If Urban Outfitters, BR, AA,... can make stuff in the US why can't others?

I'm going to assume the OP isn't a complete and total basehead and didn't just ask how brands notorious for using the absolute cheapest fabric available find sweatshops, who may or may not be able to sew for ****, in the US to make their products and sell them significantly cheaper than mid-tier designer brands that use expensive fabric sewn overseas by competent sew houses.

Originally Posted by robbie

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I believe it was part of the arrangements involved with the end of World War two.

''you can make stuff for the US like cars,computers,shoes,clothes,....; or we'll drop bombs on you''

and so in order to pay the fines involved with the goods being made in the US the cost is higher. AA avoids these tarriffs by employing workers from other countries, and bringing them to the US.

what zissou said

So you're saying we told our allies that if they didn't make **** for us we'd bomb them? Makes plenty of sense

Isn't it also because Americans are lazy and rather have the immigrants do the dirty work of makin ******** clothing all day long for crappy rages
I shop at American apparel cause their clothes fit exactly how I want them. But quality control is pretty crappy. Sleeves never match up lots of times. But for the price it's fine for a throw on shirt.

Originally Posted by whodini

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I'm going to assume the OP isn't a complete and total basehead

Originally Posted by whodini

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fabric

I don't think fabric is a big cost to brands. IIRC fabric is only about 10% of manufacturing costs. Considering manufacturing cost are 10% of the MSRP. The fabric is only about 1% of the retail price.
But I don't know **** about this stuff so correct me if I am wrong.

Edit- I was partly wrong.

Corporate social responsibility is typically more emphasized when garments are made in North America or Europe. I say typically, though, as there are still problems with the maltreatment of immigrant labor. Companies such as American Apparel (mentioned a zillion times in the thread) emphasize their manufacturing process (even though they've got multiple lawsuits regarding sexual harassment in the workplace) and are doing well partly because of this.

In the future, as oil prices continue to soar, it won't be economically feasible to produce goods in China/overseas. US production will begin in increase in the next 20 years out of necessity.

The US is in a better position to enforce labor laws than countries who stand more to lose from better working conditions.

Originally Posted by deveandepot1

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I don't think fabric is a big cost to brands. IIRC fabric is only about 10% of manufacturing costs. Considering manufacturing cost are 10% of the MSRP. The fabric is only about 1% of the retail price.
But I don't know **** about this stuff so correct me if I am wrong.
I mean... take a pair of jeans. Assuming you're making something decent and already have the pattern (which is north of $100 to have done for you), we're talking $10-15 for fabric alone. Sewing in the States would be... ~$30 a pair? So let's say $45 to make a pair of jeans. Even without getting into manufacturer/retail margins which can vary depending on whether that company is doing their own label or private label, that fabric is still a fair bit more than 1% of the retail price.

Fabric aside, I'm not kidding about using houses abroad to get the sewing done competently by places that can't **** around with QC the way dipshits like AA can.

Originally Posted by CBrown85

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The US is in a better position to enforce labor laws than countries who stand more to lose from better working conditions.
That may be true for certain countries (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, etc.) than others (China.)

Originally Posted by CBrown85

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Corporate social responsibility is typically more emphasized when garments are made in North America or Europe. I say typically, though, as there are still problems with the maltreatment of immigrant labor. Companies such as American Apparel (mentioned a zillion times in the thread) emphasize their manufacturing process (even though they've got multiple lawsuits regarding sexual harassment in the workplace) and are doing well partly because of this.

Forget about the sexual harrassment lawsuits, what about **** like this:
American Apparel: Illegal Workers Make Up A Third Of Workforce

...the government has found that 1,800 of its employees are either illegally working in the U.S. or potentially illegal to work.

Those employees comprise about one-third of the clothier's Los Angeles manufacturing operation.

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Are we going through this again?

Made in China doesn't mean Made like ****.

It means Made in China where generally wages are lower (which is OK because purchasing power is higher in less developed countries. eg you can eat 3 meals a day in Vietnam for less than $3. Rent is like $250 a month in Hanoi, which is the capital city of Vietnam, etc.), and thus manufacturing costs are lower. Yes, there are competent sew houses in China (eg some RLPL stuff I believe is made in china by england trained chinese tailors and in general it's pretty top notch) and they can turn out a good product.

I know it's annoying that you can't say oh made in china, must mean it sucks, move on. But the reality is a lot more complex.

