Are you going to change your buying practices because of the Bangladesh building collapse?

[cali]

I am. I don't buy much of.... anything. I'm poor so my options are limited. I buy most of my clothes second hand, but I'm going to be damned careful about where my underwear, socks, and shoes are made.

I am determined not to wear or use as little as possible that's soaked in the blood and misery of workers. I'd like to say that I'll use nothing of the kind, but it's damned hard to ensure that.

http://www.americansworking.com/clothingwomens.html

http://www.cleanclothes.org/

http://www.wrapcompliance.org/

[JNelson6563]

1. Like you, I am poor.

Last edited Sat Apr 27, 2013, 08:38 AM - Edit history (1)

I'm one of those poor sods you read about who has a full time job but can't get by on my wages. I rarely get to buy groceries, much less clothes.

For a long time now I haven't bought new clothes from any stores. I actually started this before my financial picture was so grim.

Over the past several years (maybe even longer) I have found the clothes at stores to be of such poor quality and so over-priced that I have long been buying used. This way I can afford the very good quality I couldn't afford to buy new and it has the added benefit of not contributing to the whole sweat shop nightmare.

Sometimes I buy from individuals at places like e-bay and other times I find treasures at the thrift shops. Such purchases help the economy in various ways, better ways than supporting corporations that exploit even poorer people than I.

Good OP, Cali. I hope more people will give consideration to the spending they do and where they do it.

Julie

[monmouth3]

4. Such treasures in thrift shops. I love them...n/t

[BethanyQuartz]

26. Very true

Although I draw the line at buying my underwear used.

[Whisp]

43. I love shopping at thrift shops.

Normally, I detest going to the mall and avoid it as much as I can.

The thrift shop I go to now takes some of their money and gives to charities - I think it's run by the Mennonite Central Committee. And their stuff is cheap! and pretty damned good!. I got a nice pair of Steven Madden shoes for $3.00! They fit, they look good.

Our bigger thrift outet in the city, called Value Village, has really gone to the dogs as their prices are crazy high now and the pickings are pretty slim, so I am happy to support a small outlet instead. Prices are about a third of what they are at Value Village (we call it Vulture Village now) - who have gone nuts with pricing and forgot their purpose.

It's been a while since I've been a conspicuous consumer - back when I had a bit of money and didn't know better. It's tough being moneyless I don't have to tell anyone, but somehow it's been almost like a Fasting... I feel good not having that feeling of just Needing to go to the mall to buy some useless expensive shit. I found out that I don't really need that much, and I like that feeling.

We were on a trip just recently to Vegas, yeh yeh, of all places for someone without much money. ha. Anyway, it was an unavoidable trip and I almost enjoyed the spectacle of consumerism, from the outside looking in on some strange experiment or something. What spending money I had I mostly gave away to the streetlife instead of shiney objects. And that felt good too.

[freshwest]

85. Same here. People just have to bear with me wearing the same clothes, washed until threadbare.

So long as they're clean and not ragged, I don't see the point. Those with jobs requiring being dressed up can be well served by the thrift stores. Very good quality there at times, including some items that have never been worn.

[davidpdx]

2. I just had a bunch of clothes shipped to me from the US

Because here in Korea it's hard to find "bigger" sizes (almost impossible). I usually buy everything when I go home and haul it back, but this year we had to skip our trip. I checked some of the labels and they were mostly China. The stuff I buy here in Korea is more likely to be made in China, Taiwan or the Philippines.

[madrchsod]

3. no.....

i do`t buy new clothes. 99% of my clothing purchases are from goodwill and other shops like that. i have`t bought any new clothes in at least 3 yrs.

thanks for the links

[cali]

6. you buy used socks and underwear? or don't wear them?

you don't buy any products new? just curious.

[Quantess]

57. You can find underwear new with tags at thrift stores.

Goodwill gets overstock from department stores a lot. I have bought new-with-tags underwear at goodwill before.

[pnwmom]

73. The person said s/he doesn't buy anything new, so the question was

whether an exception was made for underwear.

