Book Review of
American Flannel

Lynn's Review

American Flannel by Steven Kurutz was published 2024. It is a nonfiction book about the textile industry. 

American Flannel is the story of the made in American clothing brand American Giant and the overall state of the American textile industry. I love my American Giant sweatshirts. Yes, they are expensive, but they are worth it. 

Did you have a sweatshirt back in the 1990s that you loved? It was thick, but not too thick. It was warm, but not too warm. And after a few washings it had a wonderful lived in look and feel?

Those are the exact reasons that I love my American Giant sweatshirts and t-shirts. 

They have that classic high quality look and feel that is hard to find today. 

They are called American Giant because they are completely made in America. I would rather have a few high quality sweatshirts made in American like American Giant than a whole closet full of inexpensive ones. 

This book combines the story of American Giant along with several other made in American clothing companies. 

I love business stories like the ones shared in American Flannel shares. The companies highlighted in this book are doing what few try to do. They are working hard to keep their company and their jobs based in American.

Overall I liked this book and found the story fascinating. 

It shows how difficult it is in our current times to make things in America. We need more companies to do what American Giant is doing. I thought this book would be mainly about American Giant and they definitely are the main focus, but other companies are mentioned, along with textile companies that have moved their factories from American to overseas. 

However the fact that it skipped around a lot from American Giant to other companies made it not flow as well as I wished it would have. That fact made me like it, but not love it. 

If you love inspiring business stories though I think you will enjoy this one.