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