Who would be willing to have their clothes and accessories made in the U.S.?

[shibumiflowers]

Originally Posted by GhstDreamer

Yet in the end it is the American multinationals who are winning and not the countries who have these hazardous plants stationed there - they send their manufacturing productions overseas to places they deem to be cheaper than the US/Canada and then take advantage of the citizens in those countries by not instituting worker safety protocols, benefits, etc. They suddenly become disassociated with their products, i.e. Apple has their products made in China - including the iphone and it was the plant making the iphones that was dumping hazardous wastes into the surrounding neighbourhoods/towns' water. Apple refused to clean up their act until they were pressured by other corporations like Sony to start cleaning up. The countries that have these manufacturing plants don't see a lot of that money - whatever profit is made, it gets funneled back to the US/Canada - basically back to their headquarters. It's a strategy to keep developing countries (third world nations) from ever becoming developed.

I don't think anyone is support corporate irresponsibility. It is up to the various nations who are host countries to establish and enforce environmental regulations and worker rights. The multinationals answer to their shareholders regardless of with who or where they are aligned. I was only speaking to the diaspora of American manufacturing and the very real trade imbalance.

If surveyed on the national scale, I don't think anyone is "winning".


Blah: I didn't see the documentary, do you have a link? Should be an interesting piece.

Gimme: I think there are some smaller firms that are making their products in the USA and are doing pretty well. But what makes them succeed isn't just because they're made in the USA but they have products people want and are willing to pay for. I personally really like Paige jeans, I think her jeans are made in the USA.

Mac: I think we each support whomever we think deserve it. If the clothes are well made, beautiful, and priced right, why punish the brand if it's not made in the USA?

OP: great thread.

[blah956]

Originally Posted by shibumiflowers

I don't think anyone is support corporate irresponsibility. It is up to the various nations who are host countries to establish and enforce environmental regulations and worker rights. The multinationals answer to their shareholders regardless of with who or where they are aligned. I was only speaking to the diaspora of American manufacturing and the very real trade imbalance. If surveyed on the national scale, I don't think anyone is "winning". Blah: I didn't see the documentary, do you have a link? Should be an interesting piece. Gimme: I think there are some smaller firms that are making their products in the USA and are doing pretty well. But what makes them succeed isn't just because they're made in the USA but they have products people want and are willing to pay for. I personally really like Paige jeans, I think her jeans are made in the USA. Mac: I think we each support whomever we think deserve it. If the clothes are well made, beautiful, and priced right, why punish the brand if it's not made in the USA? OP: great thread.

http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/schmatta/index.html

[babieejae1101]

I would buy it if it's made in the U.S. and is reasonably priced. It also has to be good quality. I know that Michael Stars' shirts are made in the U.S., but they're expensive, IMO.

[Jayne1]

Originally Posted by babieejae1101

I would buy it if it's made in the U.S. and is reasonably priced. It also has to be good quality. I know that Michael Stars' shirts are made in the U.S., but they're expensive, IMO.

That's exactly why everything is made in China... people don't want to pay more. Everyone is used to lower prices.

But knowing why we often pay so little makes me feel terrible.

[Vintage Leather]

I tend to buy only companies which have some transparency in their manufacturing. I don't know enough about Chinese manufacturing to trust them the majority of the time.

I'd rather have a locally made product than an international. I'd rather shop directly from the original designer or artist than a company. I'm willing to pay a premium for that privilege.

[La Comtesse]

Originally Posted by blah956

anyone watch the hbo documentary called "schmatta: rags to riches". it talks about the textile industry and how it has progressed. it said that today, in 2009, only 5% of clothing is made in the USA. in 1985, it was 50%.

I haven't seen it. But that number doesn't surprise me at all. When I started reading the tags on all items I purchased, I was shocked at how many U.S. brands (that used to always be made in the U.S.), were now made in other countries.

I would gladly pay more for quality items made in the U.S.A. But I would also like to be sure they are entirely made in the U.S.A.

And as another poster noted, I am not sure all of Mrs. Obama's clothing is made in the U.S.A. I haven't found anything from J. Crew to be made in the U.S. And even with upscale U.S. designers, it is getting increasingly difficult to find items made in the U.S.A. I'm afraid that goes for many European countries as well. I was surprised to see brands like La Coste and Burberry with made in China labels, when they used to be made in France and the UK.

[Gimmethebag]

Originally Posted by babieejae1101

I would buy it if it's made in the U.S. and is reasonably priced. It also has to be good quality. I know that Michael Stars' shirts are made in the U.S., but they're expensive, IMO.

I think $50 is pretty fair for a top made in the USA. You have to keep in mind that retail price is usually 2.5x wholesale. The stores have to build into the price SAs' wages, commercial rent, supplies, retail software, security, utilities...

The manufacturer needs to make SOME profit, otherwise there is no incentive to manufacture with fair wages, following environmental guidelines, etc. So a $50 top really at wholesale costs $20 per unit. Say that the material costs $7 per yard and that the person sewing the shirt only earns $10 an hour, that leaves only $3 profit for the company... and it probably is not even that much, given that they have to pay for the factory space and the shipping/packing materials to get the products safely into the retailers.

[Momma Leanne]

well, since Michelle Obama shops at the Gap, their stuff is NOT MADE IN USA :)

[stephc005]

it would be an added bonus, but it's never really a deciding factor when i purchase something. i buy what i like without even looking at where it was made. i would be willing to pay extra as long as i liked it.