Printer friendly version Send this to a friend Sign up for email list Become a member

Sweatshop-Free Clothing

Dear Green America,
Do you know where I can buy sweatshop-free clothing? I’m doing a high school project on sweatshops and would like to inform my class.
— Meghan, E-mail

Terrific project idea, Meghan. The easiest ways to avoid sweatshop clothing are:

1) Look for the union label. The UNITE! label on a piece of clothing means it was made by a worker who belongs to UNITE HERE (formerly the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees and Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union). These are US workers who earn union wages in healthy work environments. To find out more, visit www.unitehere.org.

2) Buy Fair Trade: Fair Trade is a system that guarantees that workers all across the supply chain earn living wages in work environments that are healthy and environmentally friendly. They not only make enough to feed their families, but they earn enough to improve their communities and make their businesses environmentally sound.

You can find Fair Trade clothing items by looking for clothing companies that are members of the Fair Trade Federation (www.fairtradefederation.org). All FTF members are listed in Green America's National Green Pages™ directory of green businesses, with a special notation in their listing noting that they belong to FTF. Your classmates can check the Green Pages™ for free online at www.greenpages.org (search under the CLOTHING categories), or they can order a paper copy for $11.95 by calling 800/58-GREEN.

3) Buy from National Green Pages™ businesses. Speaking of the Green Pages™, any clothing company in our nationwide directory of green businesses commits to caring for workers all across their supply chains, as well their customers, communities, and the environment. We screen each business to make sure they are serious about upholding this commitment.

4) Ask the companies from which you shop how they can guarantee no sweatshop labor was used in making their clothing. You and your classmates can see how the big department stores rank in terms of sweatshops in our Retailer Scorecard on our Web site, www.sweatshops.org.

Local CSA Produce

Dear Green America,
There are small family farmers who specialize in bringing organic, seasonal food to their clients on a weekly basis. Do you know what I am talking about, and do you know how I can find such an arrangement in the Novato/Petaluma/Santa Rosa area?
— Rainer M. Wachalovsky in California

We do! You're looking for a CSA, or community supported agriculture farm, which does exactly what you described. Just prior to the growing season, participants in a CSA purchase “shares” of the harvest. Then, during the season, CSA farmers bring seasonal vegetables, and possibly fruits, herbs, and even flowers, to shareholders, usually on a weekly basis. Not all CSA farms are organic, but many try their best to minimize pesticide and fertilizer use.

You can find CSAs and farmers' markets near you by visiting Local Harvest's Web site, www.localharvest.org. When we did a quick search in the Santa Rose/Petaluma area, we found 29 listings, including several CSAs from which you can choose.

See all Living Green columns »