I do think about this, but find that I never act on those thoughts like I know I should.

I always check labels and its always my love for the garment that overrides my dismay to know that some poor kid in a factory somewhere has sewn it together for a small bowl of rice a day.

I just got some shirts for the Summer from Bean - Great Ivy style Gingham numbers - But they're made in Malaysia which means that they're made under 'Chinese' working conditions.

And yet I still love the shirts.

I wish I was a better person.

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?page=wrinkle-resistant-vacationland-sport-shirt&categoryId=53701&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&parentCategory=502946&cat4=503681&shop_method=pp&feat=502946-tn

(I got the two Blues & the Green - They made me think of Old Skool Skin Style)

J.

The world still runs on slavery as much as it ever did.

I dont think I personally support any of this exploited labor because I buy most of my goods from Italy and the UK which I have some certitude are produced there, much of my things are made in NYC in spots I know there are no such conditions.


However, the point Paolo makes needs some definition. Are the conditions palpably worse/same/better than they would be in that part of the world he is thinking of in a like but different industry?

What kind of existence would these kids have if they weren't employed...? I mean, how much do we know about how children are treated who aren't employed in these factories. Is it worse...? would they be starving on the street...?. Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating that children should be working, what I'm saying is. Is the alternative any better...?

Last edited by formby (2008-04-01 12:56:26)

I think buying from bespoke makers whose workshop you can inspect and workers you can chat to, or even get to know is the ultimate in ethical clothing. I would rather wear a bespoke morning coat and button boots than a t-shirt and sneakers for the price of a song made by children forced to work in dingy sweat shops. It is the latter form of dress which has become the anonymous uniform of a faceless oppressor.

I suppose it's crass and heartless of me, but as long as I am getting a good product for my money, I am quite indifferent to where, how and under what working conditions it was produced. In many cases, I am totally oblivious to what conditions in general are where my clothes are made. For instance, I have many inexpensive shirts made in Mauritius. I know almost nothing about Mauritius except that it's a tropical island in the middle of the Indian Ocean and they used to have dodo birds there. If the natives could pursue an idyllic existence harvesting coconuts growing abundantly from the trees and hauling fish from the sea, I assume they would be doing that in preference to toiling in a shirt factory. Evidently, life there is no so easy, and they do choose to toil in a shirt factory. I get good shirts for the money, they get some kind of sustenance for the money I spend. End of matter, as far as I'm concerned.

Wheres paolo?

I think Paolo is guilty of a hit and run here and needs to flesh out what exactly he was asking. If this was just some experiment by him to introduce a vague topic and then sit back and enjoy or to report his findings, that would be remarkably unimpressive.

Wonder if Paolo eats Veal...