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.
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: Craftsman States
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: 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.
Made Overseas: Oakley Sunglasses
Oakley sunglasses contain a “Made in the USA” label, but the brand has created some controversy about where their goods are actually manufactured. Initially, it was thought that the label indicated that they were made in the United States, however, there are other speculations.
Headquartered in Foothill Ranch, California, Oakley was bought by Luxottica in 2007, which moved some of its production to a Chinese factory. It was finally revealed that 70 percent of Oakley’s parts are made in the USA, which is a respectable percentage, but that still leaves a weighty 30 percent that is outsourced from other countries.