[madokie]

5. Don't buy clothes from Bangladesh

Kind of like clothes made in China, they don't fit me.
I find that if I buy clothes from north and south America I don't have to buy as many as they last so much longer. In the end I spend less although I have to spend more when I do make a purchase. Blue jeans and tee shirts are always in style and thats what I mostly wear. I can buy American made socks and get several years out of a pair where if I purchase socks from anywhere else they fall apart, same with most things clothes.

[reformist2]

7. Buy less clothing, and anything else I don't need, that is made by masses of people slaving away.

[Ecumenist]

8. I sew and make most of my clothing along with my husband's clothes. Eom

[cali]

9. I admire you!. My sewing skills are so limited.

[Ecumenist]

95. Cali, if you have a little time, it's just a matter of practise and I would also

suggest some sewing classes. I was taught by my mum, as she was taught by hers, etc. I just refuse to pay a king's ransom for Chia mart clothes that fall apart 2 hours after the first wear OR in the most mild and gentle wash cycle. NOPE, I'll sew, thank you VERY much. lol! Too bad you don't live closer. I'd help you out.

[SheilaT]

27. My sister used to make all of her clothes

but has largely given up because, as she tells me, it's almost impossible to buy decent fabric any more.

[Ecumenist]

94. Oh, you can find great fabric BUT YOU'LL pay a PRETTY penny for it.

OR you'll have to do QUITE A BIT of shopping to get quality yardage.

[JustAnotherGen]

10. Did a few years ago

And a tip when you see made in the USA not on those lists - beware of of our territory the Mariana Islands. They can put made in the USA on the clothing . . . But it's made by pretty much indentured servants.

Just like wireless devices and consumer electronics - the American consumer has to change.

[Union Scribe]

11. Thanks for staying on top of this story, Cali.

It's such an important story. Hopefully this willl be a pivotal event in global workers' rights.

For the last three years or so I've been phasing out clothing made overseas from my closets and drawers as items wear out.

[cali]

15. I can't get over what happened there. It's so heartbreaking and so preventable

Hundreds died. And I keep thinking that of those who died, the lucky ones died immediately. Hundreds died trapped, in agony with the stench of rotting corpses.

Thanks for posting.

[Luminous Animal]

16. There are still people trapped in the rubble.

[cali]

18. and time is running out.

[Pelican]

12. Nah...

If only due to the fact that to really truly know what is what requires more energy that I am willing to allocate to it.

Most of my clothing is military style/outdoorsy stuff and in the medium to high brand category so that may or may not affect it. Who knows...

[cali]

22. yeah, who wan't to exert an extra bit of effort to avoid buying things steeped in the death of

fucking peon foreigners. they damned well should suffer and die for your right to wear cheap clothes.

[MADem]

28. You're saying that reading the label on a garment is too onerous a chore for you?

How very interesting.

[Posteritatis]

38. It's not like the label is a terribly good indicator these days

A shirt whose fabric, buttons, etc were all made under sweatshop conditions can still wind up with a "made in USA" label somewhere on it if the actual stitching together of the pieces was done in the right place. The labels themselves aren't that trustworthy; you have to go digging into the background of each individual company if you want to really see what's up with their practices, especially since plenty of those companies are aware that people are getting skeptical of how they're doing business.

[Pelican]

44. This was my point...

I assume they all lie. I don't know that just because my Under Armour was made in Singapore that it's "soaked in blood."

Maybe the pay is good. Maybe the pay is crap but better than nothing.

I don't know and as I said, am not willing to do deep research on every article of clothing I buy.

[MADem]

45. Certainly--but it's a start. The poster expresses an unwillingness to do even that small thing.

There's also "The Google" which takes all of five seconds...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/04/25/f-bangladesh-clothing-consumer-awareness.html

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/460992/20130424/bangladesh-dhaka-benetton-primark-factory.htm

[CTyankee]

13. Yes. We don't have to be part of the problem.

[femmocrat]

14. I will check labels more carefully.

I have enough clothing to last me through the rest of my life, though. I won't be buying anything new anymore. At this point, I need to get rid of things I no longer wear, instead of buying even more.

[alphafemale]

17. Thift Stores for most things.

You can find great quality there. Great variety too.

Columbia Sporting goods for outerwear and most shoes and socks since I am pretty active.

