The Story Our American Made Wool Coats
Ninety percent of American clothing is made overseas.
I've spent close to a decade making coats in Chicago, and I can tell you firsthand: it is very difficult to find garments that are still assembled here from imported parts, and even more difficult to find ones where the fabric itself is grown, processed, and woven on American soil. That supply chain has been quietly disappearing for decades, and most people have no idea.
Which is why I'm so proud of what's in our coats.
Where our wool comes from
Our wool is 100% American-grown, sourced from a network of regenerative farms through Shaniko Wool Company. Every farm in that network holds two certifications:
RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) — the leading global certification for animal welfare and land stewardship. It requires progressive land management practices and verifies the welfare of the animals at every stage.
NATIVA™ Regen — a regenerative agriculture certification that goes further than sustainability. Regenerative farming actively restores ecosystems rather than simply sustaining them. These practices help plants store carbon in the soil rather than release it, a meaningful contribution to carbon sequestration at scale.
Our wool measures 16.5 microns in diameter. To put that in context: wool that is generally considered itchy is around 20 microns. At 16.5, this wool is fine enough to wear directly against the skin without irritation.
Because happy sheep make beautiful wool.
photo coutesy of Shaniko Wool
From fiber to finished cloth — entirely in the United States
After shearing, the wool fibers are washed, sorted, and combed in South Carolina. From there they travel to American Woolen in Connecticut, one of the last remaining wool mills in the country, where they are spun into yarn, woven into fabric, and dyed.
The result is a 100% wool cloth that never leaves the United States from fiber to finish. Our wool fabric has a beautiful soft hand, yet is structured enough to tackle winter in style.
From Connecticut, the finished fabric ships to Chicago, where the coats are cut and sewn.
Photo courtesy of American Woolen
What this means for you
When you buy a coat from The Checkroom, you are supporting ethical manufacturing right here in the United States. You are keeping craft alive, and supporting the people who still know how to do it.
But honestly? The reason most of my customers come back is simpler than that: it's a coat they love. One that fits well and looks beautiful. The fabric supply chain is something that I'm proud to be a part of, but the coat is something you'll be proud to wear.
— Liz Williams, designer