YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency? https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 19 May 2026 14:02:09 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php BlondeAmbition on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/3#post-1646066 Mon, 18 Apr 2016 13:43:28 +0000 BlondeAmbition 1646066@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I try not to allow my political beliefs to interfere with my shopping. But what I do care about most is women's issues within the fashion industry. Being a plus sized woman I feel underrepresented and undervalued in the fashion industry. I will shop anywhere where there are plus sized clothes sold, and nowhere where plus sized clothes are not offered and that's not by my own choosing. You'd be amazed at how many stores do not welcome me. Lane Bryant is one of the only brick and mortar stores that I can shop in. I also try to avoid major department stores because they think it is totally appropriate to place the plus size section in a completely random part of the store away from the regularly sized clothing and most likely next to the furniture section. By shopping there I feel like I'm saying "that's ok that you don't want us front and center wth the regular women." I do not support major fashion designers like Lagerfeld for example because of demeaning comments made about larger women and truly believe that clothes should be affordable, and selling a handbag for $5,000 for example is beyond ridiculous, I wouldn't buy it if I had it so I refrain from longing for shallow things like that. I also boycott fashion magazines for similar reasons, the diet mentality has done so much damage that I cannot be a participant in any way. RoseandJoan on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/3#post-1646018 Mon, 18 Apr 2016 11:29:27 +0000 RoseandJoan 1646018@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ ledonna , how great your shopping pattern now soothes your conscience and assists your local economy. Ledonna N. on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/3#post-1646015 Mon, 18 Apr 2016 11:20:58 +0000 Ledonna N. 1646015@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Very Excellent Topic. I have slowly but surely stop shopping a large retail stores.  I don't know when It first happened.  I have always shopped Thrift stores I order my undergarments and foundation pieces from a local company.  I support artist made and up cycled or recycled clothing.  I no longer support the mega charities.  I shop at independent owned thrifts.  I host clothing and jewelry Shops.  I donate to smaller or independent owned thrifts.  Shoes I do have to purchase but I am very comfortable with what I have in my wardrobe for now and some years to come. I think sometime I am or was so wasteful in spending and purchasing.  I began to see how much I could save and what I did not need.  I began to look at what I consider the miss truths about how some charities are pocketing large amounts of monies or monies donated somehow are mismanaged.  I began to look at how some of the corporate and for profit thrifts treated the employees and talking to the employees there has been a major and intentional shift in what I buy How I buy and When I buy, I like who I am now when I choose to purchase from local artist or thrifted items or smaller charities where I can see the impact of what I am giving and or buying.  I feel like I still keep current on fashion.  But I was never able to follow the crowd. So I don't mind being out of step if I'm not in the latest or greatest.   I hope I did not ramble to excessively.  April on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/3#post-1646004 Mon, 18 Apr 2016 10:54:18 +0000 April 1646004@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You bet, RL.  Huge issue in New York City. rachylou on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/3#post-1645923 Mon, 18 Apr 2016 01:23:56 +0000 rachylou 1645923@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Net gain to City HALL. Huge problem out here too. All the towns are building for the wealthy and driving out actively the current populace. The people who actually maintain the city functions: Fire, police, waste management, teachers, food service... April on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/3#post-1645918 Mon, 18 Apr 2016 01:03:03 +0000 April 1645918@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Rachylou -- anyone who pays attention to New York City real estate (for whatever reason) will see immediately that this exact model you describe is very much in effect in Manhattan -- and now Brooklyn -- as well, only reversed.  Extremely wealthy people from other countries, who don't plan to live in NYC but still want to own a place there, pay outrageous prices for apartments that then sit empty most of the year.  Those prices in turn make the city unaffordable for a huge percentage of the American public. The previous mayor of NYC saw that as an okay trade-off -- wealthy "residents" who don't actually live in the city pay huge taxes but use zero services, so the net gain is to the city -- but the current mayor disagrees. And so it goes.  :) CocoLion on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/3#post-1645312 Sat, 16 Apr 2016 07:24:46 +0000 CocoLion 1645312@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ So much to think about here!  