Clothing labeled Made in USA does not always come from factories with good working conditions, NPR’s Planet Money reported on August 5, 2025, after interviewing garment workers in Los Angeles.
What NPR found
Reporter Sarah Gonzalez spoke with a 73-year-old trimmer, who has cut loose threads off garments in a Los Angeles factory for almost 30 years. She told NPR she is paid 15 cents per garment. Other workers might earn about 50 cents per garment on the iron or about 12 cents for sewing a hem, NPR reported.
Lynn Boorady of Oklahoma State University, who once timed garment workers to set piece rates, estimated that a basic USA-made sports bra selling for $62 could take 13 workers to sew. At roughly 30 cents each, that would mean about $3.90 in labor for the sewing.
“I’ve seen worse factories in America than I have seen overseas.”
Lynn Boorady, Oklahoma State University, to NPR
NPR noted that piece-rate pay is no longer legal in California’s garment industry, where workers are supposed to be paid hourly. It reported that it spoke with a worker who said they were paid by the piece to work on those sports bras.
Why it matters for Made in USA
A Made in USA label is a claim about where a product was made. It is not a claim about labor conditions. Many shoppers assume the two go together, and NPR’s reporting shows that is not always true.
Brands that market USA production as a sign of fair labor should be able to back that up separately, for example through audits of their contract factories. Any claim about worker treatment needs its own proof, just like an origin claim.
FAQ
Does Made in USA mean workers were paid fairly?
No. The label is about where a product was made, not labor conditions.
Is piece-rate pay legal for California garment workers?
NPR reported that piece-rate pay is no longer legal in California’s garment industry, where workers are supposed to be paid hourly.
How much do some LA garment workers earn per piece?
NPR reported examples of 15 cents per garment for trimming and about 12 cents for sewing a hem.
Source & credit
Originally reported by NPR’s Planet Money (Sarah Gonzalez) on August 5, 2025: Shoppers might think ‘Made in USA’ means good working conditions. Not always