How to shop made in America for the holidays

Updated 2239 GMT (0639 HKT) December 16, 2015

Offshoring and the recession hit American furniture makers hard. But small businesses like the <a href="http://www.ibrshop.com/" target="_blank">Itsy Bitsy Ritzy Shop</a> are helping to keep alive the tradition of American craftsmanship by working with domestic manufacturing partners to build customized furniture.

Photos: What the U.S. makes

Furniture – Offshoring and the recession hit American furniture makers hard. But small businesses like the Itsy Bitsy Ritzy Shop are helping to keep alive the tradition of American craftsmanship by working with domestic manufacturing partners to build customized furniture.

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The United States is <a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40967.pdf" target="_blank">one of the world's biggest producers (PDF) </a>of aircraft, aircraft engines and supply parts, though it relies heavily on international markets for their sales. Aerospace manufacturing is an important part of the U.S. manufacturing base, making up 2.8% of the nation's manufacturing work force in 2008 and employing more than 500,000 Americans in high-skilled and high-wage jobs. Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company, though parts of its Dreamliner (pictured) have been outsourced to a global supplier network.

Photos: What the U.S. makes

Airplanes – The United States is one of the world's biggest producers (PDF) of aircraft, aircraft engines and supply parts, though it relies heavily on international markets for their sales. Aerospace manufacturing is an important part of the U.S. manufacturing base, making up 2.8% of the nation's manufacturing work force in 2008 and employing more than 500,000 Americans in high-skilled and high-wage jobs. Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company, though parts of its Dreamliner (pictured) have been outsourced to a global supplier network.

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Not all toys are made in China. Several American toy companies produce a significant portion of their products in the United States, including Lionel trains.

Photos: What the U.S. makes

Toys – Not all toys are made in China. Several American toy companies produce a significant portion of their products in the United States, including Lionel trains.

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Concerns over <a href="http://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/safetyhealth/recallswithdrawals/default.htm" target="_blank">pet food contamination </a>are driving demand for pet food and supplies made closer to home, said Julie Reiser, co-founder of <a href="http://info.usa-c.com/" target="_blank">Made in USA Certified</a>, a third-party certification system that audits supply chains. "People care about their pets and want to make sure their food and toys are being produced under strict and safe regulations."

Photos: What the U.S. makes

Pet supplies – Concerns over pet food contamination are driving demand for pet food and supplies made closer to home, said Julie Reiser, co-founder of Made in USA Certified, a third-party certification system that audits supply chains. "People care about their pets and want to make sure their food and toys are being produced under strict and safe regulations."

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Food might be obvious, but it still pays to check the label to see where it comes from. Fruits and vegetables are shipped from all over the world. Buying American produce contributes directly to American farmers.

Photos: What the U.S. makes

Food – Food might be obvious, but it still pays to check the label to see where it comes from. Fruits and vegetables are shipped from all over the world. Buying American produce contributes directly to American farmers.

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American spirits are also making a comeback thanks to <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/life/drink/2013/06/craft_whiskey_vs_jim_beam_smaller_distilleries_aren_t_necessarily_better.html" target="_blank">growing interest in moonshine, craft whiskey </a>and micro-distilleries.

Photos: What the U.S. makes

Spirits – American spirits are also making a comeback thanks to growing interest in moonshine, craft whiskey and micro-distilleries.

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Check the label: Toiletries and personal hygiene products made in the United States are easy to come by thanks to big companies like Colgate-Palmolive, which owns numerous brands, including <a href="http://www.tomsofmaine.com/press/releases/detail/colgate-purchasing-toms-of-maine" target="_blank">Tom's of Maine</a>.

Photos: What the U.S. makes

Toiletries – Check the label: Toiletries and personal hygiene products made in the United States are easy to come by thanks to big companies like Colgate-Palmolive, which owns numerous brands, including Tom's of Maine.

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Photos: What the U.S. makes

Cleaning supplies – American-made dishwashing liquid and detergents also have a large footprint thanks to Colgate-Palmolive.

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Retailers tend to source heavy and highly regulated products like mattresses from the United States to keep shipping costs down, said Gardner Carrick of the Manufacturing Institute.

Photos: What the U.S. makes

Mattresses – Retailers tend to source heavy and highly regulated products like mattresses from the United States to keep shipping costs down, said Gardner Carrick of the Manufacturing Institute.

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A surprising amount of American companies are dedicated to making socks, including <a href="http://www.wigwam.com/" target="_blank">Wigwam Mills</a>, which has been in production in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, for more than 100 years.

Photos: What the U.S. makes

Socks – A surprising amount of American companies are dedicated to making socks, including Wigwam Mills, which has been in production in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, for more than 100 years.

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America's love affair with home building and interior design has created a robust market for paint, varnish and lacquer. Sherwin-Williams is the largest producer of paints and coatings in the United States and is among the largest producers in the world.

Photos: What the U.S. makes

Paint – America's love affair with home building and interior design has created a robust market for paint, varnish and lacquer. Sherwin-Williams is the largest producer of paints and coatings in the United States and is among the largest producers in the world.

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$Clothing tends to get most of the attention even though it accounts for just a fraction of American manufacturing jobs and output. Contrary to common perception, American-made clothing is available in a wide range of prices. <a href="http://www.allamericanclothing.com/" target="_blank">All American Clothing </a>makes jeans, shirts and accessories for men and women available from $20 to $70.$

Photos: What the U.S. makes

Apparel – Clothing tends to get most of the attention even though it accounts for just a fraction of American manufacturing jobs and output. Contrary to common perception, American-made clothing is available in a wide range of prices. All American Clothing makes jeans, shirts and accessories for men and women available from $20 to $70.

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Story highlights

Buying American-made products is a patriotic way to spread holiday cheer
Products manufactured in America may seem hard to find, but it's not impossible

(CNN)There's no denying that fewer consumer goods are made in the United States today than in the heyday of American manufacturing.

But that doesn't mean American-made products no longer exist. A handful of longstanding heritage brands and a new crop of patriotic upstarts are turning out a variety of products made in the United States, from clothes and accessories to beauty products and kitchen supplies.

Here's a list of websites and Facebook groups dedicated to helping consumers find products made in the United States, along with a few brands known to manufacture most or a substantial portion of their goods stateside. We did our best to vet the companies but it's always best to check as businesses constantly change practices.

This least is by no means exhaustive; share your suggestions in the comments.

Resources:

A Continuous Lean: The American List

American Made Matters

BuyDirectUSA.com

Haute Americana

Hickorees: Made in the USA

The Americanologists

The Made in America Movement

Made in usa challenge

USA Love List

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