Made In The USA: Alial Fital

This one came to me via the recommendation of John Marks, whom we all know from The Tannhauser Gate. Gibran Hamdan, born in San Diego to Pakistani and Palestinian parents, was drafted by the Redskins and bounced around between teams, never accumulating any significant playing time and finally retiring in 2010, seven years after he was drafted.

Naturally, given all his newly found free time, he started sewing shirts at home.

I'm dead serious --- that's the story. Using his various family connections, Gibran started small-scale shirt production in the United States. His brand, named Alial Fital after his parents' names spelled backwards (I'm dead serious about this as well), does limited-edition polo shirts that are suitable for work or golf. Naturally, I had to try a couple. The first one that arrived, a "Starlight" model, is considerably better-made than the run of the mill Ralph Lauren or Peruvian Lacoste polo shirt. I really dig it. I haven't worn it anywhere yet, because I'm still trying to get rid of the twenty pounds I gained after I broke my leg, but come this summer I expect to be sporting a bunch of Alial Fital shirts to work.

I think what cinched it for me was the photo that accompanies the receipt:

There are a lot of photos on the site featuring Gibran with his wife and son. I'm a sucker for that traditional-American-family business. I won't bother to ruminate on the fact that so many "American" executives have made their fortunes shipping jobs overseas for a single-quarter financial gain while this son of immigrant parents busts his ass to make shirts right here in the United States. All I can say is that our country is better off for people like him.

If you want to save $20 an on Alial Fital order, you can use my referral link. I'll get $10 store credit if you do, which frankly will only encourage me to spend money I don't have on shirts. So if you hate me, click that link and get yourself a real American-made golf or work shirt!