Just remember when you watch shark tank and dragons den and they say we can "outsource" this and get it much cheaper....this is what they are talking about.
Yes, this point about Shark Tank! On Dragons Den,a pitch I saw was for furniture that was promoted as Canada Made, and Mr Wonderful stop the presenters and said "no one cares if it Canada Made, we can have it made cheaper else where".
Remember when that clothing factory collapsed in Bangladesh in 2013? Over a thousand workers died, and I remember some fashion company executives crying on TV about how they'll change things. Guess they meant change countries.
This is how you put a narcissist in their place. So much respect for this researcher who didn't FLINCH at this narcissistic interviewer trying to make this human trafficking story about himself.
The customers say they’re disgusted, and it’s unacceptable. But we know when given the choice to buy a shirt from a big box store for $15, or a locally made, (exactly the same) shirt for $50, most will pick the cheaper option.
I'm not sure if you live in Canada, but the $50 is the cheap option here... quality locally made garments are closer to $100-$200 each. Personally I can't even afford Old Navy or Walmart most of the time. Personally I choose thrift stores, where a shirt might be $15-$20. Prices are a bit higher in my part of the country to be clear.
@@luchiayoung yes you may have clothes from years ago, but what about the new generation, the young people? They have to get their clothing from stores nowadays they don't have a choice. Unfortunately most products not just clothes aren't good quality unless very expensive and most can't afford it.
Only clothing? Most everything nowadays is poor quality that don't last. Electronics, appliances, even food. What about the high cost of electricity, gas and internet 8n Canada. Winter is around the corner and many people will have to choose between having food on the table or not having enough heat in the house. How about a documentary on this issue
Those companies make so much money, if they just took much less, all would be ok across the board for the workers, who would be able to have a nice life.
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
I'm now a senior and I can remember my mom making clothes from patterns, and knitting sweaters, hats, gloves, slippers, etc. That was a different time.
I’m probably the same age, Cassie and because I was so tall 5’9” with a 33” inseam like in grade 6? My mom, God rest her soul, made ALL my pants, dresses for prom, sorority functions or ANY place that I needed clothes. She made our clothes even in grade school! She lined what needed to be lined and added trim for those parties in the 70’s. I was wearing an “original” and she did a BEAUTIFUL job. I miss that quality. Poor thing cutting out patterns and seeing her little fingers off. Then, as adults, she took that left over scraps and made my sister and I a quilt out of those scraps! It’s beautiful! I still have it. She even embroidered her name and date on it. Even though I still have it, the fabric is so old, if I’d wash it, those fabrics are tearing from old age lol. I may frame the quilt but it would fit double size bed. It’s like living my childhood as I can remember each and every outfit again! It’s one of my dearest treasures! 🌹💕
@@tonistark4169 Ha ha, I was 5'9 (and a half) back then. Now I'm 5'7 and need a stepstool for everything. Not necessarily shrinking, just a bit wider. ☺
My mom, may God rest her soul, was a seamstress in the garment industry for 50 years. I remember her salary was $1.25 a garment. A far cry from the actual selling price for the garment. The garments made were selling for $50 each. Mom instructed her kids never to touch a sewing machine.
Now, I'm looking at a shirt and I see five seams. I'm betting I could sew that in 15 minutes with a machine on my first try. Within a couple days, I'm sure I'd be down to 10 minutes, or 6 an hour. That's $7.75 an hour, and I think that's minimum wage today. Now if I think about doing that for years, I could see that shirt taking under 5 minutes if not under 3. So if she was any good at all, she would have made bank, especially adjusting for inflation. A garment would have to take at least 12 minutes to stitch in order to earn an average hourly wage below in today's market at that price. As for receiving just under 3% of the retail value for the clothing, why would she deserve more than that? What did she invest in each piece? She didn't buy the fabric, cut it, dye it, package it, label it, make the labels, ship it, deliver it, stock it or sell it. She didn't pay the power for the sewing machine, the thread, the fuel to ship it to the factory, the dye to color it, the workers that grew the cotton, the workers that harvested the cotton, the workers who turned cotton into fabric, the fuel to get it to the distributor, the workers that organized the product for store transfer, the electricity at distribution center, the fuel to ship it to the store, the electricity at the store, the rent for the space the store occupied, rent at the distributor, rent at the factory, property taxes on the farm, the water bill at the farm, water at the factory, water at the distributor, or water at the store. Not to mention all the people in the background who market the brand, do payroll, organize logistics, and do front end design. I think I listed over thirty three factors that go into the cost of selling that shirt, and I know I could list more, but that's enough to show that she got more than an equal share of the money. So this story is false, and everyone agreeing with the implications of low pay have no concept of realistic value, and didn't bother to think before they signaled their virtue. Congratulations, you got played by an extremely low effort troll. Obvious troll should be obvious, but the fact that it isn't is frightening.
As a frequent customer and former employee of Reitman’s, I am truly disappointed. Until they step up and take responsibility for ensuring ethical practices all along their supply chain, I’m going to consider myself a former customer as well. The federal government also needs to step up and start requiring the CBSA to enforce their mandates.
I worked for Reitmans and shopped there even before I got a job with them. I am shook to my core that there is a possibility that I have bought or sold garments that have come from these facilities. I love reitmans and am having a difficult time with it myself.
It's very hard to find ethical clothing. I would think most people should know that you can't make a t-shirt for $10 and have a happy healthy worker making it. I choose to buy most of my clothes second hand since I can't afford to buy from an ethical source.
Thank you marketplace for making these shows! These are such important information that every canadian needs to know. It's also comforting there are still real investigative journalists exist.
If everyone cut clothing purchased in half, there would be lots of impoverished people, with even less work. Think about that for a moment. It's very complex. Same with your local workers, who are in retail. No sales, no jobs. No stores, no malls. It's the world that has been created for us, by us. And it's not going away.
