Mindful Shopping: Clothes Made in the USA
A comment made on my recent post, The Call of the Mall: Disconnect, suggested that since I had done the legwork, to write a post about clothes made in the USA. I actually hadn’t done much legwork for that particular angle, but I was inspired to do so. I came to realize that it can get a bit tricky, however.
Living the Minimalist life inevitably makes you think about stuff, its source, and its destination. The idea of Americans purchasing clothing made here in America was to avoid supporting sweatshops and companies cited for human rights violations, to support our local economy, to decrease resources used in transportation, and to perhaps get clothing made to higher standards. But what were these brands and where could they be seen and purchased?
I started with the one really nice American-made outfit I owned, a jersey-knit tunic and palazzo pants outfit by made by the company called cut loose. The label says made in America and–this is bonus territory–I purchased it from a small clothing boutique just two blocks from my house. I went back to the shop to see if there were any other American-made brands, and to my surprise there were several.
I can vouch for the cut loose brand because I’ve owned it and worn it and can attest that it is well-made, durable, and amazingly flattering. It is not cheap, as the various pieces can run anywhere from $65-$195. The ones I got were on steep clearance when I purchased them. The other American-made brands carried by this store are ones that I have not yet purchased, and if anyone has anything by these brands, please chime in and let us know what you think of them:
- cut loose
- Nally & Millie
- Green Dragon
- Before & Again
- Click by Color Me Cotton
- CMC (Color Me Cotton)
- Fenini
- Jams World
These brands share a similar price range and a young sensibility that is still wearable by older women and women of all shapes and sizes. There are pieces in basic colors and shapes, and ones in unique prints and shapes that are definitely not minimalist! This kind of clothing is carried by smaller upmarket boutiques, and many are willing to work with the smaller orders needed by these shops.
I looked up most of the above companies online, and most of them are to the trade only. Then I found some more companies online that are “proud to be made in the USA:”
- Simply Tall (their pants inseams start at 36″)
- justice clothing (not the same as the pre-teen shop)
- eco citizen
- blue canoe
- Oxxford Clothes (menswear)
Some on this last list led me to a couple of sites which have listings of sweatshop-free and fair trade companies, along with tons of other information useful to anyone into more mindful living and consumption. I’ve learned a lot just from a couple brief visits to them, and have them bookmarked for further perusal:
Now this is the part where buying American-made gets tricky. Not everything labeled “made in the USA” is sweatshop-free, because there are sweatshops right here in the United States and in our territories which are not covered by labor laws. So something can be made in some hidden warehouse in some big city with illegal immigrants or others seized as slaves, and nobody is the wiser. Every so often you’ll see something on the news that a sweatshop was raided and the workers rounded up and the operators arrested right here in this country.
A look at the Wikipedia entry for “sweatshop” states that it is a term with negative connotations that imply poor working conditions and unfair labor practices. The article goes through the history of sweatshops and labor laws, and how unions are an important part of ensuring workers’ rights and fair practices. Like the fair-trade organizations, it repeats that a label saying “made in the USA” does not necessarily mean what you think it means. Only a “union-made” label ensures fair working conditions, or a label such as “UNITE” which covers both unions and fair-trade practices.
But then come the pro-sweatshop opinions. Even some liberal economists come out pro-sweatshops, saying that being against them is a luxury only developed nations can afford, that factories providing any kind of work even with long hours and lousy pay are better than the alternatives available to the women and young people in impoverished countries. Prostitution is one such alternative.
Unions are fighting for their continued right of collective bargaining in several states, including here in Indiana. That “union-made” label is almost a guarantee of non-sweatshop conditions. But a lady at the dress shop (not the owner) where I found my made in the USA outfit was griping about the unions, saying that unionized workers get the decent wages and the benefits, but they aren’t buying the made in USA, and thus higher-priced, clothing. They’re taking their money and buying cheaper things made in the sweatshops. Now this may be an exaggeration, but there is likely some truth to it, too. Most of us don’t bother finding out more about where our clothes are made or the long-term repercussions of buying cheap imported goods.
So all of this information means there are no easy answers, and I haven’t even begun to research where some of the fabric comes from for our clothing. I do know that I want fewer and better clothes and to support a local business, so I will be making my future purchases from the little shop two blocks from my house and most likely make my selection from the brands made in this country or connected to fair trade somehow. The prices there are not much higher than they are for similar items online, and there is the bonus of actually being able to try them on.
I welcome your comments and points of view on this topic, and of course additions to the list of clothing brands for the Mindful Consumer.
