When you see a pair of shoes proudly stamped Made in USA, you might imagine every stitch and sole was produced on American soil. The reality is more complex. Today’s global supply chains mean that even “American-made” footwear often relies on imported components – from outsoles and shoe molds to high-tech textiles and raw materials.
What Made in USA Really Means for Shoes
The United States Department of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) define Made in USA as a product that is "all or virtually all" made domestically. This includes both parts and assembly. The phrase means that the final assembly is in the US and that most manufacturing costs are domestic.
Still, some imports and exports are allowed under the law. Minor components, like glue or thread, may be imported if they don’t significantly impact the product’s value. However, misleading labels can lead to regulatory action. Some companies have faced scrutiny for labeling products Made in USA when core components were sourced abroad.
The Imported Components Behind “American” Shoes
Even when a shoe is assembled on US soil, numerous shoe components and inputs are often sourced abroad. Here are some of the critical parts and materials that frequently get imported for Made in USA footwear:
Outsoles and Midsoles
The rubber or foam bottoms of shoes often come from abroad. High-quality outsoles (for work boots, sneakers, etc.) may be made using specialized molds mainly produced in countries like China. China has massive infrastructure and manufacturing capability.
Uppers, Leather, and Textiles
The upper (the leather or fabric part that wraps the foot) might use domestic leather – the US has cattle ranches and tanneries – but not every step always happens domestically. Some American companies source hides here but send them to Mexico for tanning to take advantage of lower costs or specialized expertise.
Similarly, high-tech textile materials (mesh, knit, or waterproof fabrics) often come from Asia. The US textile industry is strong in some areas (like cotton denim), but many modern sneaker fabrics or synthetic leathers are made in China, Vietnam, or Taiwan.
Hardware and Small Parts
Eyelets, zippers, laces, adhesives, and stitching threads are often imported from Canada, Mexico, and Asian countries. These small but critical components are rarely manufactured in the US today.
Raw Materials and Specialized Components
Specialized foams, dyes, and compounds are commonly imported. The US doesn't produce these materials at scale, making imports from China, Canada, and others a necessity.
Why the US Imports So Many Shoemaking Components
To understand why the US imports so many shoe parts, you must look at what happened over the last few decades. For years, many American companies moved their production overseas—a process called offshoring. The goal was to cut costs by taking advantage of cheaper labor and more flexible regulations in countries like China, Vietnam, and Mexico.
As production ramped up abroad, the US gradually lost many of its factories, skilled workers, and material suppliers. Over time, this created a gap: even when American companies want to make products at home, the supply chain to support that isn’t always there.
China, in particular, has grown into a manufacturing superpower. Its ecosystem is built for scale: factories, skilled labor, raw materials, and machinery are all in one place, making it faster and more affordable to get things done. In 2021, experts agreed that no other country could match China’s ability to mass-produce high-quality footwear components. As a result, even US-based factories often rely on Chinese-made shoe molds, textiles, and rubber parts to stay competitive.
Neighboring countries like Mexico and Canada also play a role. Thanks to trade agreements, it’s easy for US brands to import certain components from these countries without paying high tariffs. For example, a company might send American leather to Mexico for tanning, bring it back for assembly, and still label the final product as Made in USA.
How Trade Policy Complicates Domestic Production
International trade dynamics have strongly influenced where shoe companies get their materials and do their assembly. During the Trump era, the US launched a trade war with China, imposing steep tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese goods, and footwear was hit hard.
Historically, imported shoes already faced high regular tariffs (around 13% on average for footwear in 2020), but the Trump administration’s Section 301 tariffs added even more duties on top. Suddenly, bringing in a finished shoe (or even certain parts of shoes) from China became significantly more expensive.
Brands had to react fast. Many shifted sourcing out of China to other countries to dodge tariffs. For example, shoe brand Steve Madden said in late 2018 that it would cut imports from China by 45% and had spent years building up factories in Vietnam, Cambodia, Mexico, and Brazil to diversify its supply chain. Nike and other big players likewise accelerated moves to Vietnam and Indonesia – places with large footwear industries but no additional US tariffs.
By 2021, the combined share of US footwear imports from China had dropped (though China was still #1) while Vietnam’s share rose to about one-third. The tariffs under Trump reshaped these supply chains, prompting companies to seek alternatives to China or even consider bringing some operations back to the United States.
Yet, despite these efforts, domestic manufacturing hasn’t boomed. As of 2021, 96% and 99% of all footwear sold in the US was still imported. The apparel industry remains deeply tied to global supply chains that have developed over many decades.
The Onshoring Manufacturing Trend
After decades of offshoring, a slow but steady shift is underway: some US companies are bringing parts of their manufacturing process back home. This is known as onshoring, and it's gaining momentum, especially among small businesses focused on quality and sustainability.
Why the shift?
The pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and rising overseas production costs exposed how vulnerable global sourcing can be. On top of that, many consumers now prefer to support products that create American jobs and reduce dependency on foreign labor and materials.
New tools and technologies are driving the modern onshoring manufacturing trend. Innovations like digital prototyping, automated cutting machines, and 3D printing have made small-batch production more cost-effective than ever before. Brands don’t need giant factories anymore—they can run lean, flexible operations that respond faster to market demand.
Onshoring allows tighter quality control, fewer delays, and better working conditions. It also shortens the supply chain, which means fewer emissions from long-distance shipping and more investment in local economies. While the movement is still small in the broader apparel industry, it's a meaningful step toward more resilient, transparent, and values-driven manufacturing here in the United States.
Spotlight on COMUNITYmade
Los Angeles-based COMUNITYmade models what domestic footwear manufacturing can look like today. The brand produces high-quality sneakers and lifestyle shoes in limited runs, using American labor and, where possible, American-sourced materials.
Each pair is designed, cut, stitched, and assembled in COMUNITYmade’s LA workshop. While we occasionally source materials internationally when local options are unavailable, our approach focuses on maximizing US content and minimizing foreign dependency.
Importantly, COMUNITYmade is transparent about our processes. The workshop doubles as a showroom, showing consumers exactly how the shoes are made. Our company prioritizes community investment and job creation in an industry where imports from China and elsewhere dominate the landscape.
The US may never fully eliminate its reliance on global sourcing, especially in the apparel industry. Still, brands committed to transparency and investment in American labor are laying the groundwork for a more self-reliant and sustainable future. And that’s a step worth taking — both for consumers and the country.
