Many upset over Olympic uniforms’ lack of Made in America label

As we get closer to the start of the Olympic Games more American citizens are becoming upset that, when representing the U.S.A. in London, our athletes are wearing uniforms and products that were manufactured overseas.

Many political leaders have also become irate, prompting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to say during a news conference that the uniforms should be burned.

But, according to the Los Angeles Times, Ralph Lauren – whose uniform contract with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) runs through the 2020 Olympics – has declared that all American athletes will wear uniforms with a “Made in U.S.A.” custom label at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Also, a few weeks ago, a movement began to ensure that all American flags hung from federal buildings hold the “Made in the U.S.A.” label. Currently, flags purchased by the federal government are only required to contain a minimum of 50 percent American-made materials, said the LA Times.

“In a time when we face economic hardship, it is critical to invest in the manufacturing base,” said Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, one of the leaders of the movement. “There is no product that deserves a U.S.A. label more than American flags.”

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that in order for a product to carry the “Made in the U.S.A.” label “all or virtually all” of the product’s parts or components must be made in the U.S.

U.S. content also must be disclosed on automobile, textile, wool and fur products. For any other industry or products, such disclosure is not required, but if a company chooses to put “Made in the U.S.A.” on their custom labels, they must comply with FTC standards.

Whether the manufacture of a company’s products and their components is outsourced, or their products are made entirely in the United States, using a color label printer can help businesses express their country of origin and provide insight to consumers to allow them to make well-informed decisions.