37 Responses to “Mindful Shopping: Clothes Made in the USA”
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This is a very sobering and important topic, Meg. Thanks for posting about it. I often check the tags in clothes I’m considering buying (just as I do food in the grocery) to see where it originated. And just because the garment was sewn in the USA doesn’t mean that the fabric was not made by slave labor somewhere. I’ll be very interested to hear what you come up with in more research.
There is a woman who is blogging at http://www.fibershed.com about sewing, knitting, weaving, dyeing cloth that is produced with a 250 mile radius (I think) of her home in Northen California. It makes me think of Ghandi spinning and weaving the cloth for his own clothes. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if fashion returned to this local level?
Willow recently posted..March Begins With Small Things
Hi Willow–thanks for providing the link to the Fibershed Project. That is yet another possible level of relationship to one’s clothing, an almost religious one. The comparison to Gandhi is a good one, and there are indigenous cultures around the world that have this element to one extent or another. I think of tribal fabrics, rugs, and perhaps the origins of Celtic tartans. We are a long way from that relationship as a culture, but I can see it as a possibility, particularly if sustainability becomes a cultural prime directive!
Hi Meg,
Glad to see your post about this. It’s very important, and I too have been thinking about purchasing things (mostly clothes, but other stuff too) made in the USA. I wrote a post about it, and what surprised me about people’s responses was that they seemed offended that I would want to take business away from developing countries (of course, I don’t feel that way–I’m all for sustainable practices being put into place in other countries, which is why I love Alternative Apparel).
What didn’t surprise me was everybody’s objection to how expensive USA-made items are. This is, of course, a huge stumbling block for a lot of people, though in some ways minimalism addresses it: if you own less stuff, you can afford higher quality pieces.
Anyway, thank you also for pointing out the sweatshop issue within the US. I had no idea, and will keep this in mind and do my research when I make my next Made in the USA purchase.
Sara
Hi Sara–thanks so much for mentioning Alternative Apparel. I went through their FAQ and was impressed. For everyone reading, I’ve supplied the link and copied and pasted a part of the FAQ I though was particularly relevant to the issues raised in this post:
http://www.alternativeapparel.com/consumer.aspx
Q:Why aren’t more of your products made in the United States?
A: About 25% of our goods are made in the U.S., which is a high percentage compared to industry standards in our product categories. Ideally, this percentage would be higher; however, garment production in the States is not competitive for all product categories or volume levels. Additionally, many of the factories we’ve come across in our search for vendors in the United States have working conditions below that of the factories outside of the U.S.
Meg,
I am so glad you wrote about this. It has been on my mind lately and frustrates me that everything I look at to purchase says Made in China or some other place that is not here. I did come across a website with a lot of resources, and many look very good. I have not used any of them though, so I suggest one does their research before using them. I did notice that in many of the clothing listings they state that the fabric and everything is grown/made here in the US.
It is a big problem that will not be fixed easily, that is for sure. I just want to start trying to do my part!
Bernice
Living the Balanced Life recently posted..Change what you can- accept what you can’t
Hi Bernice–I subscribe to the “many grains of sand” approach, and blogging and social media are a good way to rapidly increase the number of grains in order to have a real presence. We can have an impact with our own purchases and by making the information available to everyone we know–including our shopkeepers.
Shoot, I forgot to paste the link! http://www.americansworking.com/
Living the Balanced Life recently posted..Change what you can- accept what you can’t
Thanks for posting the link! This is similar to a lot of sites that turn up when googling for American-made clothes. I’ve spent many hours scouring such sites and find them to be a real mix of good and iffy links. This is what led me to write that just because the label (or site or ad) says “made in the USA” it doesn’t mean it was made in good conditions. Thus, the need to dig a little deeper.
What seems to be worse than finding clothes made in the USA is SHOES!!!! Trying to find a good sturdy pair of walking or cross-trainers made in the USA is very difficult if not impossible. Any insights?
Cheryl Warren recently posted..Agility Updateand Moms Broken Neck
Shoes, yes, SHOES!!! I feel your frustration. I did come across something about New Balance has at least some shoes made here. I think Bass Weejuns are made here again, but have seen conflicting information on that. Will definitely look into this further.
Hi, I came across your blog a few weeks ago and this topic is also one that interests me, as my husband is a union printer with many unions as customers. Anyway, New Balance does have some of their shoes made here in the US. They usually have a special flyer in the box to alert you to it, and I have a pair right now that I actually found at Kohl’s. You just have to look. I think I found a couple of styles made in the USA among the choices at Kohl’s.
Hi, Kathryn, and welcome! I checked my own pair of New Balance and they’re made in China–bummer! But the next pair won’t be
It’s heartening to know I could find them at Kohl’s, where I can try them on and not worry about shipping costs.
