Whether beacons of idyllic childhood memories or brands that epitomize American history and culture, there are a surprising number of "all-American" products that were never - or are no longer - made on home soil. We list the most iconic and reveal where in the world these American items are manufactured.
Telling the story of American women over the last 50 years, Barbie has always been an icon. Since the doll's launch in 1959 by US businesswoman Ruth Handler, more than a billion have been sold worldwide. However, owner Mattel has always manufactured the doll overseas, first in Japan and now in China and Indonesia.
Many will remember tools and camping equipment maker Craftsman as a staple of Sears department stores. That is at least until 2017 when Sears sold the brand to Stanley Black & Decker. Once proudly touted as being made in America, both owners contracted manufacturers in China to make most of its tools. However, Stanley Black & Decker says they are increasing the number of Craftsman products made on US soil, with its factory in Fort Mill, South Carolina, producing select power tools.
In 1984, 19-year-old Michael Dell established PC’s Limited with $1,000 savings. Less than a decade later he was the youngest CEO on the Fortune 500 list, and by 1996 Dell.com was generating $1 million in sales per day. Despite becoming one of America’s most respected companies, most manufacturing has moved from US plants to various locations in Asia, along with factories in Brazil, Poland and Ireland.
Born in San Francisco and the Gold Rush, Levi's became one of the country's most iconic clothing brands. Its rise from rugged workwear to a fashion staple has followed the histroy of America in the 20th century. But with falling sales the demin maker choose to close all of its US manufacturing plants to save money on labor costs. Now the classic jeans, demin jackets and other apparel bearing the signature red label are made in places like Pakistan, Egypt and Romania, or in a number of factories across Asia.
You’d be hard-pressed to find something more quintessentially American than its very own stars and stripes. Some state legislatures limit flag imports, while Minnesota outright bans the sale of foreign-made flags. So while there are still a multitude of flags made at home, 6% are still made abroad, and those are almost entirely from China. The Flag Manufacturers Association of America estimate these imports to be worth as much as $4 million.
Hasbro's G.I. Joe, the world’s first action figure, was initially made to represent the four branches of the US military. "America's movable fighting man" later became a more generic American hero, boasting an array of merchandise from posters and T-shirts, to video games and kites. While Hasbro did make the early versions of the action hero in its Rhode Island factory, it moved production to Canada in the 1960s and later to China.
In 2017 the apparel brand came under intense criticism when board member Linda Bean donated a large sum to former president Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again political action committee though the brand imports many of its goods. While the outdoors brand still makes it famous duck boots in Maine, an estimated 90% of the company’s products are made overseas.
Boston-based New Balance prides itself on being made in America, having five shoe factories in Maine and Massachusetts that employ around 1,000 workers. However, that's only a fraction of their production. The vast majority of its sneakers and apparel are made in Asia, particularly in China and Vietnam.
An American childhood favorite, the continued popularity of the little red wagon helped make Radio Flyer one of the most recognizable and loved brands. The steel wagon has changed and adapted with the times, and so has its manufacturing. When the brand closed its original Chicago plant in 2004 to move prodcution to China, the company explained it had already been importing its plastic products.
Found in candy jars across America for over 100 years, Brach’s Confections once called itself “America’s candy maker.” However, having merged with Ferrara Candy Company in 2012, it’s most likely that your candy corn is now made in Mexico, according to ABC News. Which is where the firm moved production when it closed its Chicago plant in 2003. Nor is it likely to return: the abandoned Brach's factory made an appearance in the Batman film Dark Knight when it was blown up as part of a scene.
If there’s one thing that truly epitomizes American culture it's baseball. Many fans wanting to take home a slice of Americana purchase expensive souvenir baseballs at MLB games. You’d assume these would be proudly made on US soil. The manufacturer, Rawlings Sporting Goods, actually produces them in Costa Rica, where workers spend 10 hours a day forming 108 stitches on every baseball – to eventually be used for only a couple of pitches each.
One of America’s most loved trucks, the Chevy Silverado is a best-selling vehicle across the US. Indeed General Motors, Chevrolet’s owner, recently reported it has 110,000 reservations for a new electric version of the Silverado. However, buyers might be surprised to learn that this all-American pick-up is actually made in Mexico.
Known for its colorful wooden toys and games, Melissa & Doug products seem to hark back to a simpler, pre-technology world of local, hand-crafted goods. Despite this image, many products are made a long way from home, in China. This has clearly been good business for Melissa and Doug Bernstein, who initially set up in their basement and now own a company worth $500 million.
While Apple products are proudly "Designed in California," the tagline is almost always followed by "Assembled in China." The company has kept its headquarters in California but shut down most of its US manufacturing in 2004. The iPhone is said to be Apple's biggest moneymaker, but it's unlikely it'll ever be made on home turf. The manufacturing technology and skills that are required just aren't available here.
Gerber’s creators were parents facing a universal problem, how to feed your baby when you are in a rush and need to leave the house. Their simple idea of canning baby food was a hit and the first to hit America’s grocery store shelves. Gerber was so popular that Nestle bought the company. While Gerber still operates US plants, its powerhouse owner operates hundreds of factories worldwide, some of which produce under the Gerber name.
One of the most well-known American brands, Black & Decker has long held a place in American homes from the kitchen to the garage. With manufacturing facilities in Missouri, Connecticut, South Carolina and Texas Black & Decker proudly states that "roughly 40% of what we sell in the US, we make in the US with global materials." However many of its tools and appliances are made in China.
American by name but not by nature. While owner Mattel might distribute from facilities in the US, like many of its products, the dolls are actually made in China. Julie Parks, American Girl's director of public relations, says: "The majority of the world's toys are made in China, and we are no exception." She points out even the brand's early dolls - Felicity, Kirsten, Samantha and Molly - had first been made in Germany.
Despite being one of the best-selling pick-up trucks in America, most of the Ram models are built in Saltillo, Mexico. That is with one exception. Production for the 1500 regular cab moved to a plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan, in 2018, however many of its components are imported.
The sneaker brand that found its footing in the early days of basketball, struggled through a bankruptcy in 2001. Bought by Nike in 2003, manufacturing moved to the sports giant's facilities across the world, including factories in India and Brazil. Even the Chuck Taylor All Star shoes, no longer worn by basketball players, are now imported from overseas.
Offering an instantly recognizable and iconic American look, Ray-Bans are the eyewear of choice for thousands of people worldwide. However, if it’s truly American Ray-Bans you are after, you’ll have to buy vintage glasses. Bausch + Lomb, who once made Ray-Bans in the US, sold the brand in 1999 to Italian company Luxottica, who manufactures them in Italy and in China.
Yet another American favorite making a return to US factories, the colorful clay hadn’t been produced in the country since 2004. Originating in 1950s Cincinnati and then made in Chinese and Turkish facilities, owner Hasbro moved the production of Play-Doh to its facility in Massachusetts in 2018.
Former president Donald Trump made US manufacturing a central campaign of his presidency, criticizing companies that moved their production to cheaper countries. Controversially, his very own product line – The Donald J. Trump Signature Collection of ties and dress shirts – is reported to be almost entirely manufactured overseas. In a 2016 CNN interview, he said: "I say my ties many times are made in China. It's hard to have apparel made in this country."
The iconic motorcycle company announced in 2018 that it will move some of its production overseas. It's uncertain when the first "hog" will go into production abroad, following a delay in approvals during the pandemic. Harley-Davidson has always been considered classic Americana, but its components are from other countries albeit assembled in the US.