Over the first few months of writing this blog I’ve revealed, among other things, an obvious interest in crafted, US-made goods. These things excite me. I value the work of craftspeople and domestic businesses and I believe their work is important. I figure maybe it’s time to explain.
I don’t like to draw hard lines but I’ll say this: if a choice exists between a handcrafted and/or US-made product vs. a foreign product, the former is nearly always a better option. Why? Because work is the economy. If people here aren’t working then they’re not spending, and bad things happen if they’re not spending. It affects livelihoods. Which means even less spending…which means even less work…and on and on. Obviously that’s an oversimplification but it’s true at the core. Buying things made here supports the people who work here, which supports the system that keeps this nation of ours churning forward. However flawed it may be.
It’s not a black-and-white issue and I’m not here to claim that there isn’t value in the work done by people in other countries. Of course there is. I’m not against the global economy — it’s a functional reality and it’s not automatically bad. It’s important to remember, though, that every purchase is an investment.
I believe in supporting the upstart, the entrepreneur, the independent. That’s not an argument against anything, it’s an argument for something.
There’s no getting around the fact that the kinds of goods I’m discussing usually (but not always) cost more. A lot more in some cases. I know that’s tough and I’m not suggesting that anyone other than the very rich could or should attempt to purchase only this one class of goods. It’s not realistic.
What I’m suggesting is consideration of the issue and an attempt to, where possible, prioritize. I buy plenty of foreign goods and will, like most people, continue to do so. But I’m moving the balance slowly. I’m looking for opportunities to buy local and/or US-made. When I’m faced with the choice of “now” vs. “better” I’m trying hard to wait a little while and go with the latter. Piece-by-piece I’m making decisions that help prop up artisans, craftspeople, and the US economy as a whole. I do what I can and that’s all I’d ever ask of anyone else.
Maybe there’s an argument against it. Actually, I’m sure there is — it’s a complex issue. Even when I hear that argument, though (and the comments are open), I doubt my priorities will change.
I side with the people who are making a go of it. And my hunch is that on some level, they side with me. That goes a long way.
(photo via Flickr user Markusram)
Filed in: americana, business, living well.
I don’t understand the logic of this post at all.
Buying a $400 Made in USA shirt that you linked to a while ago doesn’t mean that craftsman pockets $400. The materials are more expensive, the creation of the garment more labor-intensive.
As anyone who actually pretends to know about economics knows, it’s about margins.
If you want to help the US economy, go to the GAP, ask them what products (made in China) they make the most profit on, and buy 100 of them.
@ John:
Who ever said that the craftsman pockets the full price of what he produces? That’d be a crazy claim to make. It’s up to individual companies and makers to set their margins, and if they fail to make the equation work that’s a business mistake. There is, however, no getting around the fact that when you buy something from them you are supporting what they do.
As far as the GAP I’ll grant that shopping there (or anywhere else) also helps keep people employed. That’s a good thing, which is why I advocate for balance and consideration of the issue. Like I said, it’s not black-and-white.
Last Spring I bought two pair of Quoddy moccasins from O’Connell’s in Buffalo. Quoddys are hand made in Maine and are an investment. When my wife questioned the intelligence of spending $400 on two pair of boat shoes (esp when Topsiders are all of 60 bucks) I used a version of your US-made argument, emphasizing that our sons would be fighting over these shoes way down the line when I was 6 ft under; Quoddy will resole them as long as the upper is in good shape, the leather is high quality, etc.
Both pair were returned this summer due to workmanship issues. Both pair. This is what the pollsters call purely anecdotal evidence and I don’t mean to imply some broader mistrust of either Quoddy or US-made. But I think it does serve as a strong example moving forward; I have an oldish pair of LLBean camp mocs made in El Sal that I’ve worn to death. They are still in perfect shape. The leather is great, the sole still strong…they cost less than 50 bucks. Meanwhile my Quoddys, while comfortable and aesthetically and morally pleasing, probably will not last the year…Four hundred bucks.
What have I learned from this? Well, obviously that I’ve bought my last pair of Quoddys. But also that US-made just does not matter at all if the product is not worth a dang. It is not enough for me; the bloom is off the rose, and I’m at the point where I truly believe that prices of *some* US-made products are beginning to reflect a mania or hype for US-made.
See photos here:
http://altogethernow.blogspot.com/2010/08/back-in-saddle.html
@ Jack:
Very good thoughts, very well said.
I agree with you on most of it, particularly the idea that some prices are beginning to reflect the hype. I think the Orvis U.S. Patent collection is a prime example. There’s no way I’d even consider paying $50 for “US Military” socks no matter where they were made. Just not a good value.
And your Quoddy experience is instructive. It speaks, again, to value. I’m not advocating bad choices for the consumer just to gain the ancillary benefits of buying domestic.
At the core, my argument is for well-considered choices with an eye towards the importance of going with a US-made option. As I said, though, there’s a lot of grey area here.