In an era where globalization blurs borders, there are still some consumers who associate some brands with national pride. The “Made in America” label has long been equated with quality, patriotism, and trust.
However, a closer look reveals that many classic American brands have outsourced manufacturing overseas, primarily to China, while keeping their branding red, white, and blue. These outsourcing ventures have raised questions about product quality, working conditions, and economic impact.
This listicle explores nine such brands, deconstructing the nuances of their manufacturing choices and exploring not only where their products are made but why that matters. If you’re trying to buy consciously, these brands might warrant a second look before making your next purchase.
1. GE Appliances: The Edison Legacy Outsourced
GE Appliances, an icon of American innovation, was acquired by Chinese conglomerate Haier in 2016 for $5.6 billion. Though still sporting GE’s legendary look, the products are made primarily in China.
This shift further distances the brand from Thomas Edison’s legacy of American innovation. Numerous consumers unknowingly believe they’re keeping U.S. employees on the payroll when purchasing GE refrigerators or washers, but that’s no longer true.
The surprise: Haier’s website sells GE as an “American legacy brand.” If you’re buying GE for patriotism or quality assurance, you’re likely not receiving what you thought.
2. New Balance: “Made in USA” (Sometimes, Mostly China)
New Balance is one of the few athletic shoe manufacturers that still produces a small percentage of its products in the United States, but this commitment is typically exaggerated.
While some models are labeled “Made in USA,” most New Balance shoes are manufactured in countries like China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. This allows the company to lower production costs while still branding itself with patriotic themes.
Consumers believe they’re buying American-made shoes when they’re not. If you’re trying to support local labor, read the fine print—only specific models qualify, and most of the product line doesn’t.
3. Jeep: A Rough-and-Tumble American Brand with Global Ties
Jeep is arguably the best American car brand, a World War II veteran relegated to suburban garages. In 2021, however, Fiat Chrysler combined with France’s PSA Group to form Stellantis, which owns Jeep today.
Some Jeeps are still manufactured in Ohio and Michigan, but transmissions and electronics are made by Chinese companies. The Compass model, for example, is produced entirely in China for export.
While marketing depends on military ruggedness and off-road Americanism, the supply chain is something else entirely. Jeep’s foreign ownership and outsourced manufacturing make it less American than its branding suggests.
4. Melissa & Doug: Handcrafted Charm with Global Labor
Melissa & Doug is cherished for its educational toys and vintage wooden aesthetic, evoking a nostalgia for the quintessential American childhood. Yet most of the company’s production takes place in China, despite its Connecticut headquarters.
While they emphasize safety testing and compliance with U.S. standards, critics have raised doubts regarding the company’s reliance on the Chinese labor market and the carbon costs of foreign production.
Many parents choose this brand for its perceived ethical and artisanal qualities, but its production does not necessarily line up with this branding. If you’re devoted to having toys produced in the U.S. or finding alternatives to China-based production, this brand isn’t for you.
5. Levi’s: Denim’s Global Journey
Levi Strauss jeans scream rugged American heritage, but their manufacturing is anything but domestic. Once proudly manufactured in the U.S., Levi’s closed its last American sewing plant in 2003.
Today, most of Levi’s products are made in China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. The company has made public promises of commitment to fair labor, but watchdog organizations have repeatedly reported violations in some overseas factories.
Despite this, Levi’s still trades heavily on its Wild West origin story. Customers often pay premium prices under the illusion of American craftsmanship. In truth, you’re likely wearing mass-produced, outsourced denim stitched far from the Golden State.
6. Apple: Made in California, Assembled in China
Apple famously stamps its products with the phrase “Designed in California,” but the fine print tells the real story: assembly happens almost entirely in China. Companies like Foxconn produce iPhones and MacBooks in vast Chinese plants under dubious labor conditions.
Stories of low wages, dangerous conditions, and suicides have tarnished the brand’s spotless, minimalist image. Although Apple has made symbolic attempts at diversification, like producing some MacBooks in Texas, China remains its primary manufacturing hub.
If you are concerned about fair sourcing or economic independence, Apple’s practices will make you think twice about the iPhone in your pocket.
7. Nike: The Global Swoosh
Nike’s American heritage runs deep, from Michael Jordan ads to the Olympic podium. But behind the swoosh lies an outsourced manufacturing strategy. The firm makes most of its shoes and apparel in countries like China, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Even as the brand boasts of sustainability and fair labor, critics say the company remains dependent on cheap labor and weak regulations. In 2020, Nike came under fire for forcing Uyghur labor into Chinese supply chains.
The company denies immediate involvement but can’t offer transparent alternatives. For morally conscious consumers, Nike’s embrace of American values feels mostly performative and driven by profit.
8. Radio Flyer: The Little Red Wagon’s Big Shift
Radio Flyer wagons—those little red icons of America—are no longer manufactured in the U.S. The company relocated most of its production to China in the early 2000s in an attempt to cut costs.
While it still designs and tests products in Chicago, production and assembly now happen overseas. This outsourcing has raised concerns about quality, material safety, and the irony of a nostalgic American toy being built in Chinese factories.
It’s a classic example of heritage being used as camouflage. If you’re a parent seeking heirloom-quality toys with ethical manufacturing, Radio Flyer may not be the wholesome, all-American brand it pretends to be.
9. Stanley Tools: American Workshops Turn Global Assembly Line
Stanley, the traditional American tool manufacturer, merged with Black & Decker to form Stanley Black & Decker, a global conglomerate that outsources extensively.
Although some products are still produced in America, many tools are made or at least partially assembled in China, Mexico, and Taiwan. Stanley’s marketing emphasizes its 175-year-old American heritage heavily but downplays the extent of offshore manufacturing.
However, concerns over quality have arisen over time, especially in lower-end lines. To those who link tools to dependability and tradition, Stanley’s global network of factories may be an unpalatable surprise hidden behind red-white-and-blue marketing.
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