There isn’t a piece of clothing that is more American than denim jeans. The image of the Western American worker has become synonymous with ruggedness while wearing blue jeans. Denim jeans have shifted from dependable work wear to fashionable clothing for every occasion. Over time, the American symbol is no longer the essential of blue jean manufacturing – it’s no longer “Made in America.”
The most popular jean manufacturers – Levi’s, Wrangler, and Lee – no longer have manufacturing facilities for their denim jeans in America. Only a few remaining companies are left with the commitment of keeping “Made in America” alive. Dearborn Denim is a shinny beacon that is keeping the American denim jean manufacturing tradition of “Made in America” alive but at the same time is made in Chicago.
Photos credit to Dearborn Denim.
In 2016, Robert McMillan founded Dearborn Denim founded Dearborn Denim with the premise of creating American-made clothing apparel with a focus on producing high-quality jeans to be sold at a competitive price. When the Dearborn Denim factory usually receives the denim fabric, they begin the process of cutting, sewing, and complete it – afterwards, it’s shipped directly to customers. The team of employees produce a substantial number of pairs of jeans per day for both men and women. In the past few decades, the main competitors in the blue jeans market was Levi’s and Wrangler, who once dominated the market but that is no longer the case today – Dearborn Denim still views these two giants as their main competitors, while being aware of the global jeans market.
Founder of Dearborn Denim Robert McMillan. Photos credit to Dearborn Denim.
In the late 1920s, Chicago’s clothing industry was on a sharp decline, and the Great Depression accelerated it. The New Deal revived the industry for a bit with some government contracts for military uniforms, but that prosperity was temporary. Many manufacturers soon began to leave Chicago and settled in the South where the cost to labor was cheap. As always, Americans preferred lower prices for clothing, which meant less spending for clothes and more for leisure activities. By the late 1970s, the denim jeans industry moved overseas and out of the U.S. with only a few left reminding.
Photos credit to Dearborn Denim.
The few remaining denim jean manufacturers in the country are a hope to counter the fast-fashion market trends. The current manufacturing process to produce denim jeans is rifled with waste, labor abuse and malpractice, and overconsumption of resources – is resulting in the unsustainability of the environment. With an ethical choice to the production of jeans right here in Chicago, perhaps companies like Dearborn Denim can once again remind folks of the main reason to buy jeans…once you buy them, their built to last.
For more information about Dearborn Denim, please visit: Dearborndenim.us.
