Josh interviews John Harding of Drift Eyewear.

We spent yesterday continuing to work on the official trailer which we can’t wait to share with you. Stay tuned for its debut on July 4th!

This morning the journey came full circle as the team awoke in the same place the journey began. Josh’s wife drove in last night so she would have the opportunity to spend the last day of the journey with him.

The team traveled to Georgetown to find out what Made in the USA means to everyday Americans in one final round of man on the street interviews. The most unique interview of the day came from John Harding of Drift Eyewear Co. who nearly wrecked his car trying to find out what we were up to. Drift Eyewear Co. makes handcrafted wooden eyewear. Visit them online at: www.drifteyewear.com

In the evening, the team celebrated the end of the journey with an old fashioned American cookout and took time to reflect on the adventures of the past 30 days. We are excited to have been on this trek across the country and are even more excited for viewers to see the film and discover what it means to be Made in the USA.

Josh reflects upon the sacrifices of those men and women who have died protecting our country.

Josh and the crew returned to Washington DC, and spent Memorial Day weekend continuing to work on the trailer and begin the process of logging the footage from this exciting journey. We are excited to begin winding down production and begin post-production on the film, but we will be doing a final man-on-the-street interview session in downtown DC.

Josh poses with Liz Havlin outside the Liberty Denim factory.

Today we awoke in Liberty, SC to meet with Liz Havlin, Executive Director of WearUSA. Liz has been passionate about restoring one of the four denim mills left in the USA. Josh was inspired to hear about the story because he could relate to what happens to a town when massive job losses occur.

The Liberty Denim factory has been closed since December 2011 and is now in bankruptcy proceedings. Liz Havlin hopes to buy the factory back and restore the jobs lost to the workers of Liberty Denim.

We had the opportunity to interview Liz and discover what great passion she has in regards to bringing jobs back to our shores. To find out more details about helping to save Liberty Denim, please visit Liz’s Facebook fan page which is dedicated to Liberty Denim’s restoration.

Visit Liz’s Facebook page online at: http://www.facebook.com/HelpSaveLibertyDenim

Eric Henry shares the philosophy of TS Designs with Josh.

The crew woke up bright and early and hit the road toward Liberty, South Carolina. Along the way, we stopped in Burlington, NC to meet with Eric Henry of TS Designs. Eric and Josh discussed the eco-friendly way in which his company produces its clothing in America. The side-story of this visit was the way in which Eric goes the extra mile to take care of his business and his workers. We were able to explore the garden where food is grown to provide employees with a healthy alternative to traditional food sources.

After a great tour of TS Designs, Eric led us to Saxapahaw, NC where we visited a General Store and a small pub, both of which feature locally produced food and drinks. From our perspective, Saxapahaw, NC took the buy local movement to a new level. It was exciting to see a community come together for one another.

We arrived late in the evening to Liberty, SC for a good night’s rest before our quest to help save Liberty Denim with Liz Havlin.

Visit Made in TS Designs online at: http://www.tsdesigns.com

Josh records his narration track for the upcoming trailer.

The team spent the day in DC working on the music composition for the official trailer. Selecting the right mood of music to convey the journey in only a few minutes provides a unique challenge. The team has seen and experienced so many things over the past 3 weeks that it is difficult to present an accurate picture of the journey in just a few minutes.

One of the most important pieces of the trailer is the narration provided by Josh. This journey became a mission for Josh to explore and experience the heart of America and bring awareness to the job losses across the country.

We look forward to traveling to Liberty Denim tomorrow to get insight on how those job losses affect a town. We’ll be traveling to Liberty, SC to meet up with Liz Havelin in an effort to help save Liberty Denim, one of four denim factories still left in America.

Josh poses with Randy Erwin of BuyAmericanChallenge.

