Trump says he doesn’t make his suits here because it’s “very hard.” Here’s proof he’s wrong.
June 2017 Update: We keep receiving great suggestions for American-made suit options like the one below. Keep 'em coming! We love to help spread the word about companies like these.
Bespoke Edge
A family-owned company, Colorado-based Bespoke Edge operates a bit differently than most suitmakers. Rather than operate a physical store, Bespoke Edge reps travel directly to their customers' homes or offices to take measurements, and clients pick out their fabric and other suiting options. Much of the company's suiting is American-made, including all of its dress shirts and upper-end handmade suiting.
February 2017 Update: This blog has remained one of the more popular posts on our website since it was posted nearly a year ago. We've also heard from additional companies who are making suits in America, which we've added below.
Southwick
Italian immigrants Nicholas and Vito Grieco founded Southwick in 1929, and the Massachusetts company has been producing suits that combine "a love of quality of craftsmanship" ever since.
One of the prevailing storylines of the 2016 presidential election has been Donald Trump’s rather combative stance toward companies that offshore their production.
The Donald has threatened Apple. And Ford. And Nabisco. Once he’s president, Trump promises that he will force these companies to bring their production back to American shores.
Here at the Alliance for American Manufacturing, we’d love to see companies like these bring their factories back to the United States. But let’s be real: Trump is a huge hypocrite.
His own line of suits and ties are ref="httmade outside the United States in places like China and Mexico. Trump’s daughter Ivanka also outsources production of her popular fashion line, which includes shoes, dresses, and handbags. Trump owns up to this, saying that it’s “very, very hard to have anything in apparel made in this country."
But if Trump really wanted to manufacture his clothing line in America, he could. Below are just a handful of the (very successful!) suit and tie makers who make their products in the United States.
Joseph Abboud
The popular suits — sold at the Men’s Wearhouse chain — are made in the designer’s home state of Massachusetts. Abboud takes pride in keeping it Made in America, and even gave Gov. Charlie Baker a tour of his factory this week.
“The workforce is a highly skilled workforce," Abboud told the Boston Globe. "When you have 700 to 800 people in your factory, they aren’t individual people, they’re families… I always say it’s great to be made in America, but our distinction is that we’re made well in America.”
Brooks Brothers
Every retail tie produced by the classic chain has at least some of it made by hand in Long Island City, just 20 minutes from midtown Manhattan. Some of the chain’s clothing and accessories also are made in the United States, including suits, jeans, loafers, and cuff links.
Hardwick
Founded in 1880 in Tennessee, Hardwick bills itself as “America’s Oldest Tailor Made Clothing Company.” The company’s Italian Super 150’s Navy Blazer was named a 2015 Made in the South Awards winner by Garden and Gun magazine.
Read Wall
Launched in Washington’s preppy Georgetown neighborhood, Read Wall calls itself a purveyor of “great, American tailored clothing.” Suits are made to order, and the company also prides itself on sourcing fabric from American mills whenever possible.
Hart Schaffner Marx
While Read Wall began just a few years ago, Hart Schaffner Marx traces its roots way back to 1887, when immigrant brothers Harry and Max Hart opened up a men’s store in downtown Chicago. The brand continues to thrive, as its American-made men’s suits are available at retailers such as Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s.
Hickey Freeman
Dillards and Nordstrom are among the retailers that sell suits from this New York company, whose motto is “Keep the Quality Up.” Since 1899, the retailer has made its suits in a factory in Rochester dubbed “The Temple.”
Ratio Clothing
Looking for an American-made dress or tuxedo shirt? Eric Powell founded Ratio in 2009 because he couldn’t find a quality shirt that fit well. Ratio manufactures all of its custom-made shirts in the United States, and has been featured in men’s style magazines like Esquire and Details.
Todd Shelton
Like Ratio, this New Jersey-based menswear brand is dedicated to manufacturing dress shirts that fit well. The company also offers jeans, pants and T-shirts, all of which is made at the company’s factory in East Rutherford.
Did we miss your favorite American-made suit, tie or dress shirt maker? If so, send me a line at [email protected] and I’ll add them to the list.