Get ready for summer with our Made in USA Shopping Directory
Lawn Chair USA makes classic aluminum folding chairs in Florida.
Christine Salas is the 14th child of her parents, John and Rose.
That explains the name of Christine’s business, 14th Rose, which makes leather handbags and wallets in Los Angeles. Christine reached out to me in late March, asking for us to include 14th Rose in our Made in USA Shopping Directory.
I was only too happy to oblige Christine’s request and will consider all suggested additions to the directory. Boardroom Socks of Granite Falls, N.C., is on the list thanks to my cousin Robbie, for instance.
We want the list to keep on growing as we learn of other existing consumer products and as new ones emerge. Our goal is to encourage Americans to be more purposeful consumers by always looking for Made in USA options.
Stay exists in large part because of my passion for American-made products. The act of celebrating some of them in the blog I wrote for my public relations business inspired me to have skin in the game and create our own products, which evolved into Stay in 2017.
One way to start on your own buy-American journey is to start small, with a particular focus. You could begin with a toolbox and its contents or kitchen utensils.
Or commit to buying less but better. Purchase a high-quality coat or jacket that will last for many years and that someone else in your family will cherish once you are finished with it.
Help getting started
The most important thing is to get started, because buying American-made is an investment in our communities and fellow Americans.
To that end, and with the outdoor season upon us, I’m highlighting several American-made products that will enhance your summer lifestyle in a patriotic way.
In 1961, Carrie Birdwell Mann turned her Southern California home into a sewing room to make swim trunks. “America’s beach brand” is still at it, still manufacturing by hand in Santa Ana, Calif., and seemingly getting better with age with a deep lineup that also includes T-shirts, jackets, bags and accessories.
Grilling doesn’t have to be limited to hamburgers and hot dogs. KettlePizza, of Hudson, N.H., offers inserts for charcoal and gas grills that turn them into pizza ovens. One chef noted that the pizza stone also could be used to make brownies, bread pudding, roasted steaks and vegetables. Think of it, he said, as a wood-fired oven.
We bought our first two aluminum folding lawn chairs from Lawn Chair USA, of Fort Pierce, Fla., more than a decade ago when our son was playing Little League. Now a young adult living in Texas, Jack uses those chairs, with their original fabric webbing, in his back yard.
Wiffle Ball
With its signature yellow bat, Wiffle Ball is still made in Connecticut.
Still made in Shelton, Conn., by The Wiffle Ball Inc., this plastic bat and ball combo remains one of the best bargains ($5.99 at grocery stores in Hershey and Palmyra this spring) and purest games ever created. It’s lightweight, requires little space to play, and can be enjoyed by as few as two people.
If you want to get the most out of your container of ice cream with the least wear and tear on your hands, try a Zeroll aluminum scoop. The classic one-piece design eliminates compression, “which gives you up to 20% more scoops of ice cream per gallon,” according to the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., company. Heat from the user’s hand warms fluid inside the handle, which defrosts the ice cream dipper.
These great brands are among more than 150 manufacturers and retailers listed in our Made in USA Shopping Directory. If you know of others that we should consider, please send your suggestions to hello@stayapparel.com.