I know how to sew. I've made clothes for children occasionally and loved ones and I was going to focus on quilts as gifts, but this expose inspires me to make all my own clothes going forward.
I applaud your enthusiasm & empathy, but the other issue is; where & under what conditions are the textiles & patterns you'll be using sourced? It's a knock-on effect & so much bigger than we think. From the farmers who grow the fibers to the workers in the factory where the textiles are made. We are at the mercy of these massive greedy & unethical companies & governing bodies that don't care & allow them to have a monopoly on the things we need & want. How can we, as consumers, possibly know where & under what conditions all of the products we use are made? It's a never-ending maze of deception & greed. However, having said all of that, one step at a time by each of us is better than doing nothing at all, so good for you for caring enough to do your part. ❤️
I enjoy making clothes and I think it’s better but it’s a lot more expensive. Fabric is so expensive. I just can’t afford to make my own clothes. I made a skirt and it’s not that good but the fabric alone cost me $40.
@@rachelcookie321 I've noticed that too & the cost of patterns has risen & buttons, nice buttons are a ridiculous cost if you can actually manage to find nice ones.
I do as well. I started because I wanted better fit and fabrics beside polyester, but the more I learned about fashion manufacturing and overconsumption, the happier I am with creating my own clothing.
I’ve been purposely looking at labels and not buying from certain countries for a long time. Marketplace, thanks for reporting this… Makes us think more about where our clothes are made and who,how and what conditions they are made . Buy local and support small businesses.
@@downhomesunset Most don't have a choice, almost nothing is manufactured in North America at this point. It's not a judgment, just a fact. Even things that claim to be "made in Canada" are made from foreign textiles, whose factories have the same issues. The problem is incredibly far reaching and pervasive.
Yes, buying ethical made clothes would be better. But, living in a small budget doesn't allow you to do that. Some people can hardly afford Walmart and old navy prices. It's just incredible sad that doing the right thing has become a privilege all in it itself.
this makes me wonder though, what if only the lower class and actually poor bought "unethically" these groups only shop for clothes about once a year. Most times, people who buy from unethical sources buy hundreds of dollars worth, multiple times a year. these groups of people therefore seem to be able to spend hundreds on clothes. really makes you think
Recently I was in a homeless shelter . I brought almost new jacket . What I saw was a mountain of cloth . If someone lacks money can get it for free or go to second hand stores . I'm talking about the USA . I have no knowledge how is it in other countries...
The way I've worked with shopping ethically while having a very low budget is by shopping second hand. It doesn't create more demand for the products themselves and at least reuses garments for the sake of environmental impact. It's not ideal but it's how I try to do my part
It blows my mind that people make these clothes for so cheap, but if I want to buy a shawl it's still $150.00. At least pay them a decent wage if you're going to sell the clohing for such high prices.
Could you do a similar investigation about clothes made in Italy? Italy is associated with premium for a lot, yet there are so many sweatshops there. Canadian brands like Rachel claim to be ethical but they outsource in Italy a lot. I wonder if their stuff really is ethical.
@@Marsalien100 you know not all clothes from Italy cost thousands right? The really expensive ones are usually hand made by a small team of high skilled workers, you wouldn’t see them being made in a sweatshop.
I have a limited budget so I can’t really afford to buy from more ethical brands so I have turned to buying second hand from thrift stores. It takes more time to look through to find things you like but I have managed to find many hidden treasures for cheap👍
The change will take place when humanity will pay fair price for labour. We all guilty to have our clothes packed with garments made by hostage workers which we throw away regularly to buy more. The change starts inside of our closets and our mentality. Fair pay for labour will make our closets lean and to the point. Another issue in Canada is that on minimum pay of $14.25 how can you pay for fairly priced garments. How politicians can decide that $14.25 is meeting the basics of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?
Another big issue is almost nothing is even manufactured in North America anymore. I try to buy Canadian made clothing, and there's basically 2 places to choose from, and it's astronomically expensive. Tbf, it does last longer, but not long enough to justify its usually 4-8x higher price point. There would need to be major subsidies (or higher tariffs on imported goods) to bring textile manufacturing back to North America. Fast fashion is so bad for the environment, so I hope it does change soon, but you're right, the living wage in Ontario is over $22, so $14.25 an hour is definitely going to keep people in poverty, and stop them from affording Canadian made clothing or other goods. Devaluing labour hurts the entire world.
I hate that for every 10 people who try to be careful about what they buy, there's that person who will mindlessly order a bunch of stuff from Amazon and end up throwing half out.
If this was done in America they would have mentioned 5 times why this is Trumps fault or gave 5 reasons why Biden caused this. It would have to tie into political parties in some way 😂.
Every single high end brand from clothing to makeup to elecronics to cars to sports stuff rely on cheap labor and for that they have to look into some of the poorest parts of the world and open a factory there. If we really think the working conditions are going to be good there then we are just fooling ourselves.
Most people can't afford to buy "ethically" but it helps a lot to buy things made of natural fibers (cotton/linen) that will last for years. I've had Zara wool sweaters for 10+ years
@@wioi It's extremely hard to find a company that doesn't produce clothing overseas where workers make pennies. I'm saying at least buy clothing that will last so you don't have to go out and buy more.
We shouldn’t be buying affordable clothes… we should be paying what clothes are worth. We got rid of our uk factories …to exploit cheap labour abroad. Fast fashion is wrong
@@honeybdream I wish there was a way to tell clothes from happy employees kind of like that beauty store Lush! I think they missed their opportunity to recommend brands or stores.
lol pants from adidas cost $70 minimum to $130. The REAL question is: are companies willing to pay workers more? Apple is worth 2 trillion, would it so bad if they were only worth 1 trillion?
