During our research, we found plenty of clothing brands that make khakis and/or chinos (there is a slight difference, which we will address later). They are listed below, along with material sourcing and made in the USA labeling tips. At the end of this article, you will find a list of famous clothing brands that don’t offer any American-made chinos or khakis. Let’s dig in!
Complete List of Khaki and Chino Brands Made in the USA
American Giant’s selection of pants includes several styles of American made chinos in both pants and shorts for both men and women. They are inspired by vintage military garments and feature double-welt pocket construction and reinforced stitching.
All American Clothing’s Thomson Twill Pants for men are made of pre-washed 100% cotton chino. These midweight pants come in a variety of colors and are reasonably priced. However, keep in mind that although they are made in Georgia, they contain some imported material.
Runabout Goods has several styles of men’s chinos with a classic ‘50s/’60s campus look. These pants are made in California, but some of the material may be imported.
Jack Donnelly started with a single mission: to make the best khakis possible. They use the finest materials and make their men’s pants in a variety of fits, including relaxed, tapered, straight, and slim. Their pants are manufactured in Los Angeles. Some styles are made from 100% USA cotton, but others feature twill imported from Japan. Fortunately, Jack Donnelly is forthcoming on their website about this.
All American Khakis does exactly what its name says. This company manufactures khakis (and chinos, too) in the USA. These men’s pants are affordable and come in a variety of colors.
Bills Khakis makes its casual men’s pants in four basic fits: relaxed, classic, straight, and 5-pocket. This means you can find a pair that’s just right for you, no matter your shape or size. Their website also goes into great detail on all the different fabrics you can choose from. This guide even tells you if pants made from a particular material are a good choice for the golf course.
SKU sells lots of khakis, as their name indicates. This California company tries to use domestically-sourced fabric as much as possible, but some materials are imported.
Devium USA makes a few styles of chinos. Their customer favorite is the Toiler chino, which is made of stretch twill. These 5-pocket men’s pants were designed for skateboarders, but they are also great for anyone with an active lifestyle. If you like to ride your bike to work, these may be perfect for you!
Mike’s YouTube Video on American Made Khakis and Chinos
How to Find Khakis and Chinos Made in the USA
Finding where a pair of khakis or chinos was made can be tough, particularly if you can’t find what you want in the store where you can see the tag. Below are some tips on determining the country of origin for these pants.
For even more information on finding domestic products, check out our made in the USA labeling explainer and shopping tips.
Materials
The materials a pair of khakis or chinos are made from are one indicator of whether they were made here and whether they are a good choice for certain settings or activities.
First, let’s talk about the difference between khakis and chinos. These terms are often used interchangeably, but these two kinds of pants aren’t exactly the same.
Khakis were invented first, and chinos are an offshoot. Khakis are typically made of heavier material, such as canvas, while chinos are more likely to be a cotton blend. Chinos are also more structured than khakis, making them a bit more formal-looking.
However, clothing brands don’t often make a real distinction between khakis and chinos. That’s why you might find “khakis” made of cotton twill rather than canvas. They are probably better described as chinos.
Here are the most common materials used for manufacturing khakis and chinos and where those fabrics are typically sourced.
Cotton
Both khakis and chinos are made at least partially from cotton fabric. Duck cotton is a type of canvas sometimes used for pants such as khakis because it is more tightly woven. Some chinos are also made from 100% cotton. This includes cotton twill.
The United States ranks third in the world in cotton production, behind China and India. Although much clothing manufacturing occurs overseas these days, some companies still use American cotton for their khakis and chinos.
Polyester
Some chinos are made from cotton blends, typically a mix of cotton and polyester. China produces most of the world’s polyester, but the U.S. ranks third. In fact, two of the top 10 polyester companies in the world are located in the United States. Although it’s more challenging to find American-made polyester and cotton-polyester blends than 100% cotton clothing made in the USA, it’s not impossible.
Labeling
When it comes to labeling, the U.S. government has a few laws and regulations to help shoppers find products made here.
Title 19, Chapter 4, Section 1304 of the federal code states all imported products must have the country of origin listed on a tag or the object itself. Unfortunately, this only applies to products found in brick-and-mortar stores, not to websites where brands sell their goods.
In addition, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) defines “made in the USA” products as those that were “all or virtually all” manufactured in the United States. This includes materials, assembly, and packaging. However, because of the word “virtually,” a few materials may be sourced from overseas, and even some assembly might not take place domestically.
If you are still confused as to the country of origin for an item after visiting a company’s website, send them an email or call them. Don’t forget to ask where the product was assembled and what countries the raw materials came from.
More Tips
Below are some final tips for finding chinos, khakis, and other products made in the USA.
Some brands use language like “assembled in the USA” or “stitched in the USA” when the raw materials to make the product were not sourced domestically. They also might promote the item as being “made in America.” This is another potential red flag because Mexico and Canada are part of North America.
Finally, just because you see Old Glory on a product or a label doesn’t mean that item was made in the USA. The federal government does not restrict the use of the image of the American flag in product advertising or marketing, so the company might be taking advantage of this loophole to trick consumers.
Khakis and Chinos Not Made in the USA
Here are some popular clothing brands that don’t make their khakis and chinos in the USA. We continually update our lists, so check back for updates.
- Carhartt – Made in Latin American and Asian countries.
- Dickies – Made in Mexico, China, and other countries.
- Levi’s – Made in Cambodia, Bangladesh, and other countries.
- Wrangler – Made overseas.
- Duluth Trading Company – Made in Indonesia, Vietnam, and a variety of other countries.
- KÜHL – Made in Vietnam and elsewhere.
- Tellason – Their chinos are made from Japanese twill.
- Bonobos – This brand imports its chinos.
- American Eagle – AE’s khakis are manufactured in countries such as China, Vietnam, and Mexico.
- Brooks Brothers – Their chinos are made in countries all over the world.
- J. Crew – Their chinos are not made in the USA.
- Calvin Klein – This brand’s khakis and chinos are not produced here.
- Ralph Lauren – Their chinos are imported.
- LL Bean – This company’s chinos are not made domestically.
