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2025-08-04 22:30:00| Fast Company

In an age of convenience, global sourcing, and race-to-the-bottom pricing, Made in the USA has too often become a quaint notiona nostalgic footnote rather than a guiding principle. But for those of us in the business of making things here at home, that label still means something. In fact, it may be more important now than ever before. I lead Faribault Mill, a historic textile mill founded in 1865 in the town of Faribault, Minnesota. Over the past 160 years, our mill has outfitted pioneers heading west, supplied blankets to American troops, and woven itself into the fabric of American life. And like so many domestic manufacturers, we nearly lost it. By 2009, the mill had shut down. The looms were silent, the workforce gone, and the community left wondering what would come next. We chose revival. In 2011, a team of believers brought the mill back to lifenot as a museum piece, but as a living, breathing example of what American manufacturing can still be: resilient, modern, and deeply rooted in purpose. Were now one of the last fully vertical textile mills in the United States, managing every step of productionfrom raw wool to finished productall under one roof. It hasnt been easy, but it has been worth it. Why manufacturing still matters Theres a fundamental misunderstanding in the way we talk about manufacturing in this country. Too often, its reduced to a numbers game: labor costs, overseas pricing, efficiency. But what we lose in those calculations is what we risk giving upcontrol over our supply chains, the dignity of skilled work, and the ability to build resilience into our communities and economy. The pandemic was a wake-up call. When we couldnt access basic goods, from masks to semiconductors, we saw firsthand what happens when we outsource too much for too long. That fragility is not just inconvenient. Its dangerous. A nation that cant make its own goods has lost sovereignty over its own future. Domestic manufacturing is a strategic asset. And if we want to build a stronger, more equitable, more sustainable economy, we need to invest in iturgently and intentionally. The real value of Made in USA Manufacturing in America isnt the easy path. It requires more investment, higher labor costs, and deeper operational complexity. But the payoff is far greater than a quarterly return. At Faribault Mill, every blanket is touched by dozens of skilled artisans: spinning, dyeing, weaving, and finishing. This level of craftsmanship cant be replicated through offshoring. Its not just about quality, its about integrity. Our supply chain is tight, our environmental footprint is smaller, and our jobs are local. Every dollar spent on a Faribault Mill product reverberates through the community, supporting families, trades, and our town. Weve trained a new generation of textile workers while honoring legacy techniques passed down over decades. And weve created products that are not only beautiful and functional, but meaningful. Whether were collaborating with heritage brands like Coach or cult favorites like Supreme, our goal is the same: to show what American-made can look like when its done with vision and purpose. Change the conversation The biggest barrier to a manufacturing revival in this country isnt cost. Its mindset. Weve trained consumers to expect cheap, fast, and disposable goods. Weve defined value by what something costs, not by what it offers, not just in function, but in longevity, in sustainability, and in human impact. Its time to change that narrative. A Faribault Mill blanket will last for decadesits an heirloom piece. Its raw materials are traceable, and its makers are paid fairly. Thats value. And more and more, consumers are looking for brands that align with those values. But we need broader actionfrom business leaders willing to reinvest domestically, from policymakers who understand that smart industrial policy is a national advantage, and from consumers who see each purchase as a vote for the kind of economy they want to live in. A blueprint for the future Reviving Faribault Mill wasnt just about saving a company. It was about proving a point: that its still possible to make things in America with care, pride, and purpose. Weve invested in new equipment and product lines. Weve built partnerships across industries. And weve done it all while staying rooted in the belief that American manufacturing isnt obsoleteits essential. We are far from alone. Across the country, a new wave of makers, builders, and manufacturers are reimagining what industry can look like in the 21st century. But momentum isnt enough. If we want this movement to last, we need to embed it in policy, culture, and everyday consumer behavior. Because at the end of the day, American manufacturing isnt just about economics. Its about identity. Its about knowing that behind every product is a person, a process, a place. Its about rebuilding the kinds of jobs and industries that create real opportunity and long-term resilience. At Faribault Mill, every blanket we make carries 160 years of historyand a future thats still being written. If you believe in the promise of American manufacturing, youre already part of that story. Now lets write the next chapter together. Ross Widmoyer is CEO of Faribault Mill.


