WHERE TO SHOP

Timeless San Antonio shirtmaker debuts stylish new shop in Tobin Hill

All of Richter Goods' shirts are made in San Antonio.

Photo courtesy of Richter Goods.

As fast fashion flits from trend to trend, a San Antonio shirtmaker is giving local stylemakers a reason to linger. Richter Goods has opened a flagship shop at 2102 McCullough Ave., full of timeless Western classics.

In an era of laser-quick overseas production, owners Bronte Treat and Mario Guajardo keep the brand’s codes defiantly slow. Although the heritage-milled fabrics vary by season, the cuts remain largely the same, detailed with pearl snaps, chevron flap pockets, and yokes inspired by Guajardo’s Mexico City youth.

And there is another difference from the trendy tops found on department store racks. All of Richter’s pieces are proudly made in the United States.

“Our dream has always been to own a vertically integrated manufacturing company,” explains Treat in an email. “This was important to us for several reasons. One being that we can control our production and distribution to keep costs low for our customers. Another being that we are passionate about keeping our goods domestically made — which is a complex puzzle that has taken us years to figure out.”

At the new shop, locals can find classic seersucker camp shirts in jazzy Southwestern prints, woven flannel Western shirts, jacquard chore jackets with a subtle yoked back, and even a touch of Urban Cowboy nostalgia in a short-sleeved top woven with Lurex.

An array of art books greets guests at Richter Goods.Photo courtesy of Richter Goods.

Although men’s shirting is the couple’s specialty, the shop also includes a small section of womenswear. The cropped jacquard pearl snap, made in collaboration with Nashville brand Imogene + Willie, is sure to be a best-seller. The couple met the owners at a New York trade show, and quickly discovered they had similar ethos.

“Imogene + Willie has always produced their goods domestically, and we bonded over the difficulty of keeping goods made here,” says Treat. “They have been an amazing partner to us, and we're excited for future projects.”

Although Richter Goods stocks a handful of accessories made in Turkey and France, all of the clothing brands stocked in the shop are proudly U.S.-made. In addition to Imogene + Willie t-shirts, shoppers can snag socks from American Trench, selvedge denim pants from Jack Donnelly, quirky blouses from Toit Volant, and footwear from Pearl Boots.

“We've always wanted to have a store but were waiting for the right conditions,” says Treat. “For us, the store is a space to build community, and it was really important that our first location be in our hometown of San Antonio, where we make all of our shirts.”

Richter Goods’ Tobin Hill shop is now open from 11 am-7 pm, Wednesday through Friday, and 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday.

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RETAIL WATCH

Texas Attorney General opens probe into fast-fashion giant SHEIN

Photo courtesy of SHEIN

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Critics of fast fashion have found a strange bedfellow in Ken Paxton. On December 1, the Texas Attorney General announced he was investigating online retailer SHEIN for alleged unethical labor practices and unsafe consumer products.

According to a release from Paxton’s office, the inquiry aims to find out if SHEIN’s “supply chain and manufacturing practices violate Texas law by using toxic or hazardous materials, misleading consumers about product safety, and misleading consumers about ethical sourcing.” The probe will also look into the corporation’s data collection and privacy practices.

In a statement, Paxton put a partisan spin on the investigation.

“Safe, non-toxic material and products are another key ingredient to [Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s] Make America Healthy Again movement,” said Paxton in the release. “Any company that cuts corners on labor standards or product safety, especially those operating in foreign nations like China, will be held accountable.”

Paxton’s move unexpectedly aligns the AG with environmental watchdogs. Nonprofit Yale Climate Connections has long sounded the alarm about the Singapore-based e-tailer, calling it one of the world’s biggest polluters. Paxton has long railed against climate change regulations and sued the Biden administration several times to block emissions rules.

The investigation is part of a larger Republican crackdown on Chinese consumer products. On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are debating new restrictions on Shenzhen-based aerial drone maker DJI, and Senator Tom Cotton has called for investigations of “Communist Chinese” companies SHEIN and Temu. The September Texas vape ban specifically banned disposable e-cigarettes manufactured in the country.

In a statement emailed to multiple media outlets, SHEIN said it would comply with Paxton’s investigation.

“SHEIN takes these concerns seriously and is fully committed to cooperating,” a spokesperson said. “Our mission — to provide affordable, fashionable products to customers around the world — is underpinned by a dedication to safety, compliance, and respect for human rights.”

The controversy will likely have little effect on SHEIN’s popularity with Zoomers. The company snagged an estimated $38 billion in sales in 2024 and has an average of 24.7 million active app users each month. In San Antonio, a pop-up at North Star Mall drew lines out the door.

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