This is the story we’ve been wanting to tell — the real voices and hands behind the Supima cotton that touch our products and, in turn, your lives.

Supima cotton has long been the heart of our tee collection — a locally grown, fine-staple cotton that makes up less than 1% of the world’s cotton. Yet, for years, much of this beautiful fiber had to leave our shores to be spun overseas, only to return as yarn for us to knit here in Los Angeles. It never felt quite right.

David spent years reaching out to local knitters and spinners, determined to create something truly homegrown — a 100% Made in USA cotton story. Grown, spun, knit, sewn, dyed, and packaged right here. A small but powerful act of reimagining local craft and industry.

Then came a twist — the North Carolina spinner we partnered with was damaged and forced to close after last year’s floods. So, as we sell through the remaining stock of domestically spun Supima, we find ourselves back at the drawing board — still hopeful, still searching.

For now, these tees hold that full-circle story — 100% made in the USA, from seed to stitch. Once they’re gone, they’ll become part of a chapter we’re still working to continue.

 

In this blog, we sit down with Farmer Jake Cauzza of Cauzza Growers in Buttonwillow, California, and Carlos Ortis from Shai-Tex USA, one of our knitting partners. We talked about their roots, their philosophies as small businesses, and how they help brands like ours keep making thoughtful, high-quality products.

The conversations are honest and unpolished — real people speaking from the heart about their work, their challenges, and their hopes for the future. No gloss, no script — just genuine dialogue about what it means to make things with care. Though our industries differ, we found a common thread woven through every story: passion, perseverance, and hope.  It is a labor of Love.

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A Conversation with Farmer Jake Cauzza — Cauzza Growers, Buttonwillow, CA

Jake Cauzza is a fourth-generation farmer from Buttonwillow, California. His family has worked the same land since the 1920s, when his great-grandfather immigrated from northern Italy and Switzerland and began growing cotton in the early 1930s. By 1937, they helped establish a local co-op gin — one still in use today.

Alongside his brothers Matt and Luke, Jake runs Cauzza Growers, a diversified operation growing a dozen crops — from cotton and almonds to onions and wheat. Their approach to farming is rooted in stewardship: composting, cover cropping, and minimal tilling to build soil health and ensure sustainability for generations to come. “Soil,” Jake says, “is the lifeblood of the farm.”

Supima cotton remains their pride — a soft, strong, luxurious fiber grown responsibly in California’s Central Valley. While rising costs have reduced how much they can grow, Jake stands by its unmatched quality and the values it represents: integrity, transparency, and care for both people and land.

He speaks openly about the realities of modern farming — water scarcity, labor laws, and rising costs — yet what stands out most is his optimism. The Cauzza brothers invest in technology, adapt to change, and keep their hearts rooted in family tradition.

For Jake, farming isn’t just work. It’s a legacy — a daily act of care for the earth and a promise to those who will inherit it.

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A Conversation with Knitter Carlos Ortis — Shai-Tex, Inc, Lynnwood, CA

Carlos Ortiz’s story is one of quiet determination, hard work, and heart. He came to the United States at fifteen and found his way into the textile world — starting at the very bottom, learning each step of the process with patience and pride. Over time, he became a technician, then a manager, and in 2016, after seventeen years of dedication, he was given the chance to buy the knitting mill where he had spent half his life. He took the leap, investing his savings, and began running the company on his own.

Today, Carlos runs a 35,000-square-foot knitting facility in Lynwood, California, home to 55 circular knitting machines and a small, skilled team who have become like family. Together, they create an array of fabrics — from soft jerseys to loop terry and thermals — for brands that believe in making things locally, the right way. Every roll of fabric that leaves the mill carries the imprint of their hands, their care, and their shared pride in the craft.

The last few years have not been easy. Rising tariffs, higher costs for yarn, wages, rent, and electricity have made it increasingly difficult to keep the business running. Yarn that once cost $1.60 now costs over $2.00 a pound; rent has more than doubled. Many clients turn to cheaper overseas options — but Carlos believes deeply in the value of keeping production here. “If something goes wrong, we can fix it right away,” he says. “We take care of our customers, our people, and our quality.”

His team — many of them immigrants — face their own challenges, but Carlos leads with compassion and integrity. He insists on doing everything the right way: legally, ethically, and with respect for the people who make the work possible.

For Carlos, knitting is more than business. It’s a legacy of labor, skill, and love — a living testament to what it means to create something lasting with your hands. “I feel proud,” he says softly, “to be part of the garments that people wear every day — made here, by us.”

Still and Moving Images | Alek Parker

Farm images | courtesy of Supima

Creative Director | David Mullen

Music credit: Not Long Now by Falconer

Special thanks to Jake Cauzza and Carlos Ortis.

© Save Khaki United 2025