Also fast fashion clothes are too expensive as they are toxic and only last 3 weeks. Even stuff that cost $200 can be low quality. Maybe the real question is: are brands willing to make safe, quality goods where everyone gets paid fairly?
If a pair of jeans costs 30 dollars to make in an ethical way, and we are paying 100 dollars for a pair, then those companies are already making a huge profit! They don’t need to gouge their workers and make even more. They need to take less profit and pay their workers. They don’t even need to raise prices. Are these companies even paying taxes on these profits? Why is our government allowing an unethical industry with a long history of abuses, to police itself?
If Canada starts banning some of these brands/ shops, and Canadians found that they are paying a much higher prices than the U.S, they will simply go south of the border to shop for clothes. People tend to look for bargains, especially with inflations while wages stay the same.
@Colleen Ferguson, that is a fine option for most women, but have you ever looked at clothing for men at second hand shops, its really hard, men tend to not take care of their clothing.
My friends make clothing IN Canada. It is more expensive...but it's ok. For me I wear my clothes for years. I'm not into Fast Fashion. It's really bad for the planet too. If you buy a sweater from Primark it's rubbish after a few months. Then you THINK you're recycling it ...meanwhile it ends up in some river in India. They have a great documentary on that also. I started buying second hand here in glasgow. Especially classic items. I rarely buy clothes.
@@tanyawieczorek6603 ah! You could maybe try her online shop. I ordered "The Signature" off her website and she shipped it to Scotland. Maybe go to the website. I wear her Signature piece when I travel. It's really comfortable but I still look complete and dressed.
@@SweetUniverse Old Navy and other stores have the leverage to pressure factories to change because they spend so much. All the big stores pressured Bangladesh to change its building code after the deaths there a few years ago, for example.
Did you know that fewer than 1 in 200 shipping containers are opened for inspection at Canadian ports? Odds are pretty good for the smugglers. If you only have to forfeit one in 200 shipments, you can do a damn good business!
You know how many containers a container ship holds? The standard is around 20,0000. Say it takes 25 minutes to inspect each container, that would be 8333 man hours. Say the average port worker makes 20$ an hour that would be about $166,660 per ship. Who's going to pay for that? Not the merchants, not companies that make the products. You will. oh and good luck getting your presents before Christmas that's not going to fix the massive backlog we have at almost every port. People are so dull
Please do a story on peoples disability low payment and those in need. It is inhuman in a civilized country And no one is doing ANYTHING about it. People should not be treated this way! SINCERELY Victoria Laidlaw Nov6/217■●■
Virgilda, thank you for all your sacrifices, hard work, and dedication to making others aware of the issue so a change could happen. Also, congrats on your case, you deserve it!
Stitches, Inc. used to have a factory in my hometown: Red Boiling Springs Tennessee. They didn't want to pay a fair wage in the early 1990s so they closed up their shop and displaced about 500 workers. How are they still in business?
I understand the point they're trying to say, but I find it kind of annoying that people find out about the shady dealings behind their clothes and it ends there... Our quality of life is directly on the backs of the poor and people would rather stay ignorant... Companies who claim ethical sourcing don't have a lot of accountability either.
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Lol just take a look at shein, fashion nova, missguided, h&m - these are just *some* fast fashion brands that sell clothes cheaply to the US & are popular with Americans. They are a part of the problem.
It's not like this makes a difference in any way shape or form. This is how multi national companies have operated and will continue to operate long into the future.
It is the same idea of using cheaper labor to produce coffee beans in poor countries. People are greedy; they want everything cheaper, making manufacturers try their best to find any possible cheap labor around the world to exploit them and produce customer happy price products.
Thankfully, we have a company here in Chicago, Dearborn Denim, that makes nice, reasonably priced jeans and shirts locally and ethically. There are others out there, too. And remember, it's not just the garment itself. The fabric may also come from places that aren't so great.
YM: 20:26 We've responded and we'll leave it at that... Canadian shoppers: We've responded by not shopping at any of your stores.. and we'll leave it at that.
A lot of these big name brands are made in sweatshops..... like joe fresh etc.. and as long as these big companies can keep doing it , they will........as long as they are making lots of money from it.
Clothing has become such a big problem from creation in Asia to disposal in West Africa and the oceans. Recycle ♻️ stained clothing is how 1 can help just a little.
At the beginning of the video they said the workers were from North Korea. And the workers probably don’t get any of the money, that means it probably goes to their government. That’s not good.
I remember how my Grandmother told me how she used to work at such places. She graduated from middle school and started working at a young age. She told me she would sew parts of clothes and each piece would give her a yen or two. I felt so sad when I once heard it and I just really hope that in the near future this treatment of workers in the clothes industry will improve.
Sad but I have seen people run to golf course just to be part of the clan and pay big $ just to be popular! More sad than ever! Sincerely Victoria Laidlaw
Hmm, however unlikely. Although being that it's CBC, & that California has lost its way in the last few decades. Maybe you do listen to the Socialist Government Broadcaster of Canada, CBC
Marketplace is so fire 🔥 It would be nice if the stations here in the US would stop bickering about politics for 5 minutes and do something useful like CBC!
Something Canadians need to know is to check the CA identification number, which is on every label. It is very enlightening. Lots of things are made under license, most notably to me is Laura Ashley- made by Winners under license, and that was verified by me directly from Laura Ashley. Just because the label says something, does not mean that designer actually made it. I am actually disgusted with Laura Ashley that they do this, as well as with Winners. That store is full of stuff like this.
I walked through Kohl’s yesterday to make an Amazon return. I looked at the women’s clothing and it was so hideous and very shoddily and cheaply with horrible rayon and cheap polyester fabrics.
