American-Made Blue Jeans
It’s hard to imagine a wardrobe without denim jeans. What started out as hard-working wear for men has evolved into a fashion basic for men, women, and children. The old-style dungaree (from the Hindi “dungri” meaning a coarse cloth) is still around, but increasingly the jeans market is dominated by stretch denim that dresses up or down.
Denim trivia: if you look closely at your jeans, you will see that the denim has a diagonal pattern in the weave. As every school kid knows, weaving takes a filling yarn over-under-over-under the warp yarns (the same technique applies to lattice pie crust!). For denim and other twill fabrics, however, the filling yarns go under and over two or more warp yarns. This creates an offset pattern from one row to the next. The addition of spandex fibers allows the denim to "give."
American jeans used to mean Levi, Wrangler, and Lee, to name a few. Today, Levi jeans are made overseas. Wrangler and Lee brands are owned by VF Corporation, which also owns Chic Jeans, Riders, and Rustler brands. VF Corp. has manufacturing plants located in the
Luckily, there are a surprising number of American-made jean options available. For a definitive (almost) listing of jeans still made in USA, see Stephanie's Guide to American-Made Jeans. (I tried to include the tables here, but blogger doesn't seem to like them!) I have divided the brands into two categories: traditional “serious” jeans and up-scale luxury jeans. Admittedly, my groupings are somewhat arbitrary, but jeans that cost over $100 a pair (and some up to $200 a pair) cry out for special treatment!
There is a confusing array of these luxury jeans, featuring hand sanding, grinding, and “destroyed effects” (i.e., the price includes having someone wear them out for you!). I did not find much to distinguish among the high-end, couture jeans; all the brands I list appear to be made in
Here's an interesting article on the booming luxury jeans market: Explosion of pricey premium-jeans market has created intense competition and, some say, a bloated inventory for retailers. By Jennifer Davies (San Diego Union Tribune, October 5, 2005)
One final note. I did not include USA Works jeans in the table because they are presently being imported. However, Sapko International, which makes USA WORKS, says they are on track to restart
As always, I welcome comments, additions, and corrections. Let me know what you think of Stephanie's Guide to American-Made Jeans.
12 Comments:
Awesome! Thanks.
Thank you Stephanie for the info. I have been looking for a while for Jeans made in the USA.
A small variety of American-made jeans are available at Made in uSA retailer zebulonUSA.com.
A wide variety in one store == one shipping fee.
Visit us at
http://www.zebulonusa.com/catalog/shopaff.asp?affid=4
Paul S
President/Founder
Thanks for your website and what you were trying to show. As you know most Jean companies including VF (Wrangler, Lee etc) Levis, True Religion (I think) CAHARTT (For sure) have gone to out of the country 100% now with Sewing, some claim to buy some fabric and do like VF in US example Liberty Denim in SC, I think they ship it to south America and Mexico, might want to confirm.
In the early 1980's I sold the Brand to a Lee Jeans Distributor who sold it to Fox Apparel http://FoxApparel.net
TexasJeans http://TexasJeans.com is 100% made in Asheboro NC using only US made Labels, Fabric and trim, our new online store will be up in 2 weeks, we have been a major supply for the US Army's new ACU Digital pattern replacement program plus we make Firefighter and school uniforms etc.
TexasJeansUSA is and will be the last of the "Brands" 100% USA (except for Pointer and small factories that are selling their brand direct.
Joe Clinard Jr
Brand Manager
TexasJeansUSA
Also, your readers might wish to consider Union Jean Company (www.unionjeancompany.com). According to their company lit. they are a union garment manufacturer in Ohio. Although I don't know if the material is imported or not.
Sincerly,
PBS
hi i work in ky at a carhartt plant. its shutting its doors in alittle over a month. it is going to mexxico. i hope this bites them where it counts.
To answer one of the previous questions...The Union Jean Company (now the All American Clothing Co.) does get their materials from the USA as well. Check us out, you may be suprised at the clothing you can still find Made in the USA!
BJ Nickol
www.allamericanclothing.com
Thank you for this website. Every American that cares about the safety and security of jobs in this country should only buy USA made products. What we buy and where we buy it from matters!
Lucky Brand jeans and True Religion jeans are made in the USA!
They also charge 100 to 300 bucks for something Texas Jeans quailty and fit and a 35 year old American Brand.
TexasJeans are on of the best Jeans I have ever owned. I am not sure but I think they have their own large factory in NC and do not use Sweat Shops in LA like PERHAPS...True Religion does...hows that
I was glad to find this info, I am trying hard to buy only American products now. Here is another US assembled jeans (and other items), www.prisonblues.com
It's kinda a regional thing here in Oregon, ALL the loggers wear these things. I don't if they exactly count as made in the USA since they kinda made by slave labour in prison? But it does good things anyways, teaching inmates skills and all.
texas jeans are very good quality ..thanks for this article..these jeans are one of the best jeans..
AJAY
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