Capretti is the latest upper-end crib maker to pull out of China and move production to the US, the company has announced.

Joining other upper-end crib makers as Echelon (part of Munire) and Young America by Stanley, Capretti said the decision to switch to made in the USA furniture production was multi-fold. Rising cost of imports (materials, shipping and labor) plus problems with coordinating shipments (dock strikes, for example) convinced Capretti to switch production for its upper-end cribs and nursery furniture.

Starting in January, Capretti will move all its production to an Amish furniture maker in the Midwest. The company will launch domestic production with six collections, including four carry-overs from their current line (Toscana, Umbria, Milano and Venetto) and two new collections (Bellissimo and Liscio).

The new domestic Capretti will include solid maple wood construction (no MDF) and high-end drawer glides from Blum (Blumotion) that are under-mount and self-closing. Photos of the new collections will debut on Capretti’s web site in January (the site is under construction as of press time).

Prices are going up—cribs will now be $1300 to $1400; a double dresser will be $1400 to $1500. Conversion kits, which were previously included with cribs, will now be separate accessories. There will be eight standard finishes, with custom finishes available as well. Delivery will be eight weights for standard finishes; 10 weeks for custom.

That’s probably the key advantage for domestic production—imported furniture can take 12-16 weeks for delivery (and that doesn’t include shipping issues like the recent dock strikes).

Left unsaid in the move is Asia’s image problem—after the lead paint toy scare a few years back, many consumers started looking for furniture not made in China. That led to the rise of crib makers like Romina (which makes its furniture in Romania) as well as the switch of other companies like Young America from Asian production to domestic sources. Romina is probably the most successful upper-end crib company today, despite their prices for cribs that top $1000. In a nod to Asian quality concerns, Capretti made a point of noting their new finishes, made by Valspar and “scratch resistant”, are compliant with strict new federal guidelines for surface coatings for toys and other items intended for use by children .

Asia will probably maintain its dominance in the low to middle price crib market. But increasingly at the high end, it looks like more cribs will be sporting a Made in the USA label for 2013.