As Told By: Nelson T. Sanders Jr. of Dandy Detroit

The Fabric of Detroit

My relationship with clothing didn’t start as a grand vision. In 2005, working retail was just a job, but growing up in Detroit, style is in the air you breathe. My parents, the culture of the city, and my background in athletics all shaped how I moved. As sports drifted into the background, personal style took over. I worked my way up into higher-end shops, honing my knowledge until fashion became my identity and my presence within Detroit felt undeniable.

At Dandy, I make custom clothing, including suits, sportcoats, tuxedos, overcoats, and shirts. The shop sits right in that sweet spot between off-the-rack and pure bespoke. But more than the clothes, it’s about the experience. Clients walk out knowing far more about tailored garments than when they walked in, holding an investment piece in fully canvassed, hand-finished Italian or English fabric designed to last a lifetime. When you step into Dandy, there’s no mistaking where you are: you’re in a Black man’s shop in Detroit.

I was born and raised here, a downtown and eastside kid who grew up at Lafayette and Chene, right up the street from King High School. I’ve traveled, but there is truly nowhere like Detroit. I chose to stay during years when many of my peers left, when visiting this city was treated like a punchline. Weathering those times and building my dream right here means everything to me. I owe it to myself, and I owe it to the city.

Detroit has a pulse that you feel the moment you step outside. It’s classic cars cruising down the street, local Detroit rap, the smell of fresh-cut grass on a summer morning, and the aroma of good barbecue on the weekend. It’s hearing cars racing late into the night and smelling the river down along the water. When I need to clear my head or reset, I take a cruise out to Belle Isle or just sit by the riverwalk.

Visitors often come with preconceived notions. In reality, once you tap in with the right Detroiter, you realize how deep our history, culture, and food scenes run. To catch the real rhythm of the city, you have to be here in the summer. Go to a major festival at Hart Plaza, take a drive up 7 Mile, or grab a bite at Sweetwater Tavern, D1 Coney, Floods, or They Say. Catch the energy at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, or spend a Sunday afternoon at MotorCity Wine.

My daily rhythm keeps me anchored. I’m a business owner, a husband, and a dad, so downtime is rare. My days start at 5:15 AM at the gym, followed by a pot of coffee at home while my wife and daughters get ready for the day. After dropping the kids off, I head into Dandy to focus on my clients. By 6:30 PM, I’m back home for dinner with my family, reading with my girls, and settling in for the night.

Dandy and The Detroit Foundation Hotel share that exact same core philosophy of high-level hospitality. Whether you’re making a suit or hosting someone for the night, it comes down to knowing your work, setting the right mood, and making sure people feel genuinely looked after. Detroiters are naturally enthusiastic about sharing our home with anyone who comes here with good intentions. When people leave town, I don’t just want them to appreciate our culture; I want them to feel compelled to come back, and to spread the word wherever they go.

Photography by Christina Holmes – @chwhat