Don’t be fooled by the German name. Everything that goes into a Fürst T-shirt- from the labels to the seams- is made in America. We here at Maniac had the chance to get an insight of this great new brand and we just couldn’t keep it to ourselves. Here’s the story behind the true All-American T-shirt:
-How did those ideas turn into a business?
Most t shirts did not fit our 6 foot tall frames. Some shirts were overly bulky in the shoulders and mid-section whiles others were skin tight. The high cost for plain t shirts manufactured in Asia also bothered us. We knew that we could make an affordable, properly fitting t shirt with better materials, right here in America. From that came Fürst.
– What type of guy does Furst cater to?
Fürst caters to the athletically fit man who takes pride in fitness being a part of a daily routine and similarly cares about American craftsmanship, superior materials, and affordable products.
-What’s the story behind the company’s name?
The name took some time to figure out. Names from all over the place were discussed but nothing stuck quite like Fürst.
Fürst is a German word for a title of nobility, most closely meaning ‘Prince’. The fact that we have ancestral roots from Germany who settled in Western PA also solidified the name.
-What was the hardest part about starting Fürst, what was the easiest?
Hardest: Getting our name out has been the most difficult aspect of starting our business. Having our own website that sells our products allows us to be found on the internet but it also means that we are also competing against bigger brands that have been around for decades and have more resources at their disposal to be found quicker.
Easiest: Our vision. All three of us were aligned for our core principles of quality materials, a superior athletically tapered shirt, and manufactured in America. It was just a matter of turning it into something tangible.
– We’re curious. Who are the “Brothers” of Fürst?
The Brothers of Fürst are Zack, George, and Justin. We come from diverse career backgrounds in the fields of advertising, health care, and finance but have common interests in staying in shape, properly fitted clothes and are die hard Pittsburgh sports fans.
– What sets Furst apart from other American based menswear companies?
Our fit differentiates us from any menswear company. It took us five months and a few different pattern/sample makers to finally nail the fit we envisioned. Since it was going to be our biggest differentiating factor, we weren’t going to launch a company without a perfect product. Our low costs per shirt also differentiates us. Most American made products are more costly due to higher wages for workers in the US. We decided to keep our prices low to show that great products do not need to be overly expensive.
– How would you describe Furst?
Fürst is a lifestyle brand that embraces being physically active and staying in shape while also focusing on the continued growth and rebirth of American-made products.
– What are the goals of the company? Our goal is to be the go to company for athletically fit men looking for the perfect t shirt.
– Any future plans for Fürst? Where do you see Fürst in a few years? What are you hoping to achieve?
At the moment we are concentrating on building the Fürst brand. We have only been fully operational for nine months and there is plenty of room to grow. On a year by year basis we hope to continue to see sales spread around the country and track repeat customers. Within the last couple months we’ve grown in sales to states outside of our home region of the northeast, as well as internationally, and this is something that we hope continues.
