The East is Red–Nantucket Red.

Hey Murrays, you put up the wrong bunting!

The lovely Island of Nantucket, the “Gray Lady,” was a whaling port in the 19th-Century, slowly evolving after the whaling had ended into a quiet, low-keyed resort, attracting the sort of people Cleveland Amory ably and urbanely described in his classic volume, The Proper Bostonians,  referring to an elite known as Boston Brahmins. There were also a few habitués from old New York families, permitted on the island if they promised to behave and not talk too much about money. This demographic continued into the late eighties-early nineties, when the island underwent another transformation, becoming more like Martha’s Vineyard, where many consider a billion dollars chump change and put up the kind of huge, tasteless houses one might expect of them.

Decades ago Bickerstaff ferried across Nantucket Sound to escape the hurly-burly of New York. During his stay he did what many visitors do and stopped by the well-known and charming Murray’s Toggery Shop. There he bought a signature item, a pair of  “Nantucket Reds,” which not only looked good but, to be honest, were only worn by certain people in the know, lending them a certain cachet.

That all changed with the publication of a ghastly book by a ghastlier person: The Preppy Handbook by Lisa “Bunny” Bernbach, who greatly popularized Reds, sending sales soaring and undoubtedly providing the Murray family with a much tidier income.

Regardless of their huge popularization, Bickerstaff continued wearing his Reds at  dressy and not so dressy events, until they finally wore out. He never considered replacing them, especially after jumping ship to Taos. That is, until last week, when he shrugged his shoulders, muttered “what the hell,” and ordered a new pair of Reds from Murray’s.

They arrived soon and the Tatler was delighted with them, as they looked identical to his old ones from long ago. One thing he was curious to know was, were these lovely Reds still made on-island, as his original pair were. Alas, they were not only not made on-island, these essential New England artifacts are now made in China.

Bickerstaff can understand if, owing to their popularity, and no doubt having difficulty in these times finding skilled needle workers, and the like, especially among young people wanting to learn a trade, the Murrays had to go off-island. But in China, where the factories use forced labor, prisoners of war, and even children to man their sweatshops? In addition, there’s the god-awful Chinese government to consider, which supports some of the worst people on earth, and some of America’s worst enemies.

Hey Murrays, (they still own the company), why, in your search for cheap labor did you not consider other countries in the Far East, such as Bangladesh, India, Timor Leste, Kazakhstan, Nepal and others, where democracy and human rights are respected, and labor is affordable? Why patronize such a cruel and easily bought dictatorship as China?

Your Tatler doubts he will ever wear his beautiful Nantucket Reds, there is too much of a corrupt stench emanating from them. He will also do his best to spread the word on the sad, selling-out by the Murray family. You think they would know better. For shame.

ADDENDUM: after criticising Murray’s Toggery Shop in an email, your Tatler received this reply from a representative:

As you probably realize, American made products have a higher price point and we here at Murray’s strive to provide options for all of our customers, some of whom may want to save some money.

Hope this helps!

Best Regards,

Kate
Murray’s Toggery Shop

So you can buy American if you’re willing to pay a substantial premium, separate and unequal, one could say. Fair enough we suppose, but there’s no explanation why preppies on a budget must buy Chinese.