ORIGIN USA is bringing shoemaking back to Franklin County, Maine, NEWS CENTER Maine reported on April 3, 2025.
The company
- Founder Pete Roberts grew up in Farmington watching mills such as Bass Footwear close.
- Founded in 2011 to make jiu-jitsu gis, ORIGIN now makes boots, outdoor apparel and jeans.
- It employs close to 300 people at two factories in Maine and one in Asheboro, North Carolina, where its jeans are sewn.
- Roberts said the goal is “a 100-percent American supply chain.” He said orders now arrive every one to two minutes.
“I think consumers are getting smarter, and I think they want to know where their stuff came from.”
Pete Roberts, ORIGIN USA founder, to NEWS CENTER Maine
Why it matters for Made in USA
Footwear is one of the hardest products to make in the USA, with about 1% of shoes sold here made domestically. A company that builds boots from USA materials in a former mill town shows those skills can come back.
FAQ
Where is ORIGIN USA based?
Farmington, Maine.
How many people does it employ?
Close to 300, across two Maine factories and one in North Carolina.
What does it make?
Boots, outdoor apparel, jeans and jiu-jitsu gis.
Source & credit
Source: NEWS CENTER Maine, April 3, 2025: “Maine apparel company brings shoemaking back to Franklin County”, by Samantha York.