Watch out, wannabes — real made-in-Brooklyn brands are getting hardcore cred.
Last Friday, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce launched a new Brooklyn Made certification program to separate the pretenders from the genuine Brooklyn brands.
Discerning shoppers can soon check out bronze, silver or gold certification — à la LEED buildings — depending on whether the company merely calls Brooklyn home or also creates local manufacturing jobs.
The chamber’s move is just the latest evidence of the proliferation, prestige and growing economic weight of made-in-Brooklyn brands. Food and fashion are leading the charge, contributing to rising manufacturing employment after a decades-long slump.
In 2012, Brooklyn manufacturers added nearly 400 jobs, mainly in apparel, for a total of 19,913, according to State Department of Labor data.
“Brooklyn is a global brand,” said New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. “Kings County’s cachet has spurred an uptick in manufacturing jobs that we hope will continue and increase.”
New Yorkers and tourists seeking local artisanal products are flocking to the Brooklyn Flea, Smorgasburg and By Brooklyn, a Smith Street gift shop featuring only Brooklyn-made merchandise.
But Brooklyn’s manufacturing totals are still well below pre-recession levels. Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President Carlo Scissura said the city and state could offer Brooklyn manufacturers tax breaks and assistance finding start-up or expansion space.
Three years ago, when Gaia DiLoreto opened By Brooklyn, she stocked about 200 different items. Fast-forward to today, and she carries 800 products, fielding an average of 10 new offers a week.
Selling a savvy mix of new lines and stalwarts like headphone brand Grado Labs, DiLoreto is turning a profit and expects sales to rise 20 percent this year.
Brad Schmidt chose Bushwick for menswear brand Cadet’s factory since it’s 10 minutes on the L train from the Williamsburg home he shares with co-founder Raul Arevalo.
“Made in Brooklyn” resonates with customers, while allowing Cadet to keep inventory costs low by producing merchandise that can be in stores two weeks later.
Shipping 13,000 jars of pickles to a new retail client in South Africa isn’t a problem for Shamus Jones of Brooklyn Brine, which employs a total of 35 to 40 people in a bustling Gowanus plant and nearby restaurant.
Now, Jones wants to grow — without leaving the borough that’s been integral to his success.
“We’re searching for a building to buy, to give us a stay of execution in a sea of condos and escalating real estate prices,” he said. “We’re pretty adamant about staying in Brooklyn.”