Buying made in the USA, or from a country that is known for its product, has become a little OCD habit for me. And the latest failed mission has been skate shoes. First of all, you can no longer buy a pair of skate shoes, or mens sneakers, that are made in the USA anymore.
New Balance seems to be the only brand that carries a line of sneakers that are still made in here, and they even have a line which are made in the UK. Don't get me wrong, this is great, but I'm not quite a NB guy, at least yet. But heres what really bugs me: as we get closer to the 4th of July, shoe companies that have shipped their factories overseas, gear up to release their "patriotic" themed footwear. I've been wearing Vans forever, and these motherfuckers are the worst! Made in China, Independence Day, American Flag waving bullshit, shipped halfway around the world so you can think you are doing the right thing and buying a Chinese shoe with your nations flag on it. Vans is really good about keeping up with the trends and custom shoe patterns, but where is the China Pro Model?
If the flag is a part of a costume that you wear a couple times a year, then you are truly the clown shoe of this country.
So where do you go, or what do you buy? Thankfully there are plenty of work boots out there that are still made in the USA, and proud of it. All of my work boots are made here, but at the end of the day, you still want to kick you boots off, literally, and slip into something a little less work related. If we are destined to buy Chinese shoes, at least for the
near future, then at least support your local shoe store, skate shop, and main street. Amazon might deliver it faster than you can wipe your own ass, and they know your name, birthday, shopping habits, and deepest online secrets, not that you told them any of this, but they will never be a friendly face at a store with people you know and call neighbors.
American flag, designating where they were made. Not because its 4th of July...
American flag, designating that its 4th of July, but not country of manufacture...
Slap yourself
