Drive down any back road in America, and there’s a good chance you’ll see what I have… a country full of factories that are empty, run down, and decaying from memory. Our country is suffering, and our economy is terrible. I can’t help but feel that if we did a little more within our borders, and outsourced a little less, it wouldn’t be this bad.
Our industry is dominated by companies that get their goods made overseas. China. Vietnam. Indonesia. These days, they almost have to get their gear made elsewhere to stay alive. We’ve simply priced ourselves out of the market.
We all need to work to bring jobs back to America – and we need to take a stand – for better or worse – to help this country get stronger for the future. It may mean paying more for production, or more for that backpack you need, but it all adds up! Together, we can make a difference.
Can you imagine how strong our economy would be if we cared as much about protecting American manufacturing jobs as we do about protecting the environment?
We’re not a perfect company. Far from it. But we’re doing our best to use American made materials and manufacturing wherever possible. It costs more, but to us, it’s money well spent. We’re keeping other Americans from being laid off, and doing what we can to keep America moving forward.
Our packs and bags are designed and prototyped in our in Lancaster, Massachusetts workshop, and every pack sold is built in either our Massachusetts workshop or our LEED certified factory in Pennsylvania. Our factory has been operating for over 100 years – cutting, sewing, and employing American workers for their entire history. When I toured their factory, I saw college students, grandmothers, and real, honest Americans building products. They were treated well, and the quality of the goods they made showed it.
Apparel is trickier because all of our garments are printed to order and we just aren’t big enough to be able to build our own shirts and hats out of our workshop (and still keep them affordable). We’ve worked with a variety of suppliers – looking for the best balance between quality, environmental stewardship, and American production – and our current shirts are the product of that search. They are assembled in Central America, but the material itself is woven with 100% American Farmed organic cotton and recycled post consumer poly fiber. Then, each shirt is then printed or embroidered here in the good old USA.
If you would like to learn more about our manufacturing, feel free to contact me directly.
Best,
Scott Hunter
Founder
Vedavoo