In researching the pros and cons of shopping at “big name” clothing stores, such as Forever21 and Urban Outfitters, I’ve been able to make some connections between consumers and morality. While we would like to think that we are ethical, we’ve become hypocritical, supporting stores who do not embrace typical American values. Several stores, including Forever21 and Urban Outfitters have admitted to utilizing sweatshops, which subject workers to harsh conditions, unfair pay, and child labor. While these factors are normally frowned upon, we continue to shop at stores that use them and seem to ignore these issues. While this would normally be seen as shameful, we’ve become accustomed to spending, spending, spending…so accustomed that it would be quite impossible to refrain. However, it would not only be ethically correct but CHEAPER to stop shopping at these “big name” clothing chains.
http://www.newmoon.com/content/?id=3861&type=1 (list of stores who utilize sweatshops)
Etsy.com is among many of my favorite clothing websites. It is home to thousands of sellers who make handmade clothes. It also supports the rise of small business and the rise of the US economy. With everything on the site being handmade, consumers aren’t supporting the global sweatshop crisis and can rest assured that we are being moral consumers. Some other vintage and handmade stores that I’ve shopped at and have found to be very trendy and inexpensive include “peaceimages.com” and any other local thrift store.
The first picture depicts some Urban Outfitter over-priced, sweatshop produced shorts. The second picture depicts shorts from etsy.com that were handmade by a seller. They are also shorts that you can live with. Not only are they cheaper, they’re also cuter so…in moving forward, lets choose to be the change that we want to see in the world.
It is really odd to think about how many companies actually still employ sweat shop labor. You would think there would be some kind of regulation, but many people don’t seem to care because these sweat shops aren’t in America.
I still am suprised to see that clothing manufacturers like Urban Outfitters utilize sweat shops. I would have assumed that, given their “hipster” target audience, they would have made some sort of strong political stance against that.
I love that you supplied us with a link to more companies that use sweat shop labor to mass produce their items. It really gives your arugment more support. It also showed me that very, very popular places use this technique. It’s sad that such prosperous companies resort this this in order for more profit.