[shadow-panther]

Hey guys, recently got my account activated!<br><br>
Anyways, I have heard some bad stuff about Gap- including Old Navy and Banana Republic . Really bad stuff. Since we are so sympathetic about critters, I figured the same about humans. And, I am sure I won't give me that- but I caaaant stop shopping at Gap!<br><br>
Want more info? Check out <a href="http://www.behindthelabel.com" target="_blank">www.behindthelabel.com</a> . Their *main target* is gap, the following has been copy/pasted:<br><br><br><br>
--------------------------------------<br><br>
In factory after factory around the world, Gap workers have described working conditions that harken back to the turn of the last century--physical abuse, sexual harassment, poverty wages and unsafe working conditions. But when Gap workers try to organize unions to defend their rights, they often face severe harassment, are fired and sometimes are even physically threatened.<br><br><br><br>
If your clothes carry the Gap label (including Banana Republic, Old Navy, and baby Gap), chances are that they were produced by sweatshops in countries like the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, El Salvador, China and southern Africa.<br><br><br><br>
The Gap says that they are not responsible for the sweatshop conditions in the thousands of factories around the world that are producing their clothes. But the truth is that as the largest specialty apparel retailer in the United States, the Gap sets the prices for goods and labor worldwide, creating a global sweatshop system....."---------------<br><br><br><br>
I was a little "Gap whore", think I am going to try for used clothing from now on. There are some nice shops around here, so...=)<br><br><br><br>
PS gap aint organic either...heh heh

 

[Michael]

I don't pay as much attention to this issue as I should but buying from used clothing stores is a great point. Sometimes you have to look for a while but there are usually hidden treasures here and there. I think used clothes have more character anyway.

 

[shadow-panther]

Yeah. Used is fun though. I'm a little tree hugger so I feel good about not using more stuff up AND no worry about any sweatshops! It works. Thanx.<br><br>
I've been paying attention to it lately, at least trying to. Been dutifully passing on letter writing campaigns routed to me on to friends! Thought I would bring it up here too.

 

[LadyFaile]

i detest Gap. not just because of the sweatshop stuff, that was sort of the breaking point i guess. i always hated the "walking bilboard" aspect of wearing Gap, and then i went away to college to a city full of little rich kids who all thought i was either crazy or poor because i don't wear the stuff, and therefore didn't like me. it's people like that who made me vow to myself to never ever become a slave to popularity or trends.<br><br><br><br>
death to Gap, booooo hisssssss<br><br><br><br><br><br>
ETA: (and accidentally quoted myself rather than editing the first time round. i think i'm tired.)<br><br>
as a marketing grad though, i do appreciate the marketing and advertising behind the company, and the way it was originally started, before it became so sickeningly big

 

[GhostUser]

i got into that site, but cldnt find a good list of labels relating to sweatshop stuff. Gap, nike, adidas, levis, and wat else? any1 noes where to get a list?<br><br><br><br>
--btw, i really like used clothing--

 

[BigWaxJesus]

I never could stand the Gap either. I've read a lot about their use of sweatshops, and that's something I really go out of my way to avoid, more than ever lately.<br><br>
I like used clothes too, but it's hard to find nice stuff usually. Though, I recently found a shop that's targeted toward teenagers, so they're more picky about what kind of clothes they take. It's pricier than a thrift store, which is understandable, but not ridiculously expensive like the actual stores they came from. I look for the stuff that isn't a blatant advertisement for the brand, and then just cut off any other tags that have the brand name on it.

 

[BigWaxJesus]

Oh, check out <a href="http://www.sweatshopwatch.org" target="_blank">Sweatshop Watch</a>.

 

[Vegankat]

I've never shopped at Gap/Old Navy/et al for the very reason that they're notorious for their use of sweatshops. My mother has always had very strong feelings about the issue, and I was brought up like that. I never had Nike shoes when I was young, making me the victim of a lot of teasing in middle school when what you wore meant more to your peers than the kind of person you were...but I digress. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[BigWaxJesus]

Ah, the thrills of middle school.

 

[Skylark]

I LOVE USED CLOTHES!!!! Would you like to go clothes shopping with me sometime? I'll take you to all the thrift stores, all the consignment shops, all the garage sales...<br><br><br><br>
I also despise being a walking billboard unless it's for a cause I know in-depth and whole-heartedly support.

