(XL) My Shopping & Style Mantra -- Wear and Buy Made in the USA - YouLookFab Forum

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(XL) My Shopping & Style Mantra -- Wear and Buy Made in the USA

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I have been impressed when others have stated their style goals, epiphanies and value statements. For example, as ClearlyClaire http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....word-heavy
and Kate have. http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....opping-ban

Both have influenced me, especially Kate because she added values to her style mix. Kate, I have been thinking about what you wrote for months, actually.

Since 10/29/11, I have been putting my own style mantra into practice. It is simple, and yes, it is dogmatic:

WEAR AND BUY MADE IN THE USA CLOTHING, SHOES AND ACCESSORIES. MOSTLY.

Recently, the activities of the Occupy Wall Street movement have made me think more about what I can do to help our country. Here's my reasoning: if everyone bought US goods, there would be more demand for US goods, then there would be more jobs to make US made goods. I know, simplistic, but it's got to start somewhere, so it might as well start here, with me, today.

Now, I understand that it might be difficult to wear US made clothes & accessories 100% of the time. So I have devised myself some alternatives. Basically, I will let myself wear things from all other countries except China. I am getting rid of the majority of my made in China items. It has to be a really good reason, a really meaningful necessity, for me to wear anything Made in China. An example might be: hair clips. I cannot find hair clips or barrettes made in the US or anywhere else.

This is not meant as an attack against China or Chinese people. I am impressed that China's standard of living has improved. But until there is an improvement in the balance of trade deficit between the US and China, I am going to refrain from buying new (or used, for that matter) things from China, and will wear only a few of my existing things, and only if I have no other choices.

This is a very personal choice. Again, I this is not meant as criticism against Chinese people, their workmanship, or amazing economic success. Once the trade deficit is more balanced, or once the US gets back on its feet with lower unemployment, then I may reconsider my manifesto.

I will write more about this, and my WIWs will, of course, reflect my new practices.

ETA: Whoa! This sounds very heavy and serious! I still do plan to have fun with fashion, folks! ; D

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from CocoLion

AJ

Veteran

Nothing wrong with having a focus for your style journey. Good for you!

HeleenH

Veteran

I like your idea, not only to help your country's economy, but also because the clothes haven't been hauled around half the globe, so it makes sense from an environmental point of view.

missvee

Veteran

Interestingly China is being undercut price-wise by countries like Vietnam and Cambodia, so you may have to widen your restricted zone! I'm in Canada and I'm always pleased to find clothing that's made here but it's really hard unless you shop local designers who make their clothes in smaller quantities. It's not a straightforward issue though as many North American companies headquartered here have their design, sales, finance, marketing, and distribution centres here, but contract their manufacturing offshore, so a boycott on Made Elsewhere items hurts local jobs too.

bj1111

Veteran

fyi...high end designers have most of the assembly done off-shore eg china, then have the finishing done locally, say italy...so the label will say "made in italy" even if only a minute fraction of the work was actually done at the end country.

as missvee says, it's a complicated situation, which may lead to unintended consequences.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Admirable goals... just curious, what are you going to do with all of your current fab clothes? It would be a shame and wasteful to get rid of perfectly good clothes!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Thank you Heleen, I hadn't thought so much of the environmental impact but yes that is an added bonus.

AJ -- thanks for the encouragement.

Missvee -- you are right this could hurt local jobs but I want to support companies that support American or Canadian or EU labor. The US does not have the staggering deficit with Vietnam or Cambodia that it does with China. I think me buying Elsewhere goods is s slippery slope. I only set that rule for myself (temporarily) because I cannot find any US-made bras! I have one French made bra, the others are from China, even the expensive ones with French brand names. I did find a few from Indonesia. So I needed some way to fill certain categories with what I perceive as the "lesser of evils."

Modgrl -- I still have a few Chinese made clothes that I love, I am trying to decide what to do with them. A few of them have never been worn, with tags, so I will try and return them.

BJ -- I know my pledge is dogmatic and imperfect. Thank you for pointing out the "holes." I think that in Italy there may be loopholes with manufacturing, I have read about that. I don't have too many Italian made things. I believe the US is stricter about such things, and would have to state "assembled in xxx" "finished in XXX" at least that is how detailed I have seen some labels. But I could be wrong.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I admire the reasoning behind your shopping strategy, even if it's not foolproof due to the way commerce works these days! My father was touting the same shopping mantra in the early 90's when China first really started to get going, trade-wise. Good luck with your endeavor!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Thank you Mo! Detroit also had a campaign like this when Japanese imports became a threat. The Japanese listened and started building a lot of their cars here. China has come on as much more of a threat with a bigger trade deficit, but we don't seem to care. And I heard yesterday on the news that China and Russia are targeting the high tech arena of US business, and there is a cyber spying/crime problem already.

Kappy

Veteran

I think that's an admirable personal goal, and you should always do what you believe is right. However, if every person in every country only bought what was made in their own country the global economy would change drastically. Here's one interesting article:
http://money.msn.com/how-to-bu.....rican.aspx

HelenInCanada

Veteran

Ouch, this has the potential to become a very controversially politically charged discussion...but I will commend you for caring about the success and fate of your country, CocoLion! Your intent is admirable, and I wish you luck!

