American, or at least non-Chinese made shoes???

[MelvinsArmy]

I need a new pair of shoes. I've been a long time Adidas fan, and I love my Vision Street Wear low and high tops But, they are all made in China. I was just going to pick up a new pair of VSW low top lace ups, but I can't bring myself to do it. What are my options for buying some decent all around shoes that aren't made by children, or under horrible conditions?

I've always been a die hard loyal Redwing boot buyer. I know they make shoes too, but my friend who is as loyal to that company as I am recently bought a pair of their shoes only to find out they were made in China. He assumed since they were Redwings, they were made in Minnesota. Only after he had worn them for a few days did he see the made in China tag on the tongue.

So far I've found that New Balance still makes some shoes in the US. I'm not really crazy about any of the shoes that they offer, but it's a start.

I'd like to find some good American made shoes. But, I'm open to basically anything that's not made in a Chinese sweat shop. England, Canada, or wherever might have decent labor practices is fine. I know Dr Marten's has some of their "classic" styles being made in England again, but I'd like to find something better for all around, all day wearing, using them on my daily commute on my mtb, etc. Basically something to replace an Adidas Samba or a Vision Street Wear shoe.

Heck, while we're at it I'd like to hear about any style of shoe that is not made in China or a country with horrible labor practices.

[fordtransman]

A "New Balance" factory warehouse with an outlet store is around the corner from my home, I go there quite often to get shoes for my wife.


I pulled a 6 speed Aisin transmission out of a 2006 Ford 500 a couple of months ago (one of only 2 I have pulled in nearly 4 model years!!) And of course, I knew it was designed by Aisin, but there it was....the pretty Ford Blue Oval, right on the side tag, and just under the oval
(on the same tag)
"MADE IN JAPAN"

And the auto trans in the Mustang (5R55S) is built in France.

So, Globalization is real.

and if you want to know where "the money" is going, google the "Burj Dubai" and the "Al Burj"

Its hard to believe men (and women) could build such things.

[mrlexan]

To each his own, but years in the auto industry and the fact that big three were so arrogant about the "Global Economy" thing have lead to believe that the sooner this country realizes we are in a global economy and not in the 1950s anymore, the better off we will be. But that is a politics argument and we shouldn't go there.

Daily Drivers: I swear by Merrell for commutes. I am very hard on shoes for some reason. I bought my first Merrell's about ten years back and with all the miles I put on them on the motorspor circuit as a photog (and I mean ALOT OF MILES), those dang things lasted me forever. A tear rolled down my eye when I retired my first pair. Oh and yes, the are extremely comfortable even after tons of miles. They don't seem to break down at the rate others do.

Running: I swear by Mizuno, most comfortable running shoe ever IMO. I was a New Balance fan til I converted to the dark side. Even the wife was reluctant to convert from NB to Mizuno. I told her just to try it and she was blown away and surprised how much of a difference there is.

my 2 cents.

[MelvinsArmy]

To each his own, but years in the auto industry and the fact that big three were so arrogant about the "Global Economy" thing have lead to believe that the sooner this country realizes we are in a global economy and not in the 1950s anymore, the better off we will be. But that is a politics argument and we shouldn't go there.

Daily Drivers: I swear by Merrell for commutes. I am very hard on shoes for some reason. I bought my first Merrell's about ten years back and with all the miles I put on them on the motorspor circuit as a photog (and I mean ALOT OF MILES), those dang things lasted me forever. A tear rolled down my eye when I retired my first pair. Oh and yes, the are extremely comfortable even after tons of miles. They don't seem to break down at the rate others do.

Running: I swear by Mizuno, most comfortable running shoe ever IMO. I was a New Balance fan til I converted to the dark side. Even the wife was reluctant to convert from NB to Mizuno. I told her just to try it and she was blown away and surprised how much of a difference there is.

my 2 cents.

Wait a minute now Jay. "PLEASE RENEW, REUSE, AND RECYCLE! Learn to Conserve! Oh and quit complaining about gas prices and the slow the hell down, ride a bike, or just walk!" This is your signature, yet you'll admit that you chose to support industry in China over a more regulated country? I'm all for the global economy, I think it's great. But, I'm not at all for the way China conducts business.

