Seven Authentic “Made In America” Brands

Homegrown brands with rising cache domestically and abroad.

By Gail Service

Staying true to the “Red, White and Blue” while shopping for work clothes, a new hat, accessories or that special person’s gift got you perplexed?

Don’t know where to look online or offline, to make your high quality at lower prices, patriotic purchase?

Fear not! My Fashionista and Fashionisto, I’m well able to ease your mind on this subject.

Peruse at your leisure these seven authentic “Made in America” brands,

Billykirk  based in Lancaster, CO sells Amish- made; hand crafted (oiled, cut and edged by hand) leather shoulder bags, wallets, belts and key fobs.

Epaulet   sells custom made shirts and ties; according to the website the following information on where their products are made” Keeping American artisanal production alive is a major priority for us. Not everything that we carry is made in the United States, but we search out and offer domestically made products wherever possible. Our in-house shirting, neckwear, trousers, denim, and dresses are all made in the US.”

Hamilton based in Houston, TX, have been long known for their custom dress shirts also carry a collection of contemporary sport shirts.

Levi’s based in Los Angeles, CA, patented the world’s first blue jeans.

Quoddy  made by hand footwear in Maine, hand sewn moccasins.

Brooks Brothers an American classic headquartered on Madison Avenue, Manhattan, NYC, ready to wear fashion.

Grown & Sewn  sells khaki pants, jackets and accessories, as per the company website the following statement, “By producing our 'dry goods' in the U.S. it allows us to offer special finishes and details. We believe contributing to living wages and limiting our environmental impact is being globally responsible.”

This is just a sampling of what fine quality goods are produced here in America and getting traction as high-quality, respected brands. Brands that are stabilizing their place in the ever- changing Domestic and European markets.

Happy Shopping!

Special treatment….Traditional dry cleaning or Eco-friendly care

Special treatment….Traditional dry cleaning or Eco-friendly care

By Gail Service

Do your treat your dress shirts as well as you treat yourself?

When you are feeling grimey, grungy and out of sorts nothings better than a hot shower, but that laundry hamper in the corner− filled with your best shirts for work, won’t wash themselves, there is no quick hop in the shower for them. So what will you do?

Ask any man in America how he takes care of his dress shirts and he will give you an answer that is logical and convenient. Professional dry cleaning is the most likely response to this query. Drop off your shirts, get a ticket, come back in two to five days and some harried hard working person will hand you a bundle of hangers with your freshly laundered shirts.

Now you’ve paid roughly $1.95 per shirt and you are on your way home.

But here is something you probably didn’t you know, that the dry cleaning chemicals used to clean your shirts can destroy the fabric, breaking down the fibers and cause your white dress shirts to look dingy, gray and a bit flabby. Also for some people wearing newly dry cleaned clothing can cause a negative skin reaction caused by sensitivity to the chemicals used.

Instead of the going to the cleaners’ method, how about an Eco-friendly solution; consider using the washing machine, saving the planet, your health and some money while caring for your shirts.

Eco-friendly laundry products and techniques can assist in keeping your budget intact and save your health.

When choosing to use a washing machine be sure to set the machine on the gentle cycle with luke- warm water to preserve the fabric. Some eco- safe detergents to consider are, Ecos by Earth Friendly Products Free & Clear at $6 for 50 oz; it’s a nice, garden-fresh, mild detergent that's tough on stains. It washes a full load with just one ounce and has a built-in soy-based fabric softener and cellulose-based optical brightener.

Another product is, Arm & Hammer Essentials at $3.99 for 50 oz., great for sensitive skin and leaves clothes feeling soft, and works very well on hard to clean sweat stains.

There are Eco-friendly dry cleaners, though they are not prevalent and found in more liberal and progressive neighborhoods such as Greenwich Village in NY.

These cleaners use one of two methods wet-cleaning and CO2.

Wet cleaning uses water and specialized detergents that are milder than home use products. Carbon dioxide (CO2) cleaning uses non-toxic, liquid CO2 as the cleaning solvent, along with detergent.

Whatever you should decide, just be sure to give tender loving care to your dress shirts so they will last another work day. In the economy as it is, where loyalty is hard to find, your well cared for dress shirt well be on your side and help present your very best self to a new boss or and not so old one.

Have a slice of the American dream

Have a slice of the American dream


By Gail Service



“American as apple pie” a common phrase used to illustrate something that is generally considered wholesome and purely American. Take fashion, it doesn’t have to be high fashion… hot off the runways of Europe ,just shopping at the Mall or online is good enough for most. Some fashion labels happen to be made right here in the good “Ole US of A.”

What’s trending in fashion and the economy right now are products “made in America”, “green products” and “green collar “jobs.

Americans care about things that are functional with a side of whimsy, practicality or even a conscience, fashion certainly is not to be left out. Some clothing labels have a humanitarian side; one example is eco-friendly Esperanza Threads.

Many clothing labels have trouble with the vapor of sweatshop rumors dogging them; Esperanza Threads is one that does not have that particular issue. They fight the good fight, and uphold a sweatshop -free standard. Made in the USA, using organic cotton for its eco-friendly clothing and a part of the Grassroots Coalition for Economic and Environmental Justice, the American dream is alive and thriving and showing its conscience.

The thought of child labor and sub minimum wages is not sexy and judged morally corrupt. Sweatshop-free clothing is material not produced through any means or measure violating human rights. Child labor is not used, fair wage is given in accordance to labor law, and working conditions are monitored for safety and all in all, basic human rights protected.

The idea of people before profits does exist, perhaps with the strain of an uphill battle attached, but what is a success story without a little conflict or struggle and Americans know a lot about both.