Rage Against the Department Stores

I'm sure all of you have read or at least heard about the most recent disaster in a Bangladesh clothing factory. It's just another chapter in a horror story that will continue unabated until we, on the demand side, do something about it.

Now a handful of retailers are signing on to promote better conditions in the deathtraps that are Bandgladeshi garment factories. Thing is, I don't buy it. This corporate ostentation is all for show. Conditions will still be as dangerous and exploitive as ever they were. Maybe they will install a fire alarm.

Well, I'm done with that. I see the only way to voice my displeasure with the conditions in Bangladesh and to the larger problem of shipping American jobs overseas is to go transcendental on them. And I can't do it alone. I need everyone's help. I have resolved to not purchase any apparel made in Bangladesh, well, ever.

I expect it to be a massive challenge.

I went to the mall last week and after going through Dillard's, Macy's and JC Penny, I could not find a single article of clothing made in the United States. A store representative at Dillard's pointed me to the 'American Rag' brand. I bet you can guess where the 'American Rag' brand of clothing is made...China. I then extended my search for American-made products to the housewares department.

Three store representatives scouring the store could find only a set of plastic tumblers that were made in the United States. Even the houseware brand 'IMUSA' a take on "I'm USA" is made in, wait for it, China.

The original Dillard's rep then told me that I was the third person that day that had asked about American-made apparel. I was encouraged to hear that.

Next time you go to the mall or heck, make a special trip, and get a store manager and see if they can direct you to some apparel made in the USA. CHECK THE LABEL. The brand will try to trick you but the tag or the printed label inside cannot lie. Then when you find no items, kindly inform the store manager that you will not be shopping there until they start carrying some brands of American-made clothing. Fill out a comment card, go online to their customer service email and complain.

IF enough of us do this it WILL evoke changes. It has to come from us. We are past politicians and the corporations being able to do anything but consolidate their own wealth and power. If we wait for them to do something, we will wait forever. If we MAKE it in their best interest (i.e. hit 'em in the wallet) to change, they will change.

And here are some suggestions for American-made apparel.

http://www.allamericanclothing.com/

...and here's a directory for different American-made clothing types.

http://www.americansworking.com/clothingchildren.html

I would love to hear about your experiences in the comments section. I will use the best experience in my next blog.

Get out there and shake some trees, y'all!