Here's how you can be a better buy-American consumer
One of our hats, union-made in New Jersey.
Back in the pre-Internet days of the early 1980s, when pen and paper were my go-to means of long-distance communication, I wrote a fan letter to the alternative rock band R.E.M.
The response — a photocopied typewritten page with a hand-written note at the bottom — included a short list of bands that R.E.M. recommended.
In 2022, seeking out American-made products is a lot like the search for up-and-coming bands was 40 years ago. Even with the Internet, it often requires doggedness to find what you’re looking for. But that’s also why it’s so fun and rewarding when you are successful.
Just as R.E.M. was my gateway to the alternative-music scene, Stay will help you become a better consumer of Made in USA products.
Don’t fall for the flag: They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings (Samuel Johnson by way of Bob Dylan), and there are some scoundrel mass brands out there. Old Navy and Under Armour come to mind.
If you see the American flag or USA on a T-shirt, don’t assume that the garment is American made. Shameless companies are more than happy to sell out the Stars and Stripes for a few bucks. Don’t enable them.
Look at labels: This applies far beyond flag tees. Whenever you can, look to see where items are made. If there’s an American-made option of equal or better quality, buy it instead of an import. Doing this even just occasionally can make a positive difference, and it will make you a more informed consumer.
Ask what you can do for your country: John F. Kennedy, at his inaugural, challenged Americans, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” That sentiment is a great way to think about Made in USA.
Be an advocate for your country. Ask retailers for the American-made stuff. If they don’t have enough or any, challenge them to do better. You can always exercise your freedom not to buy from them until they have U.S.-made options because in most instances, they need you more than you need them.
Buy better, buy less: Even as houses have gotten bigger, 1 in 11 Americans pays $100 per month to rent an off-site storage unit. That’s enough storage to fill the Hoover Dam 26 times. In short, we have too much stuff.
My wife, Sara, and I have never been big accumulators, but we shed even more possessions when we moved into downtown Hershey in 2020. We’ve never missed anything we got rid of.
To the extent that American-made products are sometimes more expensive than imports, consider buying fewer things but of better quality.
Ask us: Like Macy’s in “Miracle on 34th Street,” we aim to provide added value, in our case by helping customers find the American-made products they’re looking for, even if it’s not one of our tees. If we can help, send us an email at hello@stayapparel.com or visit us at one of our shows. We always welcome the opportunity to turn people on to Made in the USA.
Buying American isn’t easy, but the reward is great. Knowing that you’ve made a disciplined decision about where to spend your hard-earned dollars, all while benefitting American workers and communities, well that’s a pretty special thing.
Welcome aboard. Thank you for being part of this journey. There’s much hard work left to do.
As R.E.M. said, we can reach our destination, but it’s still a ways away.