Are New Balance Tennis Shoes Made in the USA?

New Balance tennis shoes carry a ‘Made in the USA’ label, but they could be in violation of California and/or federal laws.

California law requires 100 percent of a product’s components to be made in the United States in order to carry the Made in the USA label.

In 2014, the company said only around 70 percent of the value of its New Balance tennis shoes were made of American materials and through Americans’ labor. The outer soles, however, were made in China.

The New Balance website states:

“We’re proud to be the only major company to make or assemble more than 4 million pairs of athletic footwear per year in the USA, which represents a limited portion of our sales. Where the domestic value is at least 70%, we label our shoes Made in the USA.”

New Balance Tennis Shoes ‘Made in the USA’ Attempt at Transparency Not Enough for California

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) mandates that “Made in USA” means that “all or virtually all” of the product has been made in America. All significant parts, processing and labor that go into creating the product must be of U.S. origin.

“We look at the New Balance shoe case as clear proof that the federal law is not being enforced,” said Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California.

New Balance insists it isn’t misleading with its New Balance tennis shoes ‘Made in the USA’ tag because its labels include verbiage regarding the 70 percent level of USA involvement.

An open letter from Jim and Anne Davis, New Balance chairman and vice chairman, says the following:

“We maintained ‘the New Balance way.’ When others said it couldn’t be done, we prevailed with width sizing for better running performance and domestic manufacturing for quick response to customers and commitment to American workers through sustainable employment.”

New Balance also boasts a line of shoes made in the United Kingdom. The website says, “We currently employ over 210 people at our site in Flimby, Cumbria, and produce over 13,000 pairs of shoes a week. Each Made in UK men’s sneaker the factory creates uniquely celebrates craftsmanship, culture and style.”

New Balance Tennis Shoes ‘Made in the USA’ Label Adds Intrinsic Value

Consumers are vulnerable to the deceptive and fraudulent practices of manufacturers who claim an item is made in the USA, when it, in fact, consists of cheaper parts made elsewhere.

Investigating the origin of a product’s parts or where they were put together is not something that is easy for consumers to do.

Individuals choose to purchase products such as New Balance tennis shoes ‘Made in the USA’ for a variety of reasons. Some buyers wish to support American companies and the jobs of fellow Americans.

Consumers also are apt to believe that products made in the USA are of higher quality than foreign-made versions because the U.S. has higher quality control standards.

If you have purchased New Balance tennis shoes ‘Made in the USA’ line in the state of California, you could be eligible for false advertising compensation through a class action lawsuit.

Join a Free New Balance ‘Made in the USA’ Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you purchased one or more New Balance shoes in California in the past two years based, in part, on a “Made in the USA” label, you may be able to seek compensation by joining a class action lawsuit investigation.

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