INTERNATIONAL LABOUR:
ONLINE INFORMATION ON "ALTERNATIVE" OR "ETHICAL" CLOTHES:
For several years now the international Clean Clothes Campaign has been acting in solidarity with workers in the world's garment industry who are trying to improve their often brutal conditions of work. While much of the work involves campaigns against specific exploitative employers there is another side to this- the availability of clothes that are actually produced under fair labour conditions. The CCC has opened a section on their website for those who want to research such options. Here is their announcement.
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Online Information on "Alternative" or "Ethical" Clothes‏
Following campaigns by the international anti-sweatshop movement and increased consumer interest in fair trade and ethical shopping, a number of initiatives claiming to sell "ethical", "alternative" or "fairly produced" clothes have sprung up. The standards and processes of these initiatives vary greatly. For the concerned consumer, it is important to be able to assess and compare these different standards and to look critically at claims made by the new “ethical” market.




To help consumers make informed choices, the Clean Clothes Campaign has compiled an overview of these brands on its website. The focus is on small brands that attempting to challenge current trading systems and to find a different way of doing business. They are: Dignity Returns/Solidarity Factory, No Sweat and Blackspot Shoes. These brands may have long-term partnership-based sourcing relationships and may manufacture through partner cooperatives or artisan groups. New and updated information about other brands that make ethical claims or are perceived to be ethical, such as Gap Red, Edun, Kuyichi and American Apparel is included in the regular companies section on the CCC website.
For more information please see
http://www.cleanclothes.org/companies/ethical.htm.