Yes, and it seems no matter the price point of the store, the clothes are all shoddy workmanship and ghastly fabrics. I sew but am also having trouble finding quality fabric. I buy a lot from thrift stores and tailor them to fit. I have a 20 plus year old shift dress from LLBean in a wool gabardine which will last me forever but they don't even make things like that any more, sadly.
@@jenniferbond7073 I just machine wash with a lot of Tide and those scented laundry crystal thingies. Forgot their name. Then I machine dry using scented dryer sheets. I couldn’t get a strong perfume sent out of a tunic I bought, even after I had washed it twice so I ended up having to toss it out.
Marketplace, are you brave enough to investigate Toronto's sweat factories? Bakeries? Show Canadians the truth behind all bread, bagels, cookies....what there consume every day. Show them how many people getting Welfare and working in these factories for cash because the pay is not enough to survive.
They are getting welfare and cash??? If they have kids they get child benefits plus they get a GST check. In the end they are making more money than I am. I know one person on welfare with 3 kids and I found out that she makes like $3000 a month when you add it all together. I wish I had that right now during COVID.
This was sooo good, we need a follow up!! I went to school for fashion design at GBC and learning about all the discrepancies and how if you wanted to do it ethically made it that much more unlikely of your brand succeeding, made me not want to pursue a career in fashion.
I'm from Mexico, and when I moved to USA immediately knew that it would be impossible to compete with the prices at the store, only one piece of clothes takes several hours to make, and you also spend money on the material! It's very discouraging to pursue your passion for fashion, when you encounter this situation.
I worked in one of those places making warm wool sports coats for Lauren and others. Maybe it costs $1-$3 to make something and the company sells it for 20-40 times the cost. Definitely unjust. Working as a assembly line with limited bathroom breaks. The conditions unbearable and 90 degrees inside at summer where you are dripping sweating all your shift and 5 16oz waters are not enough for 8 hours. Then many people passed out unconscious and had to be taken out in a wheelchair. Definitely not a good environment. Non citizens were paid cents per piece so when there wasn’t work they weren’t paid and when there were they had to work until exhaustion just to get by.
My Grandmother would take a design that I would make, sew it, and I'd wear it. I was grateful for my grandmother's talent. Yet, that's a different time, and I don't sew. I asked a local sewer to help sew a dresses she wanted to charge 3 grand then you have to find somewhere to sell it and market it. Not as easy as it looks to do.
Forced labor! I do believe people that buy cheap things at places like Dollar Tree in the US are still buying things that are made in prisons and by forced labor.
I think we need a major fashion industry overhaul ! Between worker exploitation, extreme resource waste and giant clothing landfills in Costa Rica, Africa and I'm sure more elsewhere its a crisis situation. Clothing industry is 4th biggest contributer to climate crisis...we need big changes 🙏 Good expose but lets dig deeper people need to see how bad this monster is. Industry needs to be accountable for problems it creates.
So what is to come from this report? Are people going to boycott purchasing from these stores? I'm sure some of these people care that their products are being made by factory workers who get paid pennies but I doubt most will think twice and not buy from their favorite stores. This doesn't stop these factories from operating.
@@cayk9444 Exactly. I have chosen to stop shopping at these stores after seeing this. May not seem like a lot, but I have spent hundreds in these stores in just the last year alone. Now, if a couple hundred, or hopefully thousands of people follow suit, their losses will become apparent very quickly.
8:10 *Inner voice: "pretend to be totally shocked and do your best- I was totally unaware they associated with forced labour REACTION! 3,2,1..GO" "NO WAYYY!" That reaction was so NOT convincing! 😂😂😂😂
It’s really sad. But even if a few people stop buying from those stores. It doesn’t change the fact that the poor workers are still in those sweat shops.
So now it's a factory that sews for Pennington... they all use places like this. Outsourcing is a menace. How can we petition Canada to stop these shipments from entering the country?
Oh yes I think of those who make y clothes, reason why I never buy any clothing at full price. Just the fact that they can sell it at such a low sale price says a lot.
Sorry, how does buying clothes at a discount help? The retailer doesn't make as much money, but the company making the clothes still makes the exact same amount, and the employees still get the same pittance.
How about doing a surprise visit to the Spadina garment shops? Are you sure they are getting paid with minimum wage, etc.? Dirty laundry could be much closer to home.
Thanks for this investigative reporting. Continuing to bring to public these kinds of issues is the start of change. More stories creates more outrage. People have power with knowledge and vote with their wallets. Thanks for telling the truth.
This why I don’t shop mainstream fashion. For these exact reasons, next time your wearing a brand name just understand there’s a lot of shady activity behind it..
I don't blame them for still selling the products even though they no longer buy from them. It's not like the factory is going to take it back and what do you expect someone to do with already paid for goods- just throw it out?
I wish they investigate into the retailers that are producing safe and sustainable clothing so, that we have an idea of who to buy from. But, instead we have been left out here in the dark, not knowing what to do or where to shop.🤔🤷🏻♀️
I really feel the pain of those undepaid workers. Been there. When you got paid that wasn't being said in the contract. It hurt my feelings so hard because it's like someone stabbed you.
Just remember when you watch shark tank and dragons den and they say we can "outsource" this and get it much cheaper....this is what they are talking about.
Yes, this point about Shark Tank! On Dragons Den,a pitch I saw was for furniture that was promoted as Canada Made, and Mr Wonderful stop the presenters and said "no one cares if it Canada Made, we can have it made cheaper else where".
@@TDW8964 Canadians care a lot!
@@xerces27 yes exactly of course we do!
I think about that every time they say that. It takes a lot of exploitation of people to get really really rich.
Absolutely, fortunately the trend is moving away from outsourcing.
Remember when that clothing factory collapsed in Bangladesh in 2013? Over a thousand workers died, and I remember some fashion company executives crying on TV about how they'll change things. Guess they meant change countries.