Great post! I’m a fan of cut loose and CMC as well. I have a couple of Eileen Fisher pieces that I wear on special occasions, and I decided to check where they were made. Turns out these expensive pieces were made in China! As beautiful as they are, I doubt I’ll buy any more unless they’re made in the US in the future.
Cheryl has a good question about shoes. Since it seems to be impossible to find shoes made in the US, I look for shoes made in the EU, where working standards are better than China. They tend to be expensive, but they last a long time. My faves are from Arcopedico and Think!, but there are other brands out there.
Thanks for the shoe suggestions! My English husband confirms that the EU produces excellent shoes, well worth the investment.
A lot of “good” brands are indeed made in China and elsewhere. I’ve several things by Ralph Lauren and Jones New York that are actually very well made but all of this research is really making me think….
I’m not going to dump them, but future purchases are going to be more researched!
Hey, that\’s the gertaest! So with ll this brain power AWHFY?
I just checked and Munro Shoes are made in the US. Hope this helps!
Yes they are! As a matter of fact, it turns out my boots are Munros, and so I have an American-made boot without even knowing it
Thanks again.
I didn’t notice American Apparel on the list. I may have just missed it. Not only are the clothes made in the U.S.A. they are also made by people being paid a living wage. You can’t beat that.
Hi Megan–that was an oversight on my part. Here is a fascinating Wikipedia article on American Apparel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Apparel
I’m all for a lot of what they do and stand for, although as a feminist I am not so keen on some of their advertising and emphasis on thinness, extreme youth, and exploitative sexuality. Then again, I am definitely not their market! I need clothing with a little more weight and drape, as do many women of a certain age ;D
I’m a big supporter of buying locally. Even when it comes to stuff for my dogs. I never thought about the sweatshops in the US. I’ll think twice now and look beyond the ‘made in the usa’ tag. thanks for sharing!
Hi Jenny–yep, nothing is as simple as it seems. I’ll opt for that tag over nothing at all, but it is important that we don’t kid ourselves, too.
Another consideration is having clothing that is made by people who are generally the same size as the majority population. It sounds crazy, but I have talked to several people who worked in the industry and they said that what they would send to China would always come back shaped the way Chinese pattern makers think Americans are shaped from their limited exposure. Sounds stupid, but makes a lot of sense. They know we are typically bigger than them, so they exaggerate certain areas. Sometimes when clothing doesn’t fit you, it’s not actually your butt that is the problem – it’s the pattern it was made from!
Also, I agree with others about the more spiritual aspect of purchasing items made in places where the conditions are abhorrent. I remember an old story about 2 travelers who stopped at a house to rest and were offered a loaf of bread by the inhabitant, who mentioned it was from a man down the road. They refused to eat it because they knew that man didn’t pay his workers well when they were cutting his grain for him. Sort of a karmic issue, and impossible to avoid in this day and age, but good to keep in mind!
Terra@TheSimplePoppy recently posted..More Stuff Not Really!
Hi Terra–good point about the karmic issue. In this day and age it is hard to avoid, as you point out, because there’s such a long chain between production and consumption, so long that it is not easy to trace it back. But I do think the more people are aware of what is going on and start to assess the relative value of things, then things can change.
For instance, I know the price of gas has gone up horribly, but the one bright side is the fact that people in the Middle East are pissed off enough with their leaders and moneymen to insist on change, even if it means disrupting everything. I guess I feel a weird sort of vicarious something–solidarity, sympathy, empathy, don’t know what the best word is here without sounding like my head is up my arse–because their struggle feels more real for my knowing about it, and I’m sharing it at the pump, as it were.
Hi Meg,
Thanks for exploring this important issue and doing this research for us. I’m fortunate that I don’t need a large wardrobe living in a tropical climate. My choices are quite limited in my area. The nearest city has mostly the big chain stores. Usually, I buy clothing from a neighbor or small local store that sells clothing from Indonesia. Not necessarily ideal, but I’m at least supporting a local shopkeeper. Like you, I’m going to keep my eyes open and continue to explore alternatives. There are no easy answers it would appear.
Thanks so much for this valuable article.
Sandra / Always Well Within recently posted..3 Meaningful Links for Personal Growth
Hi Sandra–lucky you with the tropical weather while I am sitting here shivering after walking in the slush!!! Local shopkeepers need us and we need them, that’s for sure.
Check the website for Queen Bee. They have handmade purses and bags produced here in my hometown of Portland, Oregon. They are not leather and are very sturdy and stylish.