I had a pair of Merrells about ten years ago. I agree, comfy shoes. Just looking to avoid China if at all possilbe. Actually, I know it's possilbe, just trying to see all of my options.

[mrlexan]

We all can't be perfect and the definition or opinion of the definition is a relative term. I know I am far from it. Just like everyone else on the planet, there are things I choose to participate in and things I don't. Do's are Levis, Merrell, DKNY, Mizuno, to name a few. Quality and value are both great. My sig is more toward the wasteful fat dumb and happy society (I don't like where this thread is going ) and the fact that black gold has us by the balls. I don't like buying gas, but at this point there are no other affordable options for the middle class. For example, I love the outdoors and I don't have any others means of getting there, so what do I do.

Note, I didn't say whether I agreed on the way other countries do business or not........ All this hypocritical? Maybe.... I will leave it to each to decide. Remember, I openly admit I am far from perfect, but I (we, my wife and I) honestly are conscious 100% of the time of what we do/spend/etc. and we REALLY try. I wish a more of society just tried and kept doing one thing.

Hey, did you see a report on one of the national new stations about a lady that was going to try to do a year doing what you are describing? Buying products without a Made in China label? She REALLY tried, but she couldn't do it for a month. The options weren't just there for her family to live. It was interesting stuff. I think they ran it during the Olympics and since I mostly only watch NBC, it was likely them whom ran it.

I hope this doesn't turn into a political hot potato thread.

[MelvinsArmy]

Yeah, I know it would be impossible to totally boycott all Chinese made things. I'm not even going to try that. But, I do know with shoes it is possilbe to find an alternative. I've been buying Redwing boots for years, they're made in Minnesota. Unfortunately, now it seems that some of their shoe line is made in China. It doesn't even have to be made in USA, just somewhere where the conditions and standards are semi-civilized. I've always been aware of this stuff, and I think people in general are becoming more educated about it. I think if we all started to give a hoot about things like this, maybe we could make some changes in the world for the better. If a company is willing to resist the lure of slave labor and horrible environmental crimes, I'm willing to seek them out and support them.

[mrlexan]

I do hear what you are saying and agree (in my own way).

Oh and on the feet issue, try a pair of Bolega socks. I don't ever want to wear another brand.......I get them from our local runner's store.

[fordtransman]

Years back, while I was in school, I worked as a security officer at a warehouse where the workers opened boxes of picture frames, opened the individual packages, removed the made in china packaging, and slipped in made in usa labeling then resealed them. I know what the company was, and where these items are sold, but I respect confidentiality rules, so I will keep it to myself. Its a pretty big company here in the US that constantly advertises MADE IN USA.

Made In USA on the label doesn't mean much, so be sure folks!

[mrlexan]

Your kidding? No, I know you're not. These days, nothing surprises me. I am surprised it was deemed cost feasible to pay guys to play the switcheroo game.

[MelvinsArmy]

Well, with shoes you'd have to cut a label off, and re-sew a new one on. Also, it's easy enough to research a company on the internet to find out where their goods are made.

[MelvinsArmy]

Okay, I spent part of the day scouring the internet, and I have some kind of good news if anyone is interested in this stuff. Some companies will say where they make their shoes on their website. Others I was able to find out by looking on http://www.zappos.com/ or http://www.sierratradingpost.com/

Some (not all) of the shoes made by Draven appear to be made in USA. Their shoes look like direct competition to Chuck Taylors, Vans and Vision Street Wear styles. Here is their website, it's a bit annoying to look at:
http://www.draven.com/
These are plain old CT style available in low and high tops:
http://zeta.zappos.com/product/7457104/color/3

A company called No Sweat makes a Chuck Taylor knock off that is made in a Union shop in Indonesia. They make a lot of other stuff too, all 100% union made. Unfortunately, it seems like every place is sold out of all but one or two sizes of their shoes, but here is what they look like:
http://nosweatapparel.com/miva/merchant.mv...tegory_Code=NSS

