This week, we’ve got five more choices for holiday gift items that are both made in the USA and made well. And of course, they’re original enough to get the “I had no idea you were getting me this” reaction you’re looking for.
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A Motorcycle Jacket Good Enough For Brando
Every motorcycle enthusiast inevitably pictures themselves hitting the open road on their Hog, wearing a cool motorcycle jacket like James Dean or Mr. “Wild One” himself, Marlon Brando. Well, what if you were to give the biker in your clan the very same leather motorcycle jacket favored by…James Dean and Marlon Brando?
That’s right. These silver screen icons wore motorcycle jackets from Schott NYC and you can too. Made in the U.S. since 1913, Irving and Jack Schott obviously must’ve believed they were making something great because they named their first jacket Perfecto. From there, Schott began producing bomber jackets for US Air Force pilots and woolen pea coats for the US Navy.
With its Military, Industrial, Urban and Denim line, Schott NYC has become famous across the world for quality, durability and strong character. After all, it’s easy to feel like an icon when you’re wearing one.
Note: While not all of Schott NYC’s products are made in the USA, its easy to find the ones that are, using the “Made In USA” list on their website.
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A Trike That Lasts For Miles and Miles
Remember your three-wheeler tricycle when you were a kid? You’d race down the sidewalk with it like a speed demon. Nobody dared get in your way. That is, until something on the trike would need to be repaired or replaced from all the wear and tear.
With the Dirt King, tricycles have come a long way. Literally.
Not only is Dirt King made here in the U.S., but it’s one three-wheeler tricycle made to withstand every rough and tumble playtime session your child can dish out. Plus, Dirt King also makes ultra-durable carts and wagons. Most of the parts have a lifetime warrantee with pieces that are virtually indestructible.
“My son is now 17 and we still have the Dirt King to pass on to his kids – our grandkids.”
“Dirt King is like the Harley Davidson of trikes.”
“It won’t tip over like the cheap bikes made overseas.”
Do these sound like the kind of things a parent would say about a frail, wimpy bike? Not likely.
Go big. Go rugged. Go for miles. With the Dirt King.
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A Hat Made For Their Personality
Heads come in all shapes and sizes – something that the people at Optimo Hats always take into consideration. From their home base in Chicago, it’s their goal to provide a hat that feels customized for every customer.
“Great,” you say. “I’m not in Chicago. How am I supposed get a hat that’s made for the person on my holiday shopping list?” Simple. We give you the Optimo phone fitting. Tell Optimo what kind of hat you think the person would like based on the styles you see on the website as well as the person’s facial features and how they tend to dress. Not everybody can pull this kind of remote fitting session off with ease, but Optimo’s Graham Thompson is just that good and has learned from some of the best hatters in the business.
One customer loves the fit of Optimo’s hats so much, he says, “I’ve been known to go jogging in my fedora.”
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Hours of Play that are Kind to the Planet Too
In their imagination, children dream that they’re saving the world just about every day. But why just dream about it? When they’re playing with Green Toys, they’re doing great things for the environment (even if they can’t actually spell “environment” at this point in their lives). That’s because California-based Green Toys uses products made from 100% recycled milk jugs, with no BPA or Phthalates (we’re pretty sure your kid can’t spell that one either).
But hey, we’re here to give your child some fun too, right?
Green Toys has all kinds of products to supply hours of smiles. Blocks and stacking toys for babies and toddlers. A dump truck for your little Construction worker. A fire truck for the child who fancies themselves a future Firefighter. A dish and cookware set for your budding mini-chef. And more.
Considering they’re reducing fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions during playtime, we’d say you’ve got quite the talented little tyke.
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Enlightenment Before The Next Home Project
The handyman in your family is prone to tackling some projects around the house that take him to dark places, from the attic to the basement.
Do you want them venturing into the unknown with a flimsy flashlight? Of course not. So give them a full-fledged beacon that’s easy to use, powerful and completely rugged for the job ahead – the Maglite.
While practically every supplier of flashlights manufactures the majority of its flashlights outside of the country, Mag Instrument has proudly chosen to keep all of its production here in the U.S., including its engineering staff in Ontario, California.
Outsource? With this kind of quality on the line? Not a chance.
Take the sleek Maglite XL50 flashlight, for example. It features an adjustable LED beam that ranges from “High Power” to “Energy Saving” to “Emergency Safety Strobe.” And it has Intelligent Energy Source Management that actually monitors the balance between brightness and power usage so the Maglite adjusts on the fly.
A flashlight smart enough to actually prolong its own battery life? This is no ordinary beam you’re giving as a present. It’s a technological marvel.
Need a few more? From Lodge Cast Iron Cookware to Kennedy tool boxes to Timberworks Toys to Defy Bags, we’ve got many options that are creative and built to last many, many holidays from now at Made Here Made Well.
And if you have suggestions for great gift ideas from companies that are made here, let’s hear them! We could all use some suggestions for the people on our shopping list.