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Harley Davidson Motor Company does not not produce their own apparel, and instead relies on outside sources that brand the apparel as official HD clothing. Some manufactures put out a decent product, some make crap and use inferior materials.
When you buy a name brand boot, like Whites or Redwing as I suggested, you're guaranteed the quality every time and you're not rolling the dice. The boots as you see them on the shelf, came from completely different places and made by different companies. One pair will work well for years, another style is going to fall apart and no one knows which is which.
You do realize that not all Redwing shoes are assembled in the USA? They're also made in Vietnam, Cambodia, etc.
Mostly the steel and composite toe IIRC. They all are made from imported components and ASSEMBLED in USA at best and many made cheap and cheaply overseas. High quality was not what I say, even worse was poor customer service.
They did make those cheap Carhartts and Worx brands.
The Red Wing Shoe brand is primarily handmade in the USA with American materials at the company's plants in Red Wing, Minnesota; Potosi, Missouri, and Danville, Kentucky.As of 2014, there are six sources of manufacture: completely made in the USA, made in the USA with imported materials, assembled in the USA with imported components, made in China, made in Korea and made in Vietnam.
In July 2014, White's Boots was sold to LaCrosse Footwear of Portland, Oregon, which also owns Danner Boots. LaCrosse Footwear's chief financial officer, Kirk Layton, cited the made-in-America heritage of White's Boots as a motivating factor for the buyout. LaCrosse Footwear is itself owned by Tokyo-based retailer ABC-Mart.
The Red Wing Shoe brand is primarily handmade in the USA with American materials at the company's plants in Red Wing, Minnesota; Potosi, Missouri, and Danville, Kentucky.As of 2014, there are six sources of manufacture: completely made in the USA, made in the USA with imported materials, assembled in the USA with imported components, made in China, made in Korea and made in Vietnam.
The world has changed since that 2014 entry in Wikipedia. By taking a quick look at he Redwing Shoes website, I see that they currently offer:
200 different pairs of men's work shoes
34 pairs are made in the USA
36 pairs are assembled in the USA
So, 130 pairs are made outside the USA. That sure doesn't seem like "primarily handmade in the USA".
The 44 pairs in the Men's Heritage line appear to be Made in the USA.
The world has changed since that 2014 entry in Wikipedia. By taking a quick look at he Redwing Shoes website, I see that they currently offer:
200 different pairs of men's work shoes
34 pairs are made in the USA
36 pairs are assembled in the USA
So, 130 pairs are made outside the USA. That sure doesn't seem like "primarily handmade in the USA".
The 44 pairs in the Men's Heritage line appear to be Made in the USA.
I didn't feel like digging much more than that. I remembered the recall from some safety meetings.
High quality my .... bad at math as well, 34 pairs Made in USA and 44 pairs of the Heritage are Made in the USA, would equal -10 pair. I imagine more are actually being mostly, if not completely, made in "some overseas company" than they claim. Redwing's version of "Assembled in USA" A.K.A. "bought the boot from overseas and placed in the shoe box in the USA".
I didn't feel like digging much more than that. I remembered the recall from some safety meetings.
High quality my .... bad at math as well, 34 pairs Made in USA and 44 pairs of the Heritage are Made in the USA, would equal -10 pair. I imagine more are actually being mostly, if not completely, made in "some overseas company" than they claim. Redwing's version of "Assembled in USA" A.K.A. "bought the boot from overseas and placed in the shoe box in the USA".
Sort of like how Stanley Black & Decker companies like DeWalt are assembled in USA using foreign materials.
Different companies license the brand and logo. Some stuff is better than other stuff. Ford sold a Harley Davidson F-150. As for the clothing line, it's a collection of cheap stuff and better quality. As for the boots, Wolverine is usually the manufacturer. Wolverine makes and sells some of the best, and some of the worst boots. It's business. Market share. They want to sell shoes to everyone, at every budget. In addition to their higher price brands, they also will manufacture for other brands, and at various quality specifications. Harley labeled boots reflect that.
Don't forget the Harley branded toilet seat. I've been told it's crap!
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