This is a coastal town so even nice restaurants are pretty relaxed on dress codes. A summer dress and sandles...or even a decent pair of flipflops will be fine (so long as your feet are clean.)

I dislike heels so much, and wear them so seldom, that the couple pair I have will continue to last a long, long time.

[Joseph Ledger]

19. Nope.

[cali]

21. because people dying for your cheap trolly clothes, is just dandy with you, right honeypoo?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

46. The results:

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Such a flippant arrogant response to this serious OP deserved an equally nasty response. cali is rude and over the top a lot of the time but this is not one of those times.
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT and said: Rude and immature response.
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT and said: That is over an over the top response to a one word reply
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: If trolls don't want to be called out, they should post such unreasoned posts.

I was juror #6.

[Skittles]

55. just curious but.....are you a sociopath?

[Joseph Ledger]

61. Not that I'm aware of. Why do you ask?

Lonely?

[Skittles]

62. I am pretty sure you are

definitely

[Joseph Ledger]

66. Wow.

If you're not already working for Homeland Security, you should be. They'd be very impressed with your ability to diagnose someone from a one word reply!

[Skittles]

72. you poor thang

you're REALLY giving yourself away so EARLY in the game

[redwitch]

63. Care to expand on your reply?

If you took the trouble to chime in at all, why not offer an explanation of why? Is it because you already are a conscientious consumer? Is it because you don't care what happens to poor workers in other countries?

[Joseph Ledger]

65. Because I don't think such boycotts are productive.

[redwitch]

67. I like to buy American made and fairly traded goods.

I also understand that poor people everywhere need to work. I don't want people to have horrible working conditions at home or abroad. What do you think would help to ease the pain?

[Joseph Ledger]

68. The answer is increased living standards through economic development.

Example: China. While there's no question that working conditions for the average Chinese worker are substandard by Western standards, is there any doubt that China is a better place to live (in economic terms) in 2013 than in 1963?

I don't want people to have horrible working conditions at home or abroad.

Neither do I. Our wishes on this matter will have no impact on the matter whatsoever.

[redwitch]

70. Our wishes may not have an impact

but if my buying choices can make a difference for good in the world I would like to choose to do the right thing.

Thanks for expanding on your original response and welcome to DU.

[Joseph Ledger]

71. Thanks!

[datasuspect]

75. you are actually correct

[A Little Weird]

20. Trying

I have been trying to buy more products made in the USA since even before this happened. Part of the reason for this is because I want to help keep jobs here and part because of the exploitation of workers in China and elsewhere. Even without the building collapse and deaths, the labor practices in many parts of the world are deplorable.

It is very hard to find things made in the US and still pretty hard if you expand your buying to include other countries who have good labor laws. I've pretty much given up on electronics.

I have a lot of trouble with clothing. I really don't like ordering clothes because you don't get to try them on first and returning is a hassle but that's pretty much my only option for new clothes. Another problem I've run into is that few plus sized clothes are made here. With all our problems with obesity, you would think Americans would make clothes to accommodate. I'm generally pretty broke anyway, so most of the clothing I buy is secondhand from thrift stores.

Hopefully, if enough people start to become more conscious consumers we will begin to see positive change for laborers everywhere.

[Brickbat]

23. Made the change many years ago. We buy very few clothes. Mr. Brickbat works in a blue-collar job

and I work at home. Most of our clothing needs can be met by union-made or made-in-USA options of jeans, t-shirts, socks and underwear. It's harder to find kids clothing, but we make a huge effort to do the right thing whenever possible. We read every label and buy only what we need.

[PD Turk]

24. I do my best

I buy just about all my clothes at second hand stores and try to buy all my socks USA made. And it's not just clothes, I try to buy American or do without on as much stuff as I can.

[kelliekat44]

25. yes. nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

29. I try to buy American whenever possible.

But I've noticed that it's hard to find locally-grown underwear. Thanks for the links. I'm retired so I find I hardly have to buy any clothes any more but I try to buy all US-made products if I can.

[SheilaT]

30. I got very discouraged at least a decade ago

when I started looking at labels and everything was already being made outside of the U.S.

