Is Prison Blues Made in USA?
Last checked Nov 7, 2026 · 5 verified products · see the evidence
Verdict · checked Nov 1, 2026
Mostly yes
Prison Blues jeans, work shirts and jackets are sewn in Oregon by adults in custody at a state prison factory. The brand says that "In 1989, a 47,000 square foot factory was constructed at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution" and that "For the past thirty-plus years, Prison Blues has manufactured American-made denim products." The prison is in Pendleton, Oregon, and the brand is run by Oregon Corrections Enterprises (OCE). Its double-knee jeans page says they are "Proudly made in America" from 14.5 oz 100% cotton denim, its Hickory work shirt is "Proudly crafted in America," and its Yard Coat is "Proudly assembled with pride in America."
| Product line | Made in | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Work jeans and double-knee jeans | Pendleton, OR (Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution factory) | Made in USA |
| Hickory and work shirts, outerwear | Pendleton, OR (Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution factory) | Made in USA |
| Logo T-shirts and sweatshirts | Not stated by the brand | Origin not stated |
The caveat is the logo apparel. The T-shirt and sweatshirt pages we read carry no origin line, so we cannot say those garments are sewn at the Pendleton factory, and the site does not say where the denim fabric itself is woven.
How we checked: On 2026-11-01 we re-read the homepage, About Us page and the jeans, Hickory and Charcoal work-shirt, Yard Coat, T-shirt and sweatshirt product pages on prisonblues.com, and confirmed the location of Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution.
Sources: Prison Blues: 47,000 sq ft factory at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution · Prison Blues About Us: OCE factory and work programs · Prison Blues Double Knee Jeans: "Proudly made in America" · Prison Blues Hickory work shirt: "Proudly crafted in America" · Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution, Pendleton, Oregon
American Score
Average American Score across 5 listed products. Only products at 70% or higher appear on this site.
Manufacturing Details
- Made in
- Pendleton, OR
- Headquarters
- Salem, OR
- Location detail
- Specific city confirmed
- History
- Long record of US manufacturing
- Founded
- 1989
How we verified Prison Blues
Most recent check: Nov 7, 2026
From the brand's website
US-manufacturing statement found on prisonblues.com · checked Nov 7, 2026
Store listings
We read the live store listing for 5 of the 5 Prison Blues products on this page (most recently Nov 7, 2026). 1 of them states US origin on the listing itself:
Ongoing monitoring
We scan news for factory closures, offshoring and ownership changes. Last scan Oct 31, 2026: no change found.
These checks are run by our software on a schedule: brand websites are re-read about every three weeks, store listings weekly, and news is scanned monthly. Every flag is checked against its original source before anything on this page changes. How the American Score works.
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About Prison Blues
Prison Blues jeans, work shirts and jackets are sewn by adults in custody at an Oregon Corrections Enterprises factory inside Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton, Oregon.
A factory inside a Pendleton prison
In 1989 the State of Oregon set out to create work-skills programs for adults in custody at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton. A 47,000 square foot factory was built there, and the Prison Blues factory began operating. It is run by Oregon Corrections Enterprises (OCE), and the brand's tagline is Made on the Inside to be Worn on the Outside.
Workers go through a selection process modeled on private-sector hiring and are trained by managers with private industry experience. OCE says participants are 56% more likely to keep good conduct while incarcerated and 50% less likely to return to prison. Fabric falloff from cutting is sewn into denim grocery bags and other accessories.
Which pieces carry a US origin line
The double-knee work jeans page says they are made in America from 14.5 oz 100% cotton denim, and the work shirt pages say the shirts are crafted in America. That covers the rigid and double-knee jeans, the hickory stripe button-front and half-zip shirts, and the outerwear.
The brand also sells logo T-shirts and sweatshirts. The pages we read for those carry no origin line, so we cannot say they are sewn in Pendleton. The site also does not say where the denim fabric is woven. If you want a garment sewn at the prison factory, stick to the jeans, work shirts and jackets.
American-Made Prison Blues Products
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Prison Blues made in the USA?
Yes. Prison Blues is made in the United States, with manufacturing in Pendleton, OR. Denim workwear brand manufactured since 1989 at a dedicated 47,000-square-foot factory at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton, OR. Provides work and training opportunities for adults in custody. Website states the brand has manufactured American-made denim products for over thirty years.
Where is Prison Blues made?
Prison Blues is made in Pendleton, OR. The company is headquartered in Salem, OR.
Which Prison Blues products are made in the USA?
The site lists 5 verified American-made Prison Blues products in Clothing & Apparel. Each one links to a store that sells it.
Are Prison Blues jeans really made in prison?
Yes. They are made at a 47,000 square foot garment factory built in 1989 at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton, Oregon, as a work and training program for adults in custody.
Who owns Prison Blues?
Oregon Corrections Enterprises (OCE), which the brand calls its parent company. Prison Blues sells through authorized resellers rather than directly to the public.
Are Prison Blues T-shirts made in the USA?
The brand does not say. Its jeans and work shirts are stated as made in America, but the T-shirt and sweatshirt pages carry no origin line.
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