Sarah Gonzalez

Some U.S.

brands like to have factories nearby for things like prototyping and making samples.

They just want a few pieces right away.

Why have it made all the way in China?

And then there are clothes for the niche customer, like consumers who really want clothes that aren't shipped from across the world because they really care about emissions, for example.

Specialized clothes for people with physical disabilities.

The U.S.

makes a decent amount of that.

And here's another big reason.

Basically, all of the clothes for the US military have to, by law, under the very amendment, be made in the US.

The fabric, the fiber, top to bottom, made in the USA.

Because the US military doesn't ever want to have to rely on a particular country in case we ever, like, go to war with that country or something.

This is the part of the garment industry that the US government does prop up.

And there's a perception, right, that made in America must mean better labor conditions maybe, better pay, good for the environment even.

Why do you think that, Sarah?

That's not true.

That's absolutely not true.

Aisha's nonprofit does these reports where they basically grade brands on labor issues like pay and worker well-being and environmental issues like the raw materials brands use and where their clothes get discarded.

a $20 t-shirt, a $120 t-shirt, the workers likely got 20 cents to work on it either way.

Aisha says you generally cannot buy your way into better wages for workers.