And those of you who only buy used clothing: do you care about the labels? Are you making sure the used clothing is made here? Or are you okay with someone else having bought new clothing that was made in a sweatshop.

So what stores can I go into where I can be certain the clothing I buy is made in this country?

[Donald Ian Rankin]

31. People who consume first-world-made stuff by preference are part of the problem, I think.

The reason people in countries like Bangladesh work in such awful conditions is because all their alternatives are worse, because there are so few better jobs available there.

If you want to help in the way you shop, the best thing to do would probably be to actively seek out and purchase goods made in poor countries, especially those which can guarantee they were produced at least moderately ethically.

The worst thing you could do would be to limit your purchasing to stuff made in the first-world, making Bangladeshis even more desperate and forcing them to compete harder for jobs, and hence letting labour standards drop.

The people posting about how they try to limit themselves to buying US-made stuff are a big part of the problem, not part of the solution.

[Lifelong Protester]

33. You do make a good point.

Part of the problem, of course, is folks here not being paid a living wage, making the cheaply made items from third world countries more attractive.

Rampant consumerism (try looking up "Haul" videos on YouTube) is also a big part of the problem.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

37. I think people buying stuff is part of the solution, not the problem

The problem is that there is not enough employment in poor countries, and so people have to accept jobs under poor conditions.

More people consuming more, creating more demand, which has to be met by paying workers more to produce more, and so on, is the solution. If consumption falls, so will production and hence so will wages, and the poor will be hardest hit.

This is why austerity policies in a recession are generally a bad idea.

[bettyellen]

50. Americans don't want to pay the price of giving someone a living wage for ANYTHING

[Donald Ian Rankin]

76. Nor does anyone else in any country.

I suspect that the proportion of Americans who make at least some effort to consume ethically is higher than in many countries (although obviously that's a completely unfair comparison because spending more than you need to on something is far less of a hardship if you're richer than if you're poorer).

[bettyellen]

78. but the cost of most consumer goods is much higher everywhere else in the civilized world

especially clothing and electronics. People are used to it, they just buy less crap.

[cali]

41. that makes no sense. and it's disgusting.

first of all, it's exceedingly difficult to know if an article made in a poor country is produced in at least a moderately ethical way. There's been quite a bit of press in the last few days about that- and about how companies lie.

to claim that the worst thing you can do for Bangladeshis is to to buy stuff made in first world countries is a steaming pile of stinking dog shit, hon.

disgusting, dishonest post. thanks for that.

[Lifelong Protester]

59. That's what I've been puzzling about

all morning as I'm doing my household chores.
I mean, I get that demand will increase the amount of jobs, but what kind of jobs? Just because we buy more things, doesn't mean that factory owners are going to all of a sudden pay a living wage to these workers and suddenly get a conscience about safety.

I just don't know how blindly purchasing "whatever" increases the likelihood that conditions would improve for these workers.

Thanks for your post. I was puzzling all day about that (how buying more stuff from Bangladesh helps them if you don't know a whit about the ethics of the production company).

[bettyellen]

80. "it's exceedingly difficult to know if an article made in a poor country..." all of a sudden you

don't know how to google?

Sorry if you don't realize you ARE putting people out of work with boycotts. Now, I know it's a necessity in your case, so it doesn't much matter. But encouraging people who can spend to hoard their cash instead? That's disgusting, and ignorant.
Petition companies to up their compliance, and increase fines. Spend more responsibly than blindly go with "buy American" because those products can be made in hell holes too.

[War Horse]

53. I get what you are getting at here, but...

"the best thing to do would probably be to actively seek out and purchase goods made in poor countries, especially those which can guarantee they were produced at least moderately ethically. "

As has been pointed out, how do you do that?

[Donald Ian Rankin]

74. Unreliably, but even if you fail it's better than nothing.

Buying stuff that was produced ethically in the third world is better for the third world than buying stuff that was produced by sweatshops in the third world.

Buying stuff that was produced by sweatshops in the third world is still better for the third world than buying stuff that was produced in the first world.

