I bought a couple of pairs of blue jeans this week, my favorite brand, Levi’s. Comfort and quality, and jeans that seem to fit my middle-aged figure a bit better.
I do not buy clothing often. I am a jeans, t-shirt, sweatshirt, type of gal. When I buy something new I find myself looking carefully at the tags, sometimes looking at where they were made after I arrive home with my purchases.
My two new pairs of jeans were made in Sri Lanka and Turkmeniston. Curiosity stepped in. I looked at some of my older Levi tags. Made in Columbia, Brazil, Mexico and Cambodia. I stopped looking at that point.
Nothing said made in America.
Why is that?
We speculate that American workers are all about money.
I recently joined in on a discussion about motivating employees. The talk went all over the place, left to right, top to bottom. I said motivation comes from a person’s own personal passion. Some said motivation comes from money, and nothing less these days. Personally, money would not motivate me. If I disliked what I was doing, no amount of money would make me feel any different.
Would you purchase jeans that were made in America, pay more for them, to ensure the worker received their $29.99 per hour, verses the seamstress in Sri Lanka that is likely receiving $3.00 an hour, and I pray that they are not a child!
Many of us think Levi’s originated in the United States. They did, by a Loeb Strauss, who was german born. He developed the company “Levi Strauss & Co”. Mr. Strauss immigrated to the United States in 1829. Some say the original jeans fabric came from France.
I found an interesting website AmericansWorking.com as I began thinking about American made clothing and products. The website lists many types of products that are made on American soil. I found a company that makes clothing and jeans, All American Clothing Company. Their jeans look rather attractive, surprisingly they only run about $10.00 more per pair than Levi’s.
Do I have a problem with clothing made anywhere but the United States? No. But I am concerned about the trade balance. I read up on that topic a few days ago. We import a lot more than we export in this country!
I look at how many people are out of work in our country. I look at the unemployment rate in our county alone. I look at what we can do to keep people in work, right here, in our country. And I wonder…how do we resolve this? How do we get ourselves back to being proud, proud to say, this is American made?
Annies Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps 
Made in America? Who can afford to buy from the unions?
I can’t believe I just said that.
I would rather buy American.
Why has it become that it is cheaper to buy something that has to be shipped from who knows where than it is to buy something made right here? That is the reason we buy so much overseas. And why companies are moving overseas.
A company local to my area, Springs, moved its operations overseas not long ago and put a lot of people out of work around here. I think those people would have preferred to take a pay cut than to lose their jobs entirely.
Unions…do people really need to make that much money? Some make more…and then others lose their jobs because the business is moved to foreign countries where labor is much cheaper.
Is this a matter of lowering our standards, taking a cut in pay, to ensure we can retain work here in the U.S.?
And what about the big WM? Another story another day…but take a good look at their stock, their clothes…cheaply made, and imported. I bought a couple of t-shirts there last summer, washed them once and they were unwearable. I said to my sister, “No item of clothing is worse (even) $5.00, when you can only wear it once!”
Larry and I had a discussion recently as we were walking the trails in Welaka. We play little talking games {because regular conversation is a bit much to expect from my husband on a continuing basis} and one of his questions to me was: If you were President of the United States, what are some changes you would make? Oh man. That’s a toughie because I really am not all that well versed in politics or policy. That said, the first thing that came to mind was the issue of foreign trade. I know trade keep prices competitive and reasonable, but as you mentioned, it also has social implications, like child labor atrocities, sweat shops, horrible conditions and wages, etc. I told Larry that I didn’t know how, but I would try to limit our dependence on foreign trade so that American companies could be more competitive. Maybe find a way to take care of our country and our citizens better instead of all the humanitarian aid we ship to other countries. I’m not against help where help is desperately needed, but since most foreign countries hate America so much, why are we filling their coffers when there are starving disadvantaged Americans doing without basic necessities. Okay – getting way out in the weeds here, but my point is… we were once the greatest most powerful most profitable most self-sufficient most respected country on earth. What happened and how can we get back to being that?
A very thought provoking post. There was a Levi plant in my area-it closed down about 8-10 years ago-it was the 2nd largest employer in our county.
It’s kind of a double edged sword for me. I for sure want to buy American-but when you live pay check to pay check-sometimes there is no other choice than to buy what is cheaper-and I hate that but when you’re struggling financially what other choice is there?
Alix, it would take a lot of work, and banding together, uniformity…how do we get there?
And that is part of the revolving door, Tipper. We have to buy inexpensive when we have no other choice. I sometimes wonder how many of us no longer “just go shopping?” We buy what we can, what we have to, and hope for the best.
Pray a lot, for ourselves, our people, our country.
I know I cant afford American made with 3 growing girls. We do most of our shopping at thrift stores anyway. Because even the big “Super” store can cost to much like right now when my husband is laid off for over a month. My MIL works at a thrift store and finds alot of things for the girls!
I have to say one thing about Unions they insure Quality work. My husband is a Union Bricklayer I do Not agree with everything the Union promotes but when it comes to the quality of work they provide training and benefits we wouldnt get else where in the same trade. When others arent union you dont know what kind of work quality you may get..
Alot of people wouldnt take paycuts at one time even though I am sure that has changed know with the economy the way it is.. I think part of the problem was America is to Proud and we think we are invincible.. Or did… I love my country and I dont want to live anywhere else…
Tonia, I was hoping to hear/see some flip sides to things, and you brought up a good one, quality. American made generally does put a “quality” stamp of approval on whatever is being completed or made.
Speaking of thrift stores…have you ever paid .25 for an aticle of clothing that has now stood up to 10 years of washings? Funny how that happens. I appreciate it!