If you’ve picked up a BulletSafe bulletproof vest and noticed a “Made in China” label, you’re probably asking a fair question: How can I trust this if it’s made overseas?
Let’s address that directly: the ballistic armor that protects your life is made in the USA.
Only the carrier—the outer fabric layer—is sourced from overseas. That tag doesn’t tell the full story.
Every BulletSafe vest consists of both the ballistic panel that actually stops bullets and the outer fabric shell that holds the panel in place.
The carrier is made in China, and that’s what the tag refers to. But the ballistic panel is designed, manufactured, and NIJ-certified in the United States.
Born from American Ingenuity
BulletSafe wasn’t launched by a branding agency or foreign manufacturer. It was started by an American engineer named Tom Nardone, whose background was in testing real-world safety systems, including body armor.
In the 1990s, Tom worked for Sikorsky, the helicopter company. One day, he tested a new kind of bulletproof fuel tank liner, not made from Kevlar®, but from Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). Unlike Kevlar, which is expensive and proprietary, PE is widely available and 70% cheaper but just as effective.
The material passed with flying colors. That sparked a new idea: make bulletproof vests affordable for regular people.
Tom designed his own vest, focused on cost, performance, and practicality. BulletSafe’s vests today are some of the few on the market with an NIJ rating sent them to the NIJ’s own lab for full testing and earned NIJ certification. That certification is the gold standard.
Why the Carrier Is Made Overseas
BulletSafe’s main goal has always been to get our vests into the hands of the common man, hence our historically low price points. Our company exists to save lives, not to sell overpriced tactical fashion.
Sourcing the non-ballistic carrier from overseas cuts costs while keeping the price low for law enforcement, security professionals, and citizens who need protection. The armor itself—the part that stops the bullet—is still made here in the USA.
Why the Tag Says “Made in China”
U.S. labeling laws require that the country of origin reflect the outermost manufactured component. Since the carrier is made in China, the vest legally has to display “Made in China,” even though the actual ballistic protection is American-made.
If you want proof, it’s there.
If you remove the outer carrier and look directly at the armor panel inside, you’ll find it clearly labeled:
“Made in the USA.”
It’s printed right on the armor itself.
Because that’s where your protection lives—and that’s where we’ve never cut corners.
To buy BulletSafe vests like the new VP4, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why does the BulletSafe bulletproof vest have a 'Made in China' label?
The label refers to the outer fabric carrier, not the ballistic armor itself. The carrier is sourced from overseas to keep costs low.
2. Is the ballistic armor in BulletSafe vests made in the USA?
Yes, the ballistic panel that actually stops bullets is designed, manufactured, and NIJ-certified in the United States.
3. How can I verify the origin of the ballistic protection?
If you remove the outer carrier, the armor panel inside is clearly labeled 'Made in the USA.'
4. Why does the tag legally have to say 'Made in China'?
U.S. labeling laws require that the country of origin reflect the outermost manufactured component, which in this case is the carrier from China.
5. Who started BulletSafe and why?
BulletSafe was started by American engineer Tom Nardone, who aimed to make affordable bulletproof vests accessible to regular people without compromising on quality.