If you ever wanted to reward a company for keeping it in the USA, think of Marvin when it’s time for windows and doors. The New York Times writes…
“When the housing market collapsed and, with it, the market for windows and doors, competitors shuttered plants and cut work forces. But as a fourth generation of Marvins prepares to take over, the most obvious — some would argue most effective — option was off the table.”
The family business in Warroad, Minnesota hasn’t layed off a single one of its 4000 employees during the recession. Cut pay and benefits, yes. Laid off people, no.
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“I started a small business making small things for small people. My company, Teres Kids, makes the world’s most comfortable children’s clothing. I started making these small things with the simple idea that if I just stayed totally focused on making the best kids clothes, everything else would fall into place. It’s sort of like the approach I’d read that Steve Jobs had with Apple.
To make the world’s most comfortable children’s clothes, Teres Kids quickly learned that we had to use organic cotton and we had to manufacture our clothes in America. This was the easiest way for us to ensure that our clothes maintained the highest levels of product quality and therefore comfort.”
– Alexandra Merlino
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It turns out that this legendary product produced since the 1800s is not entirely made in America. But shopping for products made in the USA is easy on their site – they have a specific category for American made apparel.
Jackets, dungarees and a boatload of socks are made on American soil. Still with the same rugged, last-forever qualities as the rest of the line.
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Inspiration – Grandmother’s garden in North Carolina
What – Natural remedies for personal care and cleaning
Who – Talima Davis, living in Brooklyn but a country girl at heart
Brand – Lime Green
Why – Organic body bars, baby wash, soy candles and more
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Vote for American Made
Show support for made in America products by joining in on Martha Stewart’s American Made awards. You can vote for your favorite through September 24. One vote per day, per person.
There are jams, jellies, ice creams, tools, textiles and more handmade products by real people with a penchant for their crafts. We call it the new economy: do what you know how and make a living doing it.
It never ceases to amaze how many talented people there are crafting products in their sheds, garages, barns and basements. It’s this kind of honest skill set that built our country and can rebuild it again.
Tuli Fisher (picture above) forging handmade garden tools in his Montana barn.
Melanie and Justin McKenney making delightful Vegetabowls in New York.
Miles Thomas bottling bitters in Washington.
Get out the vote for for products made in America by clicking the link below before September 24.
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As made in America as you can get
You remember the old days: You bought a farm, you looked around and wondered how you were going to make a living off the land. Made in America is what you did. You had to make something to forge a living.
Maybe you decided on goats the way The Fabulous Beekman Boys (Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Dr. Brent Ridge) did.
From goats came cheese and groovy soaps. Next came honey and jams. Then came a small store in Sharon Springs NY. Then the best-selling books rolled out based on their farming experiences.
Beekman 1802 is made in America any way you look at it. Their Blaak cheese is a world-famous Italian-style semi-hard cheese.
When I asked Brent about other products in his store, he replied:
Yes, all of our products are made in America. Most of them are made within a 10 mile radius of our farm, including the fingertip towels.
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NPR tells the story of a small Ohio River potter in East Liverpool famous for their plain white coffee mugs – the kind of mugs you would expect to sip from in your favorite diner.
Weeks from closing down and feeling the pressure from cheap Chinese knockoffs, the American Mug and Stein Company thought their days were over until Starbucks placed an order for 20,000 mugs.
They called the mug “Indivisible”. It sells for $10
The Starbuck’s contract continues and American Mug has had to hire potters to fill their orders. The NPR story ends with…
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz says the contract with American Mug and Stein is only the beginning.
“There are hundreds of East Liverpools around the country today,” he says. “These towns have been left for dead. And even though it’s more expensive to manufacture this mug in the U.S. than it would be in China or Korea or Mexico, this is what we need to do.”
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Not all the goods made by Hickoree’s are made here. Denims for example are very tempting coming from Japan because Japanese denim is considered superior to US-made denims.
But we give Hickoree a nod for creating an entire category in their store of made in America products.
Liking the bandanas from Hillside, the Bermuda shorts from August 15, the thermal Long Johns from Choctaw Ridge.
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And these ain’t any ol’ jeans either. Fly Free Jeans are crafted in America similar in style to broadfall pants from the 17th and 18th centuries.
What does fly-free mean.? No fly – like the name says. More of a flap in the front, since you asked. But super comfortable. And if you wonder how taking a whiz works, check out the frequently asked questions.
Owner, Albert Martin says, ”my family has been making and merchandising men’s clothing since 1909″ in good ol’ Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Get in on the trend in raw denim and dark wash.
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Nothing can get more American than printing fabrics in a Quonset hut by the beach in Santa Barbara. Especially for these groovy Raoul Textiles, still hand-printed since 1981 – although not in a hut anymore.
A favorite for designers.
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This little start-up in Carpenteria California is crafting lighting and tables from reclaimed and salvaged materials. What’s more – they sell groovy vintage pieces as they find them.
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You would think that an established company like York would shout Made in America right there on their homepage. But instead, they simply mention manufacturing wallpaper in York, PA since, oh, around 1895.
That’s a long time creating jobs in America, but also coming out with fresh designs that homeowners still seek today. Plus, they’re getting a little more green as they grow.
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All American for sure: Field Scout is named for our native American trackers, hunters, protectors and leaders. The icon of a single feather is a badge of honor.
The mix and match men’s line is crafted in Los Angeles of the highest quality cotton and wools. Click on looks then click on Stocklist to find out where the line is available near you. Online store coming soon.
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So you’re all about eating local, buying fruit from the Farmer’s Markets, but buy your underwear from the under-world?
Undrest is lingerie not only made in America, the company employs 12 highly-trained sewers to stitch up premium lingerie and swimwear on site in Los Angeles.
Yes it’s pricey, but think about investing in quality garments that are going to last like, forever.
Plus, it’s dang cute!
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You can probably think of a boatload of reasons to fill up an old-fashioned laundry cart with all sorts of goods from toys to magazines, to laundry, perhaps even with onions or potatoes.
The Steele Canvas Basket Company has been making carts and hand baskets since the early 1900s. And they’re as groovy to look at as they are functional, especially since we love industrial looks.
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