I wanted to alert you to a book that I think everyone in the Best Made universe should own. This book is not available through Amazon, or any of the usual channels. It is self-published, and as far as I know only available through the author's site, which states limited copies remain...

There's nothing fancy about Crafted with Pride. It's a simple, low-fi, and thorough guide to over 750 manufacturers of apparel, accessories, footwear, and outdoor products. What unites them all is their country of origin: the USA. 
 
There are many discoveries to be made in this book. Like the $14.75 t-shirt I bought from an outfit in Texas. A fully vertical operation that knits, cuts, and sews organic cotton that they grow themselves. That discovery was more of a revelation. I was also happy to see American Woolen Mill in there (pictured above) who I had just visited the week before. Amidst the usual suspects, there are many hidden gems in this book. 
 
It's hard to believe that it's taken so long for this book to be written. I have never seen such a deep dive into American soft goods manufacturing, compiled in such an extensive list, let alone a book. A book that should probably be an entire series (tools, hardware, furniture, etc).  
 
Studying this book, seeing all these American makers under one roof (and wearing my new t-shirt from Texas) I sense that we might be at an inflection point of sorts. Or at least more than we were when I started Best Made 15 years ago. "Made in the USA" seems less quaint or nostalgic than it did back then. There is an urgency to it. It's more of an imperative than a marketing ploy (or should be). Crafted with Pride is both a valuable guidebook and a manifesto for this movement. 
 
Historically speaking, Best Made (from 2009-2019) made its products in the USA, Canada, Peru, Japan, Portugal, Germany, Serbia, Scotland, and China (among others). We did not make everything in the USA. There were products we offered that simply could not be made in the USA. And sometimes what could be made in the USA was being made better elsewhere. 
 
I am committed — more than ever — to prioritizing American manufacturing. Why? There are many reasons, but here's one: community. As the title of this book suggests, there is pride in craft. And craft — which was once the bedrock of so many communities in the United States — has been exported and diminished. The good news is that — as I think this book shows — it's coming back. Just not fast enough.     
 
 
(Thanks to Joe Pollard for this book tip)