Check the label on your clothes.

[Gravitycollapse]

If it says "Made in Bangladesh," you have greater ties to this building collapse than you previously thought.

I've already found one shirt in my closet. There likely are others.

Make no mistake. When you get really exceptionally angry about the deplorable conditions and utter lack of safety regulations these workers fell victim to, it is you, the Western consumer, who holds much of the blame.

We want abundant resources at the lowest fiscal cost possible. And now we have more blood on our hands. The capitalist machine plows onward. In the coming months another poorly constructed shithole will fill the empty space left by this building collapse. More grossly underpaid workers will be herded inside.

And we will have our goddamn v-necks and boot-cut jeans at "reasonable" prices.

[madokie]

1. I'll tell you right off there is no made in Bangladesh clothes in our house

[MineralMan]

2. Nope. Nothing in my closet.

I check before buying.

[bluestate10]

14. Same here. I don't have to look. I have purchased mainland USA made clothing, socks, underwear,

shoes for four years or more. I spend more time shopping and pay more money, but when offshore factories collapse or burn down, killing multitudes of destitute workers, I don't have to run off to check labels in my closet.

[JaneyVee]

3. I've been buying 99% of my clothes from American Apparel for a long time.

I wish USA made more consumer appliances & electronics.

[bluestate10]

8. I have purchased 100% of everything I wear from mainland USA manufacturers for four plus years.

I am moving into items like computer carrying bags now, I hard to find them, but there are mainland USA computer carrying bag manufacturers.

[bluestate10]

9. JaneyVee. Finding USA made electronics and appliances is tough, that is the one area that

wealthy people that want to see more manufacturing in the USA can make a difference in.

[BrotherIvan]

22. I'm really sorry to say this and nothing against you

But the owner of American Apparel should be in jail. I work in textiles in LA and everything in this article is widely known. He sexually harasses his workers and treats them terribly. I'm sorry to say as I do appreciate your trying to buy American and sweatshop-free.

http://theweek.com/article/index/204413/american-apparel-a-timeline-of-controversy

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I likely share some of this blame...

Although none of my clothes (that I am aware of) come from Bangladesh.

Mine mostly say Vietnam or Peru.

But that's not to say they were not constructed under similar circumstances.

[Brickbat]

5. I check before buying, and buy very few clothes. I recommend that everyone take a day and look at

the made-in label of everything their wear, eat, use and touch throughout the day. Everything. When I ask friends to do this they are always amazed at how little is made here anymore. And if it says "Made in China" or Bangladesh or India or a host of other countries, it is very difficult to guarantee, much less check, that the conditions it was made in differ much at all from conditions at the collapsed building.

[Skittles]

26. not to mention the clothes are of INFERIOR QUALITY

we are not SAVING MONEY

[Brickbat]

27. Right on. "Saving money" was a dodge. Prices didn't go down. Profits went up.

[Ilsa]

6. None say Bangladesh.

India, Jordan, and Sri Lanka are on some labels.

[bluestate10]

10. The conditions are just as bad. nt

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

7. I just checked....

4 of my dress shirts were made in Bangladesh, 3 from Kenneth Cole and 1 from Arrow. I'm surprised at Arrow, since they are an iconic brand of dress shirts that has been around in the US for over 100 years.

I am very disappointed in the state of affairs with clothing and outsourcing. My small town in PA had a shirt factory that used to make Van Heusen dress shirts. The factory has been closed for more than 20 years, and the building in the middle of town is falling apart. So sad considering the number of Americans that would LOVE to have a good paying factory job.

On a similar note, does anyone know of a decent brand of dress shirts that are made in the US? One is Brooks Brothers, but I can't spend $88 on one dress shirt. The only somewhat affordable option I know of is Hart Schaffner Marx, where dress shirts are often on-sale for $44.

[bluestate10]

13. One of the unfortunate facts is that because americans have a "cheap" lust, american made shirts

tend to cost $85 or more. BUT, if you buy one, they last a long time. I wear Gitman Brothers shirts, they are not cheap, but I can use them in some form for three years are more if I wanted to. I have never had to replace a button or had seams come undone. I often donate the shirts because I want newer styles or different colors.

The interesting fact is that if more consumers pressured retailers like Macy's, JC Penny's and Sears to stock shirts from a Gitman brothers or trousers from several American made brands, the price that each of us pay would drop due to those manufacturers having large volume orders. A Bangladeshi company that treat it's workers like animals can make 500,000 shirts without concerns because Sears, JC Penny's and Macy's will buy the shirts, mark up the price to sell a $44 dress shirt that cost $2 or less to make.

