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When husband and wife Carolyn and Joseph Ferrara launched Ferrara Manufacturing in 1987, they set out to make the best womenswear in the business, all from their New York City's Garment District factory. They had no idea that NAFTA was about to rock the U.S. garment industry to its core, but they fought through the tumult and found success in working with brands like Ralph Lauren. Their daughter, Gabrielle Ferrara, Ferrara Manufacturing's chief operating officer, shares how the family-owned, women-owned, union-represented company's knack for innovation has helped it navigate the headwinds of offshoring and find new opportunities through the latest manufacturing technology.
Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Ferrara -
American Giant CEO Bayard Winthrop and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai discuss rebuilding a fully American-made apparel supply chain, from cotton fields to finished garments. They highlight the importance of worker-centered trade policy, economic security, and the potential to make affordable, high-quality products in America.
Note: This episode was recorded at AAM’s "Making it in America: Supply Chain Successes in Textiles and Apparel" panel on Oct. 17, 2024.
Watch the full event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuJM0a5yXxU -
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When one Portland dad couldn't find a high-quality truck camper for family adventures, he decided to build his own. Peter Williams, co-founder and president of Super Pacific, shares what his company's "built like an airplane" mantra means for their production process and discusses the challenges of building the business during the pandemic and how domestic manufacturing creates innovative, high-quality goods that stand up to global competition.
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In 2020, U.S. diplomats Kris Forrest and Rebecca Beardsley hosted a cocktail party, but their shaker just wasn’t up to snuff. So they decided to make their own. Forty cold calls to American steel fabricators and many YouTube CAD tutorial videos later, they launched C&D Tools, a veteran- and minority-owned company. Within six months, they had landed a feature in The New York Times and sold out their entire stock. Here's why Made in America was foundational to their business plan from the start.
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While studying at Yale Law School, Darnell Epps heard that U.S. manufacturers were grappling with a labor shortage, and he was baffled that tens of thousands of valuable community-supporting jobs weren't finding applicants. So, he enrolled at a trade school to become a certified machinist and find out what the heck was going wrong. What he learned was that the skilled trades are an invaluable pathway to the middle class, and that workers needed better tools to connect with potential employers, prompting him to build Thurgood Industries, a career-networking app tailored to skilled trade workers.
Photo courtesy Thurgood Industries -
For decades, Image Pointe's unionized workers have screen-printed clothing in Iowa. So, when the company contemplated starting its own American-made apparel factory that held true to the same ethical labor practices, Image Pointe CEO Josh Ruyle knew it had to be union-represented. In 2024, Image Pointe opened Dignity Apparel in Tennessee with 100% of its workforce represented by Workers United, making it the only union-knit fabric manufacturer in the U.S. Dignity Apparel's Ruyle and Matt Davis discuss why unionizing their workforce has been a critical part of their company's American-made success.
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Grilling is an iconic American pastime, but unfairly subsidized Chinese imports threaten to dissolve the U.S. factories making our grills right here. Meco President Whitney Winter discusses the impact of unfair Chinese competition on the Tennessee-based family-owned grill manufacturing company and highlights the critical role Meco plays in supporting the economy of Greenville, where the company has continuously manufactured its grills since 1968.
Photo courtesy of Meco -
Family-run shoe manufacturer Rancourt & Co. has maintained its commitment to Made in America quality and tradition for more than 50 years. This year, you can catch their shoes on full display at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Co-owner and President Mike Rancourt shares the process of creating these iconic, American-made shoes, how they came to work with Ralph Lauren for the designer's Team USA Olympic uniform, and the pride Rancourt & Co. shoes bring to the Lewiston, Maine community.
Photo courtesy Rancourt & Co. -
If you’ve ever done any water sports, then you’ve probably used TRC Recreation water gear. The Texas company has been a key player in the water sports gear market since the 1950s. CEO Matt Iles shares their rich history, innovative spirit, and commitment to American manufacturing.
