U.S. Made State Flags Actually Made in China?

[flaglover1994]

Hello,

I have been ordering state flags from many different flag companies in the U.S.A. Every time I order from a dealer who sells different brands of state flags, their state flag design looks similiar. For example, this is the design Valley Forge, Flagsource, and many different flag manufacturers use for their Illinois nylon flags (my home state).

ILLINOIS.jpg

When I was out on the town today, I saw an Illinois state flag flying upside down with what it appears to be Eder Flag's made in the USA tag:

SAM_0012.jpg

Is this the trend nowadays? Are the U.S. flag manufacturers lying to us about American jobs? Every flag manufacturer uses a similiar design to manufacture their state flag which concerns me. If they are screen printing their flags using Chinese child labor, this is a disgrace. Could somebody shed some light on this subject?

Note: I hope the images are a little bit large to see because every time I try to resize them, it won't get any bigger. My apologies in advance.

[NAVA1974]

"I have been ordering state flags from many different flag companies in the U.S.A. Every time I order from a dealer who sells different brands of state flags, their state flag design looks similiar."

I'm not sure I see reason for confusion. The whole point of standard designs for flags is so that they will all look alike. Back in the old days where heraldry was more important than vexillology, anyone could interpret the blazon of arms the way they wished, and artistic variations were expected. Now most states have a standard illlustration that they want flagmakers to follow.

And in my experience, "Made in USA" means the whole flag is printed, sewn, screened, whatever, right here in the US. There was a Chinese flag maker who once approached US flagmakers with the proposition to sell them cheaply printed flags, and labels that said "MADE IN USA" - As long as the Chinese made labels were sewn onto the Chinese made flags, the flags were "MADE IN USA."

No one saluted when he raised that idea up the flagpole.

Nick A
Columbia Maryland

[flaglover1994]

My point is that many flagmakers used to have their own designs on 3' x 5' flags, but now they use the same design for these sizes. The exception for this are state flags 4' x 6' and larger. Manufacturers such as Annin and Flagzone use their own designs for their 3' x 5' state flags. But other flag manufacturers such as Eder Flag, Flagsource, and C.F. Flag uses a similiar design for that state for that 3' x 5' state flag, however, they use their own designs for their flags 4' x 6' and larger. I'm not sure if you notice that, but it's strange.

[csaanv]

Hi flaglover1994,
Your photo was plenty big when you click on it. Could you post some examples of your flags that follow the same design? I am not sure I totally follow you. Sorry, I am a visual type person.
Cheers,
mike

[ColonialFlagPoles]

We make our flags here in the united states, at home base, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

commercial flag poles

[futuremason4301]

I have seen the same thing...I am a MD resident, bought a 2'x3' flag and the box and tag stated made in USA however the grommets were stitched on the wrong side of the flag, hence the flag would fly upside down...I also know that if one does not have knowledge of the proper orientation of the MD flag that there can be mistakes.