Can a Shoelace Save American Manufacturing?

NEW YORK, Nov. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for holiday shopping, Flint and Tinder, 2013's top crowd-funded fashion company, along with 10 other made-in-USA brands, launches The Bluelace Project to give all American manufacturers the boost they need this holiday.

The goal is simple, yet grand; "Give American Manufacturing its own yellow ribbon. A wearable way to show your support for the way they're fighting daily, just in time for holiday shoppers." But the lace itself, built strong enough to pull a 13,000lb truck in one of America's very last shoelace factories, seems more than up to the task.

The project was born when Flint and Tinder's founder, Jake Bronstein, noticed an alarming trend: "We'd literally spoken to thousands of retailers over the past year," Bronstein explains. "Most of them seemed to think that their customer doesn't care about better-built domestically produced products. The problem is, if they think that, they won't stock made in USA. And if they don't stock it, well, they'll never know whether or not their customers are willing to give it a chance."

Wanting to break the cycle, Flint and Tinder partnered with several other great American brands to announce the project. DodoCase, Ball and Buck, Shwood, Tattly, Weiss Watch Co., and Ramblers Way are just a few of those committed to helping spread the word.

Why is it so important? The United States has lost a staggering 32 percent of its manufacturing jobs since the year 2000. Meanwhile, if each of us spent just $64 on American made goods during our holiday shopping, the result would be 200,000 new jobs. Clearly, the time is now for a revolution built one foot at a time!

Within hours of kickoff, thousands have already signed-up for a pair, shared the project on Facebook or pledged their support. $50,000 raised and counting!

See what's got everyone excited at TheBluelaceProject.com. Additionally, Matt Mills, the strongman featured in the video, has generously offered to perform the same truck pull featured in the video – showing off the strength of a single pair of Bluelaces – live for any media outlet willing to help spread the made-in-USA message this holiday. Contact Kelsey Breining at Paul Wilmot for details.

Video with caption: "It's time America got its own Yellow Ribbon - a shoelace unlike any other - strong enough to pull us all together." Video available at:  http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/FX-MM22673-20131122-1a.mp4

Image with caption: "The Bluelace Project aims to give American manufacturing its own Yellow Ribbon." Image available at: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131125/MM22673-a

Image with caption: "Could a Bluelace save American Manufacturing? If it's strong enough to pull a 13,000lb truck, it just might." Image available at: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131125/MM22673-b

SOURCE Flint and Tinder