Apparel Tailor-Made in America

Our flag may be red, white, and blue, and our fashion is even more colorful than that. But in the United States, there is a darker side to everything that we wear and every fashion-forward, conscientious shopper has the power to shed some light on the issue. As concerns about global stability and sustainability grow, something as simple as your clothing choices can make a difference. Read on to find out the fascinating story behind the clothes you wear every day, and how to choose the best options for you, the economy, and even the world.

What comes to mind when you hear "American made clothing?" Perhaps you picture blue jeans, flannel shirts, and other apparel icons of Americana. The truth is, even the most American of garments are all too often made overseas in so-called sweatshops, where often underage workers do work for little pay and suffer poor conditions. It's easy to disassociate from such harsh realities when browsing a glitzy department store or seeing catalog ads of attractive people in clothing that seems totally harmless. 

But what if there was a better way to produce and purchase clothing? Fortunately, there is. In New York City's famous Garment District, there are many garment manufacturers who have been making clothing by hand the same way for decades. They often operate out of historic factories, and their clients include major fashion labels as well as exciting start-ups. When you see a trendy new jacket by your favorite designer, for example, that designer needs to find a company to bring their vision to life. 

This is where you come in as the clothing consumer. By choosing American made clothing, you are supporting the US economy and American workers with American dollars, and you are also helping to further time-honored traditions of quality and workmanship. If your clothing is made in the USA, you can be confident that it will be made well, and its workers will have been paid fairly. You may think that buying clothing cheaply produced overseas is most cost-effective, or that you can someone help the workers who make them. But your best option is to not support sweatshop labor at all and stop sourcing your clothing overseas, whether you're a big name in fashion or just a fashionable person. Buy US clothing in stores and online, and always choose the red, white, and blue for your wardrobe, label, or product line.