http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Southwest....ap/index.html

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AP) -- Levi Strauss & Co., the California Gold Rush outfitter whose blue jeans are a globally recognized symbol of America, closed its last two U.S. sewing plants Thursday.

About 800 workers at the 26-year-old San Antonio plants lost their jobs in the move, which was announced last September.

The financially troubled company, based in San Francisco, has been shifting production to overseas contractors for years to offset drooping sales in the ultra-competitive apparel market. Only two decades ago, it had 63 U.S. manufacturing plants.

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Well, that's rotten, especially with all the American history Levis figured in -- Gold Rush, etc. I'd like to wear American-made jeans. Any recommendations?

 

No advice other than don't buy Levi Strauss & Co. products.

 

Hmm.. I wonder where the Wrangler's that I am wearing are made.

 

I quit buying levis when the Silvertabs were changed a few years ago. That was probably one of the stupidest things to do. The new silvertabs are ugly and cheaply made. I did not like the 550s that I have bought either. I think that the 501s are probably pretty good.

 

I still wear them, I'll think twice before buying another pair though.

 

One cause: Walmart. Read up on what Walmart does to destroy American jobs. If you shop there you're part of the problem. I've stopped going there completely and shop at other retailers. For groceries I shop at Ingles, American owned grocery chain and proud of it (they display it on the outside of all their stores).

 

Yeah i heard about the troubled Levi Strauss a few years ago, their biggest competition was JNCO and other high end designer jeans.

I don't know about you guys, but Carhartts seem to be of a much better quality and are half the price.

 

That sucks
I know they closed the one here a few years back

 

I have to respectfully disagree.

Last time I checked Walmart was pretty much a American company. So we should stop competition all together?

Basing this on Walmart is baseless especially since it's Walmart that's keeping them out of chapter 12 by selling some of their lower lines.

It is nothing more than corporate greed, their administrations have gotten way too fat in their costing systems, and rather than cutting back on administration, they have taken the quality/labor cost cutting routes.

Any one notice that the quality of Levis have been on the down turn in the last decade? They have been actively reducing labor and material costs. This means lower quality pants, with higher profits.

Now Levis are trying to reduce direct labor costs by going out of country.....this results in even higher profits.

This is nothing more than a profit reasoned move by Levis.

From a profit stand point.....(administrations veiw)

Why on earth would I pay $15/hr to worker A plus bennies, when I can pay worker B $2/hr with no bennies, and still have the same quality product, and we as administration get to stay fat?

 

Wranglers work for me. I am trying to shop as little as possible at Walmart. I have found that prices at other stores are not very much if any more expensive. Ammo for my rifle is cheaper elsewhere.

 

Exactly, walmart charges a bit more for certain things just because its a "convenience"
Even tho its not, if im there I'll go ahead and get it
but if I need ammo or tires, or whatever, I wont be going there, its a PITA just to get in there

 

I'm looking at the white label sewn onto the inside of the fly on the Wrangers that I've got on now..............Made In U.S.A!!!!!

 

Wranglers it is, then!

 

I will wear the levi's I got but there wont be any new ones for me.
It will either be wranglers or carharts.

NO MORE LEVI'S!!!!!!

 

I dont wear Levi's anyways
I thought Wranglers were American made, Thanks for clarifying that, because thats all I wear