Posted by: silencedosomething | March 22, 2008

Clothing and Shoes

In searching for clothing and shoe companies, I have found there are many companies that seemingly care about ethical treatment of all animals (furry and human alike) and beng made in the US or in positive foreign factory envirnoments, but on closer inspection they raise questions for me.  For example, New Balance was founded in the US and retains five factories here, but the materials are not from here and there is no explanation on content of said shoes and practices (animal rights, eco-safe, and the like).  I stumbled across an interesting article to share, while searching for viable clothing and shoe sites for this section.

http://www.thevegetariansite.com/ed_shoes.htm

Munro Shoes

Made in the USA and committed to keeping it that way.

http://www.munroshoes.com/

Beyond Skin  (shoes)

Ethical footwear handmade to order in London, England.  All materials are man made (check out the about us section to see their comparisons of PVC v.PU and leather v. man made) and apercentage of all profits go to ethical charities.

http://www.beyondskin.co.uk/html/home.php

Esperanza Threads

Organic cotton clothing made in the USA and advocating fair trade and fair wage practices.

http://www.esperanzathreads.com/

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Responses

That’s a really interesting article. I’ve actually talked (online) with Earth shoes employees, and at least as of a couple years ago, they are encouraged (at all levels of the company) to go on trips to China to visit the factories where the shoes are made, and help ensure that certain standards are met. I’m sure it isn’t perfect.

It brings up a great point about fair-trade in general, regardless of what is being sold - “fair trade” is a relative term. It never means that someone in China is paid the same wage as the same worker doing the same work in the U.S. would be paid. It simply means a fair (or more fair) wage relative to the country the work is performed in.

Not always especially fair, in the end. Not taking companies at their face value is so important, and I’m really excited to see that you’re looking into things on a more than superficial level! The job of their marketing groups, after all, is to sell us stuff. Our job is to be critical, and therefore conscious of what exactly we’re supporting with our money.

Let me know if you ever need help emailing companies, or researching or whatever!

Thank you so much for your insight and willingness to help. If you’re interested, would you like to be a contributor to the site? Let me know and you’ll be added. :) Frankly, I think you’d be perfect and have so much knowledge, I learn something new from all your comments. Thanks for caring. *hugs* MHQ

By: Deb on March 27, 2008
at 2:21 am

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