Bayard Winthrop

But also just kind of a growing concern about the impact of that on America at large and just feeling like I was participating in the abandonment of our ability to make things. And so American Giant kind of came out of that, just sort of a desire to stand in defiance of that.

It's a good question. I mean, the stuff that was made here, I would say the strongest piece of that capability was in knitwear. Knitwear are T-shirts and sweatshirts, fabric that has some mechanical stretch in it that just kind of gives. Knits in the U.S. have been traditionally very, very strong.

It's a good question. I mean, the stuff that was made here, I would say the strongest piece of that capability was in knitwear. Knitwear are T-shirts and sweatshirts, fabric that has some mechanical stretch in it that just kind of gives. Knits in the U.S. have been traditionally very, very strong.

It's a good question. I mean, the stuff that was made here, I would say the strongest piece of that capability was in knitwear. Knitwear are T-shirts and sweatshirts, fabric that has some mechanical stretch in it that just kind of gives. Knits in the U.S. have been traditionally very, very strong.

I knew nothing to start. And that really isn't an overstatement. I knew nothing. I didn't know who to talk to. I didn't know who to ask. And so I began to, you know, do Google searches. And then I started traveling. One day I found myself in a place called Carolina Cottonworks that is in Gaffney, South Carolina, run by a man named Paige Ashby. And I'll never forget it.

I knew nothing to start. And that really isn't an overstatement. I knew nothing. I didn't know who to talk to. I didn't know who to ask. And so I began to, you know, do Google searches. And then I started traveling. One day I found myself in a place called Carolina Cottonworks that is in Gaffney, South Carolina, run by a man named Paige Ashby. And I'll never forget it.

I knew nothing to start. And that really isn't an overstatement. I knew nothing. I didn't know who to talk to. I didn't know who to ask. And so I began to, you know, do Google searches. And then I started traveling. One day I found myself in a place called Carolina Cottonworks that is in Gaffney, South Carolina, run by a man named Paige Ashby. And I'll never forget it.

We'd almost given up on the process and Paige said, I'll get this figured out for you. And he began to introduce us to the right knitters and the right places that can sew. And we got turned down by a bunch, but some of them agreed to try. And once that momentum began to build, then it became a function of just lining up the steps.

We'd almost given up on the process and Paige said, I'll get this figured out for you. And he began to introduce us to the right knitters and the right places that can sew. And we got turned down by a bunch, but some of them agreed to try. And once that momentum began to build, then it became a function of just lining up the steps.

We'd almost given up on the process and Paige said, I'll get this figured out for you. And he began to introduce us to the right knitters and the right places that can sew. And we got turned down by a bunch, but some of them agreed to try. And once that momentum began to build, then it became a function of just lining up the steps.

And then finally places the cut and sew of that product, places like Eagle Sportswear in Middlesex, North Carolina, that actually bring it finally to life.

And then finally places the cut and sew of that product, places like Eagle Sportswear in Middlesex, North Carolina, that actually bring it finally to life.

And then finally places the cut and sew of that product, places like Eagle Sportswear in Middlesex, North Carolina, that actually bring it finally to life.

As I began to get into the business, Part of my hope was that, you know, when I was a kid, you could get American-made products at places like Caldor's. And, you know, working class families, families that were throughout the economic spectrum could afford really good made, well-made American-made sweatshirt or American-made t-shirt or American-made blue jeans. That's not available today anymore.

As I began to get into the business, Part of my hope was that, you know, when I was a kid, you could get American-made products at places like Caldor's. And, you know, working class families, families that were throughout the economic spectrum could afford really good made, well-made American-made sweatshirt or American-made t-shirt or American-made blue jeans. That's not available today anymore.

As I began to get into the business, Part of my hope was that, you know, when I was a kid, you could get American-made products at places like Caldor's. And, you know, working class families, families that were throughout the economic spectrum could afford really good made, well-made American-made sweatshirt or American-made t-shirt or American-made blue jeans. That's not available today anymore.

You really can't. And in our case, I hoped that I was going to change that with American Giant. But eight, nine years in, I began to realize, like, you know what, as hard as I've tried, my cheapest T-shirt is $30, $35. And that's out of reach for a whole swath of Americans. And that was hard for me to swallow because it was a big part of what I was trying to do as a business.

You really can't. And in our case, I hoped that I was going to change that with American Giant. But eight, nine years in, I began to realize, like, you know what, as hard as I've tried, my cheapest T-shirt is $30, $35. And that's out of reach for a whole swath of Americans. And that was hard for me to swallow because it was a big part of what I was trying to do as a business.

You really can't. And in our case, I hoped that I was going to change that with American Giant. But eight, nine years in, I began to realize, like, you know what, as hard as I've tried, my cheapest T-shirt is $30, $35. And that's out of reach for a whole swath of Americans. And that was hard for me to swallow because it was a big part of what I was trying to do as a business.

You know, everyone likes to pound on Walmart, but Walmart has actually taken a stand on this issue. And they've made a real commitment to domestic production.