While it can often be difficult to fully understand where a product we purchase comes from and all the steps that are involved in the supply chain, there is hope. This hope comes in the form of the 2010 Shop with a Conscience Consumer and Wholesale Guide release by the International Labor Rights Forum and SweatFree Communities today. The guide features apparel companies that are committed to workers rights by either sourcing or producing their products from factories where workers have independent unions or worker-owned cooperatives. The guide offers consumers an opportunity to purchase well-made and fashionable apparel along with the knowledge that their purchase supports the rights of workers.
In order to be a listed in the Guide, companies had to meet certain criteria. The criteria can be found here, but in general these companies source or produce from factories that have healthy and safe working conditions, pay wages and benefits that are sufficient to lift workers’ families out of poverty, and treat workers with dignity, respect, and justice. The guide is being released along with the 2010 Sweatshop Hall of Shame, which lists the companies that are the most notorious violators of workers rights.
Through the use of this criteria one won’t find big box stores listed, instead you will find smaller companies, like Justice Clothing, who have made a conscious effort to support the rights of workers. Justice clothing is the brainchild of Mandi and Eric Odier-Fink; two individuals who have been labor and social justice activist for most o their adult lives. Justice Clothing, whose slogan is “we don’t think fashion should hurt,” offers dress shirts, slacks, sports shirts, socks, hats, and underwear along with many other products for both men and women. The great thing about the guide is that Justice Clothing is one of many great companies featured. So whether you are looking for a new pair of shoes or a new skirt, the Consumer Guide has you covered.
In addition to retail stores, the guide also offers choices for those looking for wholesale options. While many of the retailers also offer wholesale options, the Wholesale Guide offers even more options for the growing number of schools, cities, states, community groups, manufactures, and others looking to make wholesale purchases from suppliers that support fair and just labor standards.
This guide is a continuation of ILRF’s efforts to raise consumer awareness about the sweatshop conditions that workers around the world have to endure. ILRF has worked hard to show that sweatshop conditions are not simply an unavoidable byproduct of development, but are in fact the conditions that occur when corporations fail to uphold local, national, and international labor law for the sake of profits. When workers are subjected to sweatshop conditions they are denied the ability to benefit from the economic growth that they play a vital role in creating.
Along with ILRF shoppers can thank SweatFree Communities (SFC) for helping to put together the 2010 Shop with a Conscience Consumer and Wholesale Guide. SFC was founded in 2003 by anti-sweatshop campaigners from around the country who wanted to share resources in the fight to ensure institutional purchasing practices are sweatfree. Since 2003, SFC continues to grow through local activism and by building strong solidarity coalitions. SFC continues to push for more justice in the purchasing practices of cities, states, school districts and other institutions. Through its hard work, SFC has seen recent success stories in places like Berkeley.
By supporting the companies listed in this year’s Shop with a Conscience Guide you will not only help the efforts of ILRF, SweatFree Communities and other anti-sweatshop organizations, but also the workers themselves. It is important for consumers to make their voices heard by not supporting sweatshop labor. Even if the thought of shopping sends a shiver down your back, as it does with me, you can find comfort in the fact that with the Shop with a Conscience Consumer Guide, the shopping that you do take part in this year will go towards supporting the rights of workers.
