You want to buy a pair of classic, durable bib overalls¹. You value the "Made in the USA²" label, but it seems almost impossible to find authentic American-made workwear today.

A few dedicated heritage brands still proudly manufacture bib overalls in the USA, with Oklahoma-based Round House³ being one of the most prominent, alongside specific lines from Pointer Brand (L.C. King) and others who prioritize domestic production.

For over twenty years, my factory has produced millions of pairs of jeans and workwear for brands around the globe.

I've seen countless designs and tech packs. Even from my perspective in Dongguan, I have a deep respect for the brands that have kept their production in America. It's an incredible challenge to compete in the modern market while sticking to that tradition.

It speaks volumes about their commitment not just to a product, but to a legacy. It's a story of quality and national pride⁴ written in denim and thread. Let's look at who these companies are and what makes their history so important.

What Brand of Bib Overalls Are Made in the USA?

You want to support American workers and buy a truly American-made product. But with so many brands using patriotic marketing, it's hard to tell who is the real deal.

Round House has been manufacturing overalls in Oklahoma since 1903. Pointer Brand (by L.C. King Mfg. Co.) has been making them in Tennessee since 1913. These are some of the key players who continue to do the actual cutting and sewing on American soil.

It's important to understand the difference between an "American Brand" and a product that is "Made in the USA." Many iconic American brands like Levi's, Carhartt, and Dickies are American companies, but the vast majority of their products are now made overseas, including in my factory.

It's a business decision based on global economics. However, a small group of companies have made American manufacturing their core identity.

The True American Makers

• Round House: Based in Shawnee, Oklahoma, they are the largest and oldest operating manufacturer of "Made in USA" jeans and overalls. This is their entire identity.
• Pointer Brand (L.C. King): Based in Bristol, Tennessee, this is a fourth-generation family-owned business that has been committed to American-made workwear for over a century.
• Carhartt "Made in the USA" Line: While most Carhartt products are made globally, they do maintain a specific, clearly labeled line of products that are made in American factories using materials from various sources. You have to look for the specific tag.

Brand	Founded	Key Location	USA Manufacturing Focus
Round House	1903	Shawnee, OK	Core business model
Pointer Brand5	1913	Bristol, TN	Core business model
Carhartt	1889	Dearborn, MI	A specific, dedicated product line

What Is the Oldest Brand of Overalls?

You look at these heritage brands and see dates from the 1800s. It makes you wonder which company was the very first to create this iconic piece of workwear.

Levi Strauss & Co. is one of the strongest contenders for the oldest overall brand. While they started with "waist overalls" (jeans) in the 1870s, their creation of riveted denim work pants laid the foundation for the entire category of American workwear.

The history of overalls is a story of evolution. It didn't start with a bib. It started with a need for pants that could survive the brutal work of miners and railroad workers.

In 1873, Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis patented the idea of putting metal rivets on the stress points of men's work pants. These first "waist overalls" were made from tough canvas or denim and became an instant success. They were the direct ancestor of the blue jeans we know today.

Soon after, other companies entered the market. Hamilton Carhartt founded his company in 1889 with a mission to create honest, durable overalls for railroad workers.

H.D. Lee came along around the same time and was instrumental in developing the "bib overall" design that we recognize today. While other garments existed, the combination of heavy denim, rivets, and American manufacturing⁶ by pioneers like Levi Strauss and Hamilton Carhartt created the overall as we know it. Levi's gets the credit for starting the denim workwear revolution.

Are Roundhouse Jeans Made in the USA?

You've heard that Round House is a classic workwear brand. But in today's global market, you want to be sure their "Made in the USA" claim is still true.

Yes, absolutely. Round House proudly manufactures its jeans and bib overalls in Shawnee, Oklahoma. They have been doing so since 1903 and are currently the largest manufacturer of American-made jeans.

This is one of those questions I love to answer, because Round House is an example of a company that has made a very clear choice.

For most brands, moving production overseas is a simple financial calculation. For Round House, keeping production in Oklahoma is their entire reason for being. It's not a marketing angle; it's their identity.

When a client asks me to produce a jean, we talk about fabric, fit, and cost. For a company like Round House, the conversation starts with "It must be made here, by our people."

This commitment has allowed them to survive for over 120 years when countless other American factories have closed.

They cater to a customer who is specifically looking for that "Made in the USA" label and is willing to seek it out. They are not competing with fast fashion; they are competing on the promise of authenticity and national pride. Their website and product tags communicate this clearly.

So if you buy a pair of Round House overalls, you can be confident you are getting the real thing.

Are Overalls an American Thing?

Bib overalls feel as American as apple pie and baseball. You see them in old photos of farmers and railroad workers, and you feel a strong sense of American history.

Overalls are not an American invention; their basic concept came from Europe. However, American brands completely revolutionized them with durable denim, riveted construction, and mass production, turning them into an undeniable icon of American culture and work ethic.

The idea of a protective garment worn over your regular clothes is not unique to any one country. Various forms of these existed in Europe for centuries, worn by tradesmen and laborers.

But what happened in the United States in the late 19th century was different. The country was in a massive industrial boom. There was a huge demand for tough, reliable clothing for the millions of workers building railroads, mining for gold, and working on farms.

This is where American ingenuity took over. Brands like Levi's introduced denim, a fabric that was perfect for the job.

They added rivets for strength. Lee developed the bib and pocket designs that made them incredibly functional. These were not just clothes; they were tools. They were mass-produced and became the unofficial uniform of the American workforce.

Through movies, music, and cultural history, the image of a person in denim bib overalls became deeply linked with the American ideals of hard work, independence, and building a nation. So while America didn't invent the concept, it certainly perfected it and made it a global icon.

Conclusion

A few heritage brands still make bib overalls in the USA. They carry on a legacy that, while not invented in America, was perfected here into a global symbol of durability.

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