I just purchased a new jacket for our
San Francisco Tours. At first, it was a real dilemma, on our San Francisco Food Tours, we really believe in buying locally and seasonally, and as much as I would like it, there aren't many local clothing manufactures in San Francisco. Also, I really dislike wearing clothing that is not sweatshop free. In other words, sweatshop free clothing means that it was produced in factories where child or slave labor is not used, workers are paid adequate wages, and that they are working under safe and humane conditions. Just like on our San Francisco Culinary tours, I try to make sure that everything we try contributes the the community.
On one hand, just like on our San Francisco Tours, I like to support local stores, however the local stores only had clothing that they could not certify as sweatshop free. When I searched the Internet, I was able to find clothing that was sweatshop free, however they are by mail order only. On our San Francisco Food Tours, we not eat only produced food, we also support local merchants at the same time. I felt like I had a choice, buy sweatshop free clothes and not support local merchants or support local merchants and buy clothing that was not sweatshop free. On our San Francisco Culinary Tours, we don't have to make that choice.
Fortunately, there was a solution. After searching for clothing manufactures that were sweatshop free, I approached some local shops and suggested that they carry them. Just like our San Francisco Tours our merchants benefit when they highlight how they carry local foods, I gave some local clothing stores names of clothing manufactures where they could get sweatshop free clothing. The interesting thing was that the clothing was not only not more expensive, in many cases it was less expensive. Also, the stores saw the additional advantage of attracting new customers by carrying clothing that people could feel good about wearing. The result of this is that just like the places we visit on our San Francisco Food Tours, I'll be able to purchase sweatshop free clothing from local merchants. I felt like I was to continue the philosophy we have on our San Francisco Culinary Tours.
For many people, this may seem frivolous, after all why go to all that trouble, when they can just go down to the local store and buy anything, as long it looks good. My response is to ask if one really wants wear clothing that a child was forced to make. On our San Francisco Tours, we feel good about everything that we are eating. So we can feel good about what is inside of our bodies. Isn't it just as important to feel good about what is on the outside? Additionally, when working conditions deteriorate for workers anywhere, eventually conditions deteriorate close to home, as we have a race to the bottom as workers are forced to compete to keep their jobs. On our San Francisco Food Tours, we see how people making good choices raises up everyone, as multinational companies cannot force one worker to be a wedge against another. We also see on our San Francisco Culinary Tours how when everyone gets a fair wage, entire communities get lifted up.
When I buy sweatshop free clothing it is usually either the same price or less than other clothing, so it is definitely not a money issue. There are sweatshop free clothing manufactures left in many countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and others. In other countries, it is a little harder to make sure that is sweatshop free, but it is well worth it. We end supporting each other at the same time. Local merchants can benefit, as customers can see a benefit for shopping from them, as the clothing they carry is ethically made.
If we look toward the multinational companies to look out for us, just like with the banks, we will find out that they only look out for themselves. The only ones who look out for us is is.
