While manufacturing has largely migrated from the United States to overseas over the past several decades, one Northeast Philadelphia-based production company wants to ensure U.S. manufacturing isn’t completely wiped away, writes Sarah Jones for Newsbreak.

Cindy DiPietrantonio is the CEO of Boathouse Sports in Northeast Philadelphia and has had many skeptics disregard the company’s onshoring story. 

“People say you’re crazy, because you’re never going to be able to grow this business,” she said.

Her confidence in the endeavor can be credited to an earlier portion of her career when she was the chief operating officer at Jones Group.

There, she experienced firsthand the shift from domestic to overseas production. 

Since joining Boathouse Sports amid the pandemic, she has expanded the brand from school and university sports apparel to e-commerce and brick-and-mortar sales, collaboration, and licensing. 

For DiPietrantonio, manufacturing can unlock opportunities for support.

“I’m absolutely convinced the stronger the community is, is where you’re going to affect change,” she said. 

With the biggest challenge in the U.S. being labor, DiPietrantonio is planning to partner with a technical school to provide education in areas like pattern making, and work with immigration to bring more skilled workers to the country and improve U.S.-based manufacturing.

Learn more about Cindy DiPietrantonio’s plans for Boathouse Sports in Newsbreak.

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