Do you know where your clothing is made? While approximately 95% of apparel sold in the United States in the 1960s was made in America, today, U.S.-made apparel accounts for only 3% of production. Thankfully, there are U.S. small businesses ready and willing to celebrate local manufacturing and bring back jobs to U.S. locations. Find out why Authentically American® is proud to be an American brand and what it’s doing to bring back manufacturing jobs.
Founding Authentically American
It all started with Dean Wegner. In 2017, after serving his country, Wegner founded Authentically American, a veteran-owned company designed to bring back jobs, support veterans and first responders, and provide quality apparel to teams, businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals.
Wegner graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, according to Veteran Crowd® Network. He proudly served his country in the Army as an aviator. Being one of the few aviators to complete Ranger School, Wegner was no stranger to hard work and discipline.
He used these skills outside of the Army as a successful businessman. His marketing and business skills helped him acquire a military uniform manufacturing business before founding his own company.
American-Made Apparel
Authentically American is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. It offers dynamic sizing for quality apparel made for men, women, and children. Here are a few examples of clothing you can order online and have shipped to your home:
- Socks
- T-shirts
- Long-sleeved shirts
- Button-down shirts
- Polos
- Stickers
- Key chains
- Hoodies
- Sweatshirts
- Water bottles
Some items are made to order, while others are ready to be shipped. All of their items are backed by their Honest Abe Guarantee. This means that you can return any product for any reason within 30 days of purchase. You’re free to exchange the item or ask for a full refund.
The Importance of American-Made Clothing
The number of U.S. apparel manufacturers has significantly decreased over the past decades. A manufacturing industry that used to account for 95% of clothing worn in the United States now counts for only 3%. Authentically American, and other Made in USA companies, are seeking to reverse this trend and support local jobs.
In order to support jobs, quality manufacturing, and veteran-owned small businesses, Authentically American has the following values:
- Unbridled spirit
- Stay patriotic
- Just have fun
- Offer candor
- Be disruptive
- Selflessly serve
They’re also dedicated to being a profitable U.S. business that is a quality place to work for stable, satisfactory American jobs. To help raise awareness about the current state of the U.S. apparel manufacturing industry, they use the tagline Where is Yours Made?® Local musicians, athletic organizations, schools, non-profit organizations, companies, and individuals can help support local employment and grow this important industry.
Discover Opportunities for U.S. Small Businesses
Discover how you can support U.S. small businesses and veteran-owned companies today by connecting with Authentically American. If you’re also a small business owner looking to provide stable jobs and grow a profitable company in your area, contact us at Rafael Marrero & Company. See how you can revitalize an industry or provide high-quality employment to fellow Americans by becoming a federal contractor.