Do You Worry About Child Labor and Environmental Degradation such as Polluted Rivers?
All Tough TravelerŽ Products Are USA-Made in Schenectady, NY, in our Fair-Trade Production Facility, Under USA Labor & Environmental Laws.
USA Labor and Environmental Laws are Better than in most other textile countries (as Asia).
Most of the Backpacks, Luggage, and Other Bags and Packs Sold in Retail Stores, or Given As Membership Gifts, Premiums, etc., are Made in Asia or Other Low-Labor and Low-Environmental Law Countries.
You May Look In the Seam of a Non-USA-Made Pack For Country of Origin:
1) For Sale: Imported Bags or Packs Must Have Country of Origin Label
2) For Give-Away: Foreign Manufacture Labels may be Removed.
3) Most Retailers, Environmental, and Charity Organizations Purchase Imported Backpacks, Luggage, and Bags For Give-Away or For Sale To Consumers.
Tough Traveler Ltd. Manufactures all our Products in the USA, & we Use USA-Made Cloth for Our Bags, Backpacks, & Luggage, by preference.
When You Buy A Tough TravelerŽ Product You Know It Was Made Under the Laws of the USA.
EVERY TOUGH TRAVELER PRODUCT IS MADE-IN-USA...
But What Does That Mean?:
"Made-in-USA" can mean different things: 1)assembled in the USA out of imported materials, 2)over 50% made-in-America, 3)made in some non-US countries with which the USA has special trade deals, or 4)made in the USA with USA materials. At Tough Traveler, what we mean by "USA-Made" is that every single product that you will
find on our website has been 100% constructed in upstate New York, out of materials that are approximately 99% made-in-America.
The non-USA materials we use are few: a small plastic part on our baby carriers, the wheel/handle assembly on our
rolling luggage, some plastic from Italy, and a tiny amount of other specialty materials. You may have a special interest in buying American, you may simply be looking for a quality product wherever
it's made - but we want you to know the facts behind what you buy!
Tough Traveler Ltd. is located in Schenectady, NY, where we have been manufacturing our quality luggage,
backpacks, child carriers, and many other products since 1970, and we remain a company with a commitment to
making products of exceptional quality.
Why Does It Matter?:
For one thing, the fact that we have our own factory allows us to keep a closer eye on our production.
We have high standards for product durability and quality workmanship. Having an American factory also allows us to be immediately responsive to our customers.
We are always willing to discuss modifications or special products which may fit your needs - and if you
decide to have something custom made, we may be able to do it right away!
A second reason we take pride in the "Made-in-America" label on our products is that it means that we adhere to higher standards in our manufacturing
process than most imports. We use environmentally sustainable manufacturing techniques, and are "sweatshop-free." Most manufacturers, retailers and environmental & social groups purchase products made in 'low-cost countries' and avoid the costs associated with following US labor, environmental, and safety laws. USA-made products are made under USA laws, without child or slave labor, you are ensuring that the product you are using and has been made without child labor, without slave labor, with regulated working conditions and regulated pollution controls. There is no better guarantee.
And finally, we at Tough Traveler believe that there is a great value in keeping some manufacturing in the United States.
We have nothing against international trade, or the many wonderful products, capabilities and contributions offered by the people
of other countries. However, we think that if we lose our ability to manufacture products in America, it will be a
great loss to our economy, our people, and our future. Anyone who has read the news has heard about the ever-increasing
trade-deficit; every year, Americans purchase more and more from other countries - far more than we export. And anyone
who reads the labels on the things they buy can see that an overwhelming percentage of consumer goods are
made overseas.
Did you see the Tough Traveler segment on the CNN show,
Lou Dobbs Tonight?
We were very grateful to be on the Lou Dobbs show, and to get the chance to show viewers that there still are USA-made bags, luggage, backpacks, baby carriers, and other textile bags and pack products.
Because most retailers primarily buy and sell imports, people think that there are no bags or packs still made
in the USA, but we have continued AND WE MAKE EXCELLENT PRODUCTS!
Tough Traveler has been designing and manufacturing in the United States for 35 years,
and we have watched unsettling changes in the sporting goods, luggage, handbags, music, and baby
industries we are in. Even though many USA products were excellently made, most retailers and marketers
went to imports. Meanwhile, we have seen many people in
the USA either without jobs or with inappropriate jobs, and we have watched taxes & deficits rise.
Tough Traveler products are known for their high quality, and we have supported
USA manufacturing, which in turn can support local community and product excellence.
We hope you will become one of our many wonderful customers.
Contact Us
Telephone: 1-800-GO-TOUGH
Fax: (518) 377-5434
E-mail: service@toughtraveler.com
Tough Traveler Ltd.
1012 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12307
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