Who is the Ford of fashion?

Living in America, such a plentiful land of pride and freedom, one would think that we would be pretty much self-sufficient, but the truth is, we're not at all.  I buy tomatoes from Mexico, shrimp from Vietnam, toys from China, and clothes from India, Indonesia, etc.  My Ralph Lauren frames are even made in Italy.  So, where's all the American made goods?  I understand that not everything can be harvested or made here, but of the things I buy on a regular basis, many could be found in our own heartland, around various coastlines, and definitely in the deep South, the land of my roots.  Even more importantly, we could employ so many Americans by increasing our production of goods, leaving less to fuel the recession of our present time (I understand this isn't the only factor).  Since I write about fashion, I'm primarily concerned with clothes, shoes, and accessories made in the great US of A!

When it comes to fashion, many American designers top the charts: Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, Cynthia Rowley, Halston, Calvin Klein, Kate Spade, Vera Wang ... you know the names.  But how many of them are actually made in America?  The answer is very few.  In fact, I struggled to find any pieces in my own wardrobe that were made on our soil.  As a concerned consumer, I'm paying more attention to my clothing purchases, more specifically where they are made and in what conditions; fair trade is always on my mind, and in my opinion, buying American eases my concerns about the exploitation of workers in clothing factories.  We have revolutionized factory production with the best working conditions and wages around; just take a look at Ford Motor Company.  The question is: Who is the Ford of fashion?
 
If you wear strictly designer clothes,  you'll be excited to know of a few lines that are made here: The Row, line by Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen; Propr, men's line by David Arquette & Ben Harper; Vera Wang; and more. (see links below)

Those who don't buy designer can find American made clothes at American Apparel; Todd Shelton for menswear; Anvil, organic sportswear for men and women; Etsy for handmade clothes & American made vintage; and more. (see links below)

The feasibility of purchasing all of one's clothing items from US manufacturers is not great, but we can attempt to add an item here and there (or more).  It's like our fashionable patriotic gesture in doing our part when it comes to American made clothes because only a small number of us are actually concerned with this very important issue.  We are the few, the proud, the shoppers, who care about our style and where it's made.

Additional Links:

• 7 for All Mankind
• Couture Candy (search for USA made)
• J Brand Denim
• Pink Mascara (search for USA made)
• J.Crew (very limited selection; I found 3 pieces)
• Banana Republic (some Denim made in USA)
• Like.com (search for USA made)
• Tobi.com (search for USA)
• ShopLAStyle.com (search for USA made)

Because I can't possibly know all American made clothes and it would take me eons to research it, please post comments with links to those that you know.  Thanks in advance for sharing!

In the pictures above:
Picture 1: Purple floral print dress (purchased & made in Hawaii); The Limited rose collared cardigan
Picture 2: USA made Arden B. blouses; J.Crew jeans
Picture 3: Vintage USA made cotton poplin dress; Vintage necklace from the set of Sex & the City HBO Series; Ann Taylor sandals

 

It's Not Only Fair, It Makes Sense

The word "organic" has become much more common in the past 10 years.  It's not just a term we hear in science class anymore; it's become a dealbreaker for many in their shopping habits.  One of my best friends is not a pure organic shopper, but she does carry around a list of items in her purse that must be bought organic, the "dirty dozen" she calls them.  Following this very justified trend in food shopping comes one for fashion that just makes sense: fair trade clothing, which, I might add, is often organic.

Because fair trade is a newer trend in fashion, shopping for style is a little more difficult, but it's not impossible.  Several clothing companies have been founded with a premise to provide the latest trends produced from fair trade cotton and in factories with fair wages, but this isn't the only goal of the fair trade agreement.  Most of these companies give a percentage of their profits back to the communities where their factories are located to promote education and social well-being among their workers and their families.  In a world whose people are becoming more socially aware of their effect on others and their lives, this idea makes perfect sense.  One of my favorite and probably the most notable fair trade clothing company is People Tree in the United Kingdom.  Their pieces are sensible and stylish, and they offer a line by Emma Watson (Hermione from the Harry Potter Series), who is also a model and style icon.  If you're set on buying fair trade, but don't want to compromise on style at all, People Tree is the place to shop.

With the elimination of sweatshops and minimal wages for workers, the higher cost of production in fair trade clothing can also mean higher prices, as seen in some People Tree designs.  However, one American company has also found ways to avoid raising prices. Fair Indigo, instituted by a former Army paratrooper from Knoxville, Tenn. removes the middle men in production and distribution to keep prices low for consumers.  Along with their incredibly reasonable prices and fair wages for clothiers, this company built its first store entirely with eco-friendly products: bamboo floors and shelves, wood pulp lined walls, and bamboo clothes hangers.  Their clothes don't scream style and are less likely than those of People Tree to give you a runway look, but they're sensible and ethical.

Though it may take some time before we'll find fair trade fashion at our local department stores and designer shops, we can at least try to add some of these items to our wardrobe.  I'm hoping that just as my friend carries her organic list, we can all do something of this sort regarding fair trade shopping, making sure to add a graphic tee or pima cotton dress made by well-compensated hands in a safe and healthy environment.

If you're really interested in this movement, I've provided some links below for more information about fair trade organizations and foundations.

• Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International
• Indigenous Designs: Fair Trade Clothing
• "Fair Trade Fashion" Article from TIME Magazine
• The Fairtrade Foundation