Who Makes The Clothes On Your Back?

Picture this: It's 1987, and legendary comedian Bob Hope appears on the television, flashing a "Made in the U.S.A." tag on the inside of his jacket lapel. Hope says to the viewer, "Always look for the 'Made in the U.S.A.' label. It matters so much because of what it really stands for."

Twenty years later, the concept of buying clothes mass-produced in the U.S. seems foreign at best. While the odd locally designed item made of organically grown U.S. cotton might have its appeal, most consumers have accepted the fact that our clothes were produced somewhere else--typically, in China.

In Pictures: Who Makes The Clothes On Your Back

Lingerie

Imports in 2006: $5.4 billion

Major Manufacturing Center: Colombo, Sri Lanka

MAS Holdings, an apparel manufacturer based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, produces intimates for big names like Victoria's Secret, Gap and U.K.-based Marks & Spencer.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division

Hosiery and Socks

Imports in 2006: $1.5 billion

Major Manufacturing Center: Datang Town, China

If you're wearing a pair of tights or running socks right now, chances are they were produced in the center of Zhuji, or Datang, in China. Better known as Sock City, the town comprises over 1,500 wholesale shops offering raw materials, socks, stockings and related machines and parts. According to the Chinese government, Datang produces 3 billion pairs of socks per year.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division