With a surge of American flags made overseas entering the market, consumers may not realize the impact on local manufacturers and the quality of the flags displayed.
Julye Spinelli, owner of Saratoga Flag Company, raised concerns about the increasing number of Chinese-made flags sold in the U.S.
“We gauge it by the flags we receive for retirement. Before the lockdown, we might get one or two Chinese-made flags. Now, over 75% are made in China,” Spinelli said.
The influx is largely due to online purchases and deceptive marketing tactics. According to the Flag Manufacturers Association of America, 94% of American flags are manufactured in the United States. Of the 6% imported, most come from China.
Spinelli and other American flag retailers are working with Congress to pass the “Make American Flags in America Act,” which targets online retailers that falsely claim their flags are American-made.
“The U.S. flag industry domestically …