Where are the backpacks of JanSport manufactured?

Many people have heard of the brand Jansport. Yes, it is a very well-known company and a leading brand in the backpack industry. A good backpack not only requires good marketing and good design, but also needs a good manufacturing factory. So we would be curious: Where are Jansport’s backpacks manufactured?

1.The manufacturing base and history of the JanSport brand

The brand JanSport has been around since 1967. It’s an authentic American product. From the very beginning until the early 1990s, JanSport’s backpacks were all made in the United States. The quality was excellent and extremely durable. They still used the Cordura fabric produced in Kansas, and even offered a rare lifetime warranty in the industry. However, since 1986 when it was bought by the clothing giant VF Corporation, JanSport began to outsource production globally. It aimed to save costs in the global competition and expand its scale.

Now, JanSport’s factories are spread all over the world, with Asia being the key focus, and Africa as well. The main production areas include China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lesotho and Thailand. VF Corporation has expanded in this way to make the supply chain more resilient and less vulnerable to any geopolitical or economic fluctuations.

It is particularly worth mentioning Lesotho in Africa. This place exemplifies VF’s “cross-continental supply chain hedging” strategy in the production of backpacks and clothing. Lesotho is a beneficiary of the US Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). By producing here, goods can enjoy tariff preferences when entering the US market, thus reducing reliance on Asia and mitigating the tariff risks brought about by the Sino-US trade war.

China’s role is also changing. Previously, China was the main production base for JanSport. But now, with higher labor costs and higher tariffs, there may be fewer final assembly operations. However, China’s supply chain is strong. It remains the main source of raw materials and components, and its position is still very important. VF now regards China as a secondary support hub. It provides materials and components with its efficiency and technology; then uses the low-cost labor in Southeast Asia (such as Vietnam and Cambodia) for large-scale assembly.

2. Economic and political reasons for the selection of manufacturing location

A.Labor Cost Arbitrage

The clothing and backpack manufacturing industry is a typical labor-intensive industry, so labor costs are one of the most crucial elements to be considered in cross-border procurement. VF Corporation’s supply chain transfer strategy is based on detailed arbitrage considering the differences in labor costs in the Asian region as per research.

1.The increase in manufacturing costs in China and the relocation of industries

Over the past decade, in places like Shanghai and Beijing in China, factory wages have increased significantly. From around 2010 to 2024, they have roughly doubled. Currently, the average monthly salary for workers in clothing factories is around $500 to $650, which translates to approximately $6.5 per hour. Although the supply chain and raw materials in China are very good, wages have continued to rise. For mass-market brands like JanSport, engaging in large-scale low-quality assembly is not cost-effective. Therefore, they choose to manufacture higher-quality products in China rather than produce large quantities of relatively low-quality products.

2. The low-cost advantages and scale strategy in Southeast Asia

Compared to China, countries like Vietnam and Cambodia in Southeast Asia have extremely low labor costs. Many labor-intensive industries have moved there.

Just take wages as an example. The monthly salary of garment workers in Vietnam and Cambodia is much lower than that in China. For instance, the minimum wage in Cambodia in 2025 is only 208 US dollars per month, while in Vietnam, the hourly labor cost is approximately 3 US dollars. Based on these calculations, hiring a worker in Southeast Asia only costs around 200 US dollars per month. This saves a lot of money compared to China (about 300-450 US dollars per worker per month).

VF Company is very good at doing the math. They specifically collaborate with large factories in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia for mass production. These factories usually have over 1,000 workers. As a result, VF can fully utilize the low-cost advantage of Southeast Asia through large-scale production.

B. Risk Mitigation Based on Geographical Location and Trade Policy Advantages

Against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions, the issue of site selection has placed risk aversion and the advantages of trade policies on an equal footing with cost considerations.

1.The issue of the China-US trade war

The Sino-US trade war has caused great trouble for American importers. For instance, when importing Chinese backpacks, they have to pay a tariff of 34% to 36%. This cost is simply not worth it! This tariff has directly wiped out their profits, so major companies like VF have reorganized their production chains.