You never know the whole picture do you? I've shared this before on YLF but my brother has worked at The North Face for many years, 30 I think.  They have taken very good care of him, treated him well.  I think Patagonia offered him a contract in the 90s but he stuck with TNF.  I never asked him exactly why, but he is very loyal.  I know they are bigger and more corporate as they are owned by Vanity Fair, whom he speaks highly of.  He started as a field tester for their clothing and gear.  That was a long time ago.  If only fashion companies took this mindset of tweaking their goods after field testing.   Note to Kit and Ace --a field-tested claim might work well with their technical fabric positioning. Rabbit, I love that TJs is receptive to customer input.  So is Costco.  I've seen items re-stocked after leaving a note in the box.  Plus it's reassuring to see the same employees there, year after year. I agree with Angie that Karen Kane is a "good guy."  And I personally love all of the premium denim manufacturers in LA.  There are so many good ones with great quality products offering fit and longevity.  Plus they have revived US denim manufacturing.    You do have to be willing to pay the price though.  I like Three Dots too, a woman started and owned company with consistent high quality, better than some of the competitors who I won't name 'cause we're keeping it positive. I used to only buy domestic, European or Canadian clothing.  I've since realized, it's so complex.  I now understand: <ul> <li>Just because something is made in the USA, doesn't make it good.</li> <li>Just because it's sold by a local shop, doesn't make it good.  (Viva -- labor violations in my industry are rampant as well -- and they are often loved small businesses like in your story!)</li> <li>Just because it is corporate, doesn't make it bad.  My local TJ Maxx has many of the same people working there since it opened in 2008.  Doesn't that tell you something?  TJ Maxx also has a woman CEO who was promoted from the ranks.  </li> </ul> I am also a big user of Amazon.  Who else can get such a range of items to someone in a town of 250 people?  More than half of the things I order, like slotted spoons, menu covers, coffee urns etc., are not from Amazon, but by no-name smaller firms that let Amazon fulfill their orders.  As a marketplace, Amazon is actually helping small firms grown their business. Debbie on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/3#post-1645295 Sat, 16 Apr 2016 05:20:17 +0000 Debbie 1645295@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have though about this all day and decided to share. I learned a valuable lesson to me last year. My neighbor was trying to find a job without results. She had not worked on 14 years and it was tough. She applied a new discount store in our area. I usually do not shop there because they come in and small businesses suffer greatly. My neighbor got the job and this company trained and nurtured her. I saw her self-confidence soar and skills improve. She became a department manager in a matter of months. She has since found a job in the school system. I found out while she was there that this particular company tries to employ people that have been out of the workforce for awhile. It is still not my first choice in shopping but I have a new found respect for the way they treat their employees. Where we spend our money is a choice that we all have and we all have decide how to make those choices. For me I need to make my choices on how the individuals are treated in that company and how that company treats their customers. rachylou on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1645234 Sat, 16 Apr 2016 00:02:27 +0000 rachylou 1645234@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Agreed, Juled that bias always gets in the way. That's the human condition, limited scope. But it can be worth it to fight the inertia. LaPed on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1645126 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 19:42:46 +0000 LaPed 1645126@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Astrid and kkards -- great lists! thanks! Rabbit -- TJs is impressively responsive to consumers. I recently signed a petition asking that they carry only certified cage-free eggs (which is a very minimal standard of humaneness, but that's another topic) and TJs has now announced they'll be phasing out cage-farmed eggs over the next few years. They've also been GMO-free for several years now. My biggest problem with them is overpackaging -- why do my green beans need to be wrapped in layers of plastic? I agree that silent boycotts are not effective; the best approach is to buy minimally and make your voice heard when there's an issue you feel strongly about.  