I know I said the last post was going to be my last but it occurred to me that the majority of the blogs talked about sweatshops taking place overseas. Yet, I have failed to mention the sweatshops that occur in the United States. An informative video called Made In L.A. that follows three Latina garment workers. One of the key brands targeted in the movie is Forever 21. The workers in the video protest for better pay and better working conditions. http://www.laweekly.com/2012-07-26/news/sweatshops-los-angeles-fashion-industry/3/ is an informative website that also talks about sweatshops in L.A.

Although the United States has labor laws and child labor laws, some manufacturing companies int he United States continue to be over looked.

I guess this means that not only do I have to be aware of brands made overseas I must look into American made clothing as well

Thank you for reading my blog and participating in the survey along with answering the questions asked in the weekly blog.

After weeks of blogging and looking into sweatshops I have come to the conclusion that avoiding stores that use sweatshops is very difficult and takes a lot of will power to research stores before one shops. After learning about sweatshops and the painful experiences workers go through I am finally okay with not shopping at Walmart. I feel the availability of the clothing is not worth the injustice people have to endure to make the clothing.

After looking at some of the Websites that Grace suggested, I found that after the Bangladesh firer this past fall, GAP Inc. is implementing a better safety plan along with a chief firer safety inspector (http://www.gapinc.com/content/gapinc/html/csr/bangladesh.html). This is a good step towards better work environment

Since this is my final blog, the question is , from what you have learned and videos that have been posted, are you willing to take a sand against sweatshops? Are you going to stop shopping at Walmart and Nike?

Join http://usas.org/ to get  emails from students against sweatshops and take a stand on sweatshops

This weeks blog is on where participants in the survey shop. I thought I would share some of the responses I got! H&M, Urban Outfitters, Old Navy, Walmart, TJ Maxx, JC Penny. Target, Forever 21, Kohls, J Crew, Banana Republic, Marshalls, American Eagle, and the Limited. I was not surprised that many people shopped at the same store.

I personally shop at Old Navy, TJ Maxx and Target. I use to shop a lot at the Gap and Walmart but living in New Jersey and having expenses I haven't done much shopping. I still have the gift card to Old Navy and although there was a suggestion to buy something and give it to a good cause I think I am just going to spend it on a pair of pants I have been eyeing.


http://www.pbs.org/itvs/storewars/sweatshops.html

http://www.greenamerica.org/programs/sweatshops/scorecard.cfm

JC Penny's response to sweatshops
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZjkrRLdHgQ

Powerful Pictures

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/29/fighting-hopelessness-amid-ashes/

 

I decided to combine questions 6 and 7 into one blog.

6. On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your concern of sweatshops? (10 being very concerned)

7. On a scale of 1 to 10 how much do you currently know about sweatshops.

The average of the 28 respondents was 5.8 on their concerns of sweatshops and 3.9 was the average of what individuals currently knew about sweatshops. It was interesting to see individuals’ responses to their concerns about sweatshops and their knowledge of sweatshops before reading this blog.

Personally, before starting graduate school I did not know much about sweatshops and they were not high on my list of concerns. As someone who liked going to Wal Mart when I was bored and at camp weekly shopping trips to Wal Mart was a must. I did not know my impact of factory workers was nor did I understand the conditions workers endured to make the products I use and wear.

Now that I have started my blog and reading about sweatshops I still have a hard time not going to shops known for sweatshops but I try and make a more conscious effort. I was able to go home on Friday and went out grocery shopping with my mom who asked if I wanted to go to Wal Mart and then quickly took back the question. I think I have rubbed off on my parent! My sister still loves Wal Mart and Old Navy even though I go on and on about them being a sweatshop. I feel that doing this blog has helped me and others become more aware of sweatshops and more apt to think before we shop.

Interesting links:

https://sites.google.com/site/antisweatshopleague/maps-and-statistics

Sweatshop workers story

http://www.waronwant.org/component/content/article/15697

This weeks question was do you shop at the Gap? The majority of those that responded to the survey stated that they do shop at the Gap. What most individuals do not realize is that Old Navy and Banana Republic are branches of the Gap and also fall in the category of sweatshop.

The primary Gap factory is in New Delhi, India. Workers are paid way less than minimum wage, often work longer hours that permitted and work seven days a week. Gap workers make 25p an hour which is not enough to support a family. According to the Guardian (2010), workers who told their employers they did/ could not work over time were told they either work over time or find another job. Currently there are little safety regulation in placed within the factories.

