Anyone who has done some handyman work knows this famous brand. The Craftsman brand has long-represented American ideals of quality and durability in the tools, lawn equipment, and work clothing they have produced. Department store giant, Sears, carried Craftsman products up until 2017. After that, the brand was bought by Stanley Black and Decker.
Since being bought by Black and Decker, many Craftsman products are now manufactured outside of the United States. All American Reviews reported that Apex Tool Group makes many of Craftsman’s hand tools and assembles them in China, but a select few are still made in America.
Made Overseas: American Girl Dolls
With a company name like American Girl, you would think the brand would be made entirely in America. But in fact, the varied collection of American Girl dolls are manufactured in China. The company originally made the dolls from their base in Middleton, Wisconsin, before being bought by the big toy brand Mattel in 1998. Today, Mattel makes most American Girl products in Chinese factories, including their doll clothes.
So if you are looking for a real American girl doll, you will have to look elsewhere. We supposed the term American is all about the personality and characteristics of the doll and not necessarily where it's made. Ye, right.
Sold Overseas: Uber
Uber has become the 21st-century definition of a cab (or a Taxi, if you wish). San Francisco-based Uber founders Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp, first developed the concept for Uber after sharing the cost of a ride with a friend. Their company has changed the way we view the world of private transportation since its beginning in 2009.
Eventually, Uber was sold to its Chinese rival, Didi Chuxing, in 2016. Why sell to a rival? Well, CNBC reported that Uber had been losing $1 billion a year to Didi Chuxing and could no longer compete with the Chinese transport company.
Made Overseas: Gillette Razors
Made in Boston, Massachusetts, Gillette Razors ran a bold ad campaign featuring their “Made in Boston” heritage. Not only was this an American product, but it was important for the brand to emphasize the fact that it was Bostonian too. Today, some of Gillette’s parts are manufactured in the US, while some of their product parts come from China.
They even receive many of their batteries and handles from other overseas locations, including Mexico and Poland. So, not only is Gillette made all over the world, but it is also used all over the world. Consider it during your next shave.
Made Overseas: Calvin Klein
Known for its clean silhouettes and casual glamour (not to mention its high-profile spokespeople), Calvin Klein was born in New York City in 1968. Although Calvin Klein ads have been plastered across the United States with the faces of celebrities like Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner, the fashion label receives most of its materials from China.
Certain specialty materials, such as their leather, come from Italy, but most of their other materials are outsourced from China, as their clothing tags clearly state. So, the brand is America, however, it is produced anywhere, and thankfully the presenters are all stripes and stars.