American Made, Really!

[Winsor]

I just discovered this article and clip that describes one of the few remaining American-made shoe makers, and its "Indy" boot. See the clip in the article link:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/01/24/sole_survivor/

See also the Alden Shoe company at http://www.aldenshoe.com

Also, an American-made shirt company that I love is:

http://www.mercerandsons.com/

Finally, an American-made motorcycle gear company that I love is:

http://www.vansonleathers.com/

Who knows how long these companies be be able to stay in business unless Americans support them.

 

[Cracker]

Bruce Boyer gives the Mercer and Sons button down shirt a ringing endorsement in the last paragraph of this long, but very interesting, interview on the history of the Ivy League style.

 

[SilveradoSteve]

Don't forget about Texas Jeans brand made in North Carolina out of all USA made components. My wife and I both like and wear these jeans, better than anything out there and all for the cost of a pair of Levi's.

 

[AlterEgo]

Most Allen-Edmunds shoes are made in America, too, still bench-crafted the old-fashioned way. Pricey. Worth it.

My all-time favorite shoes are a pair of Johnston Murphy Crown Aristocraft black wing tips hand made in the old Murfreesboro, TN plant by an ancient former employee the company persuaded to come out of retirement for just a few more pair back in the '90s.

They were hideously expensively to begin with, so I did not spring the extra $30 to have them made in genuine shell cordovan, opting instead for the smoother, dressier calfskin leather. Right after a bought them, I changed jobs to one with a lot of travel, and the only thing I didn't like about them is that the steel shanks set off the airport metal detectors and caused me to be taken aside. I finally discovered it was just easier to take them off and let them run down the belt with my luggage.

They've been half-soled twice, and both times I was careful to find a true cobbler who knew exactly how to do the work using the existing thread holes in the midsole. Yeah, I know you could send them back to the factory for that, but I wore them so much I couldn't wait on its long turn-around time.

Unfortunately, my foot has "grown" a full size and they no longer fit, so they occupy a special place inside their original shoe bags in my closet. I still like to get them out every now and then to take a trip down memory lane.

JM no longer offers any bench-made shoes and thus has entirely vacated the upper end of the market it once shared with Alden, Allen-Edmunds, and England's Crockett & Jones.

 

[handlebar bart]

I'm going to find the shoe section and post a thread about berets. :eusa_doh:

 

[Lefty]

I'm going to find the shoe section and post a thread about berets. :eusa_doh:

I'm glad for this. I'd caught my snark limit for the day.

 

[handlebar bart]

I'm glad for this. I'd caught my snark limit for the day.

lol lol lol You better keep one in reserve, we are due for a new new Indy thread

 

[RBH]

lol lol lol You better keep one in reserve, we are due for a new new Indy thread

lol lol lol

 

[dhermann1]

Bruce Boyer gives the Mercer and Sons button down shirt a ringing endorsement in the last paragraph of this long, but very interesting, interview on the history of the Ivy League style.

This is a great article. I started college in the fall of 1964. The Beatles had just hit, but their impact on youth clothing had been just about nil to that point. It was ALL Ivy. I remember going to the local haberdasher (Matthews and Miller. There was another store, Edward's, but M & M was the more conservative) in Jamestown NY and getting a full set of collegiate togs. My favorite was a button down blue shirt wioth a herringbone weave.
And when I got to school, there was an almost hilarious competition to see who could get the look just right. Ah, yes, grey slacks, button down shirt, blue blazer (or tweed), striped tie, plus the slightly awkwardly handled pipe. And a Princeton haircut.
And I'm sure every stitch was made in USA.
And over the years, even through my hippy days, I haven't strayed far from that norm.
BTW, bartender, don't you think this thread belongs in General Attire and Acouterments?

 

[Joshbru3]

Its good to know about these remaining American companies. Its good to know that SOMETHING is still made in the good ole' USA. Thank God. I'm a firm believer that the only way to turn the American economy around is to just BUY AMERICAN. I realize, that most of the time its more costly and sometimes, with certain items, its just impossible to find something made in America. But Americans should still try to seek out American Made products. What I find horrible is that goods from overseas have become just as expensive as American products for the most part, but so many American companies have gone out of business, people no longer have much of a choice to buy American. A prime example that I have is, I went to buy a nice dress shirt and saw a really nice Ralph Lauren shirt for $100. It was made in china, and just felt cheap. I then walked into Brooks Brothers and was able to buy a handmade, AMERICAN made dress shirt for about the same price. The shirt made in America was not only better quality, but I felt that somehow I was helping the American worker just a tiny tiny bit. I don't know, its just my perspective.

 

[MisterCairo]

I'm going to find the shoe section and post a thread about berets. :eusa_doh:

fftopic:


Ouch...

 

[RBH]

...BTW, bartender, don't you think this thread belongs in General Attire and Acouterments?

Done.

 

[Lou]

Here's a company which sells all American, union-made clothing.

www.allamericanclothing.com/

I haven't ordered from them, but will eventually order a couple of pairs of jeans.

 

[Paisley]

U.S. Made Women's Clothes

I recently ordered some tops and shorts and was pleasantly surprised to see that most of the items were U.S.-made, the fabric was thick and supple, the stitches were small, some of the items had double seams, and they seemed overall well-made. I can picture some of the ladies here wearing these:

http://www.faeriesdance.com/overall-dress-p-33.html

http://www.faeriesdance.com/sailor-skirt-p-36.html

Both items (and many others on the site) are made partly of hemp, which is the world's strongest natural fiber (according to Tilley, the hat maker).

 

[Cracker]

I had an all-American weekend with my daughter, flying a kite and these Made-in-the-USofA balsa gliders that have been around forever.

 

[David Conwill]

I have nothing to contribute to this thread, but I’m happy to see it. I’m about due for a new pair of Oxford shoes, and I’d like to find something American made.

-Dave

 

[scotrace]

Do please keep in mind that we are an international community, with members in Canada, Germany, Austria, Australia, Norway, Poland, Russia, France, Japan, Thailand, Mexico, etc.

 

[David Conwill]

Do please keep in mind that we are an international community, with members in Canada, Germany, Austria, Australia, Norway, Poland, Russia, France, Japan, Thailand, Mexico, etc.

Well, of course, and I have no intent of going on a foaming-at-the-mouth isolationist rant. I do, however, have a desire to prop up American craftsmanship where I can find it.

Certainly there might be some beef with a thread asking about the best way to outsource Art Fawcett designs to Peking?

-Dave

 

[scotrace]

Ah. I wasn't scolding. Past threads along this line have often become just that sort of rant, and one of the many jobs of the bartenders is to prevent that, when possible, with a little reminder now and then.
US firms are becoming scarcer than hen's teeth and need all the support they can scratch together. From Alden to General Motors.