American Roots, a 100% American-made and union-operated apparel company, is expanding its manufacturing footprint in Maine. As reported by the Alliance for American Manufacturing, the company is investing in a new facility to meet growing demand for its hoodies and other clothing items. The company, founded in 2015, operates with a vertically integrated supply chain that relies exclusively on U.S.-sourced materials and union labor.
U.S. Growth Strategy Prioritizes Workers and Domestic Supply Chain
The expansion includes the purchase and renovation of a 38,000-square-foot facility in Portland that will nearly double the company’s production space. American Roots currently operates in Westbrook, Maine, and the new location will enable it to add roughly 100 employees to its existing workforce of 70 people. Co-founders Ben Waxman and Whitney Reynolds Waxman emphasized their commitment to high-wage, union jobs and to proving that U.S. textile manufacturing can be both competitive and sustainable.
Rejecting Offshoring While Building Community Resilience
American Roots stands apart from much of the apparel industry by refusing to offshore production in pursuit of lower labor costs. While global brands rely heavily on the de minimis loophole to import products under $800 without paying duties or complying with labor regulations, American Roots has focused on transparent, domestic manufacturing instead. U.S. Trade Representatives have acknowledged that the volume of de minimis shipments—many originating from China—poses serious challenges to fair competition and enforcement.
The company sources its fabric from American textile mills and maintains close relationships with local suppliers, ensuring that every stage of production supports U.S. workers. The National Council of Textile Organizations reported over $23 billion in capital investments across the U.S. textile industry between 2012 and 2022, with companies like American Roots contributing to that growth through localized, high-skill production.
Consumer interest in American-made apparel is also climbing. 76% of Americans prefer to buy products made in the U.S. when given the choice. American Roots appears to be responding directly to that sentiment by scaling without compromising its domestic principles.
With this expansion, the company is also launching a training program to bring more workers into the industry. According to the founders, their long-term vision includes helping to rebuild the pipeline of skilled American garment workers and supporting economic resilience in their home state and beyond.
Image credit: American Roots