This morning we travelled to downtown DC to meet with Randy Erwin, creator of the Buy American Challenge blog. Randy provides realistic steps to those interested in buying American. Randy commended Josh for his journey, and then they discussed in detail Randy’s plan which you can find at BuyAmericanChallenge.com

Later in the evening Josh had the opportunity to sit down with Lucas Snyder of Abraham & Lucas. Lucas is the co-owner of an American made reseller website. Lucas’ interview was a very passionate one and you could really see the importance of buying American in his demeanor and also his determination to get the message out about this movement. You can visit the Abraham & Lucas website at AbrahamLucas.com

The team works on planning the final leg of the journey.

After a great trip to Florida, we returned to Washington, DC at about 3am to begin the final leg of the 30 Day Journey. Today we focused on preliminary steps in post-production, as well as getting caught up on our blog and preparing for our last week of filming.

We will spend the next few days in Washington, DC conducting our final interviews and look forward to hitting the road again this weekend for a stop in South Carolina to support Liz Havelin and her cause to save Liberty Denim.

Josh interviews House Minority Whip, Rep. Steny Hoyer.

This morning, the team had the opportunity to tour A&M Tape & Packaging along with several members of Congress including Representative Steny Hoyer, Representative Ted Deutsch, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Representative Alcee L. Hastings. A&M Tape & Packaging is a small business doing big things here in America. It was a pleasure to be able to tour their facility alongside these Congressional leaders.

Today’s travels brought up the interesting topic of politics and this movement. Even though Josh does not believe a successful movement will be dictated by a political party, it is encouraging to see Congressional leaders addressing the Made in America Movement. Josh would also like to thank them for giving us special recognition during their speeches.

Later, we met with Julie Reiser of Made in USA Certified whose business is an independent certifier of businesses that make products here in America. Being able to sit down with Julie gave Josh better insight on the true definition of Made in USA.

Visit Made in USA Certified online at: http://info.usa-c.com
Visit A&M Tape & Packaging online at: http://www.mrboxonline.com

Josh with our biggest fan, Guillame. America's future is bright.

We started our day at the Blue Moon Fish Company with Isabelle Benoit, owner of Bullet Blue Custom Apparel, and her family and friends. Isabelle and her family have proven to be some of our biggest supporters during the journey, and their hospitality has gone above and beyond.

Isabelle and Josh discussed many topics in regards to what it means to make products here in America and what brought her to the decision that Made in the USA was a priority in her business. Isabelle not only makes American made apparel, she also shares her knowledge of American made with others because she believes in our country.

Afterward we took a break to get caught up on our daily blogs, and later met Isabelle and friends and family at Big Bear Brewery Company for a relaxing dinner. Spending the day with Isabelle and her friends and family was a very exciting point in the journey, and gives us complete confidence that the American dream is still alive. Josh sees that dream resonating in Isabelle’s son Guillaume, a young artist that inspired us all with his passion for his own dreams and also a deep passion for our film. It’s moments like this that keep Josh pushing forward.

Our journey through Guillaume's eyes.

Visit Bullet Blues online at: http://bulletbluesca.com

Josh sits down with Captain Jon Andrew to discuss the Made in America Movement.

We had the honor to sit down with Captain Jon Andrew of the United States Air Force to get his personal opinions on the Made in the USA Movement. Captain Andrew is a young, enthusiastic individual who cares deeply for his country. His personal perspectives of what this movement means to him was a real eye opener to Josh. We would like to thank Captain Andrew for his continued service to his country and may God bless him and his family. Josh believes he will provide a unique perspective in the upcoming film.

After the interview, we headed for the airport to board a flight for Miami and are ready to spend a couple days in the area.

Josh visits the National World War II Museum.

Our day began by visiting the National World War II Museum, where we had a chance to walk through the museum and see pieces of World War II history. World War II was a crucial part of the rise in U.S. manufacturing, and also we want to thank those veterans and current service members who have fought for the freedoms we have today. Many have given the ultimate sacrifice for this great country. God bless our veterans.

We then traveled down to The Company Burger which may have the greatest cheeseburger we have ever tasted. The restaurant owner Adam Biderman goes above and beyond not only in buying as much local food as possible, but also strives to buy as much Made in the USA equipment as possible. The Company Burger is truly one of a kind.

