Comfortable, stylish, and functional sneakers are a key piece of every wardrobe. But have you found yourself wondering what sneakers are made in the USA? We took the time to research and find the brands that are making sneakers in the USA today. Below are all of our findings, along with details about each one and some more shopping tips. Enjoy!
Complete List of Sneaker Brands Made in the USA
Softstar shoes are carefully designed and use special materials so that you can wear these shoes with or without socks comfortably all year round. Every one of the shoes made by Softstar is crafted in the United States using U.S.-sourced materials and expert craftsmen for a high finish quality.
Make sure to check out our full interview with Softstar Shoes and our in-depth look at Softstar as part of our Spotlight Series. Softstar is also featured in our YouTube video on shoes made in the USA.
San Antonio shoes remain stylish while maximizing comfort as much as possible. It doesn’t matter if you just want basic sneakers, dress shoes, casual shoes, or something else entirely. SAS produces it all! San Antonio Shoes are produced with tough leather that is carefully treated and designed to last through years of heavy use. They aren’t cheap, but they offer serious quality for the price. Keep in mind, they have a manufacturing partner in Italy that produces some of their dress shoes, so their entire product catalog isn’t made in the USA.
All American Clothing Co. is an exclusively online retailer that has a huge inventory of clothing from various brands that we mention in our research. They pride themselves on producing American-made clothing at a fair price. You can find just about everything from shoes, to jeans, t-shirts, and jackets at All American Clothing Co.
SOM Footwear makes ultra-thin shoes that have a minimal sole and thin uppers for a highly flexible fit that will give you an almost shoeless feel when wearing them. These shoes are designed with a wide toebox that is intended to fit nicely for most folks. They are also made breathable by using upper fabric that isn’t too thick, so they can be worn around in the summer with no problem. I recently toured SOM Footwear out in Montrose, Colorado, so head to our YouTube channel for an exclusive look at their manufacturing process.
Opie Way is a newcomer in the American-made footwear scene that is aiming to make stylish shoes for everyday wear. Their Riverside Lo style is a popular choice, a classic low-top sneaker with a tanned leather look.
Opie Way uses premium vegetable-tanned leather and a suede heel counter and toe cap to construct all of their shoes right out of their factory in Asheville, North Carolina. Every pair of shoes is made to order too, which is why their shipping time is a little long at 4-5 weeks.
We also featured Opie Way in our video on how to find shoes made in the USA, so make sure to give that a watch and check out our exclusive interview with them as well. Opie Way also produces other sneaker styles like tennis shoes made in the usa and leather products like belts and duffel bags.
Use the code allamericanreviews to get $15 off your first pair!
Carson Footwear is one of the premier trail-running and hiking shoe suppliers in the United States. At Carson, you can choose between a wide variety of zero-drop minimalist running shoes. Each of the shoes sold from Carson Footwear features a built-in 5mm sock liner for supreme comfort.
Every pair of shoes produced by the company is hand-crafted in Milwaukie, Oregon, with top-grade materials. Their shoes all feature a signature lightweight build design, a high level of flexibility, and a grippy sole for running on trails with confidence.
P.W. Minor was once one the oldest footwear companies in the USA. They proudly produced high quality shoes for more than 150 years. Most of their footwear was designed for people with foot pain and other medical conditions such as diabetes. All of their shoes provide extra orthopedic comfort. Unfortunately they recently stopped production. That said, you can still pick up a pair of their top shelf footwear at online retailers and resellers.
D2Shoe offers premier cycling shoes. They are made from tough synthetic material and wrapped in carbon fiber for added strength and style. These shoes are 100% handmade in the USA, though they aren’t cheap. The shoes are some of best performance cycling shoes on the market, designed for top-level cyclists.
Psudo makes printed, slip-on sneakers for men and women that are affordable and lightweight. They come in a ton of different styles and are made from 75% recycled material.
Victory Sportswear, formerly Hersey Custom Shoe Company, makes custom shoes and sneakers out of their Massachusetts factory. Their shoes are high quality and look awesome! They have several different options to choose from. Keep in mind the shoes are made-to-order, so it’ll take around 1-2 months for them to arrive after ordering them.
Queen City Footwear is an American shoe maker that designs premium houseshoes and sneakers. All of their footwear is designed, cut, sewn, and fulfilled by their small team in Vermont. Keep in mind that some of the materials are imported, though, so they are not 100% made in the USA.
COMUNITYmade is a small-bath shoe manufacturer based in Los Angeles that handmakes beautiful high-end sneakers for men and women. They have a bunch of really cool styles and you can even order a custom pair from them. They will also donate 20% of your purchase to the charity of your choice.
made+ is an environmentally-friendly shoe manufacturer based in Maryland that handmakes really cool sneakers – all made to order. Every pair is constructed using 100% recycled yarn for a super breathable feel. If you’re looking for an American made alternative to Allbirds – these are it.
Mike’s YouTube Video on American Made Sneakers
How to Find Sneakers Made in the USA
Finding anything made in America can be a bit of a struggle nowadays when a lot of production has moved abroad. However, don’t despair, as it’s not impossible to find sneakers made in the USA. Here are our top tricks and tips to help you find the perfect pair of sneakers made right here in America.
What Does “Made In The USA” Mean?
When searching for sneakers made in the USA, it’s essential to first know what “made in the USA” actually means. To be considered genuinely American-made, a sneaker must be designed, sourced, and assembled in the United States. In other words, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the product must be “all or virtually all” made in the United States.
