My first blog was about how the prices of clothing are going up in order for items to be sustainable. Otherwise we would have to continue to buy clothes from places that use sweatshop labor. However, in a way sweatshop labor is good, because it is the only chance for the young women, who have left their traditional villages to strive for freedom, to get out of poverty.
Then there is issue of buying fair trade items. Items that we knowingly buy at a more expensive price out of the goodness of our hearts. So we can feel good about helping developing countries get away from horrible working conditions that we cannot even imagine. However, if we only did that then eventually the sweatshops would "ideally" be shut down, so the women striving for liberty would have no hope to getting out of the poverty rut.
Another option is to buy clothes from thrift shops and places like Goodwill at ridiculously cheap prices. But if we only bought clothes from there, then the textile industry would disappear and that would be a tragedy unfathomable. No Chanel? Ha. No more clothes never worn by anyone else? I guess the lingerie department would still be okay.
It is all so overwhelming.
Today my mom and aunt picked me up from NCSU and we took a little shopping trip Crabtree. Tonight I think about the socks I bought at H&M and how they were probably made in a sweatshop and part of me feels a little guilty. Then part of me feels good, because I would love helping a young woman like myself, strive for independence.
When I am cold, I pull out the el pacca pancho I purchased from an old man in a tiny shop in Ecuador. He was so happy every time he sold a poncho or blanket or hat. A huge grin would come across his face and show both of his teeth. You can't help but to love to make people feel that way. When you purchase fair trade items online, you may not get the full feeling of how you are making those people feel, but imagine what I just described and you may come close.
Next, I remember the thrifting spree my mom and I took last weekend. All the sweaters have already lasted one lifetime, now it is ready for another. So the question is which is right and which is wrong? What if only one shopping strategy existed?
When I am cold, I pull out the el pacca pancho I purchased from an old man in a tiny shop in Ecuador. He was so happy every time he sold a poncho or blanket or hat. A huge grin would come across his face and show both of his teeth. You can't help but to love to make people feel that way. When you purchase fair trade items online, you may not get the full feeling of how you are making those people feel, but imagine what I just described and you may come close.
Next, I remember the thrifting spree my mom and I took last weekend. All the sweaters have already lasted one lifetime, now it is ready for another. So the question is which is right and which is wrong? What if only one shopping strategy existed?
Happy shopping!
Madison Broadway
I struggle with this all the time. I want to buy everything "ethical" "fair trade" "rainforest preserve" "organic" "handmade" and so on. But I can't - I can't afford it, I don't have easy access, it's not realistic. And the thrift shops in my town aren't superb. Excuses, excuses.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up some good points. And I love that you are thinking through these things at such a young age. Maybe by the time you're my age (31, ahem) you'll have it all figured out. ;)
Exactly Jess, everything fair trade is so expensive! I take regular trips to Goodwill and I may be in there for hours only finding one or two good items! So finding out about the women in Bangladesh helps me not feel as bad about buying sweatshop items. I guess clothing has a circle of life just like everything else.
ReplyDeleteIf ever do figure it out I will be sure to let you know, thanks for reading!