Ethical clothes?

Idiophreak

ItsOnlyMe wrote: »

However, I am finding that as a man the choice of ethical clothing is somewhat limited, especially for the likes of jeans.

Road jeans are pretty trendy and kinda ethical too

"All our clothing has a label celebrating the fact that everyone involved in the production of the garment is paid a decent living wage. Some of our clothing is made abroad but you can be assured we make sure all the workers are paid properly and are well looked after by the factories we use. "

http://www.roadjeans.com

Idiophreak

As for charity shops, whilst I broadly agree with the idea, I'm not sure how well it works in the bigger picture...If you're not actively supporting those who make their clothes ethically, and if you're buying sweatshop-made clothes, allbeit second hand...are you really imposing yourself as a market force? Will shopping at charity shops actually improve things for those that are suffering?

Sarahsaver

Yes because they will make less.
the alternative would be consuming for the sake of consuming, or buying a new shirt because it helped someone in a 3rd world country rather than needing a shirt. There are other ways to help people out of poverty and exploitation.

Idiophreak

Sarahsaver wrote: »

Yes because they will make less.

Which means to say, surely there'll be less people working in the sweatshops who, instead, will be starving on the streets and less people employed by reputable factories - instead starving on the streets....

Now, if everyone just bought all their clothes from the reputable places, the number working in sweatshops would decrease, but the number in reputable factories would increase...

But you're right, clothes shopping isn't a charitable concern, generally.

ItsOnlyMe_2

When clothes carry the fairtrade logo, does this mean that the clothes themselves are produced under fair conditions or not? When I look at fair trade products they seem to refer to the cotton farmers conditions (i.e. the cotton is fair trade), not the clothes producers conditions.

So in buying fair trade clothing, could I still be purchasing clothes that have been produced in sweat shop conditions??

Be interested to hear your views...

Sarahsaver

It seems to be a by-word for 'charge twice as much.
i dont know where the 'fair trade' bit applied to the 150 rupee bags in India.

leonie08

ItsOnlyMe wrote: »

When clothes carry the fairtrade logo, does this mean that the clothes themselves are produced under fair conditions or not? When I look at fair trade products they seem to refer to the cotton farmers conditions (i.e. the cotton is fair trade), not the clothes producers conditions.

So in buying fair trade clothing, could I still be purchasing clothes that have been produced in sweat shop conditions??

Be interested to hear your views...

The FAIRTRADE mark (one word) will mean the cotton farmers have been paid well. Companies such as www.piccalilly.co.uk www.hug.co.uk and www.welovefrugi.co.uk produce clothing and make sure everybody in the supply chain get a fair deal.

There are lots of small companies around who only sell products that from this type of producer eg www.babipur.co.uk & www.globalkids.co.uk

P__G

http://www.oxfam.co.uk/shop

Squelchy

https://www.peopletree.co.uk is good quality and style but about high-street prices. They have a wide range of fair trade organic clothes.

mummytofour

jo_b wrote: »

I can recommend www.howies.co.uk They are an online company based in Wales and deliver all over the country.

Their products include organic clothing and recycled cotton items. They can be a bit pricey but had a good sale recently.

Nice stuff, but my gosh £20 for a pair of pants! Saying that the kids t shirts are funky.:cool: