To ensure you are buying sweatshop-free clothing, look for union tags, fair trade labels, and ethical consumer guides. By indicating a preference for sweatshop-free clothing, you can encourage more companies to adopt ethical labor practices and help end modern day slavery.
There are a number of ways to know you’re buying sweatshop-free clothing, from using ethical consumer guides to buying clothing directly from its producers. By becoming more aware of the use of sweatshops in the clothing trade, it can also help put pressure on conventional clothing manufacturers. Consumer demand often results in major industry changes; By indicating a preference for sweatshop-free clothing, you can encourage more companies to adopt ethical labor practices.
Garment labels are a great place to start. One of the best signs that a garment was not made in a sweatshop is a union tag; UNITE is an international union that makes factory-free clothing, for example. Look for a tag that is clearly sewn into the garment, as some unscrupulous dealers may add binding tags to sweatshop-produced garments. You can also look for clothing with fair trade labels.
Fair trade consumer goods are an excellent choice for the consumer because the supply chain is short and tightly controlled. The goal is to get as much profit as possible from the producer; and producers who use sweatshops or other questionable labor practices are denied fair trade certification. While many people associate garment production in developing countries with sweatshops, it’s possible to find sweatshop-free clothing in places like Africa and Asia, with a little digging. You can find Fair Trade Certified products through worker collectives and at many mainstream retailers.
Another option for you is to look for producers and retailers that have committed to anti-sweatshop values. Many organizations publish ethical consumer guides, especially during the holiday season, that list their recommendations for sources of factory-free clothing. Worker rights organizations, unions, and activist organizations are good sources for these guides. You can also check with colleges and universities; many student organizations promote non-athletic clothing for their college stores, and these groups can provide lists of manufacturers of safe clothing.
The price of clothes without machinery may be higher than that of clothes produced in the maquilas, but as a consumer you can be sure that the people who made your clothes are earning a living wage and living in safe conditions. Sweatshops can be found all over the world and typically have a host of illegal conditions, including child laborers, unsafe working conditions, and long working hours. In some cases, these workers are virtual slaves; By taking a stand against sweatshop-produced clothing, you can help end modern day slavery.
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