I fully understand your statement and agree. That said, the use of my Chore coat when doing a (5) minute caulking job was nothing less than a brain fart on my part. Thinking I was taking the correct protective measures by using a knee pad to kneel on and wearing an old pair of jeans plus wearing nitrile gloves seemed like I had the bases covered. Non-the less, the coat which was purchased in 1988 and was stain free, somehow obtained (2) blotches of siding caulk. The job was to caulk around a newly installed gas meter pipe. I usually don't wear this coat for these purposes although paid the price for doing so this time.I think you have gotten some good choices and more to come, I'm sure. And I applaud your preference for buying said products from those countries. And I agree, it's sad that Carhartt clothing is made offshore.
As an aside, I had written a bit of my experience with Filson products - http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/filson-coats-anyone.87081/page-5.
But I guess I'm questioning - or at least thinking about a chore coat that you chose to wear while really getting down to the nitty gritty - working on cars, caulking, where that stuff IMHO, doesn't add patina, rather adds stains and wanting to wear that same jacket elsewhere. Or perhaps, that doesn't matter - and that's a good thing. For what it's worth and I know it's not USA made, but I have a Duluth Trading Company cotton duck jacket that is as tough and long wearing as anything available, literally was laying on the rough stone pavers when working on my pool and wear it when I'm not concerned about stains and such.
Good luck with yours search.
G.