CAN FASHION BE MORE THAN SUPERFICIAL?

There is a tendency to equate the fashion world with the superficial.  It makes sense.  We don’t talk about how models are good, kind, intelligent, brave people.  We talk about their bodies, their faces, their hair and what they’re wearing.  The notion of beautiful people telling other people how they should look and what they should wear doesn’t lend itself to discussions of ethical questions.

But perhaps it should.  Hear on this Madcapz blog, we talk a lot about how fashion is a personal choice, whether it’s the woman’s baseball cap we chose or the height of our heals.  This means we use our fashion choices as expressions of our inner self, which makes fashion anything but superficial. 

Clothes are clearly important to us, so perhaps it’s time to start thinking about how our clothes are made. 

Click here for more information on ethical fashion choices: Ethical Fashion Choices

Madcapz are made in the USA, but many garments are not. More over text tile and sewing industries are some of the worst polluters in the world.  They tend to employ young women, for little pay and horrible working conditions.

I know it’s difficult to only buy from ethical fashion companies, in fact, it might be impossible.   I also know that the plight of the garment worker is trotted out every so often, and then promptly forgotten.  I think that ethical fashion choices are something that should be discussed more, whether you only shop at vintage stores or giant chains.  If fashion is going to be an expression of self, we should probably know how it got to be on that sales rack. 

Is ethical fashion something you think about?  Are there any changes you’d be willing to make to support fashion that’s good for the workers and the environment?

MADCAPZ Invited To Exhibit At 2012 Atlanta Gift Mart’s Inaugural “Made In America” Showcase

Happy New Year!

Madcapz has lots of exciting things cooking this year and January is starting off with a bang!

First up this month, we are thrilled to be exhibiting at the first ever Made In America juried collection at the Atlanta Gift Show, January 13-17.

If you are planning to attend the show, please stop by the Made In America Section and say hello.

For more info, please click here to read our ATLANTA GIFT SHOW PRESS RELEASE

Kid’s Wish List For Christmas Is All About Made In USA

What is that old popular saying? Something like, it all starts with the younger generation?  Well, in this case, it is 100 % correct!

Jesse Clements, 10, watches “World News with Diane Sawyer” almost every night with his mother, Kathleen McKelligott, a server at Red Lobster.  Inspired by the ABC’s “Made in America” series; Clements decided when it came time to submit his holiday wish list that he request that his gift be made in America.

Clements stated “I just want for Americans to have their jobs.  So by that I would need kids to ask their parents to get gifts made in America for their birthdays or Christmas.”  His mom, Kathleen added, ” Jesse, as a child, is sending a message to other kids to start thinking about asking their parents for gifts made in America for Christmas or their birthdays to get people back to worm and the help the economy.”

Jesse and Kathleen have joined “World News” Made in America Christmas! Are you willing to take the challenge?

To read more about this click on the photo below:

Kindergarteners Learns About ‘Made in America’ Products

As ABC’s video shows, Rebecca Conolly’s kindergarten class at Conder Elementary Arts Integrated Magnet School in Columbia, South Carolina proves you are never too young to learn about Made in America products.  After showing the students how Made in America labels look and reading the labels off of different items around the class; Conolly put the students to work.  Using blue squares, red stripes, and white stars the class began creating their individual versions of Made in America labels.  A few of the students venture around the school for more Made in America products at the end of ABC’s video.

How great to see a younger generation get so excited about products made in the USA!

Made In USA Test

As part of ABC’s Made In America Series, a Dallas family, the Usry’s, try to live their life with ONLY all-American made products.  They have agreed to empty their living room, kitchen, and master bedroom of any imported products and then try to replace them with similar products available from United States manufacturers.  Recalling how she felt when she first heard ABC’s request, Anna stated, “I thought that Ashton Kutcher was going to be coming around the corner, we were being punked.”

Jon estimated that 50% of the products in their household were made in the US. To find out exactly what percentage of the Usry’s belongings were actually made in America and to hear the entire story of the Usrys, click on the image below:

What percentage of your belongings do you think are made in America?

