To help American clothes manufacturers stay in business, you can make a commitment to buy only clothing that is made in America. You may be surprised to learn that most of your favorite brands of clothing are manufactured in other countries. However, there are a few retail locations and Web sites where you can count on finding clothes that were made in this country. Be sure to double-check labels to ensure that the items were truly made in the U.S.A.
Online Sites
The best place to find a wide array of American-made clothing is online. There are several Web sites that post links to online stores that sell clothes labeled "Made in the USA." Go to MadeInUSA.org for a list of over 100 little-known online clothing stores that sell items for men, women and children. AllUSAclothing.com is an online store that sells more well-known brands like Carhartt, Jensen and Union Line. This store is very selective about selling only American-made clothing. AllAmericanClothing.com is another online store that has made a commitment to selling clothes that are made in the U.S.A.
Local Designers
There are plenty of local, struggling clothing designers in almost every major American city. They open small boutiques and sell their wares on consignment in local stores. Start by visiting art and design schools. These schools are usually full of up and coming local designers who design and manufacture American clothing by hand.
Take a day to browse your downtown shopping area for small boutiques. Talk to the owners about which clothes are made by local designers. Get the names, phone numbers, and Web sites of all of the designers you can. Buy pre-made clothes from these American artists or pay to have custom-made clothes manufactured to fit your needs.
CafePress.com
CafePress.com is an online custom T-shirt and clothing manufacturing company headquartered in California. It's an American company that manufactures items in Kentucky. You can design your own clothing pieces, including shirts, hats, and bags, and have them manufactured here in the U.S.A. While some raw materials may or may not have been made in-country, the finished item is American-made and designed (by you). Be sure to take a look at the made in America patriotic tees, which were created in honor of our U.S. troops and their families.
