He served three tours of duty — two in Japan and one in Iraq. He was wounded in Iraq and received a Purple Heart.

    He’s proud of his service and proud of his country.

    After he was discharged, Carson launched American Built apparel, an LLC headquartered in Pocatello. It’s trademark is registered under a parent company — T-Shirt Mafia.

    The company’s slogan is, “Be proud of what you wear, be proud of where you’re from.”

    But Carson recently learned that T-shirts infringing his trademark, and produced in Central America, are being sold at Wal-Mart stores throughout the country.

    The knock-off T-shirts sell for about $5 each.

    Carson’s products bear a distinct letter “A” encircled by 13 stars, and he wants consumers to know the difference.

    “When you see our trademark you know you are buying a product made in America and sold by a veteran-owned business,” Carson said.

    American Built Apparel is sold online at americanbuiltusa.com and at Pocatello Cycle on Yellowstone Avenue. Carson also sold his brand of apparel during July Fourth events in Pocatello, Idaho Falls and Boise.

The prices on his website generally run from $21.99 to $27.99 for men’s and women’s shirts, and $16.99 for kids’ shirts. He also offers long-sleeved shirts, hats, decals and other items.

    The knock-off T-shirts supplied to Wal-Mart by California-based Hybrid Apparel were made in Honduras and Nicaragua.

    To avoid a lengthy and costly process, Carson struck a settlement with  Hybrid Apparel to stop the trademark infringement. He would not release the settlement terms. But he said almost 88,000 T-shirts were distributed nationwide.

    He buys his T-shirts from American Apparel, Royal Apparel and Bayside, and said the shirts are made in America from American-grown cotton.

    He contracts with local companies that use American built equipment and supplies.

    “It’s very frustrating,” Carson said. “We have a registered trademark, and we take great pride in selling American-made products.”

    Carson urged buyers to check labels and buy American products.

    “It supports local people and local jobs,” Carson said. “It’s good for Pocatello.”

Source: idahostatejournal.com