“No! This is the price _they_ pay, for *our* cheap clothes.”
that is one smart guy
He did not even flinch at that response.. he is a great advocate!!!
This is how you put a narcissist in their place. So much respect for this researcher who didn't FLINCH at this narcissistic interviewer trying to make this human trafficking story about himself.
@@le_th_ Whaaat?! The story was not about himself.
We don’t need this much clothes, we need to take care of the clothes we have and buy good quality clothes.
Exactly
I refuse to shop at H & M , Forever 21 and places like that . I prefer quality over quantity!
I always do. I would not buy anything cheap unless it cheap but quality.
You can't chase fads and trends that way though, and many people want the latest thing
Amen
The customers say they’re disgusted, and it’s unacceptable. But we know when given the choice to buy a shirt from a big box store for $15, or a locally made, (exactly the same) shirt for $50, most will pick the cheaper option.
I'm not sure if you live in Canada, but the $50 is the cheap option here... quality locally made garments are closer to $100-$200 each. Personally I can't even afford Old Navy or Walmart most of the time. Personally I choose thrift stores, where a shirt might be $15-$20. Prices are a bit higher in my part of the country to be clear.
This is why systemic change is the only way to go.... These industries take advantage of our human weaknesses. Only regulation will slow that down.
@@kathymetzle8099 I have clothes 10-20 years old. Do people really need new clothes?
@@luchiayoung yes you may have clothes from years ago, but what about the new generation, the young people? They have to get their clothing from stores nowadays they don't have a choice. Unfortunately most products not just clothes aren't good quality unless very expensive and most can't afford it.
Only clothing? Most everything nowadays is poor quality that don't last. Electronics, appliances, even food. What about the high cost of electricity, gas and internet 8n Canada. Winter is around the corner and many people will have to choose between having food on the table or not having enough heat in the house. How about a documentary on this issue
I don’t know if we will ever get back to “quality over quantity”, but we sure need to.
It would also help to have more employers like the guy paying his employees at least minimum and seeing his workers as equal humans.
Those companies make so much money, if they just took much less, all would be ok across the board for the workers, who would be able to have a nice life.
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Amen, this is what decimated the Textile industry in New York and, if it hasn't happened yet, Toronto will be next.
Indeed
I'm now a senior and I can remember my mom making clothes from patterns, and knitting sweaters, hats, gloves, slippers, etc. That was a different time.
Look, how long your clothes lasted, compared to the poor quality of nowadays. Very sad.
I’m going to learn to make simple clothes
Yes, my grandmother used to sew too.
I’m probably the same age, Cassie and because I was so tall 5’9” with a 33” inseam like in grade 6? My mom, God rest her soul, made ALL my pants, dresses for prom, sorority functions or ANY place that I needed clothes. She made our clothes even in grade school! She lined what needed to be lined and added trim for those parties in the 70’s. I was wearing an “original” and she did a BEAUTIFUL job. I miss that quality. Poor thing cutting out patterns and seeing her little fingers off.
Then, as adults, she took that left over scraps and made my sister and I a quilt out of those scraps! It’s beautiful! I still have it. She even embroidered her name and date on it. Even though I still have it, the fabric is so old, if I’d wash it, those fabrics are tearing from old age lol. I may frame the quilt but it would fit double size bed. It’s like living my childhood as I can remember each and every outfit again! It’s one of my dearest treasures! 🌹💕
@@tonistark4169 Ha ha, I was 5'9 (and a half) back then. Now I'm 5'7 and need a stepstool for everything. Not necessarily shrinking, just a bit wider. ☺
My mom, may God rest her soul, was a seamstress in the garment industry for 50 years. I remember her salary was $1.25 a garment. A far cry from the actual selling price for the garment. The garments made were selling for $50 each. Mom instructed her kids never to touch a sewing machine.
Obviously the answer is to teach them to make their own clothes ;)
Sorry to hear that
my grandma told me she made a 2 pennies and hour drawing models on the runway
I wish I had your moms wisdom
Now, I'm looking at a shirt and I see five seams. I'm betting I could sew that in 15 minutes with a machine on my first try. Within a couple days, I'm sure I'd be down to 10 minutes, or 6 an hour. That's $7.75 an hour, and I think that's minimum wage today. Now if I think about doing that for years, I could see that shirt taking under 5 minutes if not under 3. So if she was any good at all, she would have made bank, especially adjusting for inflation.
A garment would have to take at least 12 minutes to stitch in order to earn an average hourly wage below in today's market at that price.
As for receiving just under 3% of the retail value for the clothing, why would she deserve more than that? What did she invest in each piece? She didn't buy the fabric, cut it, dye it, package it, label it, make the labels, ship it, deliver it, stock it or sell it. She didn't pay the power for the sewing machine, the thread, the fuel to ship it to the factory, the dye to color it, the workers that grew the cotton, the workers that harvested the cotton, the workers who turned cotton into fabric, the fuel to get it to the distributor, the workers that organized the product for store transfer, the electricity at distribution center, the fuel to ship it to the store, the electricity at the store, the rent for the space the store occupied, rent at the distributor, rent at the factory, property taxes on the farm, the water bill at the farm, water at the factory, water at the distributor, or water at the store. Not to mention all the people in the background who market the brand, do payroll, organize logistics, and do front end design. I think I listed over thirty three factors that go into the cost of selling that shirt, and I know I could list more, but that's enough to show that she got more than an equal share of the money.
So this story is false, and everyone agreeing with the implications of low pay have no concept of realistic value, and didn't bother to think before they signaled their virtue. Congratulations, you got played by an extremely low effort troll. Obvious troll should be obvious, but the fact that it isn't is frightening.