rachylou -- Yep. Great points. The Tom's model has never sat well with me. Really, the western NGO model and all its variants, both non- and for-profit, is very problematic -- I wonder if we don't destroy more than we create. RoseandJoan on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1645123 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 19:32:31 +0000 RoseandJoan 1645123@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ That is such an interesting perspective Rachy, I feel that we can inform ourselves as much as possible but our decisions will still be based on personal bias. There is no absolute right. rachylou on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1645107 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 19:12:23 +0000 rachylou 1645107@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I thought of something and wanted to say it, about evaluating the ethics of a company. It's kind of why I don't buy real Tom's. And this thought was: Don't judge by American standards, by what you know to be true. Like, if you hear someone makes only a $100 a week, stop and also ask, what does a bag of rice cost? Will higher wages equal more buying power or runaway inflation? My dad was from a third world country, and one of the worst things to happen to it was Americans coming and throwing their money and ideas around. It's hard for an American to imagine paying $5000 for a house. In fact, it's outright unimaginable, and they offer too much from the get-go. What's happened is simply that natives can't buy a decent house. American style construction was also brought in, raise the standard of living and all that, and the land has been turned into a desert wasteland. And free trade agreements and entrepreneurship programs have meant higher food prices because farmers aren't allowed to grow and sell what grows best in their own country. They grow for the world market as dictated to. I think it's Malawi where people are suffering from malnutrition because everything has been turned over to corn. I mean, nothing is truer than 'no good deed goes unpunished.' JAileen on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1645067 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 17:54:45 +0000 JAileen 1645067@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie, I wasn't defending my choices. I was explaining how any choice made by anyone benefits one person or company over another, simply by buying from Co. A instead of Co. B. It doesn't matter the reason - better quality, nasty CEO, locally produced, whatever. If you buy from Co. A, then Co. B is hurt because you didn't buy from them. RoseandJoan on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1645060 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 17:36:22 +0000 RoseandJoan 1645060@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh, I am going to have fun with your list Astrid, coincidentally the owner/designer of Eribe lives only 50 yards from my front door. Small world! Astrid on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1645053 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 17:26:37 +0000 Astrid 1645053@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Here's a list of brands that I like or wouldn't feel too bad buying from... I haven't researched all the details, so this is highly subjective. I don't have personal experience with every suggested brand, but in those cases I know them because people around me own something made by them. Also, these are probably most easily availble in Germany or Europe, so not sure it helps much. To me longevity is very important (less need to shop for replacements) and decent treatment of the people who work there (I want to minimize the risk of buying anything made with child labor or under unsafe and unhealthy conditions). Bonus points for being ecological, but that's so difficult to work out that I often just take the "simply shop less" approach. Clothing + Nudie Jeans (<a href="https://www.nudiejeans.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.nudiejeans.com/</a>) + Lanius (<a href="http://www.lanius-koeln.de/en" rel="nofollow">http://www.lanius-koeln.de/en</a>) + Hess Natur (<a href="http://www.hessnatur.com/de/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hessnatur.com/de/</a>) + Johnstons of Elgin (<a href="http://www.johnstonscashmere.com/us/" rel="nofollow">http://www.johnstonscashmere.com/us/</a>) + Brora (<a href="http://www.brora.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">http://www.brora.co.uk/</a>) + Eribé <a href="http://www.manufactum.de/eribe-fair-isle-schal-p1515654/?c=194482" rel="nofollow"></a>(<a href="http://www.eribe.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.eribe.com/</a>) + Oleana (<a href="http://www.oleana.no/News.aspx?lang=2&cc=11" rel="nofollow">http://www.oleana.no/News.aspx?lang=2&cc=11</a>) + Wunderwerk (<a href="https://www.wunderwerk.com/en/" rel="nofollow">https://www.wunderwerk.com/en/</a>) + Armor-Lux (<a href="https://www.armorlux.com/en/" rel="nofollow">https://www.armorlux.com/en/</a>) + Saint James (<a href="http://www.saintjamesboutique.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.saintjamesboutique.com/</a>) + People Tree (<a href="http://www.peopletree.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">http://www.peopletree.co.uk/</a>) + Monkee Genes (<a href="https://www.monkeegenes.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.monkeegenes.com/</a>) + Komodo (<a href="https://komodo-fashion-international.myshopify.com/" rel="nofollow">https://komodo-fashion-interna.....opify.com/</a>) + Armed Angels (<a href="https://www.armedangels.de/" rel="nofollow">https://www.armedangels.de/</a>) + Bleed (<a href="https://www.bleed-clothing.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.bleed-clothing.com/</a>) Underwear + Falke (<a href="http://www.falke.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.falke.com/</a>) + Speidel (<a href="http://www.speidel-lingerie.de/de/" rel="nofollow">http://www.speidel-lingerie.de/de/</a>) + Zimmerli (<a href="http://www.zimmerli.com/us_en/" rel="nofollow">http://www.zimmerli.com/us_en/</a>) Outerwear + London Tradition (<a href="https://www.londontradition.