These beloved ‘American’ brands are made overseas | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

Do you care where the products you buy are made?

Many manufacturers believe that the “Made in the USA” label is a great selling point, though that’s not decisive. Some consumers believe that if the product is made in the U.S. it is of better quality, offering higher value and fewer risks.

Remember that episode of the popular show “The Resident,” when it was revealed that Quo Vadis, a fictional medical device company, was importing devices from China and falsely labeling them as made in the USA? While fictional, it suggests the importance of that one selling point.

💵💰Don’t miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet’s free daily newsletter💰💵

I also love to buy domestic products, as I believe it is important to support your country’s production. It is better for everyone, including me.

Despite the U.S. being the second-biggest manufacturer in the world (second only to China), its domestic production has been declining over the past two decades. Its global share fell from 25% to 17% between 1997 and 2021, with a net loss of 4.6 million jobs.

Why are manufacturers switching production to other countries? It’s quite simple: significantly lower labor costs.

Many people are unaware of how many legendary “American” brands are actually made overseas.

While many people are aware that iPhones are usually made in China and India, they don’t know what other popular U.S. brands are made overseas. Levi’s is one example.

Image source&colon; Shutterstock

Shifting iPhone production to U.S. is a ‘fairy tale’

The legendary iPhone — and the company behind, it Apple (AAPL) — are known by the whole world. Most people know who Steve Jobs was, and also know that Apple is an American brand.

However, it is also common knowledge that Apple makes its iconic smartphones mostly in China. The components go to Apple manufacturing locations in China, Malaysia, Thailand, and South Korea, among other countries.

All these manufacturing facilities are part of only two companies, the Taiwanese firms Foxconn and Pegatron, which manage production and the quality standards of Apple phones.

When President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on imports from China, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed the potential impact could increase the company’s costs by roughly $900 million for the June quarter.

In response to tariffs, Apple has shifted more of its iPhone production to India, reducing its reliance on China. In March, it shipped nearly $2 billion worth of iPhones to the U.S., marking a record amount for its two India-based suppliers.

So why not just bring the production to the U.S.?

If Apple was to do that, the price of an iPhone would grow so much that most people would not even consider buying one. Not to mention the transition expense and time needed to relocate production.

More on popular brands:

Wedbush Securities Senior Analyst Dan Ives cautioned that shifting Apple’s manufacturing to the U.S. could lead to an iPhone price of around $3,500 and take five to 10 years to finalize.

“We believe the concept of Apple producing iPhones in the U.S. is a fairy tale that is not feasible,” he said, according to Barron’s.

Other legendary ‘American’ brands made far away from the U.S.

While Apple’s manufacturing story is well known, many people may not be aware that other iconic American brands are made outside the States.

Dell, an American technology company that develops, sells, and repairs personal computers, manufactures its products largely in Asia and Mexico, writes Cheapism.

And fashion giants whose production occurs overseas include:

Levi’s: The denim icon now produces most of its products in China and Vietnam.
Ray-Ban: This James Dean-approved sunglasses brand was sold in 1999 to Italy’s Luxottica. Since then, the shades have been produced in Italy and China.
Hush Puppies: The 60-year-old casual shoe brand praised by many celebrities makes products in China and Vietnam.
Arrow Shirts: A more than century-old clothing brand known for detachable collars and men’s dress shirts manufactures in Cambodia, China, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
Woolrich: Another longstanding American brand known for outdoor clothing, over time, moved its production to China, Vietnam, and other countries.
Converse: The brand behind Non-Skids, popular for its iconic, timeless design and cultural significance, was sold to Nike in 2023 following bankruptcy and moved its manufacturing to Indonesia and other Asian countries.
Nike: This popular and American athlete-endorsed footwear brand has been making its shoes internationally since at least the 1970s.
Gap: Back in 1969, Gap was a San Francisco jeans and record store, and now it is a global clothing icon with many big names under its umbrella. Most of Gap’s clothes are made in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and China.

Not even automaker giants like Ford and Chevrolet make their vehicles entirely from American parts. For example, Chevrolet’s very popular Blazer and Equinox are manufactured at least partially in Mexico and Canada.

Then there are toy manufacturers whose production relies heavily on China — these include Mattel (globally known for the Barbie doll), Fisher-Price (synonymous with baby toys), Spin Master Corporation (maker of the Etch A Sketch), and Hasbro (behind the legendary and ultra-American G.I. Joe figures).

Now, try to imagine a fairy tale in which all of these brands — plus American Girl dolls, Stanley Black & Decker’s Craftsman tools, Fender’s Stratocaster guitars, Samsonite luggage, Radio Flyer wagons, Schwinn bikes, and many more — shifted production to America.

It’s almost inconceivable.