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meganfm · Oct 17th, 2009, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by mona_danya

I would love for everything to be made in the North America so they can be exempt from Customs upon entry into Canada.

Agreed!!!

Unfortunately neither the US nor Canada has the capacity to create mass-market clothing like what you can find in any retail chain store (aside from local boutiques that sell small, independent lines).

For example, in Canada Aritzia used to make EVERYTHING in Canada (this was years ago). It was one of the very few stores that did. But now that they've expanded so much....there just isn't the garment industry here to support the a mount of stock they need anymore.

I don't know....as a Canadian obviously I would rather things be made in Canada....Canadians already pump enough money into the US economy as it stands.

lolakitten · Oct 17th, 2009, 03:49 PM

Another Canadian here - I buy Canadian made when I can. I prefer European made as well. I try to avoid Chinese made as much as possible, and would gladly pay extra to do that, but that's not always possible. TBH, I'm not keen on US made - it's usually pretty poor quality & even if it's manufactured in the US, most of the time the materials are imported from China. This is common in food products as well. Buyers be aware.

gloss_gal · Oct 17th, 2009, 04:53 PM

I would love to see more items made in the US when the option is to outsource it and I would pay more. This does include French and Italian imports as those designers are not in the US.

hotshot · Oct 17th, 2009, 05:06 PM

Would be thrilled to have more clothes made here in the US.. It certainly would help

to put many people back to work.

Applaud Michelle Obama for favoring and supporting American designers.

tiggycat · Oct 17th, 2009, 05:49 PM

I also applaud Michelle Obama for her stand.

If we offshore all the manufacturing jobs, how will people who worked in those industries live/be able to afford to buy anything? It's not realistic to think everyone can/wants to go to college and get an office or professional job.

My husband and I tried for a while to read the labels and only buy made in Canada (or at least the US) and it was very, very, difficult to find clothes, shoes or anything else, even at a much higher price.

Funny story - I wanted to buy a Toyota Camry because they are our company cars and I know they are good quality. He wanted "an American car". After we bought our Ford Fusion (which we are very happy with), I was reading the manual and it said our car was made in Mexico. I checked at work and the Toyotas were actually made in Kentucky! So you can't be too careful when reading the labels!

shibumiflowers · Oct 18th, 2009, 12:59 AM

One thing though, just because a label says, Made in the U.S.A. doesn't mean what you think it means either. Some US protectorates, outlying islands, etc. are considered "America" but they can employ sweatshop type working conditions and have a steady rotation of migrant workers working for about $.50/hr. There are many manufacturing firms doing this and still can label their products Made in the USA. I recall a recent expose' of Kathy Lee Gifford lines label Made in the USA but were found to be in suboptimal conditions. Another incident were coats made in the USA of imported materials some of which turned out to be stuffed with dog hair (fur). That was disturbing news too.

Leeleerae · Oct 18th, 2009, 01:57 AM

I wish there were stricter regulations about being able to say where a garment was made. If something says "Made in USA", it should actually be made in USA with fabrics and what not that were made here as well!
Whats the point of buying or saying that something twas "Made in USA" with fabric bought from china and assembly done in random outlying island (as shibumiflowers mentions)?

For me, its not an issue of buying something made in the usa as much as it is an issue of being mislead. As a consumer, I do not like this.

karmenzsofia · Oct 18th, 2009, 02:52 AM

Originally Posted by BgaHolic

I think the sad truth is hardly anything is made in this country anymore. I guess I was asking because I wanted to see how many people cared. I, for one, care a lot. Just as I patronize other countries, I would have loved to see a unified spirit going on in ours to bring back manufacturing and add more jobs and pride!

Yup. And it won't change as long as things can be made cheaper elsewhere. And, as you know, it's not just manufacturers, but service companies are also outsourcing because labor is so much cheaper in other countries.

Originally Posted by hotshot

Would be thrilled to have more clothes made here in the US.. It certainly would help

to put many people back to work.

Applaud Michelle Obama for favoring and supporting American designers.

Ditto

meganfm · Oct 18th, 2009, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by lolakitten

Another Canadian here - I buy Canadian made when I can. I prefer European made as well. I try to avoid Chinese made as much as possible, and would gladly pay extra to do that, but that's not always possible. TBH, I'm not keen on US made - it's usually pretty poor quality & even if it's manufactured in the US, most of the time the materials are imported from China. This is common in food products as well. Buyers be aware.