I am a big fan of Old Navy jeans! It is hard for me to find the perfect jeans and I have found Old Navy jeans to fit well. The majority of my friends that shop at the Gap feel that they have the best fitting jeans. I personally like the Gaps sweaters and sales. The idea of not shopping at the Gap or Old Navy will be very difficult for me to do. I currently have a gift card for Old Navy and the decision to use or not to use the gift card is a difficult one to make.

My question for viewers is if you do shop at the Gap, Old Navy , or Banana Republic because there jeans fit  the best is, are you willing to find a perfect pair of jeans at another store?



Interesting Websites


http://www.greenamerica.org/programs/responsibleshopper/company.cfm?id=229
http://www.globalexchange.org/blogs/peopletopeople/2012/10/24/gap-and-death-trap-factories/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=M5uYCWVfuPQ

Today's topic covers my favorite company/ brand to hate. Nike! When asked if people shopped at Nike stores the majority of individuals responded with a yes.

Nike has gotten a lot of grief over the last couple of years. Nike has had many law suites and publicity for their sweatshops yet they are still a multi-national company. Nike is a supporter of free- trade.  Free – trade in the Clinton administration was viewed as a good thing. Countries were getting products at low cost and impoverished countries’ citizens were becoming employed. Outcries of unfair labor treatment in the Nike factory lead to the Fair Labor Association. This association encouraged corporations to attempt to reformat their working conditions. Although Nike has claimed they have changed their factories conditions, Nike remains high on the list of the worst sweatshop factories.

Individuals are taking a stance against Nike by not wearing their clothing. Kevin McMahon, an Olympic athlete, protested the advertisement of Nike during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. This created creating coverage and awareness of the Nike sweatshop in Indonesia. (Billinger, 2001) Keady, an assistant athletic coach at St. Johns, was fired for not wearing Nike sponsored clothing. Keady was against the sweatshop factories that produced Nike products and; therefore refused to support the advertisement of Nike. The school in turn fired him for not being compliant and wearing the sponsorship (ESPN, 2008). A major hurdle in advocating against sweatshops is that companies provide sponsorships and funds to major athletics, schools, organizations, and national events. Standing up to major companies could mean losing sponsorship and funding for programs.

As someone who is not a supporter of Nike, I must admit to owning a bathing suit with the famous Nike swoosh. Nike seems to be everywhere you look. Monmouth University sports are sponsored by Nike and the majority of the clothing sold in the book store has the Nike logo on them.

The question that I ask readers that do wear Nike products out of curiosity is what specifically you like about the brand? If you wear Nike sneakers would you be willing to buy  a different brand the next time you need a new pair?

 

 

 

 

This weeks blog covers the cost of fashion. According to question three on the survey, the majority of responses showed that individuals spent between $100 and $300 yearly on clothing. The average American spends a little more than $1,700 in 2011 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

When deciding to make sweatshops my year long project I looked at the labels on my clothing and realized I did not know where half of the countries my clothing came from. When answering question three I would say I spend between $300 and $500 on clothing. I never thought of myself as one that needs to keep up with fashion or have the latest article of clothing but I do enjoy the occasional shopping spree and buying off the Clarence rack. When shopping I hardly ever think of where the clothes I purchase come from or the workers that work to produce the items I buy. All I see is discounts and feel excited when clothes look good and are affordable.

This week I encourage everyone to look your current finances and see where you spend you money and look through your closet and see how many of the clothes hanging on the hangers still have their tags on them. When your out with friends shopping or ordering clothing online do a little research and see where the clothing is manufactured and if the brand is known for sweatshops.



Interesting websites:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/11/living/high-cost-of-fashion

To answer the second question in the survey, according to the International Labor Rights Forum 2010 the top ten companies known for sweatshops are as followed; Abercrombie and Fitch, Gymboree, Hanes, Ikea, Kohl's , L.L.Bean, Pier 1 Imports, Propper International, and Walmart. The list does not include Nike because it did not include foot wear in the study. Another blogger lists the 10 sweatshops companies to include; Primark, Topshop, Asda/WalMart, Tesco, Nike, Adidias, Disney, Burberry, Starbucks, and Planet Earth Inc. It is very difficult to accurately list companies known for sweatshops because unfortunately unless a fire breaks out or a group of employees protest their treatment companies are not on the sweatshop radar.