Fluevog makes some funky shoes. From what I can find, it looks like they are made in Portugal. I want to find out more about them, but I'm having a hard time. A lot of their designs look like they'd be good for rockstars, but this shoe is nice and simple:
http://www.fluevog.com/code/?w%5B0%5D=attr...p;colourID=2059

Vegetarian Shoes is an English company that has a ton of styles that look like normal sneakers, and they are made in Portugal.
http://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk/showcate...18&show=all
They make the Adbusters Blackspot shoe, which is marketed as an anti-sweatshop sneaker:
http://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk/pc-114-1...aker-black.aspx

Vegan Wares has some casual shoes that are made in Australia:
http://www.veganwares.com/shoes.htm#fred3



Now I've just got to find some stores in NYC that sell these shoes and see how comfy they are. Fluevog has a store here, and there is a store called Moo Shoes that sells a bunch of vegan/vegetarian stuff, a few of the brands I listed above. I know I've seen Draven shoes all over the place, so they should not be hard to find. Anyway, there you have it. Seek and you shall find, the internet is a wonderful thing.

[templeofspeed]

I'm pretty sure that Geoge Cox shoes are still made in the UK, if creepers are an option...

http://www.georgecox.co.uk/

[markt311]

On a non shoe note, I work for a drink company and all our supplies like plastic aluminum cans concentrate etc are all 100% made in 'Merica. And no it's not the big red I'd like to support an American shoe company, but seeing as I only buy shoes once every 4 or 5 years and I'm cheap it's not that big of a deal to me. Call me ignorrant, I just can't get into all this vegan vegetarian stuff, if it is so mean to eat meat, then why does it taste so good? I guess I'm just part of the big dumb machine. I hope I can sleep tonight

[mrlexan]

mark, specific to your comment, that's the key, you have to decide what works for you in terms of the vegan/veggie thing. Meat does taste great, but when you have issues with family and life that come up, which I have, I personally had to make the choice to continue down my path of self destruction, or not. I choose the not part and I feel better than I ever have. If you can eat whatever and whenever and live to 80, more power to you.

One thing that can be applied to all this IMO, just don't take things for granted and I think we all do, some more than others (not referencing anyone.... just a generalization).

[MelvinsArmy]

I'd like to support an American shoe company, but seeing as I only buy shoes once every 4 or 5 years and I'm cheap it's not that big of a deal to me. Call me ignorrant, I just can't get into all this vegan vegetarian stuff, if it is so mean to eat meat, then why does it taste so good? I guess I'm just part of the big dumb machine. I hope I can sleep tonight

I'm a straight up omnivore with strong carnivore tendencies. I know I can't be a vegetarian or vegan. One summer I was not able to eat almost any meat at all. By the time fall rolled around, my jaw would literally tighten up and I could not concentrate on anything around me if I was hungry and could smell meat. I knew then that there was no way I could stop eating meat, it does not jive with my body.

Having said that, that has nothing to do with footwear. If it's a decent shoe, it's a decent shoe, doesn't matter if it's made of leather or canvas or hemp or whatever. Yes, a vegan would not ever wear a leather shoe, but it doesn't work the other way. Just because I like a nice steak doesn't mean I can't wear vegan shoes.

I don't buy shoes very often either. Maybe every two years or so. I just saw this as an opportunity to do something positive for once. I knew I was going to be spending at least $40 on something, maybe as much as $120. I don't see any reason to give Corporation X $40 so they can pay an 8 year old 35 cents to work a 14 hour day in a shoe factory, while they pay tens of millions of dollars for celebrity endorsements, and make enormous profits for themselves. And, on a more personal level, if you don't mind supporting this kind of business practice, think of your own job. What if your boss was able to hire people for a fraction of what he pays you, so he could make more money for himself and his shareholders? There's no reason to think that bottles and cans are going to be made in USA forever.

I say if a company is still conducting business in at least a semi-ethical way, I want to seek them out and support them. Enough with this "give me convenience or give me death" attitude. How about a little responsibility? Money is power. I'm choosing to put money in the hands of people who are at least trying to do the right thing.