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

17. Exactly...

Some of the mark-ups on these shirts are unbelievable, and the quality is just terrible. One thing that I have complained about for years is how department stores, especially Kohls - they are notorious for this, DRASTICALLY increase the price of a shirt, then put it on sale for something ridiculous like 60-80% off, and the ordinary American consumer thinks they are getting such a deal and such good quality. One of my biggest pet peeves.

Thanks for the info about Gitman Brothers shirts. I first heard of them a few months ago, and I will have to keep a look out for them!

[panader0]

11. What happened in Bangladesh was horrific

What happened in West, Texas was horrific too. Both are just the tip of the problem of the exploited worker.
Yet, who will hurt the most by a boycott of clothing from Bangladesh?
Will such a boycott cause Penney's or Target or Wal-Mart to stop buying their goods and eventually lead to better and safer conditions
for workers? I hope so. But I think, as in so many cases, the rich do not suffer, but the workers themselves will be out of a job.
Yes, a dangerous job, but one that feeds their families.
I will be checking my labels. I want products produced by Americans.

[HiPointDem]

12. why should making clothes be a dangerous job? there are some jobs that are inherently dangerous,

like building dams.

but the only reason making clothes is dangerous is because capital wills it to be.

[newmember]

15. I wish I could afford tobuy only clothes made in the U.S

This past fall I was shopping for a well made fleece jacket made in the U.S

The cheapest I could find was $245.00
I can't pay that much just for a fleece jacket

[badtoworse]

16. I check labels and buy made in USA whenever I can

Clothes are tough though - practically nothing is made here anymore. Anyone have any ideas where to find dress shirts, ties, slacks, business casual, etc. that is made here? I don't mind paying a premium.

[Blue_In_AK]

18. I have clothes made in India because I like the style,

but I don't think I have any Bangladeshi stuff. I'll check.

[limpyhobbler]

19. k/r. nt

[AtheistCrusader]

20. I'd say about 2/3 of my closet is non-US.

Which sucks. None of it seems to be from Bangladesh though.

Dunno. I buy what I can afford. None of my clothes are 'fashionable' in any sense of the term.

[leftieNanner]

21. And How about SHOES???

They're not made in Bangladesh, but it's so difficult to buy US made shoes. They are either the Pay Less cheap crap, or the super expensive Italian ones. I heard that New Balance made shoes here, but haven't been able to find them. Looking at labels is tricky with clothing, though. Some things that say they are made in the US come from Guam and Saipan where the working conditions aren't that much better than they are in other overseas places.

We all need to be conscious consumers.

[BrotherIvan]

23. As a US small business manufacturer I want to thank everyone for caring

I really appreciate everyone putting in the effort and caring so much about what they buy and where it was made. The textile industry is dying in this country because of the demand for rock-bottom, low-quality goods. If consumers demanded Made in USA, the manufacturing would come back. It's really that simple.

I also do my very best to only buy from American manufacturers. I don't always succeed, especially for electronics, but often I find I can do without as well. I feel so awful for those workers in Bangladesh. It has been haunting me all day. And I swore that I will not have blood on my hands so I can fill my home with cheap goods.

[flvegan]

24. LOL! Check your head.

Yes, clothes. Good for you.

Keep going, keep digging.

[Skittles]

25. STOP TELLING ME I AM TO BLAME

I don't NOT recall asking for my clothes to become CHEAP DISPOSABLE GARBAGE - I don't remember EVER asking jobs to be pimped offshore - I never supported ANY of this crap - WE ARE NOT THE ONES SAVING MONEY - IT IS THE 1% MAKING MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ilsa]

34. Nailed it. And along with this

goes the responsibility of employers to pay wages decent enough that employees can afford to buy locally made goods.

[bike man]

28. Check the label on the bottom of your keyboard. How many are made in China? How

many threads/posts have there been re exploitation of workers there? And yet, WE continue to buy the stuff.

[CBGLuthier]

29. Bullshit again.

I have not got one fucking thing to do with the fact that the Bangladeshi government sucks. You can feel as god damned guilty as you like but I will not be lumped into this dubious bullshit society.

Bangladesh can fix their own fucking country.

[raouldukelives]

30. Might also take a moment to scan your portfolios. Just to make sure your not one of the owners. nt

[pipi_k]

31. Unintended consequences...

OK, I have to ask the question...

Are all factories in Bangladesh (or whatever Second or Third World country) bad?

