No Sweat Apparel is for Consumers with a Conscience

The textile industry is notorious for overcharging consumers, disadvantaging employees, and taxing our environment. The term "sweatshops" was coined because of the practices of the industry. The developing world is flooded with these slave-like establishments, thereby spawning the now-flourishing anti-globalization movement. And the developed world hasn't seen the last of them, with a recent case in 1995 detailing a sweat compound that made workers sew sixteen hours a day, while living in inhumane conditions in the United States. This labor was paid for by prominent members of the American textile industry.

So, what is someone supposed to do when they want to buy new clothes with a clear conscience? Who makes ware without sweatshop labor? Well, the answer is simple: at No Sweat Apparel. The company describes itself as "100% union-made, sweatshop-free shopping." Their products are made by labor union members in developed and developing countries. Every producing member has a profile on the website. You can view wage slips, letters, audits, pictures, and policies of all thirteen producers.

This is all great and dandy, but do they care for the environment? No Sweat states that once humans are afforded basic rights, than they will have more interest in the rights of things around them. Yet, they still do more than most. Every time something is bought on the website, from the cheap clearance items, to expensive denim jeans, a tree is planted. The company has grown 750% since 2005. I suspect in no time they will have produced a forest.

Other initiatives by No Sweat include waste reduction with the help of Jimtex Yarns. This innovative company save useable cottons scraps from ending up in trash heaps and landfills. It mixes them with other textile ingredients, before sending them to the places that produce for No Sweat. Organic, hemp and other ecologically sound products are also offered. If you're vegan, like I'm trying to be, they also sell vegan products. Too bad, it's not everything. To me, this is a large problem and I think they could attract many more consumers if they made the switch completely.

No Sweat has an interesting way of doing advertising. Instead of creating commercials or writing print ads, they primarily rely on product placement and word-of-mouth. They sponsor bands with clothing, offer a clever affiliate program that pays 7% of the sale to the people who buy through the affiliate's web space, and even sponsor Fair Trade fashion shows.

To access No Sweat, go here. They offer a wide variety of items, with the clearance section being the best place for good deals. Some shoes are as cheap as $3! Good luck.

Sources:

No Sweat Apparel: http://www.nosweatapparel.com/index.html

Wikipedia Entry on No Sweat Apparel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Sweat_Apparel