So if you first narrow down your search reliably to stuff made in the third world, and then within that try to prefer stuff marked as fair trade, recommended on ethical consumer websites or similar, then even if those recommendations are somewhat unreliable - hell, even if they're 100% unreliable and everything you're buying is sweatshop-made - you'll still be doing more good for the third world than if you buy stuff from the first world.

[Lifelong Protester]

32. Yes, I have been trying to buy

Last edited Sat Apr 27, 2013, 12:49 PM - Edit history (1)

more 'clean clothes'.

If one is in the market for something new, you could try MarketPlaceIndia- it is a group dedicated to helping women rise out of poverty by giving them the tools and place to hand make, embroider, and print fabric for clothes. Many items are work appropriate.

Check them out online.

[kestrel91316]

34. WHAT buying practices? I can't afford to buy any new clothes these days.

[cali]

42. so you never buy underwear or socks? interesting the number of people here claiming that.

I don't believe it.

[kestrel91316]

47. I didn't say "never" - that's a word you presumed to stick in my mouth.

I have plenty of socks and underwear that I bought a few years ago and that I am taking very good care of so they will last.

Last time I bought socks was 2 years ago - I picked up 6 pairs for $2 at the 99c store. Call me a liar all you want. I don't give a shit what you think.

[cali]

49. you strongly implied just that

and I didn't call you a liar, sweetie. touchy. I'm pointing out that people don't give much thought to it. YOU certainly demonstrated that.

[Quantess]

86. Hey cali, I appreciate all the effort you put into your OPs.

That said, has it ever occurred to you that your habit of calling people honey and sweetie, and all variations imaginable, on a regular basis, is annoying? I would never put up with that shit. If anyone tries it on me I say "please don't call me honey".

Now watch, you're going to call me sweetums or something mildly disrespectful. I'm expecting it.

Anyway, it gets old. That's all I'm going to say about it.

[A Little Weird]

89. +1

[RebelOne]

54. Me neither.

I am not longer working and am collecting social security. Since I am not working, I do not need any new clothes. I already have 3 closets full anyway. If I need underwear or socks, I go to Big Lots.

[prairierose]

35. I try to buy very little and ...

to buy more in thrift stores than big box stores.

[dipsydoodle]

36. Same should apply equally

to any fruit of veg imported from Latin America from farms owned by US corporations.

[bettyellen]

83. exactly- half the food we consume is picked and processed in dangerous and unhealthy conditions!

Far easier to say you're not buying something when you weren't going to anyway. What a bullshit OP.
Blanket boycotts are useless.

[L0oniX]

39. A billboard picture of burning girls jumping out of windows placed in front of Walmart...

would not stop people from shopping there.

[jwirr]

40. I won't have to - most of my clothing are very old or bought at a rummage sale.

[pansypoo53219]

48. i also find stuff at estate sales. i get some great sweaters.

i also stopped wearing shoes. i have a drawer of socks i hardly wear. i will never need a new pair. saves money not wearing shoes. hardly wear my emergency slippers. but i do need new long underwear. most of my pants are from the 80's.

[AndyTiedye]

51. No. I already buy American-made Clothing

[dkf]

52. Working conditions improve when the country sells more not when they sell less.

High unemployment is what allows such bad treatment.

I don't see what boycotting does for the people of Bangladesh. If anything pressure the company to provide better working conditions and buy those products.

[Joseph Ledger]

56. +1

[NoMoreWarNow]

79. yeah, I was thinking that too

I understand the turn-off factor of buying clothes from there, but boycotting is probably not going to help those people.

Unfortunately, in this world, if Bangladesh raises prices on their clothes, then the market will move somewhere else cheaper, and there is a ton of competition.

[PD Turk]

58. ...

[NoPasaran]

60. I buy no material goods of any kind at all

I clothe myself in self-righteousness.

[Joseph Ledger]

69. Hah!

[bettyellen]

81. best post of all.

Easy for the OP who can't afford to - and doesn't have to- buy new clothes to exhort others to follow.
What would be the point of earning money if I hoarded it? And I'd be unemployable if I wore only cast offs. Crazy talk.

[A Little Weird]

88. I don't think the OP is advocating hoarding money

But rather making ethical spending choices.

