Textile Insight

A Focus on Brands Making Products in the USA. By Suzanne Blecher MADE IN AMERICA | PERFORMANCE Winning Active Endeavors Forloh Keen & Nester Hosiery 6 • Textile Insight ~ March/April 2021 textileinsight.com The turbulent nature of this past year has taken a toll on many areas of our lives, yet one bright spot has been an emphasis on staying active. Recreational sports like golf, tennis and hiking are on the uptick with consumers enjoying basking in the open air. Hunting is also having a resurgence "as people more than ever want to know the source of their organic meat and experience the outdoors," said Andy Techmanski, founder of Forloh. It's the aspect of finding the joy in nature – which can be right in our own backyard – that is also fueling brands to make associated products locally. Here we highlight five brands who are focusing efforts on Made in the USA. Billing itself as "the first hunting brand to manufacture high end apparel 100% made in the USA," Forloh was launched to fill a gap between the latest technologies in fabrics which can be used for hunting, fishing and the general active outdoor environment. Forloh employs Airagidm waterproof breathable membranes (produced entirely in Higginsville, MO, from design to distribution) in its AllClima Rain Jacket and Soft Shell Jacket to deliver personalized i-Climate Comfort, or "the spe- cial ability to adapt to both the environment and the wearer's distinctive physiology," according to Greg Vas Nunes, CEO of Trinity Technology Group. Maintaining a comfortable body temperature in the wilderness makes for a better overall experience. These jackets also feature lifesaving Recco search and rescue reflectors, should the wearer become lost in the backcountry. For Spring, Forloh will introduce Airalight, its lightest weight rain gear with improved breathability. l In January 2021, footwear brand Keen an- nounced that it would be increasing its Port- land, OR production by 26 percent, driven by strong demand for its American Built utility boots. Erik Burbank, VP of Keen Effect com- mented that "American Built for American workers is resonating with our fans, while the reception for US built premium hikers is equal- ly strong." The firm has also made recent in- vestments in the Portland factory in the area of robotics for quality assurance and efficiency. At the same time, the firm also announced an expanded relationship with Nester Hosiery, a partner of 14 years, to develop, manufacture and distribute new outdoor, work and every- day designs for women's, men's and kids Keen Casual and Keen Utility brands. "We are really excited to continue producing socks for Keen in our North Carolina factory," Nester Hosiery CEO Kelly Nester noted, adding, "we think that the consumer sees higher value in a US manu- factured product." l Keen's Portland factory Forloh Women's AllClima 3L Rain Jacket

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