Draper Knitting Company

Are you enjoying grilling season? So are we! Draper is pleased to offer one of the fabrics used as insulation in these awesome mitts. #storiesfromthemiddleofthesupplychain #AmericanManufacturing #draperknittingcompany #summer

Our annual summer maintenance shutdown is next week, which means vacation for the Draper employees! We can’t wait for some well deserved R&R (and maybe some beach time!). See everyone when our office reopens on July 8! #storiesfromthemiddleofthesupplychain #draperknittingcompany #summer #americanmanufacturing #madeinamerica

Earlier this week Draper Knitting attended FEDTEX for the second time. We are truly impressed with the way this event is run! It’s a perfect mix of time at our display table and networking events to connect with members of government organizations and industry leaders, as well as informative presentations. New this year was a shark tank style session on new technologies for textiles, very engaging! #storiesfromthemiddleofthesupplychain #tradeshow #draperknitting #fedtex #americanmanufacturing

I’m packing my showboxes! It was November the last time the show team was in Oregon. It was memorable with our fabulous and informative trip to the Shaniko Wool Company ranch in Maupin. And then it was on to Portland for Functional Fabric Fair (FFF). It was not the first time we had been here in the fall and our booth was busy with past and future customers. This year, however, we are giving the fair a try in its spring version. FFF in April! The month or so before the show is always a whirlwind. We always choose a theme to work into the booth. It can be a statement about current events in the fabric world, or highlighting our customers’ successes, and often we have our own new development to show off. I don’t want to give away this years’ flavor, but here is a hint. We are going vintage! The way I see it, if you are 168 years old, you should be able to flaunt it a little. We are now a few weeks before the show. Accommodations are being confirmed, flights are being booked, and the piles of show gear are growing higher. Like planning for a good party, we need to entertain our guests. The booth needs to be inviting and interesting. Give them fresh and retro fabrics to touch and feel, give them fabric solutions to their problems, and be sure to have a little something to hand out to remember you by. We’ve got this! Starting in a few days comes the packing. Sample booklets, fabric swatches, garments, banners, literature, give aways, table cloths, and a huge assortment of office supplies and tools. The show boxes will actually be shipped a week before the show and there is a sense of relief seeing them go. The challenge of remembering everything that might be needed and knowing if you forget to pack something it goes in your suitcase, no stress at all! The last week before showtime? The fun stuff. Making arrangements to visit with friends in the area and colleagues at the show. Then setting up meetings with customers and reading about educational opportunities while at the show. And again this year, looking forward to an off-site visit to the plant of a long-time customer. Looking forward to great week away! In November, our booth was taken over by the Rustek Collective guys who are making hats using our fabrics! Please e-mail or call Draper Knitting Company if you want to set up a show meeting at the Oregon Convention Center April 17th and 18th, 2024. Hope to see you there. - Wendy #storiesfromthemiddleofthesupplychain #draperknitting #madeintheusa #tradeshow2024

The de minimis loophole I was out to dinner with a group of girlfriends last night and Shein came up. Both friends said they will not buy from this website, and I applauded. Neither knew what the de minimis loophole was, but each was resistant to buying from this website as they knew, clothing at those prices means the factory workers are paid peanuts or worse yet is the possibility of child or Uyghur slave labor. This of course started me on a rant about the de minimis loophole and the damage it is doing to not only my beloved textile industry but to the manufacturing base in the United States as a whole. Think about it Temu spent $35 million dollars on Super Bowl ads that touted their slogan “Live like a Billionaire!”. Part of the reason they have $35 million dollars to spare on Super Bowl ads and the incessant Facebook and Instagram ads, is the fact they ship direct to consumers in the US, these individual shipments are well under the $800 threshold for when any taxes or tariffs would apply. I acknowledge Amazon and others import a great deal of merchandise, but they do it in bulk, which means these shipments value is more than $800, so they are paying taxes and tariffs. I will admit I was almost lured in by Temu’s prices. I am a member of a committee that is planning a fundraiser, and we need décor. For a hot second, I thought about buying items from Temu as it would stretch our decorating budget immensely. AND then I reprimanded myself how could I think of buying other items from Temu when I boycott both Temu and Shein for apparel and accessories. That would be hypocritical! Since, I am part of the movement urging Congress and the President to fix this loophole and protect the US Textile Industry, how can I purchase something non-textiles related and hurt another US industry. I can’t and I won’t! CONTINUED IN COMMENTS #storiesfromthemiddleofthesupplychain #draperknitting #Manufacturing #Policy #DeMinimis #USA #Economy #trade #textile https://lnkd.in/eeSjn-_n