Originally Posted by robbie

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I believe it was part of the arrangements involved with the end of World War two.

''you can make stuff for the US like cars,computers,shoes,clothes,....; or we'll drop bombs on you''


robbie, I like your posts, but if this is your perception of the global economy, you both need a far better understanding of international markets and you need to crack a textbook on WW2 history, especially our relations with China (an ally).

Originally Posted by indesertum

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Are we going through this again?

Made in China doesn't mean Made like ****.


Seriously, if you guys had a glimpse of all of the factors involved with global production and economy, you'd clam up fast. There's no simple answer, and any preconception you might have on tariffs vs. domestic wages, US immigrant labor vs. overseas production, currency exchange, etc, are all based on our very half-assed assumptions. All I know is I don't know ****. No single person does. But that doesn't mean I have to like non-us made products or what it's doing to this country.

NAFTA took years to draft. The EU took half a century. That's not just due to diplomats having extra-long lunches.

Quality/durability is just about the last reason I prefer to buy made in America.

Originally Posted by Tom R

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That isn't the question that the OP is asking, though.
Oh, really? He is asking how it is that cheap garments can be made in the US, but expensive garments can be made in China. Please allow me to further explain my answer so you understand. One can use cheap labor and poor quality materials to make inferior garments in virtually any country in the world. Conversely, one can find expensive materials and skilled craftsmen to make an expensive garment in probably any country in the world. The OP's question is rooted in the eternally false assumption that Made in US is expensive (and good quality), and Made in China is cheap (and poorer quality). I've never once walked into UO or AA and seen something that I thought was well made, even though it was made in the US. Ever pay full retail for AA in store? It's waaay overpriced for what you get. $18 for a cheap basic tee isn't exactly inexpensive.

Originally Posted by zissou

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The OP's question is rooted in the eternally false assumption that Made in US is expensive (and good quality), and Made in China is cheap (and poorer quality).

My Rag and Bone made in china pieces are great quality and look great. I just don't know why Rag and Bone didn't keep making stuff in New York. It was part of their image.

From their about section on their site.

Founded in 2002, rag & bone had one very clear vision in mind: to make clothes that they and their friends would love to wear every day. With no formal fashion training, Marcus Wainwright & David Neville set about learning how to make jeans. They believed that denim represented the history, authenticity and fundamentals of classic work wear that they would strive to reflect in their designs.
Beginning in Kentucky, rag & bone surrounded themselves with people who had been making patterns, cutting fabric and sewing their whole lives. Working with these kinds of craftsmen taught them the importance of quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail early on.
These principles soon became the keystones of the rag & bone philosophy, the definition of what clothing can and should be. With these principles in mind, rag & bone chose to center all of their manufacturing in U.S. factories that still sew clothes the same way they did 50 years ago.
rag & bone launched their men's line in Spring 2004 and expanded the label to offer a full women's collection by Fall 2005. The Fall Winter 2007 season marked the introduction of rag & bone accessories for both men and women, adding a touch of style and distinction to their tailored looks. Guided by a strong British tailoring influence, rag & bone produces classic yet modern sportswear for men and women that is known for being understated and wearable. Each piece, whether it be a tailored shirt or a pair of jeans, is framed by the constants of high quality fabric, classic construction and perfect fit with a handmade feel.
Each season the designers seek out both innovative and classic fabrics, which, when blended together, give rag & bone a modern relevance while retaining a timeless feel. Accordingly, the designers also employ a variety of traditional manufacturers and suppliers, who lend their superb workmanship and time-honored techniques to the collection, such as Martin Greenfield Tailors of Brooklyn, Norton & Sons of Savile Row and Waterbury Button, the oldest button manufacturer in the US.
In 2006, rag & bone was selected as a finalist for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award and won the 2007 Swarovski Award for emerging talent in menswear, after also being nominated for that same award in 2006.
rag & bone is a lifestyle brand, offering men’s, women’s, footwear and accessories collections which are available at high end boutiques and exclusive department stores worldwide. rag & bone also operates two flagship stores, men’s and women’s, on Christopher Street in NYC’s West Village, as well as a SoHo shop at 119 Mercer Street.

Originally Posted by jet

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Rag and bone wanted to make a name for themselves by proclaiming us made and all that goodness reviving old factories but it was merely a marketing ploy. Once they got their name out they slowly and quietly switched production to make more money. Simple is that.

Sellouts.

Not to mention jacking up their prices exponentially.