like? So I started researching denim online, visiting apparel manufacturers, and developing a plan. When we realized we could get a great pair of jeans out the door at a reasonable price, made in Chicago, I said, I want those and I bet other people would too.”
“Dearborn Denim & Apparel offers a unique concept that can become a destination for shoppers from Hyde Park as well as throughout the city,” said James Hennessy, associate vice president for commercial real estate operations for the University. “This is truly a ‘shop small/shop local’ business, and we’re honored to have their flagship location in Hyde Park.”
The store is an important new addition to 53rd Street, establishing a strong apparel presence with existing businesses such as Sir & Madame, The Silver Room, Akira, and Jojayden.
Dearborn Denim & Apparel offers five different fits for men and women (tailored, skinny high-rise, slim, straight leg, and relaxed) in dark wash, medium wash, black at prices ranging from $59 to $65. Khakis, shorts, and tops for women will be coming soon.
To learn more about Dearborn Denim & Apparel, visit their website.