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.londontradition.com/</a>) Shoes + Legero (<a href="http://www.legero.at/en" rel="nofollow">http://www.legero.at/en</a>) + *art (<a href="http://www.the-art-company.com/en/" rel="nofollow">http://www.the-art-company.com/en/</a>) + Think! (<a href="http://www.thinkshoesusa.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.thinkshoesusa.com/</a>) + Trippen (<a href="http://en.trippen.com/startpage" rel="nofollow">http://en.trippen.com/startpage</a>) + Birkenstock (<a href="http://www.birkenstock.com/home-en.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.birkenstock.com/home-en.htm</a>) + Waldviertler (<a href="http://w4tler.at/gea-produkte/schuhe" rel="nofollow">http://w4tler.at/gea-produkte/schuhe</a>) + Duckfeet (<a href="http://www.duckfeet.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.duckfeet.com/</a>) + EKN (<a href="http://www.eknfootwear.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.eknfootwear.com/</a>) Bags/Accessories + Tom Bihn (<a href="https://www.tombihn.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.tombihn.com/</a>) + Volker Lang (<a href="http://volker-lang-accessoires.de/" rel="nofollow">http://volker-lang-accessoires.de/</a>) + Matt & Nat (<a href="http://mattandnat.com/" rel="nofollow">http://mattandnat.com/</a>) + Nat & Nin (<a href="http://www.nat-nin.fr/en/estore" rel="nofollow">http://www.nat-nin.fr/en/estore</a>) + Sonnenleder (<a href="http://www.sonnenleder.com/en/" rel="nofollow">http://www.sonnenleder.com/en/</a>) Although I think accessories are especially easy to buy locally made! Why not buy jewelry and support a local artist? Or leather goods, hand knits... I want to buy myself a great mechanic watch by a German manufactory once I have the money. You know, one that can be repaired if necessary. Gear + Vaude (<a href="http://www.vaude.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.vaude.com/</a>) + Woolpower (<a href="http://woolpower.se/en/" rel="nofollow">http://woolpower.se/en/</a>) + Meindl (<a href="http://www.meindl.de/english/index.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.meindl.de/english/index.html</a>) + Finisterre (<a href="https://www.finisterre.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.finisterre.com/</a>) Angie on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1645052 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 17:26:07 +0000 Angie 1645052@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ JAileen and April, all that point of view does is satisfy your own conscience - which of course, is what we are all after here. (That's why we are having this conversation and thinking about these issues, in the first place!). Rightly or wrongly, I guess I need to satisfy my conscience in another way. Rabbit, I like the way you think. And to April's point, speaking up encourages change - and that can be a VERY good thing. Perhaps it's just billionaire CEO's who should keep their mouths shut. kkards on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1645048 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 17:17:14 +0000 kkards 1645048@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I've had a very busy week and haven't been able to contribute to this post before, but I've been following along...I'm not going to rehash comments already made, but just wanted to say, that part of what makes this so difficult is that one persons fair and ethical can be another no go...... that being said, we are in the midst of a revival of what I will call "small batch" retailing and manufacturing, which means more US/ EU made apparel and footwear.  while one can not assume that it is all fair and ethical, at least you can assume that the workers have more rights, and the companies are being held to higher environmental standards. and it should be noted that while often the retails are higher, it is not always the case. FYI here are a couple of the companies that I know of <a href="https://www.marinelayer.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.marinelayer.com/</a> <a href="http://www.cuyana.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.cuyana.com/</a> <a href="https://www.alternativeapparel.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.alternativeapparel.com/</a> <a href="http://www.fredasalvador.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.fredasalvador.com/</a> <a href="http://mgemi.com/start?gclid=CPiIlsSPkcwCFQqsaQodQdYKZA" rel="nofollow">http://mgemi.com/start?gclid=C.....aQodQdYKZA</a> <a href="http://www.modernvice.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.modernvice.com/</a> <a href="http://www.american-giant.com/womens-tshirts/" rel="nofollow">http://www.american-giant.com/womens-tshirts/</a> <a href="http://www.emersonfry.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.emersonfry.com/</a> <a href="https://www.schottnyc.com/?gclid=CKyVn5qRkcwCFZSCaQodCvoAgQ" rel="nofollow">https://www.schottnyc.com/?gcl.....aQodCvoAgQ</a> <a href="http://www.raleighworkshop.