As a frequent customer and former employee of Reitman’s, I am truly disappointed. Until they step up and take responsibility for ensuring ethical practices all along their supply chain, I’m going to consider myself a former customer as well.
The federal government also needs to step up and start requiring the CBSA to enforce their mandates.
To be fair, they were made an example of in this documentary; I'd expect a large percentage of our retail chains are very unethical
I worked for Reitmans and shopped there even before I got a job with them. I am shook to my core that there is a possibility that I have bought or sold garments that have come from these facilities. I love reitmans and am having a difficult time with it myself.
Thank you CBC and Marketplace. As a former employee who was paid by YM inc., I am glad that this is being brought to light.
Love this type of investigative journalism these are the stories I love to see thank you for sharing
We live in such a broken world! Its heart wrenching to know most of us have unknowingly supported this! May we all do our part in changing this.
I love how people pretend to be surprised and insist on boycotting. When nike is still going strong.
Not only Nike, it's Coach, BeBe, Wrangler etc. Don't leave those out!!
that guy is wearing nike sneakers himself haha
It's very hard to find ethical clothing. I would think most people should know that you can't make a t-shirt for $10 and have a happy healthy worker making it. I choose to buy most of my clothes second hand since I can't afford to buy from an ethical source.
Me too Jen, your a smart shopper
Better quality product too
same
What’s ethical to you? Central and South American made?
Second hand isnt ethical either
Thank you marketplace for making these shows! These are such important information that every canadian needs to know. It's also comforting there are still real investigative journalists exist.
I’ve learned sooo much from this series and I’m not even Canadian .
I'm happy I'm not the only one who thinks about what happens behind the scenes. Second-hand is the way to go!!
Yes I totally agree! The world has too many clothes now‼️🌎
And second hand prices have sky rocketed
@@kulrich10 I've seen $15 shirts at Goodwill. You can get a new one at that price
Yes Seco d hand for many reasons s. It does not however guarantee you will not be pursing forced labor manufactured products.
If everyone cut clothing purchased in half, there would be lots of impoverished people, with even less work. Think about that for a moment. It's very complex. Same with your local workers, who are in retail. No sales, no jobs. No stores, no malls. It's the world that has been created for us, by us. And it's not going away.
This video needs more viewers. Honestly I’m just gonna buy sewing kits and just thrift if I need new clothes or not shop at all. This is crazy.
I know how to sew. I've made clothes for children occasionally and loved ones and I was going to focus on quilts as gifts, but this expose inspires me to make all my own clothes going forward.
I applaud your enthusiasm & empathy, but the other issue is; where & under what conditions are the textiles & patterns you'll be using sourced?
It's a knock-on effect & so much bigger than we think. From the farmers who grow the fibers to the workers in the factory where the textiles are made. We are at the mercy of these massive greedy & unethical companies & governing bodies that don't care & allow them to have a monopoly on the things we need & want.
How can we, as consumers, possibly know where & under what conditions all of the products we use are made?
It's a never-ending maze of deception & greed.
However, having said all of that, one step at a time by each of us is better than doing nothing at all, so good for you for caring enough to do your part. ❤️
@@cirsiumc Then you should be commended for your diligence. Keep up the good work.
I enjoy making clothes and I think it’s better but it’s a lot more expensive. Fabric is so expensive. I just can’t afford to make my own clothes. I made a skirt and it’s not that good but the fabric alone cost me $40.
@Luther Blissett Hahahaha, you never know. You could start a new fashion trend.
@@rachelcookie321 I've noticed that too & the cost of patterns has risen & buttons, nice buttons are a ridiculous cost if you can actually manage to find nice ones.
I have taken to sewing my own clothes. It is slow, but I feel so much better. Another upside is that the fabrics are much better.
I do as well. I started because I wanted better fit and fabrics beside polyester, but the more I learned about fashion manufacturing and overconsumption, the happier I am with creating my own clothing.
I’ve been purposely looking at labels and not buying from certain countries for a long time. Marketplace, thanks for reporting this… Makes us think more about where our clothes are made and who,how and what conditions they are made . Buy local and support small businesses.
Local and small businesses also source their stuff from overseas. Thats not a solution.
@@GM-jv9jz some do. Don’t lump everything together
Local business owners also seek to maximize profits by lowering costs.
@@downhomesunset Most don't have a choice, almost nothing is manufactured in North America at this point. It's not a judgment, just a fact. Even things that claim to be "made in Canada" are made from foreign textiles, whose factories have the same issues. The problem is incredibly far reaching and pervasive.
@@GM-jv9jz I have a small business. Find me the pieces and parts of any business aka raw materials that are made in the US. I'll wait
Yes, buying ethical made clothes would be better. But, living in a small budget doesn't allow you to do that. Some people can hardly afford Walmart and old navy prices. It's just incredible sad that doing the right thing has become a privilege all in it itself.
Devaluing workers and labour has hurt the entire world. It's bad for the economy, the environment, and people's mental health. It's heartbreaking.
this makes me wonder though, what if only the lower class and actually poor bought "unethically" these groups only shop for clothes about once a year. Most times, people who buy from unethical sources buy hundreds of dollars worth, multiple times a year. these groups of people therefore seem to be able to spend hundreds on clothes. really makes you think
Recently I was in a homeless shelter . I brought almost new jacket . What I saw was a mountain of cloth . If someone lacks money can get it for free or go to second hand stores . I'm talking about the USA . I have no knowledge how is it in other countries...
@@Vyvyarth I have to admit I'm guilty of it but ...I woke up . I stopped shopping and now minimalising on everything .
The way I've worked with shopping ethically while having a very low budget is by shopping second hand. It doesn't create more demand for the products themselves and at least reuses garments for the sake of environmental impact. It's not ideal but it's how I try to do my part
It blows my mind that people make these clothes for so cheap, but if I want to buy a shawl it's still $150.00. At least pay them a decent wage if you're going to sell the clohing for such high prices.
