Information and Resources

Where Are You Wearing?   Be Informed.

How smart is your phone?
Many mobile phones, including the iPhone, are manufactured at the Foxconn factory in China which was reported to have dangerous, exploitive working conditions. In response to public pressure Apple conducted an internal investigation and is pressuring sub-contractors for improved conditions and higher wages. BBC News

No Shoes?
Public outcry has caused Nike and other companies to stop many of their child-labor practices, however, some of their products come from sweatshops which are sub-contracted to local governments. Some of these sweatshops are engaged in unethical practices, such as a factory in Malaysia which was cited for confiscating passports of workers.  MSNBC News

Shirt: The GAP
In 2007, the Telegraph found children as young as eight working in a GAP sweatshop in India, where workers were forced to squat on the floor to embroider and stitch clothing. In response, The Gap modified its supply chain strategies to comply with new CA regulations.  The Telegraph

Jeans with options?
Hanes is listed on the laborrights.org “Sweatshop Hall of Shame 2010” for their sweatshops and forced child-labor practices. They are changing supply chain strategies to comply with new CA regulations.

Can you make money and pay a living wage?
Knight’s Apparel is trying to do things differently in Dominican Republic where other companies have struggled. NY Times

Before you shop, learn more…

Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production - http://www.wrapapparel.org/
National Labor Committee - http://www.globallabourrights.org/
UNITE - http://www.unionlabel.com/
California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 (SB 657) –
http://leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09- 10/bill/sen/sb_0651-0700/sb_657_bill_20100930_chaptered.html

Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17584523
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25970840/ns/business-world_business/t/nike-malaysian-factory-violates-major-rights/#.T3zQn9l2hI0
http://www.law.harvard.edu/programs/lwp/NLC_childlabor.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1567849/Gap-sweatshop-children-saved-in-India-raid.html
http://www.gapinc.com/content/csr/html/OurResponsibility/governance/SB657.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/18/business/global/18shirt.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.hanes.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/hanesa_CustomerService_11652_-1_11502
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/18/business/global/18shirt.html?pagewanted=all