Because if they're NOT all bad, then refusing to buy anything from those countries may or may not hurt the bad companies, but the unintended consequences would be that boycotting those countries could also hurt companies that do treat their workers decently. And if those companies are harmed, what happens to the people who worked there?

Right. They are out of a job. Begging in the streets.

People talk about boycotting things all the time. Let's boycott this...let's boycott that...

Sometimes it's places like BP after the Gulf oil "spill".

Sometimes it's boycotting businesses owned by Republicans.

And people think they're doing all kinds of "good", when in reality their actions could be hurting a lot of innocent people.

I'm not posing this as justification for buying from Bangladesh or wherever, as I think there are no easy answers...just wondering if people ever stop to think that great ideas can often end up hurting a lot of innocent people.

Similar to the idea of "collateral damage" during war...

[Ilsa]

35. I checked the corporate responsibility code of a retailer

whose apparel I purchase. They say that they require compliance with the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 (SB 657) when hiring a factory, and that they conduct annual inspections and surprise audits.

My guess is that some factories might be better options for workers compared to others.

[laundry_queen]

32. Oddly enough the few pieces I did find made in Bangledesh were NOT 'cheap'

In my 'cheap' clothing (sweats and tees, mostly from walmart and old navy) it was almost all China, Vietnam or Cambodia (yes I realize they aren't much better, but they do pay more...which is why Bangledesh is becoming more popular for manufacturers). The 2 pieces that are 'dressy' - one I bought, one I had handed down to me, from a plus size store that's not generally 'cheap' are the ones made in Bangledesh. The rest of my 'good' clothing was made in the US.

Let's get one thing straight though - it's unfair to lay the blame on the American (or in my case Canadian) consumer. Wages have NOT kept pace with inflation. Many people are barely keeping their head above water (I'm a single mom of 4 who is in school full time, I count myself in that category). Why are you blaming THEM for needing cheaper clothing? What about corporations not paying decent wages? The kicker is - outsourcing to countries with cheap labor doesn't bring down the price THAT much - most of the difference is pocketed by the 1% in the form of growing profits. You think every time they find a way to cut costs, they lower prices? LOL! No fucking way - that goes into their earnings per share! People who own stocks are more complicit, imo, than your average poor person needing cheap pants.

[Ilsa]

33. What if the company requires compliance with

the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 (SB 657)? If the factory is undergoing annual audits and surprise audits, would that be enough to prevent unsafe conditions or abuse?

[Savannahmann]

36. It's a tricky thing isn't it?

Find shoes made in the USA. They are inevitably expensive by comparison. The quality probably isn't going to be that good.

True story. Just under ten years ago, I was in the market for a mini-van. I don't have children, but do have some things to haul from time to time, things I'd rather not have in the weather. I looked at domestic manufactured first. The Ford version of the van was nearly twice what the Kia cost. Twice. Now, let's be honest. Getting two for the price of one, that's a good bargain. Getting one for the price of two? Not so much. I looked at Dodge, and I looked at GM. The Kia is what I went for, better price, better warranty, and thus better value.

Now, I've had some arguments with people who said I wasn't supporting America. But was I stabbing it that hard in the back? First, the ship carrying the cars had to dock somewhere. That meant a Pilot to guide it, and tugboats with crews, American Crews, to help it alongside the dock. Then ILA (East coast) or ILWA (West coast) workers had to unload the ship. ILA Clerks checked each car as it came off, and again as it left the staging area. Then truckers, and the big auto haulers tend to be Union, so figure 80% chance they were Teamsters carried the cars, or Railroad employees, Railroad union members, loaded and then carried the cars.

For cars made domestically, the ILA get's none of that unless we are shipping overseas, which we are, but not nearly as much as we import.

A foreign company that opened a plant in Georgia. Ford shut the plant they had in Atlanta down, but Kia opened one.

So buying imports is often the only way to get more for your money. Often it is hard to justify the added expense, when you are on a budget, for the honor of buying American. The Ford was nearly twice as much, with taxes, it would have been twice as much for the same van, with a shorter warranty period. The plant in Bangladesh was one that collapsed. One out of how many hundred, or thousand? Trying to make us feel guilty for buying products based upon price, in this economy, when most of us have little cash to spare, isn't exactly the best way to go my friend.

Most of us don't have the twice, or three, or even four times the amount to spend just to buy something from an American Company. Most of us are sitting at the end of the month, and trying to figure out how we'll pay the bills that are due. Most of us are trying to survive, and we'll take the bargains we can, because that means we can get another set of clothing for our children, or a doctors appointment, or something else that we feel is needed. Most of us here are just trying to make it week to week, and month to month.