[ Made in America ]
 

'Made in America' Is About Dignity

Most products we use (pens, trash bags, toilet brushes) don’t identify who we are as individuals. But clothing is different; we express our lifestyle, our awareness, and our heritage with what we choose to wear (we’d argue more so than a car, a home or where we choose to vacation).

In the beginning, we made our clothes in China. We were a world away communicating via email and FedEx. There were no relationships built. No discussions of craftsmanship that didn’t lead to “we give you best quality, best price”. China was about numbers: specs, delivery dates and payments.

But for us, making clothing had little to do with numbers. It was about creating something that enhanced people’s lives. It was about being proud to accomplish something meaningful with likeminded people. In 2006, because the China experience never felt genuine, we pulled out and began making Todd Shelton in America.

The decision changed the course of our brand; we became deeply involved in production. We learned how to make a more authentic product. We built real relationships with sewers, pattern makers and fabric suppliers (and we shared in their challenges). And in so, these unique American experiences became ingrained in our product.

If for a moment you can think in abstract, you may see that our American made clothing developed a soul through the minds and hands that created it; especially if you compare it to the mass imports of corporate brands. Although it’s a concept lost on many, there will always be uniquely aware individuals who understand the dignity of ‘Made in America’.

- Todd Shelton


The People Behind Todd Shelton

At Todd Shelton we consider our manufacturers to be an integral part of our culture. We are proud of our products, and we are proud of our relationships with the people who make them.

Read on to discover their stories






The Rarity of American Craftsmanship

There’s a unique quality to American-made clothing. The small, mainly family-run American shops with their non-modern machines are the ones that survived outsourcing (so far). And because of their "endangered" status, we believe they’re making the most meaningful clothes you can buy. Each piece,  crafted by hand, possesses an American heritage that can never be duplicated by an import.



Save An American Job

Todd Shelton is proud to announce it’s affiliation with Save An American Job. SAAJ is a grassroots organization committed to making American consumers aware of companies that offer high-quality American made products.

Learn more about the Save An American Job initiative


Most Popular by Category


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Mortimer Shirt


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Owens Trousers


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Short Sleeve Crew


Shop Jeans

Plainview Washed Jeans


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Crucis Tweed Vest




Is Made In America Important?

Made in America is a topic many people from around the world are passionate about. We welcome your comments on this topic.



Don Rongione writes:

With unemployment approaching ten percent and 5 million manufacturing jobs lost since 2001, we must encourage the largest consumer country in the world to help ourselves, our children and our grandchildren and buy American produced goods. Please check SaveAnAmericanJob.com and encourage US manufacturers to join forces with other companies still producing here to create a brand that consumers will seek. We cannot rely on the government, we must take matters into our own hands before all of manufacturing has vanished. This is what you can do for your country and our future.


Ricky the Rocket writes:

I came across Todd Shelton while searching the internet for American made products. It seems that more Americans are realizing the importance of buying American made everyday. The only problem is that most can not afford to do so in these economic times. I feel that it is up to Companies such as this to offer different price tiers for their products. Most people will say "I want to buy American but can't afford to pay $100 for a pair of jeans. I am in a catch 22." American made clothing can not be just for those who can afford it. It is just feeding the misconception of " I can't afford to buy American." If I can buy a foreign made pair of Levi's for $23.00 then I need to be able to buy an American made pair of pants for less than $40.00. Yes, you will have American made jeans for $100, just like you have foreign made designer jeans for $100 but you need to have less expensive options also.


Domestic Textiles writes:

We would like to applaud and commend you for being a Domestic Apparel producer. We know first hand how difficult it is to compete with the Chinese and other foreign imports. We wish you the best of luck and continued success. Hopefully someday the rest of the American Citizens will realize the importance of American Made products. Jay Gagliano - National Bias Binding Corp


Health Writer writes:

I do support the concept of re-establishing a manufacturing base in the USA. When it comes to production, I'm most concerned with labor standards. Nothing depresses me more than the thought of workers toiling in foreign sweatshops so that Walmart can provide me with an article of clothing for under $20. I prefer my shirts without blood on them. As for American jobs, I think we’ve come to rely too heavily on the service industry for our livelihoods. We need to make things here again, but manufacturing and production jobs must provide the workers with high enough wages to live in the American middle class. Our workers should not be asked to compete with wages paid in other countries that do not respect labor. That would be a race to the bottom.

Another concern of mine is the carbon footprint of consumer goods produced halfway around the globe. When it comes to clothing, I’d feel better if the products I buy did not have to sail halfway around the world to get inside my closet in Wisconsin. I understand that trade between nations is important, particularly when Nation A simply doesn’t have access to the resources required to provide what Nation B is offering. I like fruit in the winter and nothing grows under two feet of snow, so it makes sense that my grocer imports bananas from Central America. In the summer, I’m content to eat locally grown produce.


Riotgrls Vintage writes:

Buying items that are made in America has recently become important to me. My husband and I buy very little new, and the dollars we do spend will no longer go to products that do not support employment in the United States. It's a personal preference. If this had been a priority for people over the last 25 years, there would be no economic crises in the USA. We would actually MAKE things, which is so rare now, I have only come across about 10 clothing manufacturers that make and use homegrown fabrics from the US. Only two that are fashionable, including Todd Shelton.


LeatherNiche writes:

Made in America is becoming more important everyday and there is a very simple reason, the consumer wants to purchase products made in America more than in recent times. Sure, the current economy has played a role in what we buy, but there is something else occurring in the American psyche, we’re finding that we haven’t been buying American products because, there wasn’t much available.

I work with leather as an artist’s canvas and I have found there is a desire for leather art over the less expensive embroidery production because leather is just cool. I stand in-front of, behind and beside all my work and I'm easy to find and I answer the phone.

People know my work and even if they didn’t know me, they would know that my leather painting of the Doolittle B-25 Mitchell Bomber didn’t come from Japan. I have nothing against foreign production if we can't compete, but its time that Americans come home and they are arriving on a daily basis..


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