For Round House Jeans, "Made in the USA" is a point of pride — and a reason for razor-thin profit margins In the quiet town of Shawnee, Oklahoma, the rapid whir of sewing machines fills one of the last surviving American garment factories. Inside, denim from 100% American cotton is cut and sewn by hand into jeans, with a “Made in USA” tag stitched into every pair. Founded in 1903, Round House Jeans is Oklahoma’s oldest manufacturer. Vice President David Antosh, whose family has run the company for over six decades, describes making affordable American-made jeans as both his family’s heritage and a way to support his community. “Our No. 1 goal here at Round House Jeans is to make affordable American-made jeans that the average American can buy,” explained Antosh, who prices his denim pants at just $70 a pair and says he pays his employees above-market wages. It’s a vision that comes at a high cost and low return. “Our profit margins are extremely low,” Antosh admit...