Ethical clothing in the offline world

May 15, 2004 5:32 AM

Sweatshop free clothing ? - Are there any major chains or stores can I can go to to try on ethically produced clothing? (as opposed to buying mystery products online which might or might not fit). Or do all major chains/stores buy clothes from producers who have equally dismal labor practices?
posted by troutfishing to clothing, beauty, & fashion (13 comments total)

American Apparel just opened a store (well, more of a boutique, really) in Montreal. They're also in LA and NY, but I'm not sure how "major" they are. Stuff is pretty good quality and not hideously expensive; my pug is sporting a stylish electric blue and pink dog t-shirt made especially for canines by AA.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 6:36 AM on May 15, 2004

Carhartt has one style of jeans that are union made, so you can try to find them where you can find Carhartt stuff. They're Carhartt B46 Denim Relaxed Fit Jeans. It's got an easy to see union made logo on the size/care tag.
posted by ursus_comiter at 6:50 AM on May 15, 2004

Thanks. them's lean pickins.

Sigh...I'll have to weave my own clothes from thread spun from the lint that blows along the street past my house, or I'll go door to door in the 'hood gathering fur by combing dogs.

And, If I keep my eyes glued to the ground, I'll eventually have enough for a suit made from stray birdfeathers.
posted by troutfishing at 7:00 AM on May 15, 2004

Before you go THAT far troutfishing, have you considered used clothing? Yard sales, Goodwill, that kind of thing. At least with used clothing you're not directly supporting the sweatshop industry. It isn't a perfect solution, but those bird feathers itch! :)
posted by JanetLand at 7:26 AM on May 15, 2004

The Gap, responding to previous criticism, has been making what looks like a serious effort . Its own report on its efforts is here. It has had some success and some failure, and the basic impression I get from the report is that even for a company that's trying, it's damned difficult to bring what westerners think of as social responsibility to a global industry of low-skill workers. Not totally unlike trying to reach back through time and bring social respondibility to the Middle Ages.

> or I'll go door to door in the 'hood gathering fur by combing dogs.

See, now, if you were palaeolithic like me you'd have your own hair.
posted by jfuller at 7:39 AM on May 15, 2004

jfuller - I have lots of that, but most of it is on my face and head and growing out of my ears and nose. It's all I can do to beat it back.

Janetland - thanks, that's mostly what I've worn for my whole life. I'm actually posing this question for my wife.
posted by troutfishing at 8:07 AM on May 15, 2004

Well, there's a Patagonia in Boston.
posted by JanetLand at 8:22 AM on May 15, 2004

Of course! Patagonia is good ('tho pricey.) In Canada, Mountain Equipment Cooperative is also an outdoor place, but they also sell casual-type clothing, and they are (to the best of my knowledge) very committed to equity. You can likely buy from them over the intarweb -- plus, in worthless Canuckistan money!
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 8:52 AM on May 15, 2004

MEC's sweatshop policy:

"MEC's goal is to provide durable, high-quality products for our members in a way that respects the environment, as well as the health, safety, and dignity of the workers who make our products. We select factories that work to be role models of responsible business and labour practices and we believe that supporting good practices at a factory level is part of a broader human rights solution."

They also post a supplier code-of-conduct, a country report, and an explanation of why they carry Nike.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 8:53 AM on May 15, 2004

you know I've just read a college paper where the author writes that everybody here is filthy rich, so here's a new solution to your sweatshop-hate, trout (I feeling I deeply share):

October 11-12, Henry Poole tailors will visit Boston -- classic English tailoring that will fit like a glove and will last you a lifetime. for your wife, Gieves & Hawkes in London have a great line for women's apparel, and I'm sure that they visit NothEastern USA at least once a year too

/metrosexual
posted by matteo at 8:57 AM on May 15, 2004

I knew that LLBean was part of a Labor Dept. certification program, so I was able to find this. I live in Maine and friends working at LLBean have confirmed that there is a commitment to working with factories and contractors who are compliant with the standards. Reading the article really makes me miss the Clinton administration.
posted by theora55 at 9:30 AM on May 15, 2004

I've been meaning to try American Union Jeans for a while now.
posted by Acetylene at 11:45 AM on May 15, 2004

Also in Boston, Planet Aid's all over the place.
posted by grrarrgh00 at 4:07 PM on May 15, 2004