Made in the USA info from @flohough1870 So, in a nutshell, Saipan is a US territory and in the 1990s, items with a "Made In USA" were a big deal here. Someone realized that you could manufacture items in Saipan and still stick that label on the products. It opened the door for an epic tale of extortion and human tragedy. Workers were lured with false stories of riches, close proximity to Hollywood (haha) and other awful lies, only to be threatened with their lives or the lives of their families back home if they tried to leave or told the truth to anyone. There were a lot of major brands involved and while they can try and claim they didn't know, only one that I am aware of, Levi Strauss, actually cancelled their contracts with the manufacturers and the rest just made excuses. Ralph Lauren, Walmart, Nike and many others were on the list. It turned into a real mess for the US Government and of course, many corrupt politicians were turning a blind eye to the situation. I first became aware of it when a pair of British journalists went there and did a documentary about it. I wish I could find that documentary again, it was very interesting and eye opening. Perhaps the most disturbing part about it was when they interviewed a group of female workers who were making sweatshirts for Ralph Lauren. They were asked what they were paid per hour which was a pittance. Then they told them how much these sweatshirts were selling for. It was awful, they had literally no idea that they were being paid next to nothing in comparison. Here are some links to articles about it. There is a video out there but you have to buy it in order to view it unfortunately, I haven't been able to find anywhere that it's uploaded to the internet. This whole operation has since been shut down, but I'm sure it's just moved to other locations in the world, doing the exact same thing it was there--exploiting workers. The worse part of the story is that very little of this ever hit the American press. The majority of Americans are unaware this even went on, I probably wouldn't even know had I not watched that documentary! 🔗LINKS: msmagazine.com/2019/07/15/paradise-lost/ www.nytimes.com/1993/07/18/world/made-usa-hard-labor-pacific-island-special-report-saipan-sweatshops-are-no.html#:~:text=And%20while%20many%20of%20these%20garments%20are,flag%20flies%20over%20several%20of%20the%20factories. www.npr.org/2006/05/16/5408446/sweatshops-in-u-s-territory#:~:text=While%20the%20Northern%20Marianas%20Islands,made%20in%20the%20USA%22%20label.
Even before their turn to fast fashion, luxury clothing has massive profit margins because of how inflated the price tag often was. Now with the short cuts they’ve taken (worse structure, materials, etc.), their profits are even larger. Luxury brands have become extremely greedy.
yes!! didn't even mention the fact that luxury prices have absolutely skyrocketed recently at a rate far higher than rising costs would excuse... it's crazy but they know ppl will pay for the status symbol 😟
@@katierobinsonIt’s scary how quickly they fall for it too. Even “non-traditional” luxury brands feel like trends: it was supreme then essentials now stussy. Sometimes it feels like people are buying to be part of a trend.
I think I'm just really shocked at the level of audacity of these luxury brands, it's absolutely wild how they get away for the same shady business practices used by fast fashion
literally, and no one bats an eye because shein is right there being loudly unsustainable... luxury meanwhile has perfect the art of quiet exploitation 🥴
Small batch, business, slower production, less drops and pinger time lines. And that's for mire than fashion. I'm really over hyper production for production sake.
I would totally pay more for higher quality, longer lasting items, however, luxury items are now massed produced and quality has gone severely downhill and they’re not ethical like they want us to think they are. Now i buy vintage everything pretty much, The quality is better and i feel better about it.
Earlier today I saw a video on the new inside out Louis Vuitton neverfull. And it made me think. Luxury fashion is speeding up and jumping on the following trends train, which in my opinion is another thing that lowers them to the level of fast fashion. And I think it hurts the luxury image more than these brands know so far.
@@Cantseemuch honestly it’s crazy the lengths they go to to protect their image (burning merch, being careful about who can buy etc) but don’t see jumping on fast fashion trends as harmful?? doesn’t make sense to me
Love your content! Great points. I think we as consumers must educate ourselves on how to understand if a product is truly well made and worth the money. Not only checking the material label, but checking the lining and the stitching must become a staple practice! Almost every luxury brand is using polyester nowadays, which is unacceptable and I truly believe that in the long run this is a terrible practice both environmentally and business wise. It’s truly shocking to see just how greedy those luxury brands got over the years. This is the main reason that I gravitate more and more to mid-luxury priced brands, that still value quality and sustainability.
legislation most likely, plus public awareness does sometimes have an impact - not saying the top luxury consumers will suddenly grow a conscience and speak out but the anti-shein group could make their voices heard!!
LVMH has gotten its grubby hands into so many brands by acquiring them and cutting costs, reducing quality, raising prices etc. all the bad practices that cut throat business people think are necessary. Vs when owners were the designers and had to actually compete for a customers attention. Now i avoid any brand that isn’t independently owned.
