Dyed-in-the-wool Americans! Maine couple’s clothing firm manufactures all its goods locally – and the materials it uses are domestically-produced too

A fledgling Maine clothing company is in the spotlight for sticking to its staunch “Made in the USA” commitment. in the era of globalization.

American rootsFounded by husband and wife team Ben and Whitney Waxman in 2013, it is the subject of a new book released this week by author Rachel Slade, titled ‘Succeeding in the United States’.

Subtitled ‘The Nearly Impossible Quest to Make in America (and How It Came That Way)’, the book documents the perplexing challenges faced by American companies trying to keep their production in America, rather than finding cheaper labor. abroad.

American Roots not only sources all of its materials domestically, but its factory in the town of Westbrook, Maine, is fully unionized at the insistence of its owners.

Ben, a former AFL-CIO union organizer, and his wife insisted from the beginning that their workers earn a living wage with vacation and other benefits, Slade wrote in a recent New York Times guest essay.

“Our company’s economic philosophy is ‘profit over greed,’” Ben told Slade. “We have to make a profit, but it will never be at the expense of our workers, our values ​​or our products.”

After working for the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest federation of unions, for more than a decade, Ben moved with Whitney back to Maine, where he grew up.

Maine was once a center of textile production, but the industry saw steady decline in the second half of the 20th century and was virtually eliminated by free trade agreements, including NAFTA, in the 1990s.

In fact, Ben’s own mother, Dory Waxman, once owned a small woolen goods business, until mills in Maine began to close and she was unable to purchase materials locally.

Against all odds, Ben and Whitney decided to do their part to revive Maine’s textile industry and founded American Roots together.

“The idea was simple: create American-made products and sell them to the growing number of people who value ethics, quality, and American sourcing and manufacturing,” they recalled on their company website.

Finding and training workers was a big challenge, and with Dory’s help, the Waxmans organized a training program for seamstresses, now known as Common Threads of Maine.

The training program helped produce workers with the right skills and training for American Roots and other Maine businesses.

Many of the company’s workers are recent immigrants from countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq and Angola, after they fled dangerous circumstances in their countries to build a new life in the United States.

Author Slade followed the Waxmans during the pandemic, when the company temporarily shifted to making masks and face shields to stay afloat.

The company tripled its annual revenue to $3.6 million in 2020 and posted sales of $2 million in 2021 and $3 million in 2022, according to Slade.

The Waxmans say sourcing American-made components (including fabrics, zippers, laces and buttons) is a constant challenge, but they remain committed to a 100 percent American product.

American Roots products reflect the higher costs of ethical labor practices and domestic sourcing, with the company’s zip-up hoodies. retail for $108 to $120.

However, the company has seen strong demand for its products from consumers who believe in its mission and favor a return to American manufacturing.

“American Roots continues to build its foundation rooted in our community, our family, our workforce, our products and our country,” the company website says.

“We believe that growth and success come from nurturing these core values, and we give a piece of that to each and every one of our customers.”