Made In The USA -- or Is It?

Sept. 22, 2007 — -- The Gilley family is on a hunt for shoes, but not just any shoe will do. They will only consider products that bear one common theme -- that they are made in America.

"It's an economic train of thought that when you buy American, you support American jobs, tax base, which generates things like good bridges and roads, public education," Darin Gilley explained.

But these days, it's becoming an increasingly taller order to find American-made goods within U.S. borders.

"If you look at footwear, if you look at toys, virtually everything that is on the marketplace has been made in a foreign country," Consumer Reports magazine's Don Mays said.

In fact, the Gilley family said it took a full year before they found American-made sneakers.

The lure of cheaper overseas labor has driven many manufacturers, in all business sectors, off shore. But experts say the lower prices can come with higher risk.

"Lax government regulations in foreign countries, as well as lack of enforcement of government regulations in our country, have jeopardized the quality and the safety of the products in our marketplace," Mays said.

Several top fashion designers have gotten the message. Designers like Nicole Miller and Oscar de la Renta are not only making fashion statements, they're making a political one as well -- sending a message that is decidedly pro-USA.

"We are very proud of the "made in the USA" label, and we think it represents a premium quality product," said Alex Bolen, CEO of Oscar de la Renta.

Designer Nicole Miller agreed.

"It makes you very flexible," she said. "I think also the customers really respond to that, because so many things are made in strange places these days. It's kind of refreshing to see that 'made in the USA' label."

And more consumers are taking notice, looking at the actual labels for guidance.

But buyer beware: Some manufacturers conscious of the patriotic trend may be trying to jump on the "Buy American" bandwagon without telling the whole story.