These Five AAPI-owned Businesses Keep it Made in America

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Shout out to these makers for their addition to our manufacturing footprint.

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month officially kicked off on May 1st. This month is full of celebrations of AAPI culture, history and contributions to our country. Many Asian immigrants came to the U.S. because they believed in the American Dream. Today, that dream is being kept alive by these five AAPI-owned businesses that are keeping it Made in America.

Allison Izu

While in school at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, Allison Izu (pronounced ee-zu) Song began to notice there were few clothes that fit well on her due to her short height. So, she decided to address this gap in the market by starting her own fashion company, specifically made for petite women. Today, Allison Izu has grown from a one-woman operation to a full-fledged business; each piece is designed in Honolulu before being made in California from U.S.-sourced fabrics. These are clothes that are truly built to empower.

Appointed

Suann Song started her career in marketing, public relations and graphic design. But as she bought paper products during her travels abroad, she noticed she wasn’t finding the sleek style she loved stateside. That idea led to a crowdfunding campaign that turned into Appointed. You’ll find stylish and simple notebooks and planners on both the company website and through many retailers. Appointed is committed to using 100% U.S.-sourced materials in its products as well as picking biodegradable materials. Although Appointed got its start in Washington, D.C., the company recently moved manufacturing to New York to meet demand and to continue providing a quality, American-made product.

Jenny N Design

Jenny Nemlekar has been passionate about bag making since she was six, after her grandmother visited from Vietnam. Although they couldn’t understand each other, Jenny’s grandmother was still able to teach her how to knit. Then, her mother taught her how to sew, and Jenny made her first bag. After Jenny got her degree in biomedical engineering, she took her passion from a hobby to a business. Now, in Wylie, Texas, Jenny N Design operates out of Jenny’s home. Each bag is handmade with materials sourced from across the country. You can pick a ready-to-ship bag or order a totally unique custom one. Nothing mass-produced here!

Artifact Puzzles

Many jigsaw puzzles feature simple shapes and designs. Not the ones made by Artifact Puzzles. The company is the brainchild of Dr. Maya Gupta, who got her start in academia at Stanford and the University of Washington. She was drawn to classic jigsaw puzzles and more unique options, and that’s exactly what Artifact sells. Check out puzzles with a “whimsy piece,” a specially shaped piece that corresponds with the theme of the puzzle. There are also plenty of puzzles for the more advanced puzzler, like the mystery puzzle with no reference image given. And each puzzle is made in the quaint town of Port Townsend, Wash.! And be sure to check out our podcast interview with Dr. Gupta here.

‘Alohi Kai

Hawaii is known for some of the most beautiful scenery on Earth, especially in its surrounding ocean. Shera Mercer has had a longtime passion for the waters around her home state, as well as for silversmithing, which she began at 17. However, for most of her life she worked in the corporate world. That was until she decided to move back home and forge a new path. Enter ‘Alohi Kai, a jewelry company inspired by Hawaii’s ocean life. Each piece is handmade by Shera using U.S.-sourced metals. Sustainability is a large part of ‘Alohi Kai’s mission, which is part of the reason she wanted to keep the company domestically made. A must get for any ocean lovers out there!

The Alliance for American Manufacturing does not receive a commission from purchases made through the above links, nor was the organization or author paid for favorable coverage.

Labeling Note: This story 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.