November 25, 2012 a fire broke out in a sweatshop factory in Bangladesh that manufactures clothing for companies including Tommy Hilfiger, Gap, and Wal-Mart. The factory did not have enough exits and was located in a cramped neighborhood. The result of the fire was 111 deaths (New York Times).

I am really trying to sort out my feelings about sweatshops. I know sweatshop workers work for less than minimum wage, harsh working conditions and work long hours on the same task. However, there is no escaping the Nike logo. Monmouth University sports team’s uniforms include the Nike Logo and the schools book stores apparel includes the famous swish. I was at the University gym earlier this week and almost everyone working out had on Nike sneakers. Forever 21 use to be on the list in 2001. It has since been removed because they have agreed to improving workers/ work conditions.

I encourage everyone to go onto: http://slaveryfootprint.org/?gclid=CMvM6O3Fm7UCFURnOgodLjYAuw and see what their slave footprint is. It is very surprising to find out how many “slaves” a person has based on the items one possesses. I took the test and currently have 49. To be honest, I believe it is a bit low. Take the test and then post your results here! It will be interesting to see the various numbers.

Interesting links:

http://slaveryfootprint.org/?gclid=CMvM6O3Fm7UCFURnOgodLjYAuw

http://www.sweatfree.org/shoppingguide

http://www.laborrights.org/sites/default/files/publications-and-resources/sweatshop_hall_shame_2010.pdf

Let me know your results and your views on the companies known for sweatshops.

Thank you to everyone who replied to my survey on sweatshops. The first question asked what countries are known for using sweatshops?  I received a wide variety of countries including;

China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Mexico, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Bangladesh, Philippines, Burma, North Korea, Japan, Ethiopia, El Salvador, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, U.S., Germany, and developing countries.

Table 1 contains the average apparel industry wages in countries where sweatshops supposedly exist.2 from http://www.independent.org/publications/working_papers/article.asp?id=1369

Over winter break I found myself going to Wal-Mart and having to remind myself that Wal-Mart is known for using sweatshops and buying their products I would be supporting sweatshops. However one of my favorite stores is Old Navy. For Christmas I received gift cards for old Navy and love their Sweetheart jeans. Although most people do not think of Old Navy using sweatshops it falls under the umbrella with the Gap and Banana Republic. The Gap (which I do own clothes from) is known for sweatshops with factories in China, India, Thailand, and Cambodia. The Gap is on the list of sweatshops because the company does not pay their employees fairly and in 2007 they were found to have children workers and poor working conditions for workers. Old Navy has been my go to store for when I needed inexpensive clothing. Now I have to decide is fashion and inexpensive clothing worth having sweatshop? What do you think ?

A few interesting websites where you can learn more about sweatshops

http://businesstm.com/online-business-blog/sweatshops-child-labor-information.html
http://www.ehow.com/info_8198550_sweatshops-21st-century.html
http://www.tabberone.com/Trademarks/MLB/SlaveLabor/Industry.html
http://www.treehugger.com/style/are-these-unethical-fashion-brands-hiding-in-your-closet.html
http://www.greenamerica.org/programs/responsibleshopper/company.cfm?id=229

Please answer the following questions so I will have a better understanding of what individuals know about sweatshops and what individuals would like to learn about sweatshops. You can either post your answers or e-mail them to me at singletondms@gmail.com . I will start blogging the 28th of January to give participants a chance to answer the questions.  Each week I will blog about one of the questions and post informational websites on sweatshops.The second part of the blog will be my own personal attempts to be more conscientious of where I purchases clothing and at what stores I shops. Please give me feedback on what you have learned about sweatshops and any comments you might have. The propose of the blog is to learn about sweatshops and for us as citizens to become more aware of where we shop.

1. Name three countries known for sweatshops.

2. Name three companies known to use sweatshops.

3. On average how much do you spend on clothes in a year?
    a) <$100  b) $100-300  c) $300-500 d) $500- 700 e) >$1,000

4. Do you wear Nike products?

5. Do you shop at the Gap?

6. On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your concern of sweatshops. (10 being very concerned)

7. On a scale of 1 to 10 how much do you currently know about sweatshops.

8. List the top three stores you purchase your clothing at.

9. What state/country do you currently reside in?