Visit the National World War II Museum online at: http://www.nationalww2museum.org/
Visit The Company Burger online at: http://thecompanyburger.com/

Josh meets with Professor Peter Ricchiuti at Tulane University.

The crew rested a bit this morning since we did not arrive at the hotel until 3:30am because the rental car facility ran out of cars before we arrived. Our team of 3 was provided a 15 passenger van as that was the only option available at the late hour.

We started our morning at 10am and drove to Tulane University to meet with Business Professor Peter Ricchiuti to discuss Made in America and the economy in general. Professor Ricchiuti was a great personality to interview and also talked a little baseball with Josh.

We then travelled to the NOLA Brewing Company to check out their operations and had the opportunity to sample some of their new brews. Josh’s favorite was the NOLA Blonde Ale.

Afterward, we headed down to the Ogden Museum to visit with Jolie Bensen and Sarah Elizabeth about their clothing company, Jolie & Elizabeth. The pair discussed their journey in creating the company and some of their insights into what it is like being small business owners in America.

Visit the NOLA Brewing Company online at: http://www.nolabrewing.com
Visit Jolie & Elizabeth online at: www.jolieandelizabeth.com

Josh poses with a bronze sculpture of Benjamin Franklin.

After a visit to those areas, we took a trip with Sarah Mazzone of Made in the USA Challenge to Sun & Earth, a company that manufactures all natural cleaning products. We had a chance to tour their facility with President & CEO, John Mullins, to see these products being manufactured and prepared for distribution before our eyes.

Philadelphia was good to the Made in the USA 30 Day Journey, and we’d love to come back soon! Next stop: New Orleans!

Visit the National Constitution Center online at: http://constitutioncenter.org
Visit Sun & Earth online at: www.sunandearth.com
Visit the Made in the USA Challenge blog online at: www.madeinusachallenge.com

Josh and K'NEX CEO, Michael Araten, showcase some of the K'NEX line of products.

Just when you thought that American toy manufacturing was a thing of the past, we discovered K’NEX. K’NEX Brands, located in Hatfield, PA is a toy company that prides itself on manufacturing the majority of their product line in the United States. We toured the manufacturing facility where injection molded parts are made for their toy lines. Josh then sat down with K’NEX President & CEO, Michael Araten to discuss the state of toy manufacturing in America, as well as the outsourcing of manufacturing injection molded plastics overseas.

We then headed to downtown Philadelphia where we met with Aaron Pierce of Skai Blue Media for a fascinating look at custom fashion clothing design and manufacturing in the United States. As a designer, Aaron discussed the benefits of being able to design a clothing line in America and then being able to oversee the fabrication and quality control processes using local labor to create high-end quality products.

The team then took time to recharge and experience their first cheese steak sandwiches ever from Philadelphia.

The last stop of the evening was a happy hour at The Boilermaker hosted by Sarah Mazzone of the Made in the USA Challenge blog. Here, Josh was able to get some perspective from local residents about products made in the USA and what it means to them.

Tomorrow, we have an exciting day planned to learn the history of Philadelphia, and our country.

Visit K’NEX online at: www.knex.com
Visit the Made in the USA Challenge blog online at: www.madeinusachallenge.com

Josh and the team return to the road to make the journey to Philadelphia.

The team regrouped today after a couple days off to head on to our next location – Philadelphia. We’ll be staying a few days in and around Philadelphia to learn about the birth and early history of our nation as well as speak with local businesses that make their products in the USA.

Josh and his brother Joel pose with their mom on Mother's Day.

Tomorrow, we hit the road once again for the next stop on our journey – Philadelphia!

Josh stands in front of the last Checkered Taxi in Chicago.

We rounded out our final day in Chicago by visiting with historian Peter Alter of the Chicago History Museum. Peter shared with Josh an insight into World War II history in relation to the manufacturing boom during that time period. Peter also gave the team the rare opportunity to tour some of the artifacts stored in the museum’s archives warehouse. Such items included Abraham Lincoln’s personal carriage, the theater sign where John Dillinger was killed, and the last checkered taxi cab in Chicago among other things.

