Fair trade business casual

[OakLeaf]

Why not shoot for "made in USA"?

That depends on what values the OP puts highest ... and that's going to be a different judgment for every one of us. I don't think Mel meant to exclude USA-made clothing, though, only that she left open the possibility of including things made elsewhere.

Some industries - textiles/garments and agriculture being high on the list - are especially prone to abuses even inside countries that nominally have some labor and environmental protections. The scandals with the northern Marianas islands - the Chinese workers in Italian factories - and the one Shootingstar mentioned in Canada - (not to mention the rampant slavery in agriculture in the continental USA) are proof of that.

I sometimes wonder whether it's better for workers if I buy products of cooperatives in developing countries where there's some independent certifying agency doing inspections - but you still have to wonder whether the certifying agency is trustworthy. But then there's the value of supporting one's own local/regional/national economy. And the environmental costs of shipping. As that Guardian piece pointed out, if you're going to engage with the world rather than withdrawing from it, choices aren't easy or simple, and they usually involve some balancing acts.

[shootingstar]

http://www.tenthousandvillages.ca/cg...egory=homepage

More for non-clothing items, but who knows there may be something that meets your style.

I am aware of this organization over 25 years ago (when they were much smaller) because:

*I went to the national Canadian warehouse headquarters with a friend..just outside of Kitchener-Waterloo in Ontario.