Manresa, a menswear label based in Bridgeport, Connecticut, now makes all of its clothing in the USA except its Canadian-made rugby shirts, founder Mike McLachlan told GQ in an interview published July 16, 2025.
How Manresa did it
McLachlan told GQ the brand started trying to produce domestically about two years earlier and found it hard as a small label. Many USA factories wanted orders of 1,000 to 5,000 pieces, not 100-piece runs, and some did not respond at all.
So Manresa brought cut-and-sew production in-house. The company bought industrial sewing machines and a large-format pattern printer for its production specialist, Leonor, who previously ran a family workshop making technical figure skating uniforms. Other items are made by USA partners, including sweaters in Ridgewood, New York. For its 207 raw selvedge jeans, the brand found USA selvedge denim from Tuscarora Mills in Pennsylvania, which runs two vintage shuttle looms.
“There’s a nylon baggy short that we released last year for, I think, $95. Now it’s $170, but we sold more of them this time.”
Mike McLachlan, founder, Manresa, to GQ
Why it matters for Made in USA
Manresa’s story shows both the barrier and the workaround for small brands. Minimum order sizes keep many startups out of USA factories. Bringing sewing in-house gives a brand control over quality and small runs, though it takes capital and skilled people.
It also shows that some customers will pay for it when the value is clear. Manresa pairs USA production with a lifetime repair, replace or refund guarantee. Price went up, but so did sales of that short. For other brands, the lesson is to sell the durability and the story, not just the label.
One detail worth noting: Manresa is clear that its rugby shirts are made in Canada. Being specific about what is and is not made in the USA is exactly how an honest origin claim should read.
FAQ
Where is Manresa made?
Manresa told GQ all of its clothing except its Canadian-made rugby shirts is made in the USA, with cut-and-sew wovens produced in-house in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Why is it hard for small brands to make clothing in the USA?
McLachlan said many USA factories require orders of 1,000 to 5,000 pieces and are less willing to take small runs or custom details.
Where does USA selvedge denim come from?
Manresa sourced a batch from Tuscarora Mills in Pennsylvania, which operates two vintage shuttle looms.
Source & credit
Originally published by GQ (Jeremy Freed) on July 16, 2025: “Would You Pay More for American-Made Menswear? This Indie Designer Is Betting on It”