After our interview, the team headed down to the Navy Pier to talk with the locals for their opinions on what Made in America means to them, as well as experience all the pier has to offer.

Tomorrow we travel back to base camp in Washington, DC.

Josh takes a walk down the steps of the Chicago History Museum.

Our first stop on today’s journey was the Chicago History Museum where Josh got a brief insight into the history of the city of Chicago and the hard work and dedication to rebuild the city after The Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Josh met with Janet Dukic of A Day To Market America for a brief interview discussing her venture, and how she got involved with the Made in America movement.

After lunch we headed to the the DePaul Labor Education Center to meet with Bob Breving and Emily Rosenberg to discuss union labor and trade in America.

We finished off the evening at Miller’s Pub where Josh enjoyed an All-American meal featuring USA raised beef and potatoes with Janet Dukic and the crew.

Visit A Day To Market America online at: www.adaytomarketamerica.com

Josh drags ink over his very own Made in the USA: The 30 Day Journey t-shirt.

The crew awoke this morning and headed downtown with our host Eric Acevedo of True Herban Clothing. After experiencing the taste of a Chicago deep dish stuffed pizza, Josh hit the streets for interviews with the locals to find out what Made in the USA means to them. Nancy Jones of Chicago Fair Trade took time to discuss Fair Trade with Josh.

We then headed down to Art-Flo Screen Printing & Embroidery for a tour of the screen printing shop, and to sit down and discuss industry competition and the benefits of Made in the USA clothing with Art-Flo co-owner Mike Dastice and True Herban Clothing owner Eric Acevedo. Art-Flo has been providing silkscreen and embroidery services in Chicago for over 50 years, and allowed Josh the opportunity to screen print his own Made in the USA: The 30 Day Journey t-shirt.

Visit Art-Flo online at: www.artflo.com
Visit True Herban Clothing online at: www.trueherbanclothing.com

Josh and Bruno Lebron in front of the assembly line where Three Dots fashions come to life.

Our final day in LA brought us to Three Dots Fashion Clothing Company. Three Dots describes itself as an evolving concept in lifestyle dressing based on great fabrics, inspired design, fastidious construction and the perfect fit. Josh met with Three Dots co-founder Bruno Lebon who gave the team a behind-the-scenes tour of the factory. Bruno shared the process of manufacturing clothing from the artistic inspiration that goes into each of their patterns, to the stitching that goes into the final piece. Bruno stated that he believed that by manufacturing products in the United States, the consumer can expect a better quality product that they would not be able to achieve if outsourcing overseas. Visit Three Dots online at: www.threedots.com

After leaving Three Dots headquarters, the team took some time to drive through downtown Hollywood before boarding our flight bound for Chicago.

Josh poses with one of Clautiere Vineyard's unique creations.

Today we drove from LA to Paso Robles where we visited the beautiful Clautiere Vineyard. The owners, Claudine Blackwell and Terry Brady, gave us a behind the scenes tour of the winery showing us the step-by-step process of creating their unique products. Josh spoke with them about running the winery and making their product here in the USA. Terry addressed some of the challenges of creating a bottle of wine that is completely produced in America, while Claudine gave some insight into owning several businesses throughout her career and the opportunities we have in America. The team had a chance to taste test various wines, including the unique experience of sampling a taste straight from a barrel. Visit the vineyard online at: www.clautiere.com

Josh meets up with fellow filmmaker Don Handfield to discuss American Cinema.

The team awoke this morning in Los Angeles and for the first time since the trip began, Josh was reunited with his love – coffee. Josh was able to enjoy a cup of Kona Coffee and it made his morning. Today Josh sat down to discuss American cinema with actor, writer and producer, Don Handfield. Don gave Josh some perspective regarding the film industry and examples of how America used to be a leader in certain areas of the entertainment business but has lost that edge to competing countries. After our interview the team enjoyed the In-N-Out burger experience with Joe Burke, Founder & CEO of Denizen USA Corporation. After lunch, the team headed out to Venice Beach to shoot some hoops and enjoy the sun and surf for the afternoon.

