HIGH POINT, N.C. -- President Bush famously asked us to shop after the 9/11 attacks. He wanted to show the evildoers that the fuel that feeds capitalism-consumerism was as abundant as sand in the desert and that Americans could not be deterred from their favorite pastime. Shopping might not be everyone's idea of patriotism, but if you are buying things made in the USA, you could be helping to strengthen this anemic economy.

The furniture industry saw those sands shifting more than a decade ago as cheap overseas labor and other factors threatened to turn "Made in America" into an endangered species. Maintaining designers, factories and a skilled workforce became a point of pride for some companies. At the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C., in October, American-made products had a strong showing of new introductions.

Dallas-based American Leather is as red, white and blue as cowboys and cookouts. Founded in 1990, American Leather catered to consumers by offering an extensive selection of styles, colors and frames. The computerized factory contributes to the flexibility consumers enjoy with these products, making the turnaround time exceptionally quick. The company can produce and ship in 21 days. Sofas, love seats, sectionals, recliners and more are made to order in every leather grade and in non-leather fabrics as well. The company recently acquired John Charles Designs, expanding its fabric offerings. American Leather, which has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the country, makes exclusive designs for Crate & Barrel, Room & Board, Macy's and others. They are sold through retail stores, including Perlora Leather in the Strip District.

Harden Furniture Co. has deep roots in McConnellsville, N.Y. With more than 10,000 acres of managed forest, it understood the importance of maintaining a renewable resource and has been a green operation by that definition since it began in 1844. Company president Greg Harden is the fifth generation of Hardens to run the company, and he is proud of that heritage.

"In my opinion the country is beginning to pay a price for 'hollowing out' the economy by allowing so much manufacturing to migrate off shore," he said, noting that Harden manufactures 96 percent of its product domestically.

"We are considering abandoning all offshore vendors since we only use them for things we don't produce here," he said. "We need manufacturing jobs so Americans can earn a living and support the economy and reduce reliance on borrowing money that they cannot pay back."

He believes that maintaining a skilled workforce at Harden is critical to its continuing success. "Domestic manufacturing has some important advantages over foreign producers because we ship custom-finished goods in 30 days, and our quality is 100 percent dependable." He quoted his grandfather: "We are not the best because we are the oldest. We are the oldest because we have been the best."

C.R. Laine, a North Carolina-based company, started out in 1958 making goose neck rockers and grew into a successful upholstery maker. The cash flow is not the only thing green about this company -- its environmental practices are as green as an organic cabbage patch. It was the first upholstery company to achieve sustainable by design certification. The frames are made from sustainable hardwoods, and the construction process emits no volatile organic compounds. Even the springs are formed from 50 percent recycled metal.

"At C.R. Laine, our upholstery is not mass-produced. Each item is handcrafted to the consumer's specifications one at a time," said company COO Warren Frye.

Customers can choose from more then 1,000 frame styles and nearly 1,000 fabric choices. "The possibilities are endless and require the execution of well-seasoned artisans," he said. "All the craftsmen at the company have specialized skills that have been honed over years of mastering."

Kindel Furniture Co. began in 1904 as a bedding manufacturer. Since 1912, the company has been in Grand Rapids, Mich. The tradition of hand-carving and bench assembly continues there today. The company employs more than 100 hand-carvers and furniture decorators, and it makes furniture based on designs from Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, and produces Dorothy Draper-designed furniture, including her famous Bunching Chests. The company has a unique program called ReNew, in which it offers to refurbish any of the pieces of Kindel furniture made over the past century.

Hickory Chair, another North Carolina-based company, has built its reputation on extreme customizing. Personalization has been the mantra of the company, giving customers a lot of room to play. Finishes, shapes, hand-painted designs are all possible because almost all of its products are made in America. The company has introduced "Made to Measure" wood products, including side tables, dining tables, consoles and more. The company, which is almost 100 years old, is best known for its historically inspired pieces, but in recent years it has hit a home run with designer lines by Thomas O'Brien, Alexa Hampton, Mariette Himes Gomez and others.