The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Garment Sweatshops in the United States

Long before we had even heard of Forever 21, a 3-year-long legal battle had been waged between the trendy clothing retailer and several of the garment workers who sew their clothes. The workers were allegedly paid sub-minimum wages while enduring deplorable working conditions. The media followed this story until a settlement was reached between 33 factory workers and Forever 21 representatives in 2004.

We're ashamed (ok, embarrassed) to admit this, but we didn't know anything about Forever 21's use of sweatshop labor until just recently when a friend told us about Made in L.A., a new documentary film by Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar, which is bringing this long-forgotten story back into the public eye. The film, which premiered September 4th on PBS, follows the story of three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles garment sweatshops as they embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor protections from Forever 21.

As a consumer—budget or otherwise—the ever-present specter of global sweatshop labor looms large. And yes, we are well-aware of unfair labor practices outside of the rag-trade in the United States (The meatpacking industry comes to mind). Yet we honestly thought that because most of Forever 21's production was based right here in the U.S.—right outside of Los Angeles, to be exact—that somehow, their workers were being treated fairly. We naively assumed they were at least being paid minimum wage. And so it was with some actual amount of pride that we supported them as a business.

Now, we're not sure what to think.

While Forever 21 settled with the workers, we have no way of knowing what their labor practices are really like today. Even "Made in L.A." can't provide definitive answers. We encourage everyone to watch it, because we've all become a little jaded—and could all use a little more education—on the fair labor front. We're not suggesting you should boycott any one store in particular (we're not, because we don't feel like we have enough information to do so).

But we do think U.S. shoppers care how their clothes are produced. We have to care. And we budget babes would gladly pay a few dollars more for a shirt IF that meant better working conditions for the people busting their behinds so that we can look good.

Learn more about "Made in L.A." here. >>
Check local PBS television listings here. >>


Photo credit: Madeinla.com
Comments
How could it be that a factory worker isn't protected under the same rights as any other worker (like, minimum wage?) is that really the case?
#1 Peaches (Homepage) on 2007-09-10 10:18 (Reply)
I saw "Made in L.A." and the workers profiled were ALL illegal immigrants. Basically Forever 21 wanted their clothes made on the cheap, so they contracted the work out to companies that hired illegal immigrants. The workers were only paid a few bucks an hour (like 6 cents per shirt) and worked 12 hour days. Because they were undocumented workers, there was no paper trail for the government to go after Forever 21 or the companies contracted by Forever 21.

While it was shocking that one of my favorite stores was at the center of this controversy, the plight of the women featured was really what got me. They came to the U.S. to escape abuse, poverty and more and then they got here and were exploited. So sad.
#1.1 daisy on 2007-09-10 13:35 (Reply)
Thanks for your comments. We don't want to get into a whole immigration debate, but the fact is illegal immigrants are often exploited by companies conducting illegal business practices. Not cool.
#1.1.1 The Budget Babe on 2007-09-11 12:52 (Reply)
I watched that show and it was sad that the company abused the workers. They should not hire illegal immigrants in the first place. It is FOrever 21's own problem to "have the piece of cake and eat it too". They are guilty as charged and should be fined or charged for 1) being inhumane to workers and 2) hiring illegal immigrants.
Personally I do not condone illegal immigration and to some extent, I am not sure if they believe being an illegal immigrant in the US will be better than their hometown (regardless of where they are from). There are consequences to every decision one makes, and I guess one needs to be able to deal with those consequences somehow.
#1.1.2 Koala on 2009-08-16 11:49 (Reply)
Blah, Blah, Blahhhhhh..... Get mad about something useful, Like how this country is headed towards socialism......or how American falimys have to stand in food bank lines to feed thier family... Or how about how Autoworkers make ?79.00hr to assist automated machinerary....maybe that why cars cost more than fourty thousand dollars. get mad about that..... :-(
#2 Jamie on 2009-03-02 11:16 (Reply)
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