Meet the Bard
In Medieval times Bards were storytellers, hired by nobility to sing songs and write epic poems about grand achievements.
Matthew Banever founded Bards out of two passions: storytelling and clothing. A history graduate from Marist College, Matthew began his career in a national retail organization, quickly advancing through management roles in corporate retail and specialty boutiques. Along the way, he discovered his talent for personalized service and innovation. In his last position, he led the custom department, where he identified a growing demand for high-quality, American-made products. Driven by this vision, he took a leap of faith in June 2020 to launch Bards, blending craftsmanship with creativity to help clients tell their unique stories.
As a modern-day Bard, Matthew is passionate about learning your aspirations, achievements, and personal values. Together, he’ll help translate your goals into expertly crafted garments that speak volumes about who you are. In a world where online presence defines so much of how we’re perceived, your clothing becomes a critical part of your personal brand. Whether it’s a shirt for the weekend or a perfectly tailored sport coat to pair with jeans, your wardrobe should work for you—representing your story with style and confidence.
Our mission: Tell your story.
Why the importance of
“Made in America”
From the outset, the fifty-seven-year-old George Washington was determined to strike a happy medium between regal dignity and republican austerity. Resplendent with a ceremonial sword at his side, he also wore a plain brown suit of American broadcloth woven at a mill in Hartford. A special message for Alexander Hamilton's future was encoded in this outfit: that America should encourage manufacturers, especially textiles, an industry dominated by great Britain. Washington hoped it would soon "be unfashionable for a gentleman to appear" in any dress that was not of American origin.
Hamilton, Ron Chernow
1) Where did this desire originate?
After I had left corporate retail, I started a new position at a local boutique. I started to see the difference of why people shopped at different locations. They were invested in the story of a small business. Becoming a part of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce, I witnessed first hand what a strong sense of community felt like.
4) What’s so significant about making clothing here?
I dove into the history of clothing production and found some startling facts. First: In the 1960’s, 98% of the clothing bought here, was made here. Today, 2% of the clothing bought here is made here. Second: Your dollars recirculate through your local economy 2-4 times more than money spent at a non-local company, meaning more money for local schools, police, firefighters, bridges, roads, etc. Third: clothing made overseas, by law, the last country of production is the country of origin. So most companies make their clothing in China or Bangladesh, send it to Italy to sew the buttons on and you legally have a garment “Made in Italy.” Forth: Garment workers are paid pennies for their work overseas, and America has strict labor laws. and Lastly: Products that say “made in America” have to be produced 100% in America.
2) But why “Made in America”
This boutique purchased clothing from all corners of the globe and I had heard clients ask for clothing made in America, and that always struck me as odd because people liked clothing made in Italy but it wasn’t sought after. It dawned on me, it was rare, and it was something that connected people even deeper, to the story of us.
5) Why did you limit products only be made here?
I visited one of the best factories in the country, in New York. It’s a family owned shop, started by a tailor who emigrated to America with a dream. The majority of the workforce is still made up of people just like him, people from all over the world who come here to use their skills. I knew clothing was a way to tell your story, but it could also be a way to tell the garment workers stories also.
3) What was your first exposure?
We had one line of custom clothing made in New York. It was 3x as expensive as any other garment sold there. I began pushing it and people were hesitant, but ultimately knew and understood the quality. It was like going to a farm to table restaurant, and watching the chefs prepare your food. People felt fully apart of the experience.
6) What is the impact you hope to achieve?
In essence, I’m trying to uphold the wishes of George Washington, that we celebrate and encourage manufacturers in this country. Clothing made overseas travel 10’s of thousands of miles to arrive at our door. We can create a sustainable ecosystem by supporting goods made here. I want to encourage a “Buy Less, Buy Better” mentality, the price of my garments reflect the hard work your fellow citizens put into your garment, and if you shop correctly you won’t need 20 suits, just a few. And America is one of the biggest consumers of clothing in the world, and the fashion industry is one of the biggest on the planet, we should be apart of the equation on both ends. This company is here to tell a new story, one of clothing completely made here.