For detailed information on this, check out our article on the FTC’s guidelines.
Materials
When looking for sneakers made in the USA, it’s important to consider the materials and where they are sourced. By looking for sneakers made from American-made components, you can ensure that your sneaker has been created with a commitment to American craftsmanship.
Common materials used to make American-made sneakers include leather, synthetics, canvas, and rubber. All of these materials should be sourced from the United States if the sneaker is to be considered genuinely American-made.
Leather
Leather is a classic material used in many sneakers and can come from various sources. Although China contributes to a major portion of global leather production, there are many American-sourced options available as well. In fact, the USA is one of the top ten leather producers in the world and has tanneries throughout the country.
If you’re looking for an American-made leather sneaker, make sure to look for brands that have sourced their leather from the USA. Keep in mind that you’re more likely to come across American-made leather if you look specifically for cowhide as opposed to more exotic leathers.
Synthetics
Synthetic materials such as polyester, nylon, and spandex are often used in the construction of sneakers. Again, these materials should be sourced from the USA if the sneaker is considered American-made.
The USA is one of the world’s largest producers of polyester, making it a great source of these materials. The USA is also a major contributor to nylon production, though with that said, China definitely leads the pack when it comes to nylon!
And if we look at spandex, although China now produces most of the world’s spandex, it was originally invented in Virginia, USA, and is still produced in considerable quantity within the United States.
When it comes to synthetic materials, double-check the country of origin before purchasing.
Rubber
Rubber is another essential ingredient in many sneakers, providing support and durability. Unfortunately, rubber production has largely shifted overseas due to the USA’s higher labor cost. Today, almost 90 percent of natural rubber is produced in Asian countries such as Indonesia and Thailand.
So, instead, you should look for synthetic rubber. Of the 35 million tons of rubber the USA produces each year, two-thirds of it is synthetic, making the US one of the top producers of synthetic rubber.
Labeling
When looking for American-made sneakers, it’s important to pay attention to the labeling. Thankfully, there are a couple of laws that are a huge help in weeding out foreign-made products. The first of these laws is the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act. This act makes it a legal requirement for companies to:
- Use standardized language for the fiber used on their textile products
- State the percentage weight of the fibers used
- State the country of origin
The second law that helps us is Title 19 Chapter 4 Section 1304 of the US Code, which states that all products made abroad must be labeled accordingly. So, when looking for US-made products, the first step is to weed out all foreign-made products labeled as such. Instead, look for the FTC-protected label “made in the USA.”
However, there are a few additional things to keep in mind. First, unfortunately, the FTC does not do the best job of policing the usage of the protected label. There is no pre-approval process, so it’s up to the companies to determine whether or not their products meet the criteria to use the label. And it’s up to the consumers to report any false usage of the label.
Second, some companies may use confusing and tricky wording in their labels to make it seem as though their products are American-made. Examples of such labels include:
- Made in America: America can refer to Canada or Mexico.
- Designed/Assembled in the USA: Only a portion of the product manufacturing takes place in the USA.
Finally, some companies may use the US flag on their labels to possibly imply that a product is made in the USA. However, the usage of the flag on labels is not regulated, so just because you see one does not mean the product is made in the USA.
Other Tips
Here are some other tips to keep in mind when shopping for American-made sneakers:
Go Online
Go on the company’s website and check out their “About Us” or product page. If the product is truly made in the USA, you should see this fact advertised on their website, as it is a huge selling point. On the other hand, if you can’t find any information, it’s best to assume the product is made abroad. Keep in mind that companies are not required to state the country of origin on their websites or in advertisements, so silence says a lot in this case.
Check Social Media
Social media is a great place to research brands and products. Companies often use social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to showcase their products and answer customer questions. You may even find information regarding the manufacturing process of the company’s products.
Ask Questions
Sometimes it can be difficult to find information about the origins of products. If you are uncertain, don’t hesitate to ask questions. Contact the customer service team of the brand or store you are looking to purchase from, and they should be able to provide more information.
You can call, email, or even leave a comment on their social media accounts.
Sneakers Not Made in the USA
Here are some of the most popular sneaker brands and where they are actually made. We’ll keep adding to this list as we research more notable brands to call out.
- New Balance – Made in Vietnam and China, “Made in the USA” shoes are 70% domestic.
- Skechers – Made in China and Vietnam.
- Brooks – Made in Vietnam and El Salvador, among other countries.
- Nike – Made in Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Italy, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Korea, Japan, Argentina, India, Bosnia, and Herzegovina.
- Reebok – Made in Vietnam.
- Converse – Made in Vietnam, China, India, and Indonesia.
- Vans – China and Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea, Mexico, and the USA (did 700 pairs of limited edition ones).
- NOBULL – Made in China and other countries.
- Adidas – Primarily China, Vietnam, and Indonesia but also Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Germany, India, Italy, Myanmar, and Turkey (all broken down on their factory list on their website)
- Puma – Made in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Romania.
- Veja – Made in Brazil.
- Asics – Made in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Brazil, Japan, and Argentina.
- Saucony – Made in Vietnam (31-40%), China (21-30%), Asia, the USA, Mexico, and Argentina (1-10%). You can see more on their supplier list.
- On – Made in Vietnam.
- Hoka – Made in China, Vietnam, Phillippines, Cambodia, and the Dominican Republic.
- Common Project – Made in Italy.
Related Research
Outfitting your feet, too? Check out our research for socks made in the USA. Here are some other related research articles we’ve published.