Last week Wendy was reminiscing about our childhood winters full of snow and ice skating and in that spirit, my husband and I and some family went to Iceland! Iceland in the winter, it must be freezing, but actually the temps range from 20 degrees to 40 degrees, and it was beautiful! We took advantage of the winter activities like ice cave tours and the aurora borealis (northern lights) at their peak. We fully expected to enjoy the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon and many other attractions but it was the little things like the number of farms we saw, the handmade Icelandic wool sweaters and stopping to pet the Icelandic Ponies (native to and the only breed on the island) along the side of the road (this is encouraged) that made the trip so spectacular! The speed limit maxes out at 90 KM (55 mph) but averages 70 KM (44 mph) and in residential areas 50 KM or (31 mph) so you can see, their pace is much slower than ours and for vacation, this was perfect! So perfect, my husband and I even renewed our wedding vows on Black Sand Beach! We explored Reykjavik (where 80% of the population lives) but also the south coast and even out to the end of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Each one, more spectacular than the last! Almost every night we were up until 2 AM waiting on or checking out the Northern Lights! We all agreed we could sleep when vacation was over! Yes, we are already planning our next trip to Iceland in the summer! Safe travels! 🗺️ Kristin #storiesfromthemiddleofthesupplychain #icelandtravel #draperknitting

Occasionally a member of our team visits a trade show that none of us has been to before, in hopes that we might find a new venue to meet new customers. This week was one of those weeks. The event was well run, the education sessions had interesting panelists and while the topics were common ones, the discussion around them was very different. It wasn’t just talk; it was here’s what we did to change our process for the betterment of the earth. They also provided insights into coming regulations and thinking about that in a different way. It was also a great opportunity to connect with customers we already have and hadn’t seen in a while. That said, the sign that’s in the photo accompanying this post horrified me, it was honestly like a slap across the face. $2.30 for a men’s sweater…. Let that sink in for a minute and then think about what that means for the employees making that sweater… think about what it means if that $2.30 includes the yarn to knit the sweater or the fabric to make it if it’s a fully fashioned cut and sew sweater….. so, after materials costs what is the sewer making for pay….. what is their quality of life…. Maybe it’s me and the fact I’ve spent almost all my years since college graduation working in the US textiles industry, but this really bothers me. Why are we as consumers allowing this to continue, when are we going to let our hard-earned dollars do the talking and stop purchasing goods made overseas that are being offered at this ridiculously low price. I titled the picture “Can’t Compete” when I sent it from my phone to my computer for this post. And that’s exactly what I was feeling when I saw it, how do we expect the US textiles industry to compete and pay a living wage to the employees that are vital to keeping us going when this is what we are up against! P.S. I am not naïve I know prices coming out of China are much lower than the US, that’s common knowledge. But to finally see the actual cost of making a sweater there instead of just the retail price of the garment was mind boggling. #storiesfromthemiddleofthesupplychain #americanmanufacturing

One more reason to find better ways to use natural materials! #storiesfromthemiddleofthesupplychain #ecofriendly

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the mill, Not a creature was sturring ‘cept kittys eating their fill. When out in the yard there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter. To what to my wondering eyes should appear, but the last of the trucks was finally here. The fabric was nestled all cradled and chocked, The truck, it backed right up to the dock. The rolls were all loaded with care…not a bang, Then the door of the truck was secured with a clang. As the textiles rolled forward, on to be sewn, I found that once more, I was alone. The machines had all quieted hours before, to a low humming sound that others ignore. It was time to head out, Christmas was here! Time to go home to some holiday cheer. I drag on my jacket and pull on my mittens, Turn out the lights and one pat for the kittens. As I head to my car, The lot dark as the night, within seconds I had the night’s second fright. Something had swooped overhead in the sky, the dark was playing some tricks with my eyes. Had I heard ringing bells, and maybe a chuckle? I stood quite still, my fingers white knuckled. I strained to hear if there was anything more, Then came the words I could not ignore. My eyes opened wide and my smile grew bright, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” May the magic of the season be with you all! The Draper Knitting Crew #storiesfromthemiddleofthesupplychain #draperknitting #americanmanufacturing #madeinamerica #merrychristmas

We kicked November off with a couple of great events! Our second year exhibiting at Functional Fabrics Fair was a success! Our Made in the USA banner captured attention and folks who were about to just pass us by, stopped and chatted, as that’s exactly what they were looking for. The show also included some excellent educational sessions and networking opportunities. Two weeks later it was the annual Joint Advanced Planning Brief to Industry (JAPBI). This event brings together the US textile industry base, the Defense Logistics Agency and the branches of the US Military. The key message from DLA and the services was looking for commonalities where it makes sense and thanking industry for all of the efforts to support the warfighter, despite some very challenging circumstances over the last few years. #storiesfromthemiddleofthesupplychain #tradeshow #americanmanufacturing