@@davidpachecogarcia honestly it’s crazy how much power they hold over fashion, they have a stake in everything!! the bloomberg article mentioned how many of the issues with loro piana started after they were acquired, particularly issues with paying more for the material 🥲
I keep seeing the recent hype and rise of loro piana on my feed. So interesting that this article was featured on Bloomberg yet no one seems to be batting an eyelid. I will see them very differently now…
I would argue that part of the reason luxury fashion gets less criticism is because it has a much smaller customer base. Telling people not to buy Dior or Loro Piana feels less impactful because not many people are buying many garments from those brands in the first place. But many people buy lots of fast fashion. That said, I agree that the shitty practices of more expensive brands need to be called out more.
@@StarlightPrism oh definitely true haha, but i think you could also counter it with how aware people are of luxury - it’s literally shoved in our face all the time, how are people not questioning it more because of that?
Luxury fashion and fast fashion have done an excellent job in marketing to even people who aren’t interested in fashion. Most people only know of brands like Shien, Temu, H&M, Zara, LV, Gucci, Dior etc. there’s sooooo many more players in fashion. Polyester has its uses, look at Issey Miyakes line. Only polyester could achieve what the designers want. Or even athletic wear. However, brands just see it as a way cheaper and more readily available material than cotton. It boils down to cutting down cost to maximize profits. One area that is also not discussed is that architecture is a very emissions heavy venture like opening up x amount of stores year over year.
@@davidpachecogarcia love your thoughts on this!! agree that sometimes polyester is actually the best option, wish brands would see it as a tool to be used only when needed rather than a cost-cutter or corner cutter!
and yes didn’t even think of the emissions created from opening stores, not to mention the way luxury drives fashion month and all the impact that has 3/4 times a year every year
I don't get it, I use to be a sewing contractor. If my client doesn't pay me, they don't get their shipment. So you kind of think why would these farmers not demand payment?
@@katierobinson these luxury brands will no doubt have the best of the best legal representatives to draft contracts and agreements to somewhat trap them in one way or another (leaving then with very little incentive to contract out i reckon?)
Made in the USA info from @flohough1870
So, in a nutshell, Saipan is a US territory and in the 1990s, items with a "Made In USA" were a big deal here. Someone realized that you could manufacture items in Saipan and still stick that label on the products. It opened the door for an epic tale of extortion and human tragedy.
Workers were lured with false stories of riches, close proximity to Hollywood (haha) and other awful lies, only to be threatened with their lives or the lives of their families back home if they tried to leave or told the truth to anyone. There were a lot of major brands involved and while they can try and claim they didn't know, only one that I am aware of, Levi Strauss, actually cancelled their contracts with the manufacturers and the rest just made excuses. Ralph Lauren, Walmart, Nike and many others were on the list. It turned into a real mess for the US Government and of course, many corrupt politicians were turning a blind eye to the situation.
I first became aware of it when a pair of British journalists went there and did a documentary about it. I wish I could find that documentary again, it was very interesting and eye opening. Perhaps the most disturbing part about it was when they interviewed a group of female workers who were making sweatshirts for Ralph Lauren. They were asked what they were paid per hour which was a pittance. Then they told them how much these sweatshirts were selling for. It was awful, they had literally no idea that they were being paid next to nothing in comparison.
Here are some links to articles about it. There is a video out there but you have to buy it in order to view it unfortunately, I haven't been able to find anywhere that it's uploaded to the internet. This whole operation has since been shut down, but I'm sure it's just moved to other locations in the world, doing the exact same thing it was there--exploiting workers. The worse part of the story is that very little of this ever hit the American press. The majority of Americans are unaware this even went on, I probably wouldn't even know had I not watched that documentary!
🔗LINKS:
msmagazine.com/2019/07/15/paradise-lost/
www.nytimes.com/1993/07/18/world/made-usa-hard-labor-pacific-island-special-report-saipan-sweatshops-are-no.html#:~:text=And%20while%20many%20of%20these%20garments%20are,flag%20flies%20over%20several%20of%20the%20factories.
www.npr.org/2006/05/16/5408446/sweatshops-in-u-s-territory#:~:text=While%20the%20Northern%20Marianas%20Islands,made%20in%20the%20USA%22%20label.
Even before their turn to fast fashion, luxury clothing has massive profit margins because of how inflated the price tag often was. Now with the short cuts they’ve taken (worse structure, materials, etc.), their profits are even larger. Luxury brands have become extremely greedy.
yes!! didn't even mention the fact that luxury prices have absolutely skyrocketed recently at a rate far higher than rising costs would excuse... it's crazy but they know ppl will pay for the status symbol 😟
@@katierobinsonIt’s scary how quickly they fall for it too. Even “non-traditional” luxury brands feel like trends: it was supreme then essentials now stussy. Sometimes it feels like people are buying to be part of a trend.
it's gotta be miu miu and coperni for me rn 🥴 absolutely every fashion person loving them rn just bc they're trendy
I think I'm just really shocked at the level of audacity of these luxury brands, it's absolutely wild how they get away for the same shady business practices used by fast fashion
literally, and no one bats an eye because shein is right there being loudly unsustainable... luxury meanwhile has perfect the art of quiet exploitation 🥴
Small batch, business, slower production, less drops and pinger time lines. And that's for mire than fashion. I'm really over hyper production for production sake.
honestly it could be so much easier if everyone wasn't obsessed with beating profits!!
