Flying is Pretty Cool

Flying is Pretty Cool
New venture...children's book

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

American Made Clothes

Well after much searching and little results (approximately 97% of our clothing is foreign made) the winner by far is American Apparel out of L.A. California.  Their very in sync with the American need for home grown jobs, supply and minimizing foreign sub-contractors.  They boast knitting, dying, sewing, distribution and marketing all within in Los Angeles.  Sweat-shop free and paying fair wages to their employees. Their offering is plentiful and they use some organic materials.  I love this company!  They have their own brick and mortar stores throughout the world, 20 different countries, so please look for a store near you and support them as much as you can!

Other smaller American apparel companies were All American Clothing Co. out of Ohio, Bamboosa in South Carolina, & American Joe Apparel that boasts supporting our troops with their T-shirts.  Please support them all and look for local companies in your town.  Spending $100 at a local business means that approximately $73 of that $100 remains in your local economy vs. $43 out of $100 spent at a National Chain. Source: Local Works a civic economics study for Local First, Grand Rapids Michigan.  Here in AZ we have a great source for buying local www.localfirstaz.com

Monday, July 11, 2011

God Bless America.....made in Pakistan

Did you know that Kohl's NYSE: KSS is headquartered in the heart of America and employs some 80K employees, that's the good news.  When they sent out several coupons in the month of June, I took advantage of them.   I was thrilled to find some T-shirts that had the American flag and red, white & blue inspired designs on them to wear during the weekend of the 4th and at a great price.

When I got home I noticed the tag with a red white and blue logo that read the following:
"Our flag-inspired collection has been designed to reflect the tireless spirit of our free nation.

Look for patriotic designs on many of our finest products.  Collect them. Share them.  Use them year-around.

Our admiration for the Stars and Stripes continues every year.  So keep an eye out for future commemorative items.  KOHL'S"

Isn't that sweet!  However, when I looked in the shirt at the label I found  "MADE IN PAKISTAN" in fact when I looked at all the items I had purchased at Kohl's I found that every single one was made in some far away country. Adidas shorts make in Vietnam, Sonoma made in China, Daisy Fuentes made in Cambodia.  Now, I am not so naive to think that this isn't the norm for all retailers here in America.  Gap NYSE: GPS shirts are from Philippines. But don't the major American companies have some duty in actually supporting American suppliers when their selling something that ADVERTISES OUR PRIDE to be American?

During this time in America when we have up to 16% unemployment and people loosing their homes left and right it's time that we held them accountable to do their part to help out.  Wal-Mart NYSE: WMT, Target NYSE: TGT, Kohl's all the major stores could make a significant impact in our beautiful county of free enterprise if they just made an effort.  Would I spend more money knowing something came from a Kansas factory, YOU BET! I will be sending them a letter with some suggestions of where to find American products and I will post my findings here too.
Please let me know your thoughts.