While a thrift store or Salvation Army find may be from a
sweatshop company, the purchasing of it does not support that company any
longer. Anti-sweatshop purists may argue otherwise, but used clothing is
accessible to most people in good quantities. After the first purchase, this
product is essentially economically "dead" to the label. The only gain a company has to gain from an
already purchased item is free advertising (hence the abundance of large brand
name labels as a form of decoration on clothing). Avoid purchasing items that advertise the
label and always cut out the tag with the brand’s name on it as well. It is also more economically efficient to
purchase such clothing at the lowered price, not just because it’s easier on
your wallet either. Sweatshop-made
clothing is very cheaply produced due to extremely inexpensive labor fees, the
profit margin the corporations make is very large. The heavily discounted price you purchase the
used clothing at is far closer to the actual worth of the garment than the inflated
price originally allotted to it by the corporation.
Purchase Apparel From Anti-Sweatshop Labor Companies
These companies are fairly easy to identify since one of
their typical distinctions is that they are NOT sweatshop made. Finding this minority in the garment industry
can be very frustrating. Outside of most
large cities, it is unlikely you will find such a progressive label. Companies such as American Apparel and Busted
Tees are two youthful, cutting-edge clothing brands that are sweatshop free,
very fashionable, and best of all, moderately priced. Though they are limited
in full wardrobe (neither makes jeans for example), both are cult favorites for
high quality tees. American Apparel is growing by leaps and bounds and has
locations in L.A, NYC, and Montreal.
These brands are easily accessed via the internet and provide extensive online
shopping. Union Jean and Apparel is also
a great brand that provides a fuller selection and is also available for
ordering via the internet. Needless to
say, the choices are quite limited, and internet shopping is not everyone’s cup
of tea and/or privilege.