Products Made In USA

As part of a week long “Made in America” special ABC recorded a family that wanted to re-do their home with all Made in America products and the challenges they faced trying to find these products.  Not too much surprise, they found that it is difficult to find American made products because almost all of the big box stores shoppers usually visit to not stock these products.

One thing they did find on their quest is that Made in America products are thriving online.  American manufacturers have been driven to the online world because big name companies have opted to go for lower priced outsourced goods in favor of larger profits, pushing Made in America products out of stores worldwide.

Manufacturing has a major impact on the American economy and its workforce.  According to the National Association of Manufacturers, Manufacturing supports an estimated 18.6 million jobs in the United States and nearly 12 million Americans are employed directly in manufacturing.  ABC reported “if every American spent an extra $3.33 on United States made goods, it would create almost 10,000 new jobs in this country.”  Now that is something to think about!

To read more on the series click here: MADE IN AMERICA SERIES

Do you know where the products you purchase are made? Are they Made In America?

Madcapz are proudly made in USA. Please remember that this holiday season!

Clothing Made in USA

Do your clothing labels read like a trip around the world? What would you do if you were asked to take off every item of clothing you were wearing that was not made in America?  That’s the challenge ABC News presented to commuters at Grand Central Station.  And if they did not call off the challenge, there would have been a lot of naked commuters on the platform that day.  The stunning fact is that about 98 percent of the clothing purchased in the United States is imported from abroad; with just two percent of clothing being manufactured on U.S. soil.

The truth is that China dominates the clothing-manufacturing world.  ABC’s David Muir visited a sock factory in Datang, China and met a worker named Chen Gulfang, who left her 9-year-old son with his grandparents to work at the factory. A worker at a Chinese sock factory makes $14 a day/ $270 a month, while in America a clothing worker makes $88 a day/ $1,760 a month.

Click on the pic below to view the report in its entirety:

So the question is: how can America compete with Chinese manufacturing?  It isn’t easy when you realize the enormous difference in manufacturing costs. So perhaps the question becomes: should America be competing with China in manufacturing of clothing? What do you think?

And while you are debating that question, please keep in mind that Madcapz are 100% manufactured here in the US. Oftentimes, cap manufacturers say they are made in the US, when in fact, the actual caps are manufactured in China and then shipped here and the US company embroiders the caps. But that is not “manufactured” in the US.

So, this holiday season if you are intent on purchasing products made in America, and we hope you are, make sure you really check the labels!

American-made Important to Affluent Customers

Madcapz has always been committed to manufacturing here in the USA. And now it looks like we aren’t the only ones who care about Made in USA products! According to an article in Bloomberg News recently:

“More than three-quarters of affluent consumers surveyed this year by American Express Publishing and the Harrison Group, a luxury research firm, said they like brands made in America, up 5 percentage points from 2008. Sixty-five percent say they try to buy U.S. products whenever possible, a 3-point gain.”

If affluent consumers do care more about products made in the USA and are willing to spend more for them, this bodes well for American manufacturers. There have always been customers who care about American-made and now, according to these studies, it seems the luxury goods consumer is beginning to care as well.

To read more about this click here: Luxury Good Customer Cares About Made In USA

Buy American This Memorial Day Weekend!

We would like to wish all of you a fabulous Memorial Day weekend.

And remember to buy American this holiday weekend. Be mindful of where your purchases are manufactured. If you want to increase manufacturing here in the USA and create more jobs, you have to BUY AMERICAN!

Be safe, be happy, be thankful, and be wearing your Madcapz!

American Made Products Making Comeback

According to a new study released by Boston Consulting Group, manufacturing here in the US  is making a comeback! The study states that China manufacturing costs are rising and coupled with the fact that here in the US we are focused on making jobs, by 2015 there will be a tipping point of sorts, such that US companies will be thinking twice about manufacturing here in the US.

We here at Madcapz are fully committed to manufacturing here in the US and hope this study proves to be true!

For more about the future trends of American made, watch this clip on AOL Finance: American Made Making Comeback