not sure if cheap dress is morally "proper"

SugarSpun

I'm guessing Katykat that you didn't bother to watch the video?

Just because some workers are exploited in any given country doesn't mean that they all are. I'm also interested in your claims that these bridal shops keep their workers in compounds, pay £1.50 a day and refuse to let them leave for two years. May we see your evidence as it relates to these sellers?

Fourcandles_3

It is worth remembering how many of our high street stores have been accused of similar treatment of it's foriegn workers. Asda, M&S, Primark and probably the rest. Unless you shop 100% fairtrade I think it's unavoidable.

Remember even fairtrade only pay a decent wage for their economy.

floss2

Katykat wrote: »

....I don't think any of us would be "happy" to earn £1.50 a day & have to sleep in bunk beds in the compound & not allowed to leave it for 2 yrs. If I thought my dress came from there, I just couldn't buy it. I'm not an activist or any kind of protester, I just think we are so lucky to have "workers rights", however much we moan about our work, we are so much better off than these countries......

It's not all about workers rights - its about different costs of living in different parts of the world.

If your suggested amount of £1.50 a day over in the "sweatshop" was the equivalent of a salary of £15k a year over here, would you be happy then?

And do you actually know what the average salary is in the garment industry in China? In 2008, the average annual salary was 16,222 yuan, which is roughly £1,250 a year - sounds shockingly low doesn't it? But they have a vastly different cost of living - based on figures for a university town, rental for a 2-bed furnished apartment would be roughly £175 - £225 a month, electricity approximately £23 a month, and £55 a year for internet connection.

So really, based on that suggested £1.50 an hour, the equivalent of 20 yuan an hour, based on a 60 hour working week for 2 years with all expenses paid that is roughly 125,000 yuan take home, which probably would buy a house in a rural area.

Wish I could earn enough to buy a house after 2 years work away from home.

aimee21j

picklepick wrote: »

You wouldnt be allowed a refund on a made to measure item anyway. And if you mean through paypal if an item isn't delievered, then i think you'll find the whole cost is refunded included the postage.

On some of the wedding forums this doesn't seem to have happened that way. Maybe theose ones were generic dresses, I don't know. It's a risk I wouldn't take anyway.

I realise this is only one person but it's a story I have read many times. http://reviews.ebay.co.uk/wedding-dresses-from-china_W0QQugidZ10000000001822001

picklepick

aimee21j wrote: »

On some of the wedding forums this doesn't seem to have happened that way. Maybe theose ones were generic dresses, I don't know. It's a risk I wouldn't take anyway.

I realise this is only one person but it's a story I have read many times. http://reviews.ebay.co.uk/wedding-dresses-from-china_W0QQugidZ10000000001822001

Well im sorry but this person obviously didnt do any research... they didnt even bother to read the feedback from the seller!! What sort of idiot would buy a wedding dress from someone without doing their research or even clicking on to check someones feedback score! There are ebay scamsters in this country aswell... not just items coming from china. And im sorry but if you are that stupid you deserve to get done over!!!

Look at the Landy on here (Chinese wedding dress manufaturer) thread if you want to see great examples of dresses made to order and the outcomes. I for one will definitely be ordering when my time comes with no guilty conscience what so ever.

aimee21j

I'm ok thanks. I already have my dress and am delighted with it. I was merely trying to warn people that some brides are being ripped off. I have heard too many horror stories and really don't want to hear any more but I shall slink off the thread now.

Katykat

Can I just point out Sugarspun & Floss, it wasn't me who posted that workers get £1.50 hr & have to live in a compound for 2 yrs.

lindaatno9

Well, sometimes I actually work for nothing! It's my love of the job! Am I exploited?
I think it's a morality issue and exploitation cannot be proved. Bottom line is, do you want to pay a little or a lot. If its a little you gotta leave your scruples at the door!!

SugarSpun

lindaatno9 wrote: »

Well, sometimes I actually work for nothing! It's my love of the job! Am I exploited?
I think it's a morality issue and exploitation cannot be proved. Bottom line is, do you want to pay a little or a lot. If its a little you gotta leave your scruples at the door!!

I don't think that's true - you just have to do your research. Look at the case someone posted about above - she was paying a fortune for a made to measure "designer" dress that was in fact coming from one of the Chinese sellers for over $1000 less than she was being charged. Similar purchases are probably being made by wedding dress shops all over the place. The way I see it is that those sellers simply cut out the middle bit, which is where the real money's going. The dresses are extortionately expensive by Chinese standards - but not by ours. Makers are getting a living wage and we're saving hundreds by going direct.

Think of it as being the same type of thing as buying a flight online and finding a great deal versus going to a travel agent and being locked into their package.

lindaatno9

Without getting into the heated debate of china v's original, I have seen some (not all) chinese versions. 2 ladies from a forum have delt with china. 1 lady (swedish, I was very nearly international!!) was in tears. her dress was supposedly heavy lace and all they had done was stuck bits onto some tulle. She threw it in the bin. An e mail I got in this morning showed a lady I've been advising as she was 50./50 whether to stay uk or order from china. Again heavy beaded/sequined lace. She loves her china dress but is disappointed with the beading/sequins. Paying £175 for a gown which the lace alone costs between £40 and £70m isn't going to give you the super quality. I quoted her around £700 for heavy beaded and pure silk down to £600 for excellent lace but synthetic fabric. But, without putting many china gowns against the originals who's to know? The original was well over £1000.
I'm all for a bargain and I too disagree with mark ups which is why I work from home. Take Sal and her hunt for the JP. You pay for the privelidge of wearing a name. Until I find my place in the wedding trade (which will more than likely be never) I cannot (and will not) charge silly money. I also cannot (and will not) compete with china.