 

[1vegan]

I hate company's that use sweat shops.<br><br>
I buy second hand if available.<br><br>
This means I cruise the recycle store to see if they have anything I need in the future. (they sell good winter-clothes in summer)<br><br><br><br>
I won't have anything from china, asia and so on.<br><br>
I also buy organic cotton. ( payed 20 euro's for a long john lately, very comfortable)<br><br>
I'm willing to pay double or triple for anything that is sustainable and was made in europe.

 

[luckiecharms]

I don't like companys that use sweatshops I think it is wrong but I just buy the clothes I like. Because whether i buy clothes from there or not is not going to change anything.

 

[Skylark]

LC,<br><br>
But at least you will know you are not supporting human rights injustices. That's the first step to making a more significant impact.

 

[BigWaxJesus]

If everyone who thought "I can't change anything" actually took the step to make a difference, things actually <i>could</i> take a turn for the better.

 

[Skylark]

¡Precisamente! (Precisely)

 

[shadow-panther]

Yeah, for me not shopping at gap was semi "rebellion", my mom relied on it. (The outlet) it's cheap. But...I have got fed up with all their logos, sweatshops, and that crummy pop junk they play there (shudder) so I shall look elsewhere. I think most of my jean tags have been forcibly removed with scissors or a seam ripper. Heh.<br><br>
I would not mind wearing a Patagonia shirt with their logo on it. I know they are organic and sustainable, seem like a great company. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> Though I have to wait for their sales......

 

[1vegan]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block"><i>Originally posted by luckiecharms</i><br><br><b>Because whether i buy clothes from there or not is not going to change anything.</b></div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
One of the biggest powers in the world is consumer-power.<br><br>
Let your wallet talk and the world will change.<br><br>
The choice (and the responsibility) is yours.<br><br><br><br>
For example: <a href="http://www.stopesso.com" target="_blank">www.stopesso.com</a><br><br><br><br>
Though there a just a few hundred thousand people who boycott esso: they feel the heat.

 

[Skylark]

1vegan,<br><br>
There aren't very many Exxon gas stations where I live, and I usually end up filling up my car at Marathon or Speedway, anyway. Unless Exxon owns one of those...<br><br><br><br>
ShadowPanther, you're driven nuts by teenybopper pop that big name clothes stores play, too?! Sometimes I want to strangle my 13-year-old sister because of her brand-name clothes and bubble gum pop. Did I ever go through a fit-in-and-be-cool stage like that? I sure hope not.

 

[LadyFaile]

supply and demand. if you don't buy it, the demand goes down, so they make less product. not buying from them DOES indeed make a difference.<br><br><br><br>
i knew there must've been a reason why i didn't like The Bay (canadian department store) besides the fact that everything is overpriced and snooty (i saw ralph lauren bedsheets there for $300). they sell fur, they have a commercial out right now promoting their fur and leather coats. i never shopped there anyway, but i do shop at other stores owned by the same company. so now i gotta boycott them, pah.

 

[BigWaxJesus]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block"><i>Originally posted by skylark</i><br><br><b>There aren't very many Exxon gas stations where I live, and I usually end up filling up my car at Marathon or Speedway, anyway. Unless Exxon owns one of those...<br><br></b></div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
Nope, they're both owned by Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC, but this company recently pulled some ruthless b.s. in my hometown. See, there was some property between a local school and a housing division that had a bunch of old trees on it. A few of them were on the home owners' property, but the others were on land that was either private property owned by them or the city, I'm not sure which. Well, some of these home owners noticed one day that all these trees had X's spray painted on them, and within a day or so, with no warning before hand, these trees were being cut down, with trucks and all right in these people's yards making a mess and digging everything up.<br><br>
They claimed it was "necessary" for easy access for pipeline maintenance, etc., but that was proven otherwise by employees of other oil companies that sent in letters-to-the-editor to our paper. None of this could be stopped either because it all happened so fast, and the company refused to have any of their reps come to the town meeting that was held over this whole ordeal, claiming it "wasn't a public matter." So, our town has called for a boycott of them and all their subsidaries--Marathon, Speedway, Super America, and Pilot.