It is THAT time of year again, time to steam press your U.S. flag, hang it high, purchase some smuggled fireworks from an RV near the Walmart, and dust off your American made jeans.
There’s only one problem. Your jeans aren’t made in America, not even in South America. That’s nothing to say about their quality or the people who made them, all good, I’m sure.
Here’s the worst part… we might even be talking about your best-fitting pair of denim blues. But, there’s something missing when you wear them to the July 4th Barbecue.
It’s that surge of national pride you should feel as you watch fireworks light up the night sky, the one you’re not feeling because of the gaping hole where your pride should be.
It’s those jeans you’re wearing. They should fit like the ones George Washington wore when he did that really important thing… that one time… with those guys.
Alright, so history wasn’t your strongest class, but your hearts in the right place. The only problem is your seat is still stuck somewhere overseas.
It’s time we put you in something more patriotic. It’s time we talk about why American made clothing is the most patriotic thing you could do, ever. Period.
American Brands
For the record, there are many great American brands owned, operated, and manufactured in the best country on the planet.
Not all of them make clothes, but some of them may make some of the other supplies you need for the 4th of July. That list includes the Post-it note on your fridge reminding you to pick up steaks for the cookout, and the Harley Davidson you ride there, plus the grill you plan to use.
Now, some folks don’t like the fact that Weber grills make about 2 percent of their parts overseas. For those folks, there’s no shortage of 100 percent American made grills, brands like American Badass, American Outdoor Grill, Broilmaster, Hasty-Bake, and Huntington grills.
That’s only to name fewer than half your options.
The primo option for all-American grilling is aptly named, Primo Grills, the only ceramic grills made in the USA. (Sorry, Green Egg fans. Those come from another humble country.)
To turn your patties and franks perfectly, you might consider the Back Yard Dudes collection of Made in the USA grilling gear. Take your leftovers home in a Pyrex dish, and you’ll still be all American.
Of course, we don’t carry any of these because we’re the workwear pros, but we would if we could. It will be nothing but Primo and Pyrex at our company cookout, that’s for sure.
Side note: For the record, none of these non-clothing brands are affiliates so we get nothing but pride for mentioning them.
Back to our specialty… clothing.
American made clothing
Today, the quality difference between American made clothing and offshore clothing production is of a slim difference. Generally speaking, the fit and finish of overseas clothing manufacturers are hard to separate from those at home.
Even discount retailers, who almost exclusively carry overseas brands, stock items which often hold up well enough, especially for the cost. That wasn’t always true.
There used to be a time [I’m looking at you 1980s] when anything not American made meant cheap seams, manufacturing errors, and weird colors. But, that’s beside the point.
To the hard-working people of the USA, buying Made in the USA is more than buying non-weird colors, it’s about doing the right thing.
Sure, it’s likely the quality will be better, but when you buy clothing brands made in America, you sleep better knowing that you’ve created job security for American families.
As far as quality goes, for companies who produce American made clothing, it tends to be better. Reason being? They know the consequences of producing anything less than their very best.
Generally speaking — in an oversimplified view of business — one is either selling quantity at a discount or he is selling quality at a higher price. American made clothing manufacturers are trying to do two things at once; produce quality at an affordable price.
It’s not an easy mission, but it’s in our American blood to take on challenges.
In short, the pressure is on American brands to produce something you want to buy, but without breaking the bank. That means you can always bank on quality when buying Made in America.
American made clothing brands
Some of the brands you might think are Made in the USA are not so red, white, and blue as they once were or as much as folks perceive them.
A classic example is Levis, the jeans company that started the bluejeans explosion back in 1873. Unless you’re buying vintage Levis, you’ll most likely be buying a nice pair of jeans made overseas.
Carhartt is another American brand that many are surprised to learn is not produced 100 percent in the land of the free. But, don’t be so hard on Carhartt.
Unlike their rival, Dickies, Carhartt does make a certain percentage of their workwear in the USA. For this reason alone, many prefer Carhartt to Dickies. But there’s more to quality workwear than those two brands.
Round House apparel has been manufacturing Made in the USA since their inception. If you want to see the full list of American made brands we carry, follow this link.
In the non-workwear world of fashion, American brands you may know include American Giant, Brooks Brothers, Filson, and Woolrich. (We don’t sell the last four brands mentioned, and again, we get no kickbacks from them for the links.)
Time will tell if those brands can stand up to the overseas competition. Many of them, Filson aside, are newbies compared to brands like Round House. They’ve not yet faced a tough economy.
What you won’t find amongst those last few brands, however, is the clothing worn by American laborers. Let’s talk about those options…
American made women’s clothing
Women’s American made clothing comes up shorter in the workwear category than men, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing for you ladies to wear this independence day.
The flannel-lined baseball jacket may be a bit much for a July party, but it’s not as warm as the quilt-lined version. Both could make the perfect warm-up for a chilly fireworks display so don’t write off staying warm.
If that sounds like too much for your region, the vests from King Louie are just warm enough with enough venting to prevent swampy armpits.
Also, check out the Lady Mayfield soft shell vest. It’s that vest you’ll keep handy until the next big American holiday rolls around, and we’re not talking about Halloween.
This vest will keep you grateful for buying American all the way to Thanksgiving.
Actually, I've been looking for a versatile vest.
American made men’s clothing
If department stores are the domain of female fashion, workwear outlets cater to men like nobody else. For that reason alone, men should never buy their jeans from anywhere other than a workwear vendor.
All Seasons Uniforms carries Round House’s jeans with pride. Their stonewashed dungarees are as fashionable, if not more so than the brands you’ll find at the department store, but more comfortable.
Let me see those Round House jeans
These aren’t skinny jeans. What’s more, on top of everything, they don’t cost a week of work to purchase. Round House jeans land squarely in the $30-40 range.
Men who want a more relaxed pair of pants will prefer to wear Stan Ray or Gung Ho trousers. Gung Ho expedition pants are those dress-up or dress-down slacks that slide into many environments unnoticed.
And, the perfect compliment for a Fourth of July outfit would be baseball hat from Bayside, like their structured twill cap. Nothing tops off jeans and a t-shirt better than a baseball cap.
American made work clothing
Remember that thing about the pressure being on American manufacturing to produce clothing at a competitive price, but not at the sacrifice of the quality?
The apex of that pile of fabric is the workwear industry.
When you buy American in workwear, you not only reap the benefit of manufacturers who feel the pressure to make a quality pair of jeans, say, they have to price it so the average working stiff can afford to buy those aforementioned jeans.
Sure, it’s possible to find American made brands in the boutique fashion shop, but two thoughts about that.
- What are you doing in those stores? Get out of there.
- Drop your legs into a pair of jeans that fit with the same promise they made to your Grandpa’s dad when he wore them.
Get into Round House, Stan Ray, Gung Ho, and Topps best pants.
You’ll feel better in clothing made in the USA, and you’ll sleep better. That means you’ll work harder, which means you can play harder. It’s like some kind of land of the free or something.
About the Author
Nick Warrick
Nick Warrick is the Sales Manager at All Seasons Uniforms. With over 15 years of experience in the work uniform business, he has worked with hundreds of clients across 20 different industries. Holding bachelor’s degrees in both Business Administration and Information Technology, Nick revamped the company’s online presence, offering its customers a new uniform shopping experience.