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.