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.raleighworkshop.com/</a> I'm sure that there are many, many more...... rabbit on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1644974 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 15:49:18 +0000 rabbit 1644974@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My take away is if it is a company I do buy from and would like to continue buying from I shouldn't be silent if I am the consumer. If I boycott without telling them it's kind of a tree falling in the forest right? This is me at trader j's who I love but who stocks some endangered fish. So I keep shopping there but avoid seafood and write them notes and politely tell the manager about it  (he thanked me, and said that is the only way it gets changed, if the requests come from customers). Or Amazon with its sometimes unsafe worker conditions - I write emails from my customer account, because I know they have the opportunity to do good things too - they just donated an unused building to be used as a homeless shelter. ETA: I checked and TJ's has now improved its seafood sustainability, yay April on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1644958 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 15:11:53 +0000 April 1644958@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ And even when we choose not to remain silent, I believe there is always a case to made for speaking fairly and decently.   Angie, I think JAileen meant that yes, one company's people will likely suffer, but another company's people benefit -- if we take our dollars elsewhere -- so that the overall effect on the mass of employees is neutral.  (And it's also conceivable that the employees at the suffering company can exercise pressure for change from within.) ETA: sorry, cross-post.   JAileen on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1644957 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 15:11:10 +0000 JAileen 1644957@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie, my point is that if you plan to buy only one item, a sweater let's say, and you can buy it from A or B, then from a global standpoint it makes no difference which you buy it from: some employees will benefit, and some won't. The only way both would benefit is if you were to buy two items. If you factor in the hypothetical CEO's obnoxious views, then the decision is easy. In fact, I worked for a company whose CEO did have strong public views. It was difficult for me, since I was probably the only employee who didn't share those views. Angie on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1644944 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 14:55:36 +0000 Angie 1644944@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ JAileen, how does the wash help the company that is being boycotted?  There is a LOT to be said for keeping our mouths shut!  JAileen on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1644936 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 14:52:26 +0000 JAileen 1644936@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie, it's true that not buying from Co A negatively affects its employees. But buying from Co B positively affects its employees. So it's a wash, I think. I agree that CEOs ought to just keep their big mouths shut. Angie on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1644929 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 14:46:36 +0000 Angie 1644929@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ If that's the case, April - as Echo puts it: ".......I wish company owners would sometimes just shut up....." (*chuckle*) I can't get away from the fact that innocent and decent people's livelihoods are at stake when you boycott companies. When the product is good, I want to support those people because I know what it's like to work retail - (and have YLF).  April on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1644927 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 14:44:30 +0000 April 1644927@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ BTW, this can work for a company as well as against it.  Remember when the CEO of Starbucks respectfully suggested -- at the stockholders' meeting, in response to questions from a shareholder -- that people who strongly objected to their support of gay employees' civil rights might sell their shares and buy stock elsewhere?  <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/video/c1eDBjYTo4LXS3IoL7s_pSdNyONvOFwF?autoplay=1">http://www.bizjournals.com/sea.....autoplay=1</a> Whatever your personal views on that topic, hard to argue with the fairness of that statement.   April on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1644917 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 14:35:48 +0000 April 1644917@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I, too, have friends (and, lord knows, family) who don't share my views on anything.  As with people we know personally, it's perhaps when companies get "in your face" with their political leanings that it becomes a problem.   If one is not a politician, it's hard to go wrong by observing a discreet silence on political matters, both personally and publicly.  Shoppers who want to find out what's behind a discreet silence at a public company have lots of chances to learn that in publicly-available documents.   I certainly feel it's none of my business what a CEO believes personally.  