It's SO true. I've heard many times when labels say "Made in the USA" really, it's all made in China but they just put a couple of finishing touches on in the States-so even with made in the US things aren't what you think they are. And, like you said, the materials are often made in China too.

GhstDreamer · Oct 18th, 2009, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by tiggycat

Funny story - I wanted to buy a Toyota Camry because they are our company cars and I know they are good quality. He wanted "an American car". After we bought our Ford Fusion (which we are very happy with), I was reading the manual and it said our car was made in Mexico. I checked at work and the Toyotas were actually made in Kentucky! So you can't be too careful when reading the labels!

Almost all the parts inside any North American car are produced overseas particularly in Mexico (though even luxury cars like BMW have a lot of their parts made in Vietnam). They ship all those parts back to Canada or the US and build the cars this way. It's kind of sad that's the reason the manufacturing industry in the US and Canada has been hit so hard. It's difficult to justify paying a worker $25-$35/hr with benefits and pension for making the same parts as another worker in Mexico who is earning a couple of dollars or less with little to no benefits or pension. So buying domestic is not really buying domestic at all. I don't always think it's necessarily a bad thing though - both countries' economies (including those in Western Europe) are still going through the transition to depend less on the manufacturing all physical goods.

Gimmethebag · Oct 18th, 2009, 08:14 PM

I know for a sound fact that AG Adriano Goldschmied jeans and shirts are made in the USA, as well as Splendid (barring the cashmere, all cashmere production is in china... Silk too.)

I pay more to buy US brands because it's for the greater good. Every job in this country is important... Not everyone can work in an office. We need a variety of industries to be strong and wealthy as a nation.

pink.couture · Oct 18th, 2009, 08:33 PM

Well, a lot of things are made in different countries now days. I mean--I buy a lot of primp/american apparel/hudson jeans but not all things are made in america, sadly. I think some LVs are made in the USA but some aren't. So what are you going to do make the SA go through all the speedys til she finds a US stamped bag..

Idk, in this world it's hard to do so. But if there was more of a selection, I would.

Jayne1 · Oct 18th, 2009, 08:46 PM

Whenever I see clothes from H&M or The Gap, for example, and they are ridiculously cheap... like a few dollars for a shirt and under $20 for a jacket at H&M... I think "sweatshop" and it sickens me a little. But people obviously want really low prices, because they are grabbing these items up.

Jayne1 · Oct 18th, 2009, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by meganfm

It's SO true. I've heard many times when labels say "Made in the USA" really, it's all made in China but they just put a couple of finishing touches on in the States-so even with made in the US things aren't what you think they are. And, like you said, the materials are often made in China too.

I've been saying for years that my beloved Chanel bags must be made in China, the quality is just not the same as my old bags bought in the late '80s/early '90s.

Considering all those problems that were disclosed regarding 'Made in China' a few years ago, I worry even when buying simple dishes from Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn... they state outright that the stuff is made in China. I try never to buy toys made in China (remember the lead paint fiasco?) but who knows where the stuff I buy is really made.

In answer to the OP's question - I would love North American made items and yes I would buy them.

BgaHolic · Oct 18th, 2009, 09:59 PM

I truly wish we could change things. I have started. Now that I am seeing some high end brands with tags in them made anywhere but where I expected, ie. a Prada bag not made in Italy but made in China instead or the lining of the bag was made in China to cut costs! I just don't buy them. Because the bottom line is "do I really need it???" Answer: "No!" If I multiply myself by hundreds of thousands of people, in one day I would make my point and I truly believe our country would prosper! Of course this can't happen over night but just the thought puts a smile on my face!

Oct 17th, 2009, 03:49 PM	#17
lolakitten Member Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Ottawa Posts: 530	Another Canadian here - I buy Canadian made when I can. I prefer European made as well. I try to avoid Chinese made as much as possible, and would gladly pay extra to do that, but that's not always possible. TBH, I'm not keen on US made - it's usually pretty poor quality & even if it's manufactured in the US, most of the time the materials are imported from China. This is common in food products as well. Buyers be aware.
	__________________

Oct 17th, 2009, 04:53 PM	#18
gloss_gal Member Joined: May 2006 Posts: 2,906	I would love to see more items made in the US when the option is to outsource it and I would pay more. This does include French and Italian imports as those designers are not in the US.
gloss_gal Member Joined: May 2006 Posts: 2,906

