It’s in the Jeans

Denim clothing, blue jeans in particular, is an American wardrobe staple, a symbol associated with the United States of America although none of the Levis and token few Lee and Wrangler are made within the US borders by Americans anymore.
Brands like Levi-Strauss and Lee jeans began as manufacturers of what quickly became the “working class uniform” of the American worker.
“In September 2003 Levi announced that it would close the last of its North American manufacturing plants, laying off almost 2,000 workers. The company said it would it would shutter two plants in San Antonio by the end of the year, displacing 800 workers there and marking the end of its U.S. manufacturing operations and would discontinue its Canadian operations in March, ending 1,190 jobs at three plants in Alberta and Ontario. Levi uses about 500 contractors to produce its apparel in 50 countries, including Mexico, China and Bangladesh. Workers’ rights activists and labor organizers protested at Levi’s San Francisco factory to voice their outrage after the company’s decision to close six of the last eight U.S. plants, and cutting 3,600 jobs internationally. The San Francisco plant’s 100 workers, who will lose their jobs in June, will receive a lump-sum payment and two weeks’ severance for every year of service. Declining revenue and increasing costs are Levi’s reasons cited for moving production overseas.” [5] ”
Shopping at a vintage or resale store, you can still find the Made in USA variety of many of these labels, and in most cases they are fully wearable, functional and ready for years more wear.
There are still many choices for new Made in America jeans; we’ve listed several here with links to their sites. Most if not all of them will be featured on The List. Prices are comparable with foreign-made jeans, and quality is as good or better.
Encourage your local retailers to carry these instead of the outsourced alternatives.
Americans need work so let’s keep them working.

Made in America:
NYDJ
Prison Blues
All American
Pointer Brand
Certified Jean of Seattle
Diamond Gusset Jeans
True Religion Brand Jeans
Adriano Goldschmied Jeans
Del Forte Denim
Delta Blues Jeans Company
Union Made Clothing
Schaefer Outfitter
Buddys Jeans
Patriot Made
Todd Shelton Jeans

Links:
Independent Lens – China Blue, an independent film exposing the blue jean industry.
Source Watch’s page on Levi Strauss
Responsible Shopper – Levi Strauss

For want of a blender

Walk into any kitchen supply store and ask for a Made in the USA small appliance (in this case a blender).
Chances are slim that they will know of any. The boxes were not marked to assist with the goal.
You either walk out of the store to continue your search, or give up and go home with the overseas-made alternative, choosing instant gratification in lieu of patriotic spending.
The former was Bill’s course of action. To phone he went, calling the KitchenAid help line where he received a quick tutorial on what is made where and how much of it is made in any given country.
So armed with model numbers, our hero went in search of a new blender.
A friendly email was sent at the same time and this was the response, three days later.
After all this research, driving and clicking, it was determined that the original store had the blender after all, for a reasonable price.
The outcome? Purchase made, store clerks duly educated and the blender’s great!
It’s like the proverbial needle in a haystack; finding that one item even within one manufacturer, but there’s hope.
If America is to work, we have to buy American-made, American-owned to (re)build America.

What’s on your feet?

“We believe most consumers think “Made in USA” means that real manufacturing jobs were provided to U.S. workers in order to make that product. The shoes produced in our U.S. factories are made by U.S. workers using both U.S. and imported materials. Where the level of domestic value is at least 70%, we have labeled the shoe “Made in USA.” Where it falls below that level, we have qualified it as containing both domestic and imported materials. This determination is based in part on a survey of consumers conducted by the FTC.” –New Balance Inc.

While not all New Balance shoes are Made in the USA, it’s hard not to appreciate their honesty in the above quote.
Here are a list of other Made in the USA shoes:

• http://www.lucchese.com/
• http://esquivelshoes.com/
• http://www.pleaserusa.com
• http://www.magdesian.com/
• http://www.onexshoes.com/
• http://www.klogsusa.com/
• http://www.tictactoes.com/
• http://www.westcoastshoe.com
• http://www.carolinashoe.com/
• http://www.iconshoes.com/

More to come!