But when the CEO speaks into a microphone, or to a reporter, or to the Supreme Court, acting on behalf of his/her company, I'm paying attention and I will respond accordingly with my shopping dollars. viva on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1644901 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 14:26:39 +0000 viva 1644901@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is such an interesting thread, and at the risk of seeming like an idiot to some of you, I basically throw my hands up. It's too complicated. I will tell you a tale without too many details, but to me it is illustrative. We have a local shop owner who is beloved in our community. He is active politically, very active in the community socially, and has been a driving force in the arts world here. Among the local academe and literate, his store is seen something of a holy place; revered as anti-big box and as reflective of the soul of the local town.  Not long ago, I learned that my friend's son had left his employ after many months and I wondered why. He seemed very happy here, and it's a wonderful place: the ideal environment you might say. Exactly the place that makes this town what it is, and why people come here. Well, this owner doesn't pay his employees -- employees who are hired for paid positions. For MONTHS, this young man was not paid, and his "pay date" kept being pushed farther and farther into the future. At one point, he was given some goods in trade. He asked an older woman who worked there how she dealt with it, and she said that she loved being there so much and she didn't really need the money anyway. Here's the thing. We never really know. And if we do know about Company A, we can choose company B over them -- but what don't we know about Company B?  If what we do know it outrageous or horrendous, I agree with boycotting. For example, I no longer buy from the shop owner above. I just can't do it.  But this thread confirms for me that understanding what's really happening with larger companies in the larger economy is a really, really challenging thing.    Angie on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1644892 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 14:24:00 +0000 Angie 1644892@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Let us not forget Karen Karen - all made in America, and we have visited the factory. Very sustainable and reputable company.  Aliona, thanks for the full response. You have to do what feels right in your head and heart.  As for boycotting companies because of their political beliefs - it doesn't bother me enough to do that. After all, I have clients, and friends even, who have very different political beliefs to me, so in my world that would feel like a double standard.  Anonymous on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1644837 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 12:02:16 +0000 Anonymous 1644837@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie, you asked why I don't shop at Anthropologie: The owner made sizeable donations to a local political candidate who could have done a lot of damage to our state, IMO. I am under no illusion that I can change a person's beliefs with my dollar (and what an awful world it would be if I could). But I just don't feel personally good if I spend money at places where I know they are actively undermining my principles. It feels like making a donation to a cause I don't believe in. I admit my sloppy implementation of this practice: if I read something, I consider the source, do a bit of Google research, and make my decision. I don't spend hours researching a company just to buy a pair of shoes. I agree with the positive shoutout for Nordstrom. Unfortunately the service in our local store has declined of late, and I wish they were able to pay their staff better. But there are market forces at play and they are still streets ahead of other retailers. I also agree with the assessment of Patagonia. Back in the 1980s they hired the environmental consultancy I worked at to do a cradle to grave assessment of their products. They wanted to know the environmental and social impact of everything they made at each point in its production and life. Like Eileen Fisher, they also like consumers to send back clothes when they are done with them, I'm guessing so they don't end up in the remaking sweatshops. Anonymous on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1644819 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 11:14:50 +0000 Anonymous 1644819@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ If I quit buying from all the places that have practices or beliefs I don't support, I'd have nowhere to shop. I do the best I can based on what I know, but my buying options are already limited by my clothing size, shoe size, preferred styles, and budget. April on "Brands or stores that seem to value fairness and decency?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/brands-or-stores-that-seem-to-value-fairness-and-decency/page/2#post-1644816 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 11:08:38 +0000 April 1644816@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It's clear that this is hardly a clear-cut question.  Sometimes what seems awful (workers making 75 cents an hour sewing tee shirts) turns out to be preferable to the alternative (the same workers making 25 cents an hour picking garbage) and sometimes what seems noble turns out to have a dark underside.  I don't need to be perfect in my buying, but I do want to express my values by supporting companies that I think are worth supporting. Lots of people mentioning Patagonia.  I will admit I only know them as a purveyor of gear-ish fleecewear, but maybe it's time to have another look.