Oct 17th, 2009, 05:06 PM	#19
hotshot Member Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,859	Would be thrilled to have more clothes made here in the US.. It certainly would help to put many people back to work. Applaud Michelle Obama for favoring and supporting American designers.
hotshot Member Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,859

Oct 17th, 2009, 05:49 PM	#20
tiggycat Member Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 131	I also applaud Michelle Obama for her stand. If we offshore all the manufacturing jobs, how will people who worked in those industries live/be able to afford to buy anything? It's not realistic to think everyone can/wants to go to college and get an office or professional job. My husband and I tried for a while to read the labels and only buy made in Canada (or at least the US) and it was very, very, difficult to find clothes, shoes or anything else, even at a much higher price. Funny story - I wanted to buy a Toyota Camry because they are our company cars and I know they are good quality. He wanted "an American car". After we bought our Ford Fusion (which we are very happy with), I was reading the manual and it said our car was made in Mexico. I checked at work and the Toyotas were actually made in Kentucky! So you can't be too careful when reading the labels!
tiggycat Member Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 131

Oct 18th, 2009, 01:57 AM	#22
Leeleerae Member Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 816	I wish there were stricter regulations about being able to say where a garment was made. If something says "Made in USA", it should actually be made in USA with fabrics and what not that were made here as well! Whats the point of buying or saying that something twas "Made in USA" with fabric bought from china and assembly done in random outlying island (as shibumiflowers mentions)? For me, its not an issue of buying something made in the usa as much as it is an issue of being mislead. As a consumer, I do not like this.
Leeleerae Member Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 816	__________________ Check out my new site: www.GuiltlessPurse.com

Oct 18th, 2009, 12:59 AM	#21
shibumiflowers Member Joined: Sep 2009 Location: Chicago area Posts: 330	One thing though, just because a label says, Made in the U.S.A. doesn't mean what you think it means either. Some US protectorates, outlying islands, etc. are considered "America" but they can employ sweatshop type working conditions and have a steady rotation of migrant workers working for about $.50/hr. There are many manufacturing firms doing this and still can label their products Made in the USA. I recall a recent expose' of Kathy Lee Gifford lines label Made in the USA but were found to be in suboptimal conditions. Another incident were coats made in the USA of imported materials some of which turned out to be stuffed with dog hair (fur). That was disturbing news too.

Oct 18th, 2009, 08:14 PM	#26
Gimmethebag Gimme Gimme Gimme Joined: Dec 2008 Location: STL-Nashville-Chicago Posts: 1,108	I know for a sound fact that AG Adriano Goldschmied jeans and shirts are made in the USA, as well as Splendid (barring the cashmere, all cashmere production is in china... Silk too.) I pay more to buy US brands because it's for the greater good. Every job in this country is important... Not everyone can work in an office. We need a variety of industries to be strong and wealthy as a nation.
	__________________ Add Bubbles To Taste Follow me.

Oct 18th, 2009, 08:33 PM	#27
pink.couture calliecallie=twitter Joined: Oct 2008 Location: FashionVilla Posts: 1,613	Well, a lot of things are made in different countries now days. I mean--I buy a lot of primp/american apparel/hudson jeans but not all things are made in america, sadly. I think some LVs are made in the USA but some aren't. So what are you going to do make the SA go through all the speedys til she finds a US stamped bag.. Idk, in this world it's hard to do so. But if there was more of a selection, I would.

Oct 18th, 2009, 08:46 PM	#28
Jayne1 Working Canvas Joined: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 6,971	Whenever I see clothes from H&M or The Gap, for example, and they are ridiculously cheap... like a few dollars for a shirt and under $20 for a jacket at H&M... I think "sweatshop" and it sickens me a little. But people obviously want really low prices, because they are grabbing these items up.
	__________________ Tweet http://twitter.com/lynn__f

Oct 18th, 2009, 09:59 PM	#30
BgaHolic OP Love my Shih Tzu Joined: May 2009 Location: Autumn, Winter, Spring & Summer Posts: 672	I truly wish we could change things. I have started. Now that I am seeing some high end brands with tags in them made anywhere but where I expected, ie. a Prada bag not made in Italy but made in China instead or the lining of the bag was made in China to cut costs! I just don't buy them. Because the bottom line is "do I really need it???" Answer: "No!" If I multiply myself by hundreds of thousands of people, in one day I would make my point and I truly believe our country would prosper! Of course this can't happen over night but just the thought puts a smile on my face!

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