Moving the production of backpacks from China to Vietnam and Cambodia was mainly done to save on tariffs. The money saved was even more than the cost reduction in labor expenses. Therefore, JanSport was able to gain a greater price advantage in the market. This can also be regarded as responding to the US government’s call for “lowering risks”. However, some excellent Chinese suppliers, through this transshipment method, not only avoided the high punitive tariffs but also maintained high-quality manufacturing standards.

2. Competitive Advantage Resulting from Trade Agreements

Vietnam has become the top choice for VF due to its extensive trade agreements.

• EVFTA：The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) came into effect in 2020.This agreement enables Vietnamese-made bags and clothes to gradually achieve zero tariffs and enter the EU market. Because the global sales layout of VF’s brands enables them to manufacture products for the European market under the framework of the EVFTA, this is indeed a key factor in ensuring market competition.
• AGOA：By establishing production facilities in Lesotho, VF took advantage of the duty-free treatment offered under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), providing additional supply chain protection for the US market and reducing excessive reliance on a single region in Asia.

3.Raw materials and supply chain issues

Due to policy issues, Vietnam and Cambodia have cost and tariff advantages in Tier 1 assembly. However, their supply chain maturity is far inferior to that of China. For instance, the garment industry in Cambodia heavily relies on Chinese imports for raw materials and supply chain partners, and the same issue exists in Vietnam.

3.Recommended high-quality backpack manufacturers in Southeast Asia region

If you want to enhance your supply chain, learn from VF Group’s approach of in-depth cooperation. When choosing a contract manufacturer, consider the following factors: international certifications, production capacity, and technology.
Key points of the investigation:
A. Vietnam and Surrounding Areas: Affordable prices, easy access to the US market.
Cost-saving and tax avoidance: Low labor costs, can avoid tariffs when exporting to the US, and has a competitive retail price.
Experienced: Have been in the textile and bag manufacturing industry for decades, with high-quality products. Close to China, convenient for purchasing textiles and hardware.
Flexible enough: Can produce both mass-market and mid-to-high-end outdoor equipment.
B. China: High-quality products still rely on China.
Supply chain is complete and efficient: raw materials, components, talents, technologies – everything is available. High efficiency, stable quality, quick launch. For complex products or those requiring rapid updates, the advantages are obvious.
Technology and innovation: In terms of product development and automation, Chinese contract manufacturers have leading technologies.
Capacity stability: For large orders and long-term cooperation, Chinese manufacturers are reliable.
Tax avoidance strategy: Some large Chinese companies set up factories in Southeast Asia (the “China + 1” strategy). They can choose such suppliers, carry out high-tech production in China, and assemble in Vietnam, thus achieving reasonable tax avoidance (provided it complies with the origin regulations of the US customs).

4. Recommended List of Manufacturers and Analysis

The manufacturers recommended below all have international certifications and large-scale production capabilities, and are engaged in the production of high-quality backpacks for brands such as JanSport.

1. Senrong Bag：Senrong Bags is a valuable OEM/ODM manufacturer. Its advantage lies in having large production bases in both China and Vietnam, allowing for flexible adjustment of production capacity. It has over 500 employees and has rich experience in manufacturing for brands such as Nike and Adidas. It is technologically reliable in the fields of sports and outdoor bags. The factory of Senrong Bags has obtained ISO 9001 quality certification, Sedex and BSCI certifications, as well as audits from companies like Coca-Cola, Disney, and Walmart. It is a partner that can meet strict requirements.

1. SenHan Bag：Shanhan Bags is an OEM/ODM manufacturer based in Guangzhou, specializing in mid-to-high-end functional backpacks and travel bags. Its advantage lies in leveraging the technology and supply chain of its Guangzhou headquarters, combined with the production cooperation network in Southeast Asia, to offer a “Chinese technology + regional manufacturing” tariff and production capacity solution.It uses environmentally friendly materials and processes that comply with European standards to meet the environmental requirements of global brands. And it has obtained ISO 9001 quality management certification, Sedex and BSCI social responsibility certifications. It is an ideal partner for multinational companies that prioritize quality, compliance and sustainability.