Josh and The American Made Chic Tour ladies agree, "we're all in this together".

Our journey found us on the road to Louisville, KY where we caught up with the ladies of The American Made Chic Tour. As independent business owners, Julie Reiser, Kim Gregory and Michelle Thelen are traveling the country in a red, white and blue bus creating high impact events and awareness for jobs, manufacturing and products Made in America. During our interview, the ladies stressed the importance that they see in continuing to buy American so that we do not continue to lose manufacturing segments or entire markets to other countries that are outcompeting us in manufacturing. Follow the ladies of the American Made Chic Tour online at: www.amctour.us

After the interview, we boarded a flight to Los Angeles where Josh faced two challenges: 1) He didn’t have any access to American made luggage so he needed to pack his belongings in a cardboard box and 2) this was only his second time flying (the first was when he played during the World Series) and is uncomfortable with air travel. Fortunately, for those of us traveling with him, he was able to keep calm on the flight and we arrived safely in Los Angeles.

What do you do when you can't find an American made chair during an interview? Find a tree stump!

Day 4 brings us to Ohio for interviews with All American Clothing, Blue Laser Design and Franklin Art Glass. These three American owned and operated small businesses give Josh unique perspectives on the challenges of running a small business using all American labor and supplies to bring their products to the marketplace.

Josh also faces his struggles with the dietary challenges going Made in the USA brings.

Visit All American Clothing online at: www.allamericanclothing.com
Visit Blue Laser Design online at: www.bluelaserdesign.com
Visit Franklin Art Glass online at: www.franklinartglass.com

After 3 days it's time for Josh to freshen up.

On Day 3 Josh sat down with WV Secretary of State Natalie Tennant to gain some insight into government’s role in buying American made products as well as Tony The Tailor to learn just what goes into making custom suits and shoes in America. Visit Tony The Tailor online at: www.bestmastertailor.com

Josh also had to face some important decisions regarding hygiene and how to creatively find ways to clean up while using only American made products.

Josh must find creative ways to brush his teeth and comb his hair before an interview.

On Day 2 Josh finds himself in Downtown DC interviewing “The Rebel Economist” Michelle Muccio who gave Josh some new insight and perspective into U.S. Economics. After that Josh went on a journey to try and find everyday products that are Made In The USA. And finally, we left Washington, DC behind and drove late into the night for the next leg of our trip, Charleston, WV.

Josh discovers a "bathroom" that is Made in the U.S.A.

We had a great first day, but Josh had a lot of adjustment to do.  He quickly discovered that ordinary things we take for granted can’t be accomplished when a product isn’t made in the U.S.A.  Check out this video for his thoughts…

Hi, my name is Josh Miller and I would like to welcome you to the “Made in the USA: The 30 Day Journey’s” website. Producers Ron Newcomb, Justin Moe, and I are excited to have this opportunity to bring you an eye-opening film about the past, present, and future of “Made in the USA”. I am very excited to get this website up and running so we can constantly communicate with fans as we progress towards our 1st day on the road.

Of course, once we get on the road I will not be able to use my cell phone, laptop, etc. You will be reading about my experience through the eyes of Justin Moe (producer/camerman) who will keep our blog updated daily. After only a few short weeks this concept has blossomed into a massive movement which has raised awareness of “Made in the USA” exponentially.

We are very excited for our recent partnership with TAP America and believe they will help us bring this issue to a national level. I have also received many, many emails from USA businesses who want to help us meet our needs and get on the road. I want to say thank you for the support and advice you have given us so far for our journey. We are excited for your interest in our film.

Until our departure I will continue to update the blog daily if possible and begin to mention some social network groups to follow who are also creating all sorts of buzz in regards to the “Made in America Movement”. For now check out the campaign we have going on Indiegogo to help get us on the road. www.indiegogo.com/usa30days

Have a great day everyone and we look forward to seeing your feedback about our website! Please spread the word!

Best,

Josh