Our Origin Story
On a fly fishing trip out west a few years ago, and as the day wound down and the drinks flowed, talk somehow shifted to clothing – specifically, outdoor apparel. Growing up in the South, it’s not uncommon to see attire worn on a daily basis that’s equally at home in the office, as it is on the water or in the woods.
As a buyer of various brands, I found myself disheartened by the realization that many iconic American labels were outsourcing their production overseas. A few more rounds in, the discussion evolved into a challenge: "How do we create versatile styles we love, while keeping production in America?"
And so a company was born in Nashville, TN marking the beginning of our journey. But it wasn't as straightforward as we hoped.
A bit of background
The allure of overseas manufacturing for most companies is clear – it's much cheaper with significantly more manufacturers to choose from. Government regulations for the textile and apparel industry also make achieving a "Made in America" label far from straightforward.
To use the "Made in the USA" label, both the garment and the fabric must originate within the country. This requirement often proves challenging due to limitations with domestically manufactured fabric materials. Much of the fabric used in apparel is now produced overseas, posing a challenge for companies aiming for entirely US-based production.
Wilson Lane’s Journey
The past two years have been enlightening. We've encountered setbacks but have also made significant progress toward our goal. Securing domestic manufacturers willing to work with us proved to be an initial struggle, but our commitment to 100% American-made products remains unwavering.
Currently, every aspect of our production – from design and pattern making to fabric sourcing, cutting, sewing, and labeling – is conducted entirely within the USA. While we've found excellent partners for domestic fabric manufacturing, some of our fabrics are sourced from overseas, particularly performance fabrics. We are transparent about this and these items are labeled "Made in the USA with imported materials."
Our goal from day one we discussed over those drinks has been to produce a quality product that is 100% manufactured in the U.S. Our goal is to be part of the Made in American movement to bring it back "home". We hope you join us.
- SW
