Journal
What “American made” means. Why it costs more. How to buy less and buy better. Thirty-two pieces, grouped by what you came for.
Understanding American made
What the label legally means, what it does not, and how to tell the difference on a tag.
Educational What "American Made" Legally Means Made in USA, Assembled in USA, and the clothing-label rules, straight from the FTC. Educational Why American-Made Costs More Fair wages, domestic materials, and what you’re actually paying for. Educational A Short History of American Manufacturing From the industrial revolution to today’s maker economy. Educational The Future of American Manufacturing Reshoring, automation, and what’s coming next. Educational How 2026 Tariffs Make American-Made a Better Deal Import prices are up. Domestic goods are holding steady. Educational Selvedge Denim Explained Why the edge matters and what shuttle looms have to do with it. Comparison American-Made vs. Imported Boots Same brands, different factories. What changes. Educational Goodyear Welt Explained What it is, why it matters, and how to spot it. Educational Everyday Products You Didn’t Know Were Made in America From cast iron to crayons — surprising things still manufactured here. Educational Horween Leather Explained Why Chicago leather is in every heritage boot worth buying. Educational Union Made vs. American Made They sound the same. They are not. Here is the difference. Educational Fabric Weight Explained What ounces and GSM mean for denim, flannel, and canvas. Educational The American Cotton Supply Chain Why "sewn in USA" is not the same as "grown in USA."
Buying, care and repair
The hands-on guides — sizing, breaking in, rewaxing, and finding someone who can fix it.
Practical How to Tell If Something Is American Made The checks we run before a product goes on this site. Practical Building a Capsule Wardrobe If you’re going to own less, start here. Practical The American-Made Gift Guide for Guys Gifts that won’t end up in a landfill. Practical How to Break In Boots Skip the blisters. Break them in right. Practical How to Care for Waxed Canvas Cleaning, rewaxing, and storage — the full guide. Practical How to Rewax a Jacket Step-by-step guide with product recommendations. Practical Raw Denim Care Guide Wash, soak, and break in raw denim without ruining it. Practical Leather Care Guide Clean, condition, and protect leather for decades. Practical How to Size Heritage Boots Brannock measurements, lasts, and avoiding the common mistakes. Practical Buying Vintage American Made Thrifting, estate sales, and eBay — how to find the good stuff. Practical Where to Repair American Made Gear Cobblers, denim specialists, and waxed canvas shops that do the work right.
Stories from American manufacturing
The mills, the factory towns, and the brands that went overseas and came back.
Story Factory Towns Still Making Things The communities built around American manufacturing. Story Brands That Moved Manufacturing Back Who came back, who never left, and who got called out by the FTC. Story Best American Factories to Visit 10 factories that offer public tours. Story Cone Mills and American Denim 112 years of American denim ended on December 31, 2017. Story American Wool Revival Pendleton, Imperial Stock Ranch, and the slow rebuild of US wool.
Why any of this matters
The case for owning fewer things and keeping them longer.