Supreme x L. May MFG Inc. Miner's Lunchbox
The original behind the Supreme x L. May MFG Inc. Miner's Lunchbox is the L. May MFG Inc. The Original 12" Miner's Lunchbox — $65 retail vs Supreme's $148.
Supreme vs. Original
Supreme version
About the original
L. May Metal Fabricators was started in Sudbury, Ontario in 1956 by Leo May, an INCO nickel miner who designed an aluminum lunchbox strong enough to sit on after running out of places to rest during shift waits at the underground cage; his CANADA TUFF seal still carries the 1956 date. The Original 12" is a hand-riveted aluminum lunchbox measuring 12" x 4.5" x 7.25" that became standard issue across the mining and construction trades. Virtually all of INCO's 20,000 Sudbury workers carried one. The FW24 Supreme collab is the same lunchbox built by L. May in Canada with a debossed Supreme logo, released at 148 USD retail.
About L. May MFG Inc.
L. May Manufacturing is a Canadian metal fabricator founded in 1957 by Leo May in Sudbury, Ontario. May, a nickel miner at INCO Ltd., built the first prototype after his original tin lunchbox collapsed when he sat on it waiting for the underground cage. The aluminum lunchbox he designed could hold an adult's weight, fit a thermos, and survive being dropped down a shaft. May patented his automated production line in 1978, and at peak the factory produced 50,000 boxes per year. The original tooling is still in use. Supreme has collaborated with L. May on a co-branded aluminum miner's lunchbox.
Price comparison
| Supreme retail | $148 |
|---|---|
| L. May MFG Inc. retail | $65 |
| Hype tax | +128% |
Questions
What is the original behind the Supreme x L. May MFG Inc. Miner's Lunchbox?
The Supreme x L. May MFG Inc. Miner's Lunchbox, released in Fall/Winter 2024, is based on the L. May MFG Inc. The Original 12" Miner's Lunchbox. Supreme collabs sometimes change the colorway or materials; the description on this page covers the original's specs and any notable differences in the Supreme version. If you want the product without the box logo, the L. May MFG Inc. The Original 12" Miner's Lunchbox is the one to buy.
How much cheaper is the L. May MFG Inc. The Original 12" Miner's Lunchbox than the Supreme version?
Supreme charged $148 for the Supreme x L. May MFG Inc. Miner's Lunchbox; the L. May MFG Inc. The Original 12" Miner's Lunchbox retails for $65. That's a 128% markup — buying the original saves you $83, or 56% off the Supreme price. Buy the original at retail and you skip the hype tax entirely.
Where can I buy the L. May MFG Inc. The Original 12" Miner's Lunchbox?
You can buy the L. May MFG Inc. The Original 12" Miner's Lunchbox from L. May. Retail price is $65. The buy links on this page go straight to the product listing at each retailer.
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