Eye on the Future, Nod to the Past

Five years ago, about 30 miles north of Philadelphia, in Doylestown, PA a small furniture company was founded. Every piece uses mortise and tenon joinery, hand-finishing, no assembly line, just hand-crafted goodness made from sustainably harvested domestic hardwoods. The company is Wren & Cooper, named for its founders, husband and wife team Mariah Wren and Mark Cooper. Wren graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2004, with a BFA in furniture design and her schooling shows in the stunning retro-yet-modern pieces they turn out.

Darn Good Jeans Made in Downtown LA

Los Angeles is having a true manufacturing resurgence, especially when it comes to apparel. This is a town that highly values fashion, after all. One shining example is Rogue Territory, a company dedicated to "preserving the trade of handcrafted goods and supporting the skilled artisans who employ creativity and manual dexterity to produce truly unique, one-of-a-kind pieces." Their artisanal take on jeans recalls the workmanship of American manufacturers of the early 20th century and they are hand-making their jeans and pants in that tradition. Great cuts, high quality denim, built to last, all manufactured in downtown Los Angeles.

Manned by Americans

Mannington is a fourth generation family-owned business headquartered in New Jersey. They are the only U.S. manufacturer of residential and commercial flooring that offers a full range of flooring solutions: resilient flooring manufactured at HQ in Jersey, hardwood and laminate made in North Carolina and Alabama, carpet made in Georgia, you get the idea. A truly ALL American company.

Future Family Heirlooms

In a small rural shop in Minnesota, Eastvold Furniture builds finely crafted furniture from sustainable materials. They are timeless and beautiful, at home in either a loft or a farmhouse. They are built to last in the hopes that they will be past down to future generations. I wish I was inheriting some!

Cultivating Creativity Across the Country

eco-kids started the way a lot of companies making kids' products do. Someone becomes a parent, sees a hole in the market for something they wish they could find for their child, and decides to make it. In 2008, Cammie and Kip (Jack and Maggie's parents) began making handmade art supplies to sell at farmers' markets around Southern California. Now eco-kids is a line of art supplies that gives children the "tools to create using non-toxic, natural ingredients and environmentally friendly packaging." All made in the US!

Durable, Simple, Functional

My friend Heather tipped me off BaileyWorks Bags, a company out of New Hampshire, where we both used to live, that makes industrial strength, deceptively simple, good looking bags. As they write on their site, they are so durable, they "had to design new bags just so you would have to buy another one." Started in Portsmouth in 1993, (recently moved to Newmarket) after hearing a call for tough messenger bags for bike messengers, BaileyWorks decided to answer that call. Every bag is made by hand in America, no breakable parts, no fancy patterns. Just good solid American craftsmanship.

Fall Plaid Round-up

Here in LA we like to pretend we have seasons. Yeah, it might have been nearly 100 degrees yesterday, but it will probably get slightly cooler. And making believe it is autumn gives us a chance to wear something a little cozier, something that goes with pumpkins and cider. For everyone else, there may actually be a nip in the air and these choice American-made styles work even better for that.

Woolrich Woolen Mills

Available from Mr. Porter or at these stores

Woolrich, Pennsylvania

Paul Bunyan Jac Shirt from Bemidji Woolen Mills

Bemidji, Minnesota

 

Board Shirt from Pendleton Woolen Mills

Portland, Oregon

Kromer Carryall from Stormy Kromer

 Ironwood, MI

Wool Western Shirt from Filson

Seattle, Washington (Not everything is made in the US)

Northwoods Jacket from Wintergreen Northern Wear

Ely, Minnesota