What Does ‘Made in the USA’ Really Mean?

Most people prefer to purchase items that are made in the United States. You want to support your local communities and ensure there are plenty of jobs for your friends and neighbors.

That desire is only growing. The trends toward social responsibility and reducing our resources by relying on USA-made products aren’t going anywhere.

A survey of 500 Americans found 70% of respondents prefer American-made products. And 83% said they would pay up to 20% more for products made domestically, according to the survey by Reshoring Institute, a nonprofit that supports companies starting, restarting, or expanding manufacturing in the United States.

An article by the Promotional Products Association International quotes Alexandra Ketterling, e-commerce and brand marketing manager with California-based supplier Expert Brand. She says, “People really want to look toward something that they can feel good about and feel confident about, so people are increasingly looking for USA-made products. Search results for USA products have greatly increased over the past couple years.”

But purchasing items that are “made in the USA” isn’t as simple as it sounds.

What does “Made in the USA” mean?

Here’s how Reshoring Institute sums it up:

The Federal Trade Commission requires products advertised as “Made in USA” be “all or virtually all” made in the U.S. “All or virtually all” means the product should contain no – or negligible – foreign content. If products are sold in more than one state, they must meet the FTC guidelines.

The idea of “virtually all” can get sticky. The general consensus is 95% of the “value of product parts, labor, and overhead.” Making those calculations, though, is no small feat. And, individual states have their own labeling requirements, which don’t always line up with federal guidelines.

Consumers also need to understand that “made in the USA” isn’t the same as “assembled in the USA.” Some companies import components from other countries and then assemble them in the United States so they aren’t fully “made in the USA.” While your iPhone may have been designed in California, it was actually made in China, for example.

As a business looking for American-made apparel or promotional products, here are 3 things to keep in mind:

1. Ask questions and do your homework. There might be some fine print attached to a “made in the USA” label. Is the item fully made in the United States or simply assembled here? Don’t be afraid to ask for more details.
2. Be prepared to pay more for American-made products. A lot of companies like the idea of buying American-made items, but don’t realize they might have to pay more per T-shirt. For example, a American-made Bayside T-shirt printed with a 1 color front and back costs $15.51 compared to a Gildan Ultra Cotton T-shirt printed with a 1 color front and back is $10.30.
3. Let us help you find the best brands. We can point you to apparel and promotional products made by reputable companies dedicated to American-made items.

Here are some of our favorite partners when it comes to USA-made apparel and promotional products:

For items like stadium cups, sports bottles, beer steins and tumblers, we love the selection of USA-made options from Leprechaun.

The Volunteer Knitwear collection is a great American-made option. Choose from a selection of fleece pullovers and hoodies as well as long- and short-sleeved T-shirts. Don’t forget their Chore Beanie, an old-school and trendy accessory frequently seen around breweries and farmer’s markets.

This Tennessee-based company started in 1986 with the express desire to “provide jobs to the local Tennessee community and create quality clothing proudly made in the USA.”

Even the apparel color choices – gray and navy tones, blues and reds, and brown and green colors – are a nod to this company’s veteran-owned status.

Another go-to apparel and products distributor is alphabroder. They have a large catalog of water bottles, tumblers, T-shirts, sweatshirts, beanies, tank tops and tote bags all made in the USA.

We’ve also ordered from Bayside, which has American-made T-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, tank tops, polo shirts and safety vests. This is another company dedicated to keeping its production in the United States.

Bayside notes, “From the farmers growing the cotton all over the USA to the finished garment, each shirt has touched almost 500 American hands.

Finding American-made items for your business, nonprofit organization, school or event doesn’t have to be tough. You can stand out for your commitment to supporting products made in the United States. Let us help!

Ready to explore “Made in the USA” items for your business? Reach out to our team for a quote or with questions. We are ready to help you get you noticed!