photo credit: Southland Heritage Instagram

Hosts: Melissa Lynn Oddo (deMelis Atelier & Stitched Collective) Matthew Banever (Bards Clothing)

Summary:

In this episode we talk with Jake from Southland Heritage—a platform and directory listing over 350 American-made brands—to talk about intentional consumerism, community collaboration, and why he hopes his directory eventually becomes unnecessary. Jake shares how he vets companies, his vision for American manufacturing, and how small, conscious choices can spark a bigger cultural shift. From stainless steel tumblers to made-in-Ohio trash cans, Jake can point you in the right direction.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why stainless steel goods labeled “Made in USA” are nearly impossible to find
• The emotional and practical journey behind curating a vetted list of American-made brands
• Building a collaborative ecosystem between makers, consumers, and directories

Takeaways:

• You don’t have to be perfect—small intentional choices can drive big change
• Transparency and storytelling help brands build trust and earn loyal followings
• Jake’s long-term goal is for his curated list to become obsolete—because American-made becomes the norm

Links:

• Southland Heritage – Welcome to Southland Heritage, the ultimate destination for Made in USA clothing and gear. 
• American Woolen Company – 100% American Wool. More than the fine worsted and luxurious woolen fabric we produce, we’re creating America’s first wool textile/apparel ecosystem.
• Bison Coolers – USA Made Roto-molded Coolers by Bison
• Northwest Alpine – Made in USA. Technical Alpine and Climbing Apparel Designed and Responsibly Manufactured in Salem, Oregon.
• allamerican.org – Support American Manufacturing: Investigative research, news, and advocacy work to support companies made in the USA, have an open dialogue, and drive American manufacturing forward.
• Made Index – a growing selection of American-made goods