Something recently came up for which I need to buy an entirely new outfit. I really hate shopping for many reasons, it's boring, expensive, salespeople drive me crazy, it's the antithesis of living simply, etc. I would be much happier if I did not have to buy an outfit, but I do need to be taken seriously, and I don't think my Finding Nemo t-shirt or my knee high socks will quite do the trick.
What troubles me even more about shopping is the fact that virtually everything is sewn with the blood, sweat and tears of abused children and women. Shopping pretty much ensures the slave trade will continue.
I decided that I would be willing to spend the big bucks to find something made by someone who was paid a fair wage and was not beaten. The problem is finding said goods. Other than Ten Thousand Villages, which does not sell clothing, I really don't know what to do. I've been doing some research, which has been informative, but also very discouraging.
It is pretty commonly believed that buying something made in the USA/Canada is safe, but that is not the case. There are sweat shops in the US, especially in US commonwealth states like Saipan and the Mariana islands. It seems like there is no such thing as clothes not made by slaves, unless you plant and pick your own cotton, make it into thread, weave fabric and sew it yourself. The majority of which I cannot do. If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them.
I encourage you to check out the following articles, hopefully they open your eyes like they did mine.
-Slaves used to make clothes for Sears and JC Penny
-Revealed: Topshop clothes made with slave labour
-Paradise Lost (for an abbreviated article click here)
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Hmmm...
at 9:35 AM
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2 comments:
you might check the Saskatchewan Federation of Labor (SFL)website or Canadian Labor Congress site for a list of places where Canadian made clothing is sold, because sweatshop labor is a major concern with organized labor. Hopefully, one day people who buy goods made with child and sweatshop labor will realize that the argument "it's more than they would have if the factories didn't hire them" is totally wrong.
Aunt Sharon
or instead of buying new clothes where the money gets disbursed into places where you have no idea what's going on, buy recycled clothing at the local Salvation Army Thrift store, or at the very least Value Village. That way there's at least a chance that the money you spend will go to work in the community you live in, and you'll save a few bucks too. Jenn recently went shopping for Grayson, came home with 4 outfits, and paid $12. All of it went into Community and Family Services work in GP.
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