i took a deep breath and calmed my pulse. It's a place i try not to visit often. On a good day the underground crowds give me anxiety. Christmas season? Lets just say at 5'1/2" i'm most peoples elbow height and a black eye just in time for the holidays is not my idea of photogenic. But i needed winter boots and sometimes there's just no other option for someone with limited time and limited funds. Which brings me to the point. Where are you doing your Christmas shopping? I know the mall seems like a quick way to cross everyone off your list but i'm here to urge you to shop local this Christmas season. Think of all the local artists and designers (soon to be you) who will appreciate your purchase way more than any sales person in the mall. The money you spend in Kensington Market, Parkdale, or The Beaches will go right back to the local economy and the gifts you find will be original, creative, and good quality. Besides, the snow has yet to fall in our corner of the world and some fresh air between stores will do way more for your mood than the escalators and tacky Christmas decorations. My personal fave place to buy local? Shopgirls Gallery Boutique (its just west of Dufferin on Queen). It's all Canadian small run pieces including work by current and former Ryerson students. The FTA also has a shop sustainable initiative happening this holiday season. So DO IT! You'll be glad you did.
Love Forever,
Jamie
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Merry Christmas and labour rights...
If you have ever thought about where your clothing was made, you have probably thought about sweatshops. And if you are like me, this makes you angry because you cannot believe that people can allow other people to work and live under such horrible conditions. And it also makes you angry because you have no idea what to do. Stop shopping? Boycott? Scream? Go naked?
What I usually do is write a letter. (Although screaming feels good sometimes...and nudity...need I say more?) I write a letter to a clothing company that I like to shop at asking if ALL their employees know their code of conduct? If the workers making the clothing in the factories off shore make a living wage as opposed to minimum wage? (minimum wage is most often not enough money to buy food and shelter) I ask if they can guarantee that the T-Shirt I am wearing from their store is made in completely fair conditions?
So this Christmas, when you are doing your Christmas shopping, take a few minutes and send off a friendly strongly worded letter to a store of choice. If you do not get a timely response, follow up. And keep following up until you hear back. Essentially, bother them as much as possible so they know that they have customers that are concerned about the ethics of the product they are purchasing. Demand and hopefully they will supply.
I have included a sample letter you could use below. Feel free to add or change anything according to your personal experience...and you could email it out to everyone you know...I dunno...I am just saying.
Much Love,
Jade xo
(Your Name)
(Your Address)
(Company Name)
(Company Address)
(Date)
Dear ________,
I am writing to ask for information about the working conditions in the factories that produce garments for your company.
I am a customer of your company and I have attached a receipt of a recent purchase to this letter. I am concerned about the working conditions and treatment of the workers that are producing the products that I am purchasing for your stores.
I saw on your website that you do have a code of conduct but I couldn't find any information about how you make sure the code is followed by your suppliers. How do you monitor whether or not this is the case? How do workers find out about your code? What evidence can you send me of working conditions in the factories that produce your products? Are the workers making a living wage?
I would be interested in getting some information on your auditing results or ethical policy. Do you have any long term contracts with your supplying factories? As well, do you make your factory addresses transparent anywhere, as I could not find them on your website.
I enjoy that products that your company sells, but I want to be assured that they are being made under fair and ethical conditions.
I look forward to hearing from you shortly.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)
What I usually do is write a letter. (Although screaming feels good sometimes...and nudity...need I say more?) I write a letter to a clothing company that I like to shop at asking if ALL their employees know their code of conduct? If the workers making the clothing in the factories off shore make a living wage as opposed to minimum wage? (minimum wage is most often not enough money to buy food and shelter) I ask if they can guarantee that the T-Shirt I am wearing from their store is made in completely fair conditions?
So this Christmas, when you are doing your Christmas shopping, take a few minutes and send off a friendly strongly worded letter to a store of choice. If you do not get a timely response, follow up. And keep following up until you hear back. Essentially, bother them as much as possible so they know that they have customers that are concerned about the ethics of the product they are purchasing. Demand and hopefully they will supply.
I have included a sample letter you could use below. Feel free to add or change anything according to your personal experience...and you could email it out to everyone you know...I dunno...I am just saying.
Much Love,
Jade xo
(Your Name)
(Your Address)
(Company Name)
(Company Address)
(Date)
Dear ________,
I am writing to ask for information about the working conditions in the factories that produce garments for your company.
I am a customer of your company and I have attached a receipt of a recent purchase to this letter. I am concerned about the working conditions and treatment of the workers that are producing the products that I am purchasing for your stores.
I saw on your website that you do have a code of conduct but I couldn't find any information about how you make sure the code is followed by your suppliers. How do you monitor whether or not this is the case? How do workers find out about your code? What evidence can you send me of working conditions in the factories that produce your products? Are the workers making a living wage?
I would be interested in getting some information on your auditing results or ethical policy. Do you have any long term contracts with your supplying factories? As well, do you make your factory addresses transparent anywhere, as I could not find them on your website.
I enjoy that products that your company sells, but I want to be assured that they are being made under fair and ethical conditions.
I look forward to hearing from you shortly.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)
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