Outerboro with Michael Tu
“We want our clothing to enable urban men to focus on what’s in front of them, not what’s on them. Wear your clothes and don’t let them wear you out!”
When I came across Outerboro back in 2014 I was really excited to see a Taiwanese retail brand that reminded us of the other global mens outdoor, athleisure, city wear brands I liked. Michael Tu, founder of Outerboro shares his journey on moving back to Taiwan, working for the family business, starting a brand, and insights on the Taiwan textile industry and more. Did I also mention that my own brother in law only wears Outerboro pants?! It is his daily uniform, he swears by it!
Curito:
Tell us a little bit about yourself and why in 2012 you founded Outerboro!
Michael:
I grew up in Taiwan and various parts of the United States. When I moved back to Taiwan, the limited clothing options for men besides the big international brand names spurred me to start Outerboro. My desire is to pave way in my family business, which has traditionally been in garments and textiles, led me to start this lifestyle brand upon returning home.
I was intrigued by the advancements and improvements in fabric technology, and felt we could provide next-generation clothing solutions, focusing on integrating the technical and innovative fabrics into functionally designed apparel.
We want our clothing to enable urban men to focus on what’s in front of them, not what’s on them. Wear your clothes and don’t let them wear you out! “Stay Ready” is Outerboro’s motto.
My interests and hobbies are staying active and fit, and doing activities in nature. You can find me boxing, swimming, river-trekking, or hiking peaks over 3000 meters, I have a deep appreciation for the outdoors which gives me a lot of inspiration.
Curito:
What does Outerboro mean? How did you come up with the brand behind your company?
Michael:
James, a co-founder and childhood friend of mine attended school in Southborough, MA. Hence, the name “Outerboro”. The Name derives from the fact that our lifestyle is always in motion and requires us to embrace the urban and outdoor environment, especially in Taipei, where it is a densely populated urban environment, yet we are on average a 20-minute drive away from national parks and surrounded by beautiful mountains and oceans. We wanted products that allows you to go from urban environments to the outdoors without having to change in between.
Curito:
Why did you choose to set up operations in Taiwan?
Michael:
Outerboro was setup in Taiwan due to the strategic advantage of being in the heart of the textile supply chain.
Curito:
Many people probably don't know that Taiwan is one of the textile capitals of the world. Could you share with us your knowledge about this and what can Taiwan do to cater to designers and individuals who want to start their own clothing business?
Michael:
Taiwan quietly leads the world in textile and fabric innovation, accounting for about 70% of the world’s functional fabric market. World renowned brands such as Nike, Adidas, UA, Lululemon all rely on Taiwan’s supply chain, and technical know-how.
In regards to designers and individuals who want to start their own clothing business, there are many resources such as Taiwan Textile Federation, and Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI). The textile network is small in Taiwan and I’d be happy to help answer any questions regarding starting your own clothing business.
Curito:
Describe a Outerboro client? Would you say that most of your client base are in Taiwan or overseas?
Michael:
The typical Outerboro client is a 25-45 year old male who values comfort, while also wanting to look presentable and clean. I would say about half of our clients is in Taiwan, half overseas in mainly US, Europe.
Curito:
The athleisure wear is a very competitive market these days, how do you find your niche and differentiate yourself?
Michael:
A lot of people might associate Outerboro with water repellent since that is a notable feature of our early products. However, we’ve wanted to add a lot more value beyond protection from the elements, such as styling and fit. We really hope we can communicate our mindset and philosophy more through our apparel. There’s always room for improvement especially in creating the best patterns and fits for our customers. I believe our strength is not conforming to typical fashion trends, seasons, and being able to deliver our message the way we want to. We also put focus on quality of craftsmanship and details of our garments.
Curito:
What would you say to other individuals who are trying to do a spin off or a rebranding of their family business? Any tips?
Michael:
It’s tough balancing act especially in Taiwan where one must respect the legacy and tradition while embracing a new innovative, entrepreneur mindset at the same time. You’re constantly switching hats and have to consider many things when making decisions.
Curito:
What were some of the hardest obstacles you faced when beginning this journey, starting your own business? What did you learn from it?
Michael:
Pretty much everything any startup or entrepreneur faces. Initially starting a brand or product line, a lot of capital is required and when you run out, the next call, and the call after adds mounting pressure. Just like in many industries, things WILL go wrong and in garments and apparel, problems, small and large such as quality issues, delivery times, and more, arise out of nowhere and you must patiently and calmly deal with each issue.
The constant balance of “moving fast” while being cautious and prudent, and also being flexible in ways of doing things. Like many industries, especially in traditional textiles manufacturing and fashion, we are always challenged with “this is how things were always done”. So we constantly have to respect the tradition and legacy, yet push the envelope in ourselves.
Curito:
Will you expand your product line to making Outerboro garment for kids? They also have multiple spills, accidental messes that require lots of outfit changes throughout the day!
Michael:
We do not have plans to expand into garments for kids just yet, but who knows!
Curito:
What do you hope to achieve in this new decade?
Michael:
This post-covid era will force many industries for much-needed change to improve on sustainability and efficiency, fashion and textiles being among the ones in most need. Outerboro will continue to see how it can operate closely within the supply chain, We not only want to continue to offer lasting garments, we hope to continue to push the mindset of modern apparel ownership and usage. We don’t need a whole lot of garments, just a few that can be well-used (low-energy care and usage) and assist us with the everyday grind.
Curito:
Where can our viewers find Outerboro products and keep up to date with your offerings?
Michael:
For those interested in buying our products you can shop on our online store at Outerboro.cc and follow us on our social media sites on FB and IG!
First published on June 19, 2020
