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.

[Melalvai]

I almost bought a pair of slacks online but I couldn't bring myself to shell out $$ for something that might not fit me very well. Or to go to the bike shop (not particularly local, it's 90 miles away) and spent $$ on something that is a little more casual than business casual.

I went to Penney's and bought 2 pairs of slacks.

Maybe next time.

A friend of mine just bought a sewing machine. She's going to learn to sew and make her own clothes. (Her sewing machine was probably constructed in a factory which abuses its employees.)

[shootingstar]

Maybe you will find something later or a solution.

I haven't thrown out my sewing machine. I never, say never to myself.

(I just realized now in looking at the latest annual report for Ten Thousand Villages their national headquarters...is still the same town where I visited them a long time ago, on the edge of Mennonite country. These are "modern" Mennonites, not the horse 'n buggy, though mind you their relatives may have been from the traditional older Mennonites in last few generations.)


I grew up in this county, in the city. And have friends who still live in the region.)