Photo courtesy of TRC Recreation -
Wendy Cutler has spent nearly 30 years as a diplomat and negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, working to lower tariffs and open markets. But, now, as the world grapples with a deluge of Chinese industrial overcapacity in key sectors, Cutler is advocating for preemptive trade action and international cooperation to counter China's trade manipulation. Listen in for insights from the Asia Society Policy Institute vice president.
Photo courtesy of the Asia Society Policy Institute -
Host Scott Paul shares how to channel all that flag-waving spirit into buying that supports America's workers and economy. And, he revisits conversations with industry experts, Made in America Store Owner Mark Andol and Annin Flagmakers Vice President of Sales Bob Caggiano, who discuss their commitment to 100% American production and the impact on local economies and national pride.
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Chinese-made cars are already finding their way onto American streets with brands like Volvo leading the way. Dunne Insights CEO Michael Dunne, a seasoned expert in the automotive industry with extensive experience in both American and Chinese markets, discusses how Chinese automakers have strategically positioned themselves to dominate both the internal combustion and electric vehicle markets and what that means for the United States.
Photo from Volvo press materials -
As America's factory boom comes to fruition, recruiting the next generation of factory workers is more important than ever, but getting them through the door isn't always easy. Taylor Evans, the president and founder of talent recruitment agency Rust Belt Recruiting, shares how manufacturers can go beyond the paycheck to add value to employees' lives and why understanding workforce needs is crucial for today's industrial leaders.
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Amid escalating global competition and trade cheating, the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of the United States is helping American manufacturers play offense. Owen Herrnstadt, a member of EXIM’s Board of Directors, shares how the bank’s Make More in America Initiative works in conjunction with President Biden’s U.S. supply chain resiliency effort to close financial gaps and support export-oriented projects for American manufacturers.
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China is the world's biggest shipbuilder by far, an advantage that Beijing has stolen through decades of trade cheating and massive government subsidies. A new trade investigation launched by the Biden administration is America's first step toward course correction. United Steelworkers International President David McCall joins the podcast to share what prompted the investigation and what's at stake for American workers.
Photo courtesy United Steelworkers -
China and India are the world's leading mobile phone manufacturers, but one company is moving its production away from these countries and setting up shop in the United States. Dubbed "Project Patriot," Orbic's plan to manufacture connected devices on Long Island will bring more than 1,000 jobs back to America. Orbic North America Founder and CEO Mike Narula shares how.
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American Paper Optics has made a whopping more than 3 billion pairs of its innovative 3D glasses. Now, in preparation for the Great North American Eclipse on April 8, this Tennessee company is churning out millions upon millions of ISO-approved and CE-certified eclipse glasses so people can safely experience this rare astronomical event. In fact, it’s NASA’s go-to source for eclipse glasses! CEO John Jerit shares why solar eclipse viewers need safe glasses, how his company has been gearing up to supply them, and what the company does when it isn't getting ready for an eclipse (hint: the Super Bowl).
Photo courtesy of American Paper Optics -
In his new book, "American Flannel: How a Band of Entrepreneurs Are Bringing the Art and Business of Making Clothes Back Home," journalist Steven Kurutz profiles men and women who have the courage and grit to fight the tide of offshoring that obliterated 98% of America's apparel and textile industry. Listen in for what inspired his examination of American-made clothing and his outlook on the industry's future.
Photo courtesy of Penguin Random House -
Award-winning Director Carl Kriss shares a behind-the-scenes preview of his new documentary, "Relighting the Flame," which profiles the next generation of workers who are fighting for the resurgence of the steel industry. But this isn't the first time Kriss has told the stories of the Midwest's blue-collar people. Listen in for what he's learned about steel jobs and the communities they build.
Photo courtesy of Heartland Productions -
Now in its 50th Class of the “Breaking the Chains of Poverty” pre-apprenticeship program, the Pittsburgh Chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) provides real-world experience and industry-recognized credentials for participants from underserved communities in partnership with the United Steelworkers and other unions. APRI Pittsburgh Vice President DeWitt Walton shares how the Black-owned and -operated program is growing the greater Pittsburgh workforce and transforming lives.
Photo courtesy of APRI Pittsburgh - Vis mere
