There's no doubt that the global marketplace has been invigorating for fashion: It has allowed far-flung designers to enter the fray and has ensured, quite democratically, that Paris is no longer the only runway that counts. But back on the ranch (or suburban tract or city sidewalk), there will always be nostalgia and, dare we say, pride in buttoning up a hand-stitched jacket or denim shirt and knowing that it was made here at home—in a cottage-industry tradition that is as American as big manufacturing. Still, don't confuse down-home with provincial: Many of these pieces evoke a worldly sensibility. The point is that they were knit, sewn, cut, and basted—born, that is—right here in the U.S.A.
These clothes could be called old-fashioned, in the best sense. Made with an eye for fabric and quality, they reflect an earlier, less brand-conscious era. Many of the designers decided to start their own businesses after having kids themselves. Eliza Gran, whose factory is in Brooklyn, says that after her first child was born, "I tried to find clothes that looked like the ones I wore when I was little—those early-'70s-style sundresses and Liberty prints." Frustrated by the lack of options, she began designing kids' wear in 2002 and now gets her fabrics (mostly reproductions of vintage and Civil War–era prints) from all over the country. Lauren Gropp Lowry, another Brooklyn-based designer, created boys' clothing company Mr. Tiny three years ago with her sister, who was having trouble finding anything for her twin sons that wasn't navy blue, baby blue, or covered in baseballs and trains. By contrast, Mr. Tiny signature details include rich herringbone patterns and bright colors. "Part of our inspiration was the bold colors of our childhood, like the ones Marimekko is famous for," Lowry explains.
