Growing numbers of American companies are seeing the virtues in re-shoring part or all of their operations. There are solid reasons. Americans like domestically made goods, and a growing appetite exists for quality items manufactured on U.S. soil. Also, making goods and products within America creates jobs—a good thing, in any economy. This blog outlines four newsy updates about domestic manufacturing as fodder for your next story on this topic.
Fashion companies lead the trends
Across industries, fashion remains one of the larger beacons in the domestic manufacturing movement. Just this month, Brooks Brothers, the 200-year-old fashion firm, began manufacturing its shirts in North Carolina, its neckties in New York and its suits in Massachusetts. The company also uses its domestically made items as an additional way to market its quality and rich heritage. “Today we are one of the only fashion manufacturers in America still standing,” an executive stated in a corporate video. Kangol hats, a staple for hip-hop artists, were once manufactured in the U.K. Production later moved to China but this year, America’s oldest hat maker began producing the headgear in Adamstown, Pennsylvania. Forbes reports that Lucky Brand, J.Crew and Hanes Brands are also bringing production jobs back to the U.S.
Manufacturing remains turbulent in some countries
Pakistan, South Asia’s second-largest economy has long been a bastion of textile manufacturing, and yet the country lost 500,000 factory jobs in the last two years, with most production going to competitors in Vietnam, Bangladesh and India. Reports like this one attribute the losses to ongoing power outages. Years of insurgency, bombings and violence have also tarnished Pakistan’s image, the report said.
Both presidential nominees endorse domestic manufacturing
Republicans and democrats can’t agree on much, but both presidential candidates have pledged to bring manufacturing jobs back to America. Hillary Clinton’s plan to make it in America lives here. Donald Trump discusses his strategy for job creation for Americans in this speech.
Domestic manufacturing remains diverse
Fashion is one industry returning to U.S. factories, but manufacturing jobs remain diverse across multiple industries including auto, home furnishings and appliances. Emerald Home Furnishings, a Washington-based company, brought its production of couches from China to New Albany, Mississippi this year in order to have access to a strong workforce. The company hired 150 employees as part of the move, according to this report.
Reporter’s takeaway
• Fashion remains one of the industries embracing domestic manufacturing the most with suit makers to hat makers bringing productions home.
• Big manufacturing hubs like Pakistan have lost volumes of factory jobs this past two years to competitors in Vietnam, Bangladesh and India.
• Both presidential nominees have domestic manufacturing as part of their campaigns with promises to return jobs back to Americans.
