American Apparel vs No Sweat!

I do not buy anything made in a sweatshop if I can help it, meaning 99% of the time I'm not supporting it.

My easy solution is to buy everything USED.  Which, I'd actually rather do than buy something new that was ethically made.  There is so much waste in this country and it just makes the most sense to me to recycle!  And save things from filling up a land fill!

When I need something NEW and cannot buy it used, then I do research and find ethical companies.  One example, I needed sandals with serious arch support (not exactly your everyday thrift store find!).  So I researched and found Chaco's they run there plant on wind energy, their sandals are made in Colorado, most of their sandals are vegan, AND they make their sandals so that they can be resoled once the sole wears out.

Some folks say that buying ethical is too expensive, but buying used it SUPER CHEAP!  So when it comes time that you need to buy something new, like you have foot problems and need a solid pair of shoes, you'll be able to spend the cash to get the ethically made goods!

One company that totes itself as sweatshop-free is American Apparel.

I am really frustrated with American Apparel.  I noticed that MOST folks on etsy who screen print use them.  And while I think it's AWESOME that they don't use sweatshops...The fact is that they are union busters and the owner is A SEXUAL HARASSER!  AKA, A TOTALY MISOGYNIST.   NOT TO MENTION THEIR ADS ARE TOTALLY SEXIST.  I feel that anyone who considers him/herself a feminist should not shop at American Apparel.  Try NO SWEAT!

AMERICAN APPAREL IS SEXIST

Because women masturbating for men's pleasure is so feminist!  ARGH!!  This is just one ad!  I found TONS of sexist ads!  I actually didn't believe they were real ads!   They are!  American Apparel is so sexist!

NO SWEAT ROCKS ROSIE!

First of all, their logo is ROSIE THE RIVETER.  So they are getting some major feminist points there!  A little armpit hair and we'd be well on our way! ;)

I would definitely urge the crafting community to start printing on NO SWEAT! union-made apparel.  They sell wholesale!

UGH.  Still a bit more ranting to go.

H&M

H&M.  hahaha.  So I am on their website trying to find a size chart since alot of used clothing I get is from H&M, and I noticed a link called: "Corporate Responsibility" which in itself is an oxymoron with 95% of all companies.  So here's what they have to say about working conditions:

Supply chain working conditions

"H&M sources clothes and other products from about 700 suppliers who in turn use subcontractors. In all, around 2,000 production units and more than 700,000 people are involved in the manufacture of our products.

Our choice of countries of manufacture places particularly high demands on us. We are aware of the risk of human rights violations and non-compliance with local labour law and internationally agreed labour standards. At the same time, we are convinced that we have an opportunity to contribute to better working conditions for all the hundreds of thousands of people who make our products."

So....you are aware that you use sweatshops, but you think that atleast you're giving someone a job!  Yeah, because before farming just wasn't doing it for them!  Being abused emotionally, physically and sexually is a step up!

Go fuck yourselves H&M!  And American Apparel!

::cools off::