I would much rather my money stay in the US and improve our economy, especially when I see no evidence that money spent on products produced in third world countries has done anything to improve their quality of life. It is exploitation to further enrich the obscenely paid CEOs.

Oh and I would estimate that 90% of what I wear is "cast offs" and I am gainfully employed.

[bettyellen]

90. I think it comes down to whether you care more about the US standard of living or take a global

perspective. And it's great that you know which side your on. Either way, some research into a company's compliance records can help put your mind at ease. There are some "made in USA" factories that are offshore, and as bad as many in India. They close one area, and open another, it seems. Some companies look for loopholes, others strive for better practices. It's not as simple as some would like. Those factory jobs are a way out of desperate poverty for many women in India. Among their peers, they are considered fortunate to have employment. We have to do what we can to raise the bar on maintaining safety standards all workers.

[A Little Weird]

91. Fortunate employees

I don't think the 377 dead factory workers can be considered fortunate by anyone's standards. I agree that we must do what we can to raise the bar for all workers but what we have been doing so far is not working - it is not helping them.

Unfortunately at the point of purchase, a company's compliance record is not readily available. A label of origin usually is, so that is what I go by. I can do more extensive research for online purchases and in that case, I may purchase a product from a company with fair trade practices.

So I will do what I can to not patronize companies that allow this kind of crap to happen. There is only so much any one person can do. And I know that there are some less than stellar job situations in the USA but I think it would be a whole lot harder to have a factory collapse like the one in Bangladesh happen here. Obviously tragedies do happen - like the Texas fertilizer plant - but they are rarer. The Bangladeshi factory was cited recently for unsafe working conditions and yet they forced the employees to continue. A US factory would have been shut down.

I don't have the power to change much of what happens in the world. One of the few things I can control (at least somewhat) is my own spending habits. I will vote with my wallet and hope enough other people do the same to make a difference.

[Agschmid]

64. I'd have to do something much more drastic.

[datasuspect]

77. i was going to switch to animal pelts and furs

but the gun grabbers want all my guns, and the PETA nuts are accusing me of genocide.

sometimes you just can't win.

[politicat]

82. Not changing now, already did.

I make most of my clothes (socks and tights are the exception) so no changes there. Most of my fabric is either vintage/scavenged (estate sales) or American/European mill ends already because I'm a natural fibers snob. I've got a deep bench with regards to my stash. Scrap usually ends up getting used for small projects. My job doesn't require me to dress in any specific way so I dress to suit myself. Choosing to only self-tailor was about 1/3 frustration with current fit, trend, materials and construction, 1/3 concern for working conditions, and 1/3 hobby/self-sufficiency/ personal challenge.

DH has a self directed uniform of black surplus BDUs and a specific type of shirt. We know his trousers are US made of US materials, and while they're not cheap, they wear like iron and last forever. He favors long sleeve polo or Henley shirts, both of which can be hard to find, but he has a tiny bit of a sensoring processing issue, so I have to apply twill tape to any seam in any shirt he buys anyway lest his shirts irritate him. It's just as easy to make his shirts at that point. Same with his underwear; fortunately, those are easy to make.

We get socks and tights from Sock Dreams. About half their stock is US made, a quarter European, and the rest is ethically manufactured in China. American Appparel is another option, but they can be more trendy than either of us likes.

[Omaha Steve]

84. I changed years ago

I've been pushing Buy MADE in the USA on the DU for years.

K&R!

[roody]

87. Yes.

[rainbow4321]

92. My 22 y/o daughter changed her shopping habits from WalMart

to Central Market after watching a 2 hour documentary on Wal Mart in one of her (college business) ethics classes. She made the decision on her own, I didn't know it until I started seeing new grocery bags in our kitchen after she did her part of our grocery shopping. I do my part of our grocery anywhere but Walmart.
I asked her if she liked the new place better, she said yes and then went onto explain what led her to the change.

[bluestate10]

93. 100% of my clothing, socks and shoes are made on the mainland USA

I even know the cities and towns where the merchandise is built by companies that have as one of their reasons for existing, employing American workers under safe working conditions. As sad as the event was, I had nothing to do with the work conditions in Bangladesh, so outside of human compassion for the victims and their families, I have no other feelings, certainly not guilt.