# How I Built Resilience: Bayard Winthrop of American Giant

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2021-04-22
- Length: 30m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-04-22-how-i-built-resilience-bayard-winthrop-of-american-giant

## Summary

Bayard Winthrop, founder and CEO of American Giant, discusses building a domestic apparel supply chain for hoodies, t-shirts, and jeans, and how the company navigated the pandemic by pivoting to work-from-home comfort wear. He details the challenges of sourcing materials like wool and flannel within the US, the strategic decision to prioritize long-term brand durability over rapid venture-backed growth, and the financial risks taken during the company's early days. Winthrop also reflects on how the crisis forced a shift in his management style from micromanagement to empowering his team, while leveraging relationships with suppliers like Carolina Cotton Works to maintain operations.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-04-22-how-i-built-resilience-bayard-winthrop-of-american-giant#t=0) Introduction: Bayard Winthrop and American Giant
- [3:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-04-22-how-i-built-resilience-bayard-winthrop-of-american-giant#t=218) Building a Domestic Supply Chain and Sourcing Challenges
- [6:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-04-22-how-i-built-resilience-bayard-winthrop-of-american-giant#t=375) The Economics of American Manufacturing and Consumer Behavior
- [11:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-04-22-how-i-built-resilience-bayard-winthrop-of-american-giant#t=694) Overcoming Minimum Order Quantities and Early Funding
- [22:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-04-22-how-i-built-resilience-bayard-winthrop-of-american-giant#t=1369) Navigating the Pandemic: Supply Chain and Remote Work
- [27:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-04-22-how-i-built-resilience-bayard-winthrop-of-american-giant#t=1650) Management Evolution and Leadership Lessons

## Topics

- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- American Giant (company)
- Forever 21 (company)
- H&M (company)
- Carolina Cotton Works (company)
- Pepsi-Cola (company)
- Don Kendall (other)
- Outdoor Voices (company)
- Vuori (company)
- Walmart (company)
- Slate Magazine (other)
- U.S. Bank (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Quality, Resilience and Open-Mindedness: Winning the Long Game w/ Paul Lordan and John Lordan](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-02-18-quality-resilience-and-open-mindedness-winning-the-long-game-w-paul-lordan-and-j) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Hippy Feet is the coolest company you haven't heard about until now! Michael Mader, CEO](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-05-hippy-feet-is-the-coolest-company-you-havent-heard-about-until-now-michael-mader) (People of Packaging)
- [Building for Long-Term Success w/ Ron Speicher and David Craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-08-29-building-for-long-term-success-w-ron-speicher-and-david-craft) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [#331: 28 Days To Save The World: Lessons Learned from a Pandemic Month of Supply Chain Issues](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-08-10-331-28-days-to-save-the-world-lessons-learned-from-a-pandemic-month-of-supply-ch) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [#88 Undaunted Leadership with Hint Founder Kara Goldin](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-04-25-88-undaunted-leadership-with-hint-founder-kara-goldin) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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