I would totally pay more for higher quality, longer lasting items, however, luxury items are now massed produced and quality has gone severely downhill and they’re not ethical like they want us to think they are. Now i buy vintage everything pretty much, The quality is better and i feel better about it.
Earlier today I saw a video on the new inside out Louis Vuitton neverfull. And it made me think.
Luxury fashion is speeding up and jumping on the following trends train, which in my opinion is another thing that lowers them to the level of fast fashion.
And I think it hurts the luxury image more than these brands know so far.
@@Cantseemuch honestly it’s crazy the lengths they go to to protect their image (burning merch, being careful about who can buy etc) but don’t see jumping on fast fashion trends as harmful?? doesn’t make sense to me
Love your content! Great points. I think we as consumers must educate ourselves on how to understand if a product is truly well made and worth the money. Not only checking the material label, but checking the lining and the stitching must become a staple practice! Almost every luxury brand is using polyester nowadays, which is unacceptable and I truly believe that in the long run this is a terrible practice both environmentally and business wise. It’s truly shocking to see just how greedy those luxury brands got over the years. This is the main reason that I gravitate more and more to mid-luxury priced brands, that still value quality and sustainability.
Thanks for giving us the updates which we needed the most. Shout out to you for putting a comprehensive video about sustainable fashion Katie!!
aw tysm for watching!! 🫶
Thank you for bringing awareness to this. You inspire me to approach fashion in a more sustainable way!
Finally! Exactly! And that is BS. Thing is, if it keeps selling, and people don't care, then how is this solved?
legislation most likely, plus public awareness does sometimes have an impact - not saying the top luxury consumers will suddenly grow a conscience and speak out but the anti-shein group could make their voices heard!!
LVMH has gotten its grubby hands into so many brands by acquiring them and cutting costs, reducing quality, raising prices etc. all the bad practices that cut throat business people think are necessary. Vs when owners were the designers and had to actually compete for a customers attention. Now i avoid any brand that isn’t independently owned.
@@davidpachecogarcia honestly it’s crazy how much power they hold over fashion, they have a stake in everything!! the bloomberg article mentioned how many of the issues with loro piana started after they were acquired, particularly issues with paying more for the material 🥲
Honestly this doesn’t shock me, I’m glad I’m too broke to purchase anything from a luxury brand lol.
I keep seeing the recent hype and rise of loro piana on my feed. So interesting that this article was featured on Bloomberg yet no one seems to be batting an eyelid. I will see them very differently now…
feel like it's become mainstream since succession and also the people shopping there have little interest in things as trivial as unethical labour
I would argue that part of the reason luxury fashion gets less criticism is because it has a much smaller customer base. Telling people not to buy Dior or Loro Piana feels less impactful because not many people are buying many garments from those brands in the first place. But many people buy lots of fast fashion.
That said, I agree that the shitty practices of more expensive brands need to be called out more.
@@StarlightPrism oh definitely true haha, but i think you could also counter it with how aware people are of luxury - it’s literally shoved in our face all the time, how are people not questioning it more because of that?
Luxury fashion and fast fashion have done an excellent job in marketing to even people who aren’t interested in fashion. Most people only know of brands like Shien, Temu, H&M, Zara, LV, Gucci, Dior etc. there’s sooooo many more players in fashion.
Polyester has its uses, look at Issey Miyakes line. Only polyester could achieve what the designers want. Or even athletic wear. However, brands just see it as a way cheaper and more readily available material than cotton. It boils down to cutting down cost to maximize profits.
One area that is also not discussed is that architecture is a very emissions heavy venture like opening up x amount of stores year over year.
@@davidpachecogarcia love your thoughts on this!! agree that sometimes polyester is actually the best option, wish brands would see it as a tool to be used only when needed rather than a cost-cutter or corner cutter!
and yes didn’t even think of the emissions created from opening stores, not to mention the way luxury drives fashion month and all the impact that has 3/4 times a year every year
omg firsttt, been waiting for a new video :))
this was so fast wtf 😅 I've been bodied by a cold for a week so haven't been uploading but I have so many plans for new videos!!!
i love your videos 🫶🏻
omg u guys are so fast 😭 hiiii
I don't get it, I use to be a sewing contractor. If my client doesn't pay me, they don't get their shipment. So you kind of think why would these farmers not demand payment?
I'm honestly not too sure why they don't just refuse to do the volunteer work 😭
@@katierobinson these luxury brands will no doubt have the best of the best legal representatives to draft contracts and agreements to somewhat trap them in one way or another (leaving then with very little incentive to contract out i reckon?)
@@nabilaxo9157 likely what's happened!!
Omg, I've never been this early for anything before :O
loooool its only been 7 mins how are ppl this fast 😭