From what I know about globalization, the countries which were struggling to attain a better standard of living (having necessities plus nice things for MANY more people) as the 'first world' enjoys are now enjoying some of that success. The increase in wealth & buying power as a result of incredible work ethic and sacrifice as well as the trade agreements, etc. has definitely helped bring more equality in terms of sharing the wealth of the world. Consumers always have a choice to buy what they want/need, and can choose to support a locally made product, etc. Boycotting, though, always results in thousands losing their jobs both here & abroad - and although no one should ever support exploitation of workers whose productivity is very high - US companies that save on labour costs by having factories in Asia, etc (because people are willing to work for less money & benefits), will fail and that in turn affects Americans. It's just a more complex system now that nations are intertwined in the global economy. I'm no economist, but this is how I understand it.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the link Kappy and for the post Helen.

I am a product of an American education (MBA) whose professors would shame me for my protectionist, dated, xenophobic outlook.

I am not saying trade is bad. I am saying trade needs to be balanced. We have a huge deficit with China. We need to pay more for better made items, or maybe buy fewer of them. This thinking that the cheapest manufacturing, anywhere in the world, is always the best way to go, benefits that capitalist system, not American labor. We have seen, with the re-distribution of wealth figures recently, that the top of the chain keeps these spoils from cheap labor, they do not get passed down to the American working class.

I am really disappointed in brands like Ralph Lauren or Tommy Hilfiger whose whole image is "American style." And almost everything they sell is made in China.

HelenInCanada

Veteran

I agree with your concerns, CocoLion. Obviously the geniuses - I use the term lightly - in Washington haven't solved the case of the vanishing US manufacturing jobs yet. I'm not sure all American workers would accept the pay, hours, conditions & high quotas that employees in parts of Asia do, though, and unfortunately for a huge company, profits are the goal. Globalization has definitely been a revolution, and the growing pains for some are evident.

Kappy

Veteran

Even if you buy from American manufacturers I would guess that the bulk of the profits accrue to the shareholders not the employees. Maybe you could look at buying directly from individuals? Jewelry designers, newly graduated design students, etsy artisans or local seamstresses, for example. Then the profit would benefit the individual with the skill?

Kate

Veteran

Coco, I’m so happy that my post helped inspire this part of your shopping journey, and that you’ve made it work in a way that fits with your values! I think that this world would be a much better place if people's values guided more of their behavior.

I’m going to try to post a bunch of the resources I’ve found over the last month, but unfortunately a lot of them aren’t fully made in the USA. Even a lot of companies that make the clothes in the US get their raw materials from other countries, so it’s hard to fully trace things back to the beginning. That’s why I’ve ended up focusing more on all around company ethics, but that’s difficult too.

Anyway, good luck and keep us posted!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think it's admirable to bring your personal values into the dressing room with you, and I wish you luck! Supporting local labour is a good thing.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Kappy -- that's a great idea! At our restaurant, we try and buy local ingredients. We buy grass-fed beef from a local rancher, and this program has become very popular among our customers.

Thank you Kate for reading my post, I'm really glad you found it. I agree it is not a simple equation, especially when it comes to sourcing materials. I look forward to checking your resources.

Thank you for the support Suz! A lot of the brands I like to support are actually made in California. If the US gov't were more supportive, they could create quite a prestigious fashion industry out of US style. The premium denim phenomenon is very much US-made; although the best fabrics tend to come from Japan and Italy. People are now willing to pay $200 for a pair of jeans because they are worth it. If used as a role model, we could create quite a textile and apparel business again in the US. It is my hope that things are actually moving in this direction.

I just purchased some items from a YLF favorite, Karen Kane. Most of their clothing is still US made, and at reasonable prices (cheap when on sale, actually!)

Sylvie

Veteran

I really respect what you are trying to do by only buying US made products.

In the ideal world, I would like to do something similar but different - only buy clothing made by workers getting paid living wages, in a reasonable work environment, who have time off and healthcare, etc. If the workers can't afford to buy the product themselves (even after saving for a few months), something is not right. Practically, it's hard to know what is made where and under what conditions. Also, sometimes clothing made under those conditions is simply not available or just too expensive.

For me, it's a goal to strive towards, not an absolute. For now, if I can buy something made in the US or Canada or Europe or from an independent artisan, I will. However, that's probably less than 10% of my wardrobe.

I'm definitely interested to see from where you end up purchasing your clothes so that I can get some shopping leads and try to up that percentage a little.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Sylvie -- thanks for the comment. I have to go to work so I can't respond now but I will later.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Sylvie -- I have some time to respond now. I believe that veteran forum member Kate has looked into the whole issue of ethical production and labor practices. She also takes in environmental considerations. She said she is working on providing more resources for us so keep looking!

I hear you on the goal rather than the absolute! I think this is easier for me because for many years I have been preferring USA made goods. So I already have quite a collection. It is only recently that I decided to make it a stricter rule for myself, if you will. However I can see in some categories this will be a huge challenge -- lingerie, shoes -- very hard to find things not made in China.