Category: E-Commerce

 

LATEST NEWS

2025-08-04 21:10:49| Fast Company

Ask any parent and theyll tell you that the laundry list of daily tasks is relentless. Now, some are turning to a new kind of support system: artificial intelligence. One mom has recently gone viral on TikTok for co-parenting her child with the help of ChatGPT. Lilian Schmidt, a corporate brand strategist based in Zurich, Switzerland, began sharing her AI prompts earlier this year. Since then, shes built a community of over 21,000 followers who swear by her tips for navigating the highs and lows of parenthood. Schmidt has a partner, but with both working full-time, she found herself increasingly burnt out by the mental load of parenting their three-year-old. So she turned to ChatGPT. Whether its generating imaginative bedtime stories, creating cleaning schedules, offering advice on sleep regressions, or planning meals based on whats in the fridge, the AI helped her offload the logistics of parentingfreeing her up to simply be present with her daughter. I feel like Im cheating at mom life, she wrote in one post. @heylilianschmidt If this is your vibe, I wanna be friends! And if you want this kind of life, but dont know how or where to start – COMMENT life and Ill give you 7 of my best ChatGPT prompts to get you started! #livingourbestlife #motheranddaughter #momlifevibes #sahmtok #toddlermoms #chatgpt #chatgptformoms As It Was – Harry Styles Parental stress, the U.S. Surgeon General warned earlier this year, is a public health crisis. Parents are consistently more likely than other adults to report high levels of stress, so its no surprise that many are seeking creative solutions to manage the load. ChatGPT literally helped me with breastfeeding, and how to decorate my daughter birthday cake, one commenter wrote under Schmidts video. Chat gpt is carrying the weight of my family at this point, another added. @heylilianschmidt HERES EXACTLY HOW I GOT HERE This is the version of mom life I used to think was impossible. I took me 3 years to get here, because nothing worked: Waking up before the kids Ruthless declutterring Having a new routine Whatever I tried, the mental load was still there – stressing me out and preventing me from being fully present with my kids and enjoying our little life Until I thought: what if someone (or something) could carry the mental load FOR me? I started playing around with ChatGPT – and it didnt just become a tool. It became my mom assistant, my co-parent, my second brain when mines filled with cotton candy and empty batteries Wanna try and see for yourself? COMMENT prompts to get my free AI Mom Magic Starter Kit with 7 ChatGPT prompts I use every single week to save time, stay sane, and make everyday life feel more magical (or grab it straight from my bio!) Your motherhood gets to feel like this, too #wokeuplikethis #morningroutine #toddlermom #mentalload #chatgpt #chatgptformoms #momhacks inside out theme – Santiago Melo With 2.5 billion prompts made every day in ChatGPT, according to a recent Axios scoop, each day users are coming up with new ways AI can slot into their daily lives, from therapist, to stylist, to co-parent. But not everyone is on board with AI-assisted parenting. Is it just me, or is it a problem that women feel relief turning to AI instead of their partners? one commenter asked. Others raised concerns about the environmental cost of AI, and what that might mean for the next generation.


Category: E-Commerce

 

2025-08-04 21:00:00| Fast Company

With the White House Rose Garden grass ripped out and replaced with a brand new stone patio, the Mar-a-Lago-ification of the White House has reached a new phase. After returning to office for a second term, President Donald Trump quickly took to updating White House interiors to better match his maximalist, rococo aesthetic with elements like gold embellishment in the Oval Office and more pictures of himself lining the hallways. Now, the new Rose Garden patio and other recent and planned outdoor updates represent more permanent updates to the most historically significant home in the United States. Trump isn’t just redecoratinghe’s working to leave his physical mark on the property, and the Rose Garden is just the beginning. The Rose Garden in July of 2024. [Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images] Designed during John F. Kennedy’s administration by gardener Rachel Mellon, the Rose Garden has hosted presidential press conferences and the 1971 wedding of Richard Nixon’s daughter Tricia. August, 2025. [Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images] According to Trump, though, the space was unusable after it rained. “We had to do it,” Trump told reporters Sunday. “When we had a press conference, youd sink into the mud.” The new patio just so happens to resemble the patio at Mar-a-Lago where he holds court. The National Park Service oversaw the Rose Garden’s redesign, and it was paid for by the Trust for the National Mall, a nonpartisan nonprofit. Work began on the patio on June 11, and one week later, Trump had two jumbo, car dealership-sized flag poles installed on the White House’s North and South lawns. Now that the patio’s done, Trump is turning his attention to his next project: a planned $200 million ballroom inside of the White House. The White House said construction begins next month on the 90,000-square-foot ballroom, which resembles Mar-a-Lago in renderings. Preservationists are worried. On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order promoting traditional, classic federal civic architecture, but at home, he’s following his own rules. This isn’t a revival of classical architecture as much as it is an attempt to bring the style of South Florida to D.C. Redesigning the landscape was just the first step. No matter how far Trump’s White House renovations end up going, one thing’s for certain: the office won’t look the same after he’s done with it.


Category: E-Commerce

 

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