True, pay the workers. Even then it lets you know they still don't have to charge a arm and a leg
It won't happen in a capitalist world.
Could you do a similar investigation about clothes made in Italy? Italy is associated with premium for a lot, yet there are so many sweatshops there. Canadian brands like Rachel claim to be ethical but they outsource in Italy a lot. I wonder if their stuff really is ethical.
Had no idea about Italy and the brand Rachel… So disappointing.
There’s a brand just called Rachel?
Pretty sure it's not ethical. This and most such documentaries will skip over the real culprits - the capitalism system of the West
Italian clothes literally cost THOUSANDS of dollars so if you're right about the sweatshops it truly disgusts me.
@@Marsalien100 you know not all clothes from Italy cost thousands right? The really expensive ones are usually hand made by a small team of high skilled workers, you wouldn’t see them being made in a sweatshop.
Vote with your money people! If you don’t want this to continue, don’t buy from these shops.
Period
I have a limited budget so I can’t really afford to buy from more ethical brands so I have turned to buying second hand from thrift stores. It takes more time to look through to find things you like but I have managed to find many hidden treasures for cheap👍
The change will take place when humanity will pay fair price for labour. We all guilty to have our clothes packed with garments made by hostage workers which we throw away regularly to buy more. The change starts inside of our closets and our mentality. Fair pay for labour will make our closets lean and to the point. Another issue in Canada is that on minimum pay of $14.25 how can you pay for fairly priced garments. How politicians can decide that $14.25 is meeting the basics of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?
Another big issue is almost nothing is even manufactured in North America anymore. I try to buy Canadian made clothing, and there's basically 2 places to choose from, and it's astronomically expensive. Tbf, it does last longer, but not long enough to justify its usually 4-8x higher price point. There would need to be major subsidies (or higher tariffs on imported goods) to bring textile manufacturing back to North America. Fast fashion is so bad for the environment, so I hope it does change soon, but you're right, the living wage in Ontario is over $22, so $14.25 an hour is definitely going to keep people in poverty, and stop them from affording Canadian made clothing or other goods. Devaluing labour hurts the entire world.
👏👏👏👏
What scares me is Amazon and the millions of independent Chinese clothing companies that pay for pop up ads. Also, Wish!
Why does that scare you? What should scare you is the millions of western citizens so oblivious that they support that stuff.
@@JayandSarah
I'm guessing that people everywhere are ignorant to it. I wouldn't have known, nor would you or many others if we didn't watch this.
I hate that for every 10 people who try to be careful about what they buy, there's that person who will mindlessly order a bunch of stuff from Amazon and end up throwing half out.
@@benm3382
It's more like Temu these days, times have changed big time in 2 years!
American news could learn from Canadian Journalism. So sick of political posturing.
If this was done in America they would have mentioned 5 times why this is Trumps fault or gave 5 reasons why Biden caused this. It would have to tie into political parties in some way 😂.
There all crazy in the states over there?
Every single high end brand from clothing to makeup to elecronics to cars to sports stuff rely on cheap labor and for that they have to look into some of the poorest parts of the world and open a factory there. If we really think the working conditions are going to be good there then we are just fooling ourselves.
More heartbreakingly top-notch investigative work. Thank you CBC and Marketplace!
Pennington barely has anything less than $100. It’s an over priced store.
Never shopped there as their design and material are not attractive at all.
Material is so thin
Actually many of the clothes are flattering. I've bought lots of nice clothes there.
I never heard of these stores before.
You mean Pendelton?
Most people can't afford to buy "ethically" but it helps a lot to buy things made of natural fibers (cotton/linen) that will last for years. I've had Zara wool sweaters for 10+ years
Ethical clothing can be made and be affordable, but the shareholders will not see the profits they expect.
Zara produces in these factorys as well tho
@@wioi It's extremely hard to find a company that doesn't produce clothing overseas where workers make pennies. I'm saying at least buy clothing that will last so you don't have to go out and buy more.
@@hmacklemore2226 and shopping at 2nd hand markets to slow the demand for newly manufactured clothing
We shouldn’t be buying affordable clothes… we should be paying what clothes are worth. We got rid of our uk factories …to exploit cheap labour abroad. Fast fashion is wrong
“This is the price they’re paying for our cheap clothes” ugh my heart.
I know right ⁉️
@@honeybdream I wish there was a way to tell clothes from happy employees kind of like that beauty store Lush!
I think they missed their opportunity to recommend brands or stores.
This has been going on forever. The question is: Are people willing to pay more for their clothes?
lol pants from adidas cost $70 minimum to $130. The REAL question is: are companies willing to pay workers more? Apple is worth 2 trillion, would it so bad if they were only worth 1 trillion?
Also fast fashion clothes are too expensive as they are toxic and only last 3 weeks. Even stuff that cost $200 can be low quality. Maybe the real question is: are brands willing to make safe, quality goods where everyone gets paid fairly?
If a pair of jeans costs 30 dollars to make in an ethical way, and we are paying 100 dollars for a pair, then those companies are already making a huge profit! They don’t need to gouge their workers and make even more. They need to take less profit and pay their workers. They don’t even need to raise prices. Are these companies even paying taxes on these profits? Why is our government allowing an unethical industry with a long history of abuses, to police itself?
No...we can go to the basics.. and make it
@@BenLA5 Companies won't give up maximum profits until people force them to, by refusing to buy products not made in Canada.
If Canada starts banning some of these brands/ shops, and Canadians found that they are paying a much higher prices than the U.S, they will simply go south of the border to shop for clothes. People tend to look for bargains, especially with inflations while wages stay the same.
I think this program is paid by US companies.
This is why I purchase 95% of my clothing second hand!!!!!
