The future of footwear isn’t plastic — it’s algae. Ryan Hunt, co-founder of Shloop and BLKSWN Footwear, discusses how his journey to a footwear factory in Meridian, Miss., began with a bioengineering lab. Hunt discusses:

• How algae, once explored for biofuels, became a key ingredient in his companies’ eco-friendly footwear

• The pitfalls of global supply chains

• Why he decided to manufacture in the United States

• What’s coming next for his retail brand as it develops its customer base

Photo courtesy of Shloop

Finding the perfect Made in America gift can be tough. How do you know what’s truly made here? Alex Goulet and his co-author Willy DeConto set out to make solve this problem. Alex joins The Manufacturing Report to discuss the latest edition of "Crafted with Pride," a directory of 1,400+ Made in USA brands. He shares insights on U.S. manufacturing, consumer habits, and how the book helps buyers find American-made products.

Photo courtesy of Alex Goulet

President Donald Trump didn’t impose tariffs on the first day of his second administration, but he did set the stage for them. Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) President Scott Paul and AAM Senior Vice President for Government Affairs & Policy Scott Boos give you their take on the “America First” trade memo Trump issued on Jan. 20 and its implications for U.S. manufacturing.

More discussion points from the memo:

• Revoking China’s permanent normal trade relations with the U.S.

• Evaluating the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement

• Enforcing existing trade laws

• Creating new trade enforcement tools

• Losing loopholes like de minimis.

Photo by Jim Watson/Getty Images

When renowned architect David Rockwell designed life-size toy building blocks, he tapped a Rhode Island foam factory to bring his product to market in 2009. Children’s museums and play spaces around the country eagerly snapped up Imagination Playground’s Big Blue Blocks. But, in 2018, the company’s executives sought to lower prices by offshoring against Rockwell’s wishes, so that Rhode Island factory fought back. Imagination Playground CEO Jim Stallman shares how they kept American manufacturing the cornerstone of the company’s success.

Photo courtesy Imagination Playground

Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul reflects on three Made in America interviews from 2024 that reflect the movement's growing groundswell. Listen in for insights from "Making It in America" author Rachel Slade, "American Flannel" author Steven Kurutz, and "Relighting the Flame" documentarian Carl Kriss.

Getty Images

As we prepare for 2025, Alliance for American Manufacturing staff takes a look at this year's top manufacturing news stories that are likely to shape the months ahead.

Photo by Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

The 2024 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide is out, featuring 112 amazing companies that make products in the United States. We chatted with the teams behind three brands included this year -- Wies Made, Hitchcock Paper, and Retro Racer -- to find it what it takes to make goods in the United States, and why it's so important to shop American-made during the busy holiday shopping season.

New York Times Magazine Contributing Writer Dan Kaufman discusses his recent examination of NAFTA's role in changing American politics through the lens of the Master Lock factory in Milwaukee, Wis.

Photo courtesy Dan Kaufman; Photo by Andrew T. Warman

When husband and wife Carolyn and Joseph Ferrara launched Ferrara Manufacturing in 1987, they set out to make the best womenswear in the business, all from their New York City's Garment District factory. They had no idea that NAFTA was about to rock the U.S. garment industry to its core, but they fought through the tumult and found success in working with brands like Ralph Lauren. Their daughter, Gabrielle Ferrara, Ferrara Manufacturing's chief operating officer, shares how the family-owned, women-owned, union-represented company's knack for innovation has helped it navigate the headwinds of offshoring and find new opportunities through the latest manufacturing technology. 

Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Ferrara

American Giant CEO Bayard Winthrop and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai discuss rebuilding a fully American-made apparel supply chain, from cotton fields to finished garments. They highlight the importance of worker-centered trade policy, economic security, and the potential to make affordable, high-quality products in America.

Note: This episode was recorded at AAM’s "Making it in America: Supply Chain Successes in Textiles and Apparel" panel on Oct. 17, 2024.

Watch the full event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuJM0a5yXxU