I will forever be haunted by this photo of garment factory workers in Bangladesh.
I had an early hand in their death. Years ago I shopped for clothes for my young son and was always searching for the “cheap tee”. He ripped through them by using them – painting in them, playing in them, using them to their fullest. I can remember actually saying to a friend of mine while standing in a big box merchant, “How can they afford to sell these shirts for four dollars?”
Now I know they – we – can’t. The cost is too high, and these two people – and upwards of 1,000 others – paid the price I wasn’t willing to pay for expensive clothing.
My friend Missy stated it loud and clear at a charity event a few weeks ago when she was telling us all about the sponsors of the event and how we “vote with our dollars” and should “consider moving our money to the businesses who care about what we care about.”
Done.
Photo credit: Taslima Akhter, Bangladeshi photographer and activist. Retrieved from: lightbox.time.com.
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I will renew my personal pledge to shop ethically. I will renew my professional pledge to make ethically choices for our store. I consider myself lucky to have a business partner that stands solidly with me to stick to our mission…even when we are pulled in other directions. I will read labels!
It’s all good!
I’m haunted by this photo too. My father was the Director of Labor Education and taught Management & Labor Relations and Labor Economics at Mizzou for many years. He taught us from a very young age that we needed to look for the “union bug” on the labels of our clothes to make sure we were buying American made products. He organized Lady Garment Workers Union Chapters across US and started the Boot and Shoemakers Union in the Boot-heel of Missouri. When he passed away a few years ago, I was stunned by the number of women who came up to me at the funeral and told me how he had impacted their lives, given them the opportunity to earn a living wage for their families and helped to create safe, healthy work environments. The unions in America are fading away to make room for internationally sourced, less costly products. But the cost truly is too high. I don’t know how anyone can look at this photo and not be moved to spend their consumer dollars differently in the future . Thanks for sharing this.
Elaine:
As a past member of a union – and a true believer in all that they do and stand for – I am even more embarrassed of my behavior 12 years ago. The shame is on me. I do shop the union label – even in the printing that our business pursues.
I stand in awe of your father. What a great and important job he had.
Be well. – sloane
p.s. I can still easily hum – and sing – the “look for the union label” song.
I am an American Local Embroidery company trying to compete against these oversea’s corporations. Most of the blank garments that I have to purchase are made somewhere else because here in the USA we do not have a domestic garment industry any more and even if we sew the garment here… the fabric, zippers, buttons and everything else is made in another country. Paying more for a garment is not the answer because the fabric may still have come from one of Indonesia, Vietnam, China or anywhere else. It is just like the Ford plant says…Assembly Plant..not made and manufactured in the USA…just assembled with parts from elsewhere.
I have a real problem with some shops here in KC that say they are “fair market artist” supporters. SUPPORT ME…I am a local artist, support my art and not the shopping trip and “feel good” advertising of some stores.
I approched a shop owner a few years ago and she said that she only purchased from artists in Georgia because she could write off the trip. I never shopped there again.
I appreciate Stuff for getting involved in our community and supporting all the LOCAL artists.
Sheryl: Years ago I consulted for Ford and the UAW here in Kansas City. I did so for 13 years and will never forget it. LOVED it.
Thank you for reading our blogs and for commenting. We are all in this together and we will make a difference. – sloane
I won’t shop at Wal-mart anymore as they sell guns, sell guns???!!! at a ‘family store” to anyone….having worked in Psych, I know many dangerous people who should never, ever have a hand gun, assault weapon, don’t believe average citizens need them anyway…. I too pledge to do better w/ all my shopping and purchases, we can’t be immoral here and not be part of the problems on planet earth, so no more Wal mart, w/ their cheap household cleaners, shampoos, dog food, food, tp, no more, for the clothes they sell , the guns they sell close to the toys they sell. If we are to do something about the atrocities in America, then we must act w/ where we take our money, that is the only thing America seems to “be about” so I will choose how I spend my hard earned money and where. God bless you Sloane, keep on doing what you do and spreading the word, we get a lot of women acting on how to make things better, so ladies keep being strong, use your voices, take action, get informed, share info, take a stand, care, take time to make this a better world and to be an ethical, moral person for your children, your sakes, for the whole planets citizens sakes. Peace and love to you all. Sue
You would feel the same way about meat if you watched the documentaries about how we treat animals that we believe don’t have feelings as they are lead away to be slaughtered.
All so we can eat hamburgers from McDonalds, or steaks at Plaza III. Cheap clothing, cheap food. what price are we willing to pay? Eating animals are bad for the environment, and bad for our health. Make your stand to make a difference, even if it is only one day a week.
I’m stunned. This couple has been in my head for the last few days. I feel naive. What exactly should we look for on labels?
Jo: I am guessing steer clear of the word “Bangladesh” for a while. The workers there have been striking for about a week now and I learned on NPR today that new government regulations are in the works in this country.
What I look for now – and have for over 10 years – is the words “made in USA”, or some form thereof. Good luck. It can be pretty darn hard! – sloane