Made in America furniture movement picking up steam – Indianapolis Star

Memorial Day weekend is a time to wave the flag and remember heroes, decorate grave sites, picnic in the park, sing “Back Home Again in Indiana” to start the Indianapolis 500 and revel in all things American.

This is a year when Made in America furnishings continue to set the pace.

It started out as a patriotic sentiment with stars and stripes and Americana motifs. But Made in America furniture turns out to be more than red-white-and-blue and flag-waving. Made in America is about prestige, not just among Americans, but internationally.

Karen Olson, vice president of marketing for International Market Centers at High Point, N.C., explained it this way:

“Not only are we seeing domestic buyers, but a lot of international buyers are coming in. They want the prestige and the quality of American goods right now. It’s a huge trend for our industry.”

A new Made in America furniture pavilion was launched at High Point last fall during the twice-a-year High Point Market. In April, the space more than doubled in size.

The pavilion featured more than four dozen furniture manufacturers; even more North American furniture makers showed in the general exhibit areas. Styles ranged from heavily oak Amish and rustic bent-hickory Flat Rock Furniture to hand-painted Habersham and fine Leathercraft upholstery.

U.S. furniture manufacturing is enjoying a resurgence after years of production being moved offshore, especially to China and other Asian countries.

In April, for instance, Ashley Furniture announced plans for a large state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in North Carolina. The No. 1-selling furniture brand in North America, Ashley is headquartered in Arcadia, Wis., and once had a branch in Goshen, Ind. But today much of the furniture is made offshore.

Ron Wanek, chairman of Ashley Furniture, called the new American plant “a huge investment” and “a huge risk.”

The manufacturing and distribution center is being built in a former R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. plant.

It’s part of a return of furniture manufacturing to this country and a reinvestment in American workers.

Other companies have repatriated production to North America, including Stanley Furniture and Foliot, a Canadian furniture giant that opened a large plant in Las Vegas.

Upholstered furniture in the new Martha Stewart Fine Furniture collection introduced in April is made in America by Miles Talbott furniture. And wood furniture in the new collection is from Lefa, a Pennsylvania company, and made in Colombia.

Made in America is evolving and inclusive from North to South America.