Monday, June 20, 2011

How this all started


I admit it, I am a clothing label snob.  It all started in high school with a certain store founded in 1892, whose ads featured chiseled young men without their shirts.  In college, my allegiance gradually shifted to the ultimate in preppy wear, J. Crew.  My roommate turned me on to InStyle magazine and there was no going back.  Fast forward a few years, and I had added Anthropologie as well as a few actual designer pieces (purchased on sale) to my repertoire.  About a year ago, I started paying more attention to where my favorite brands were made.  I discovered a disturbing trend; with a few exceptions, China or some other Asian country known for cheap labor was the country of origin.  But the clothing I was buying was not cheap—if anything it was considered expensive.  So where was all my money going, if not to the people hunched over sewing machines in a crowded workroom, working long hours to make my cute whatever?  To the stockholders in the company is where.  Once a company goes public, the emphasis becomes profits.  And in order to make the most profits, the cheapest labor possible is used.  In places where labor and environmental protection laws are lax or non-existent.  While I love to shop, I also have strong principles.  I began to think about what my clothes really cost, to the person who made them and to the environment.  (Now I’m not implying that all garment industry workers are abused or mistreated, but unless I have seen the factory myself, I am going to err on the side of caution.)   

So I made the decision to try and buy clothing and accessories only made in the U.S. and other countries with established labor and environmental protection laws, within my budget of $500 or less.  I decided to start this blog to help others with the same goal find the brands and designers that produce their clothing in a responsible way.  So to start, here are a few designers/brands that make their clothing in an “ideal” way.

Eva Franco  evafranco.com 
Classic dresses, tops, and skirts in fun patterns, all made in Los Angeles.
James Perse  jamesperse.com   
Relaxed West Coast fashions, made in the U.S.
Eskell  Eskell.com 
Vintage inspired designs, made in the U.S.
Ready-to-wear line from Alexander McQueen, with many pieces under $500 and most items made in Italy.
American Apparel   americanapparel.net  
As proclaimed on their website, “Crafted with pride in the U.S.A.” Some of their stuff can be pretty funky, but they are clearly committed to the cause!

Happy shopping!

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