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Post by Tiggerwoos on Jul 10, 2006 9:29:36 GMT
OK, I know this isn't a particularly vegan issue, but seeing the ethical bunch vegans are, I thought in a way the 2 do sort of tie in, in a way, but what are your opinions on sweatshops?
Do you make an effort to avoid anything that has been manufactured in a sweatshop, that is fair trade or not?
I for one, honestly haven't, with clothes as whenever I've seen anything at a festival there has been any decent choice and found the prices to be very unreasonable, but recently have been thinking of the issue even more and think more choice should be available.
However, on the occasions if I'm food shopping and see something fairtrade, I will buy that in preference to standard goods.
What is everyone elses view on this?
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Post by Pob on Jul 10, 2006 9:39:00 GMT
I try and buy fairtrade and organic food whenever possible. I've been lax at doing the same with clothes I wear mostly cotton and am man from Matalan at the moment I wear shirt and tie to work. It's not easy to get suitable shirts and trousers in cotton, yet alone organic cotton, and non-sweatshop. Maybe we should try and make our own clothes when possible. Perhaps we should write to Matalan and Primark and other cheap clothing places and ask them what their policies are on checking out factories they buy from. Then we can put pressure on them to get some ethical policies in place. People will pay a few percent extra for the feelgood factor of a fairtrade label. And it rarely does cost much extra, if it is on a large scale, as the cost of even fair 3rd World wages is still a low proportion of the cost of the finished article. I buy my shoes from Vegetarian Shoes, so they are not sweat shop made.
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Post by enchantress on Jul 10, 2006 9:46:56 GMT
I think nearly all my clothes are made in sweatshops . The problem is it's a bit hard for me to get access to ethically made clothes, I live in a small town in the middle of nowhere and I can't buy on-line, and I'm hopeless with a needle and thread, so I'm pretty much limited to high street stores for my clothing needs. Also, because I'm so tiny, it can be a nightmare finding clothes of any description that actually fit me, let alone ethically made ones that do.
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Post by Pob on Jul 10, 2006 9:51:13 GMT
Why not do a clothesmaking course at college and get hold of a sewing machine? T-shirts and skirts should be pretty easy to make. Get a roll of organic cotton and do some tie dying and you got a business right there.
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Post by vaiovegan on Jul 10, 2006 12:22:53 GMT
We buy fair trade and organic.
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Post by veganjohn on Jul 10, 2006 12:57:32 GMT
I always like to buy ethical goods made by ethical companies if I can. One problem I have is knowing which companies are indeed unethical. Is there any way of knowing which companies have their goods made in sweatshops for example? Any definitive 'lists' out there?
In terms of clothing, I wear shoes and trainers made by vegan companies and my only real 'designer' clothes are FCUK, which I can't imagine using sweatshops to produce their products. Oh, I also have some Oakley sunglasses that I got in the US some years ago, long before I was vegan :>
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Post by Gliondrach on Jul 10, 2006 17:34:31 GMT
I won't buy clothes made in China or Korea. That's mainly because I said that I would boycott those countries. The sweatshop question is a difficult one. It could be argued that if no one bought from them the workers would be completely destitute. As for fairtrade - after seeing the markup that supermarkets put on these things, I am loathe to buy them until the producers get paid the extra that is put on the price. I don't go to supermarkets but I don't think I would buy fairtrade. I would rather send money each month to sponsor someone in a poor country.
I could be wrong - I usually am.
Enchantress, if you need dressmaking advice let me know. I am a dab hand with a needle and thread. You should see what I can make from old hessian sacks. They're a bit itchy for underpants but make nice jackets.
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Post by maisiepaisie on Jul 10, 2006 17:38:10 GMT
I do buy fairtrade tea and coffee, and I have 'No Sweat' boots instead of Converse all stars. I must admit though sometimes I do buy cheap clothes from the supermarkets or Primark and Matalan. If I had more more money I would stick to fairtrade but I'm on a tight budget unfortunately
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