Buying clothing from veteran-owned companies offers a meaningful way to enhance your wardrobe while making a positive impact. These businesses, founded and operated by former military service members, combine military-inspired designs with high-quality craftsmanship learned through service.
This initiative has become a powerful movement to help grow small businesses, create employment opportunities for former service members, and encourage veteran entrepreneurs. It’s a way for consumers to get the clothing they want while sharing their values and support for those who’ve fought to protect their rights.
Patriotic Pride in Every Purchase
When you buy apparel from a veteran-owned business, you're not just showing off your style but making a statement that you support America’s heroes. Every purchase benefits a veteran in some capacity. With each purchase, you’re honoring those who put their lives on the line to protect the United States, showing your patriotic spirit.
High-Quality Apparel That Reflects Discipline
The military instills values of attention to detail, precision, and high standards in those who serve. When you shop clothes from a veteran’s business, you will see high-quality pieces reflecting the discipline they developed during their service.
With these values in mind, you’ll shop for durable, comfortable, high-quality clothes. Purchasing higher-quality clothes is a great way to save money in the long run since you won’t need to replace a product as frequently.
Direct Support for Veteran Entrepreneurs
Many veterans struggle with their career path after retiring from service. By shopping at veteran-owned businesses, you’re directly supporting a veteran's transition from the military to business ownership.
Every recurring or deferred purchase from a veteran-owned business helps them build a sustainable career outside of the military and find financial independence.
Building a Stronger Veteran Community
Leaving military service and transitioning to civilian life can be challenging for veterans and their family members. Veteran-owned clothing businesses provide former service members with an income, build a safe place for the community, and help create a network for other veterans and their loved ones.
Many ex-service entrepreneurs focus on training and hiring other veterans or their family members to help create a safe place for men and women who served their nation. The ripple effect of you purchasing clothing from their business to them hiring fellow veterans strengthens the community by offering emotional and economic support.
Ethical Production Practices and American Manufacturing
While not always the case, most veterans-owned businesses prioritize manufacturers that produce their clothing in America. Many want to show their commitment to American industry and assist workers domestically. If you love buying products manufactured in the United States, that’s another reason to visit veteran-owned clothing stores.
Many former service members are committed to the domestic industry and adopt sustainable and ethical environmental practices. By working with manufacturers locally or within the country’s borders, they reduce their carbon footprint and overall environmental impact. This mission reflects their love and support of American values.
Unique Designs That Tell a Story
When many former military members open a clothing business, their pieces often tell a story. These items are usually inspired by their military service, experiences during missions, and more.
These aesthetically pleasing designs incorporate symbols and references that resonate with other veterans and those who love their country, strengthening the connection between the brand and customers.
Supporting Charitable Causes through Your Wardrobe
Many veteran-owned clothing companies maintain strong ties to active and retired military personnel and their loved ones. They often donate a portion of their profits to various veteran-supporting charities.
Even if the charity they’re supporting isn’t strictly for veterans and their families, you can feel good knowing you’re purchasing from a company that supports different charitable organizations.
Creating a Legacy of Service Beyond the Battlefield
Veteran-owned clothing businesses represent continued service in civilian life. These entrepreneurs channel their leadership skills and dedication into success by hiring fellow veterans, military family members, and retired first responders.
They create a legacy within their community that will last a lifetime. When you shop for their new releases or even older apparel, you’re helping them build this legacy from the ground up, which is something you can feel proud of.
Inspiring Patriotism in Everyday Fashion
If you love your country and want to share that pride with everyone you meet, wearing gear designed and sold by America's heroes is a dedicated way to inspire patriotism. Each time you wear these items, you're showing your love for your nation and inspiring others to express their patriotic spirit, too.
When they ask about your gear, they might discover veteran-owned brands themselves, creating a ripple effect that supports more of our nation's heroes.
The Symbolism Behind Veteran-Owned Brands
The symbolism apparent in clothing stores owned by veterans is rich. From battle-tested mottos to unit insignias, their brand wants any gear they sell to show their pride in their service.
These symbols, which they wear on hoodies, shirts, hats, or other clothing, are created with passion and carry a deep meaning for them and other service members. Though these signs mean something slightly different to everyone, they generally represent the courage, honor, and sacrifice they’ve made for civilian freedom.
Customizable Options Tailored to Military Families
Many of the apparel releases by veterans will have symbols that other service members recognize, but they usually offer customizable options for families, too. Families of service members or service members themselves can often place an order directly with the owner or via email for a specialized piece of clothing that resonates with their experiences.
They can add personalized unit patches, military branch designs, and much more so that you or whoever you’re buying the clothes for will feel personally connected to them. If you want to buy personalized items, check with the business owner to see how much they’ll charge and whether they can create your desired design.
Why Veteran-Owned Apparel Is a Smart Investment
For many reasons, shopping at businesses that former service members own is a great investment. When you do this, you’re shopping for high-quality clothing and gear that won’t fall apart after only a few wears or washes. When you invest in high-quality stock, you’ll be saving money in the long run.
Additionally, most of the prices at veteran-owned businesses are affordable, and you can feel fulfilled knowing the money is going to a great business. Since many of these businesses choose to donate a certain amount of their proceeds, you’re helping them donate to great causes by buying from their company.
Veteran-Owned Apparel for All Occasions
One of the best things about retired service members’ businesses is that you can often find apparel for different events. You'll find what you need, from casual pants, hats, and hoodies to more formal attire for important occasions.
Their ability to create clothing for any occasion showcases their dedication to being a business owner and their ability to cater to people with all types of fashion needs.
How to Find and Support Veteran-Owned Apparel Brands
At Armed American Supply, we take pride in our roots—every single person within our company is either retired law enforcement, veterans, or family members.
If you’re eager to shop from veteran-owned clothing brands, finding them is easier than you might think. With more and more people using the internet and social media, you can type in what you’re searching for and then browse through the brands until you find the one(s) that you want to support.
As you browse the search results, look at the businesses' websites and see if they’re legitimately veteran-owned before buying an item from them. Every time you add an item to the cart, you show your patriotism and encourage retired service members to create a fulfilling life for themselves and build a community.