Queen Bee shall be added to the list!!!! Thanks for the rec
I wonder if Americans would consume less if we all imposed the “buy American” rule on ourselves? Maybe then we would make a connection between child labor, cheap goods and why we buy things.
Hi Belinda–I can just hear the whining that would ensue!!!!! As I mentioned in my reply to Terra, the higher gas prices make me aware of the revolts in Africa and the Middle East, and also make me sympathetic, rather than angry. But I guess I can be sympathetic because I use my car so little.
Which leads to your point about consuming less if we consumed solely American made stuff. I think there is a tremendous amount of truth and possibility in that idea.
Thanks for chiming in
Available for purchase online:
Deva Lifewear
I used to wear their clothing quite often when I was in my 20s. I moved on because the loose cuts are not ideal for my very petite frame. There’s decent selection for men and women of average to larger sizes. It’s basically a sportswear line with some pieces appropriate for a business casual environment. They offer sleepwear, too.
The jury is out (I’m undecided) in my mind as to the evils of sweat shops. I understand the argument made by economists on the necessity of sweat shops in foreign countries but I also balance that against the horrors of triangle building fire in NY city and the repression of women’s rights in the early 1900′s when they tried to unionize. It’s a complex issue with no simplistic answers.
Riley
Riley Harrison recently posted..GOAL SETTING THAT WORKS part 6
I have been much more label conscious myself. With all the piece meal manufacturing that is standard practice today, it takes quite a bit of research to validate an item is completely US made.
Love this post (I’m slowly working my way through your archives) and would add Comfy USA clothing to the list … made in USA and my favorites are their Modal pieces which is a beechwood fiber — good flowy stuff which suits my personal style. They also don’t sell to the public so I can support my local small shops!
Viky recently posted..Just in case …
As a matter of fact, it turns out my boots are Munros, and so I have an American-made boot without even knowing it Thanks again. Hi Terra–good point about the karmic issue. Love this post (I’m slowly working my way through your archives) and would add Comfy USA clothing to the list … made in USA and my favorites are their Modal pieces which is a beechwood fiber — good flowy stuff which suits my personal style.
Nora Mays recently posted..Many Cures
I think we also need to look outside our personal apparel.
I did research on American Made Apparel (cousin having mastectomy) and came across the “Hospital Garments”.
I think we need to create a little bit of stink on this. Many years ago, Hospitals became a “Latex-Free” Zone due to allergies. My daughter is allergic to Latex, hence why it bothers me so much.
(These two allergies and diseases are high in my family)
After surgery, you are placed in gowns and medical garments to help with healing.
Women that have Mastectomies due to Breast Cancer are often placed in a “Recovery Camisole” (if placed into anything at all!) to maintain their sets of drain management bulbs (anywhere between 2 bulbs to 8 bulbs!).
Hospitals are basically going with the “Cheapest” option when it comes to their supplies/inventory. They go for the lowest bid, regardless of where it comes from. They actually have “bidding”, this I get from a friend who is accounts payable dept. with a hospital.
I found one company that is completely, 100% Made in USA. Manufactured in the country of Oregon. All fabric and notions come from within our Nation only. They offer absolutely No Latex & No Formaldehyde (which has cancer-causing agents!) in any of their products! They also pre-wash all of their merchandise and make it 100% Hospital Ready for Breast Cancer Patients. How do I know this? I called to get more information of course, 800 #’s make that easy enough. The Hospitals and Surgeons who use their SOFTEE-TWO, place the camisole directly on their patients after surgery…OH my! What about the other garments they are using that don’t have that protection against infections due to the amount of unsafe chemicals or Latex in other’s garments?
When I looked into the other companies, not one mention of being USA made. One website went as far as naming it ******USA.com, but their tags show that they were made in Puerto Rica!
Did any of you know that other companies can put “Made In the USA” on their product by sending them to our land to have a bow sewn on? 10%, that is what they have to change or add…only 10% of the garment. Are you disgusted? I am.
After further research I found that only 2% of the Goods, Products, Merchandise offered in the USA is truly American Made.
I think it’s really important for Americans to step up, get involved and boost our own economy. Not other countries! We went to having fair, well-paid sewing factories across the United States. But once the large corporations seen the savings they would get overseas, they started shipping over seas to get the dirt-cheap product rates over the honest-quality-made product rates provided in the US.
For any of you interested for yourself or for a family member (I just ordered two for my cousin) that will be or is going through Breast Cancer Surgery, here is the only USA Made post-mastectomy apparel link: http://www.softeeusa.com. The customer service there is also amazing, they didn’t have to share anything about their business really. I hadn’t even placed an order yet, but answered they still questions I had.