It’s Time to Deck the Halls in Made in USA Style!
Join AAM as we source America’s finest to transform your home into a winter wonderland.
It’s estimated that nearly two-thirds of the global market’s Christmas decorations are produced in the Chinese city Yiwu, where the workers are left far from jolly. But there’s another way to celebrate the holidays!
Though China, with its lax labor and environmental laws, has the market for so many other holidays cornered — Halloween is downright scary – the winter holidays are the perfect time of year to give back to your community and keep your purchases Made in America.
We’ve already got your gift list covered with our annual Made in America Holiday Gift Guide. But I stand with malls nationwide in saying that it’s really ambiance that signals the holidays (and inspires all the purchasing).
So! Let’s light a fire (or enjoy the incandescent glow of your favorite holiday movies), get some popcorn popping, queue up Mariah Carey’s finest, sip a seasonal beverage or two, and get decorating!
The Tree
First off, let’s take care of the tree. It’s the elephant in the room, in so many ways. Almost all artificial holiday trees are made in China, and the media has long offered dire warnings that 2021’s supply chain snarls were going to thwart America’s holiday hopes, starting with artificial trees. After looking long and hard, I’m pleased to announce that there’s an alternative!
Family-owned Lee Display’s Seasonals got its start as a millinery at the turn of the century in New York City. Since then the company has evolved to manufacture holiday displays along with other home furnishings and décor in its San Francisco-area factory. Among their inventory, you’ll find trees handmade with tinsel or feather in any color you desire.
Tree Stand
And, if you’re a traditionalist and grimace at the thought of a holiday without the smell of sap (and the crunch of fallen pine needles) in your living room, I have a feeling you’re going to want the tree stand to end all tree stands. That is, you’re going to want Bowling’s Last Stand.
Made in Bear Lake, Mich., and proclaimed to be “the last Christmas tree stand you’ll ever need to purchase,” Bowling’s stands feature a unique T-bolt design and a self-containing water reservoir.
Tree Skirt
Complement your tree with a skirt woven in New England from premium U.S-grown cotton, with hand-fringing done in Vermont. Find it, along with a Made in USA tree mat that can hold up to a gallon of water per square foot, at The Vermont Country Store.
Ornaments
There are so many extraordinary artisans crafting the most beautiful ornaments right here in the United States, but we can only highlight a few in this blog post. Here are some of our favorites…
For Pete’s Sake Pottery’s (a 2020 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide pick) bright ceramic ornaments offer plenty of customization opportunities. The company’s Christmas tree figurines and village lanterns would also be darling additions to a festive design scheme.
Dorn your trees with personalized wooden ornaments and pick up some heirloom-quality kids’ toys at the same time with Smiling Tree Toys.
Go classic with pewter ornaments from the craftspeople at Danforth Pewter (a 2021 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide pick) in Middlebury, Vt.
Or, add a masterpiece to your tree with Glass Eye Studio’s glass ornaments, handblown in Seattle, Wash.
Ribbons
No time for elaborate design schemes? (My kid’s holiday crafts count as decorations, right?!) Gild your home with some festive ribbon, and you’re in business! American Ribbon has been manufacturing ribbons for more than 100 years and is the ribbon supplier of choice for the U.S. military. Today, the company retails imported ribbons and crafting supplies alongside the goods it manufactures in Stroudsburg, Pa., so be sure to peruse its “Manufactured Here” category to find its Made in USA goods.
Bells
Reach peak holiday nostalgia with a Bevin Bell, which made the actual bell in the holiday classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.” You can buy a replica of that bell along with a bevy of other holiday bells from the historic Connecticut manufacturer and 2017 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide pick.
Displays
Start a new holiday collecting tradition with figurines from Byers’ Choice Ltd., which we profiled in 2018 when the company made it onto our gift guide. Handcrafted in Pennsylvania, each figurine is unique and finished with charming detail.
Stockings
Hopefully, you’ve gathered plenty of stocking stuffers via our gift guide, but you may still be on the hunt for the perfect Made in America stocking. Look no further than Annie’s Woolens! For 33 years, the company has been individually knitting and hand-sewing its personalized stockings in a variety of styles. Note that Annie’s Woolens is accepting orders for the 2022 holiday season now.
Wrapping Paper
Let’s wrap this blog up post with a decorating element that is ephemeral by design. Wrappily’s eco-friendly wrapping paper is milled, printed and packaged in Washington. Made of 100% recyclable and compostable newsprint, you won’t feel any pangs of guilt when the mounds of discarded paper grow at the end of your gift-opening frenzy. But, with designs that are cleverly reversible and thoroughly charming, you’ll be proud to have your presents on display in the weeks ahead.
Need more giftwrap ideas? Check out this blog.
This holiday season, we encourage you to explore a different path when it comes to buying your holiday decorations — one that supports your local community and fair labor. What better way to stay true to the spirit of this season!
Full Disclosure: The Made in America Holiday Gift Guide is intended to highlight companies that support American jobs and that make great products in the United States. We rely on the companies listed to provide accurate information regarding their domestic operations and their products. Each company featured is individually responsible for labeling and advertising their products according to applicable standards, such as the Federal Trade Commission’s “Made in USA” standard or California’s “Made in USA” labeling law. We do not review individual products for compliance or claim that because a company is listed in the guide that their products comply with specific labeling or advertising standards. Our focus is on supporting companies that create American jobs.
For more on the Federal Trade Commission’s standards for “Made in USA” claims and California’s “Made in USA” labeling law, please also read this guest post by Dustin Painter and Kristi Wolff of Kelly Drye & Warren, LLP.