This past weekend, we walked over to the nearby stripmall to buy some stuff. We needed garden lime for our compost bin and shipping tape to mail paperbacks via paperbackswap.com. I don’t count these purchases as part of the Buy Nothing Challenge because:

a.  I didn’t want my worms to die and

b. I’m getting rid of our stuff in preparation for our move.

While at the strip mall, I decided to buy sandals. My pair from payless broke several months ago and I spent most of last summer walking around in shoes and socks which were uncomfortable. 

We walked over to the shoe store and once inside the store realized that every single pair of sandal was made in China. They also had non rubber soles which means every step I took would be squeaky. I decided to buy my sandals online from a vendor that made sandals in the U.S.

While browsing the links on Still Made in USA,  I read that Chaco’s sandals are no longer being made in the U.S.. Below are some Q&A regarding the same:

 "I’m a 9 year customer and I’d like to know WHEN the move to Chinese manufacturing will happen."
We began producing sandals in China 5 years ago. Our fastest growing product lines have been built in China since they were introduced. These styles include Hipthong, Zong, Wrapsody and all our flips. None of these products were ever built in the US because the labor involved would have made them prohibitively expensive. It is the Z series of sandals that will transition to Asia midyear in 2008.

"Chinese workers are treated very poorly, and often work in unsafe conditions."
It is absolutely true that there are many factories in China with poor working conditions. Choosing good vendors is vitally important and works to raise the standards of all foreign factories. Chaco has partnered with one of the 32 footwear factories worldwide that has met the stringent requirements of SA8000 certification. This independent, third party certification applies the same standards for factories worldwide. More can be learned at: www.sa8000.org.

"Your decision to move saddens me greatly. However, I want to know for how much longer I can get USA made Chacos. My first pair, from 1998, is finally wearing into the footbed and the straps are fraying. I’d like a couple replacements so I can continue to have the shoes I love."
Any of our Z/1, Z/2 or ZX/1 sandals purchased before July 2008 will have been made here in Paonia. Stock up all you want. All Chaco products have always had a lifetime guarantee on materials and workmanship. This will not change as long as I am the majority shareholder. Regardless of the country of origin, Chaco products will continue the tradition of high quality and we will bet our reputation on it by continuing with our lifetime guarantee.