Still means someone else made them in a sweatshop.
@@AmyC28713 yes but it's not feeding that system.
@Colleen Ferguson, that is a fine option for most women, but have you ever looked at clothing for men at second hand shops, its really hard, men tend to not take care of their clothing.
I hope you realize that most things we buy in our daily lives are made like this.
My friends make clothing IN Canada. It is more expensive...but it's ok. For me I wear my clothes for years. I'm not into Fast Fashion. It's really bad for the planet too. If you buy a sweater from Primark it's rubbish after a few months. Then you THINK you're recycling it ...meanwhile it ends up in some river in India. They have a great documentary on that also. I started buying second hand here in glasgow. Especially classic items. I rarely buy clothes.
Do your friends sell their clothing on Etsy?
@@tanyawieczorek6603 no she has a store in Ottawa.. it's called Stacey Martin Lifestyle
@@jacqueline4749 oh, ok. I have no car to get there with. Too bad she doesn't sell on Etsy, it's a niche market for people to buy local and ethically
@@tanyawieczorek6603 ah! You could maybe try her online shop. I ordered "The Signature" off her website and she shipped it to Scotland. Maybe go to the website. I wear her Signature piece when I travel. It's really comfortable but I still look complete and dressed.
I love this! Real reporting. And they are not afraid to jump the line. Love it, keep going. From the U.S.!
I wonder about clothes sold on Wish, Amazon, or Alibaba
What about Old Navy?
Wish, Shein, all those Instagram brands! Yes I wonder.
Same, most of them come from China/N.Korea.
@@SweetUniverse Old Navy and other stores have the leverage to pressure factories to change because they spend so much. All the big stores pressured Bangladesh to change its building code after the deaths there a few years ago, for example.
You wonder about Alibaba, are you kidding. They're probably the worst and I wouldn't even entertain buying anything from that company.
Did you know that fewer than 1 in 200 shipping containers are opened for inspection at Canadian ports? Odds are pretty good for the smugglers. If you only have to forfeit one in 200 shipments, you can do a damn good business!
Wow that’s terrible
You know how many containers a container ship holds? The standard is around 20,0000. Say it takes 25 minutes to inspect each container, that would be 8333 man hours. Say the average port worker makes 20$ an hour that would be about $166,660 per ship. Who's going to pay for that? Not the merchants, not companies that make the products. You will. oh and good luck getting your presents before Christmas that's not going to fix the massive backlog we have at almost every port. People are so dull
That's how some children are smuggled
@@rhaven50
How sad.
Many BLESSINGS to all
Canada is fast becoming a sh** country.
Love this series, probably some of the most informative investigative journalism
Please do a story on peoples disability low payment and those in need.
It is inhuman in a civilized country
And no one is doing ANYTHING about it.
People should not be treated this way!
SINCERELY
Victoria Laidlaw
Nov6/217■●■
Profit is the only concern for the "unethical companies " owners
Virgilda, thank you for all your sacrifices, hard work, and dedication to making others aware of the issue so a change could happen. Also, congrats on your case, you deserve it!
Stitches, Inc. used to have a factory in my hometown: Red Boiling Springs Tennessee.
They didn't want to pay a fair wage in the early 1990s so they closed up their shop and displaced about 500 workers.
How are they still in business?
I understand the point they're trying to say, but I find it kind of annoying that people find out about the shady dealings behind their clothes and it ends there... Our quality of life is directly on the backs of the poor and people would rather stay ignorant... Companies who claim ethical sourcing don't have a lot of accountability either.
Because it's about the bottom line
We have Fair Trade food that is well documented but there is no Fair Trade clothes that l know of.
Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
@@snowmiaow Even fair trade stuff is iffy at best. Our supply chains are too complex to really know for sure.
@@vengefulspirit99 You can't know for sure about any of that really, but there is a good and established system for fair trade.
I swear I love marketplace
The US consumer does not get cheap clothing, how much are the companies raising the markup 1000 -2000 percent and maybe more.
Lol just take a look at shein, fashion nova, missguided, h&m - these are just *some* fast fashion brands that sell clothes cheaply to the US & are popular with Americans. They are a part of the problem.
@Luther Blissett Is your friend using these resources to get his clothing? Walmart, Target....etc.
It's not like this makes a difference in any way shape or form. This is how multi national companies have operated and will continue to operate long into the future.
That's true but if some consumers know who not to go buy from it can help push the companies to do better.
CBC Marketplace is the greatest show in Canada!
Not all manufacturing went to 🇨🇳, a lot went to the US private prison system.
Even Microsoft uses prison labour. Pretty obvious reason why the incarceration rate is so high
The clothes inmates make aren’t designer clothes. Those prisoners are getting paid to make clothes, cook, clean and whatnot.
It is the same idea of using cheaper labor to produce coffee beans in poor countries. People are greedy; they want everything cheaper, making manufacturers try their best to find any possible cheap labor around the world to exploit them and produce customer happy price products.
Thankfully, we have a company here in Chicago, Dearborn Denim, that makes nice, reasonably priced jeans and shirts locally and ethically. There are others out there, too. And remember, it's not just the garment itself. The fabric may also come from places that aren't so great.
Ty for listing the brand.
YM: 20:26 We've responded and we'll leave it at that...
Canadian shoppers: We've responded by not shopping at any of your stores.. and we'll leave it at that.
What's a terrible response. I wonder if her kids work in those factories. There needs to be enforcement not just regulations
I shop at a few of the stores that carry their brands. Well, I did. Now that I know what's happening, they won't get another cent from me.
It’s crazy American Apparel is also Canadian brand that used to be operated sweatshop in LA
ALDO too...
This is a good documentary, let's put ourselves in someone else's shoes
A lot of these big name brands are made in sweatshops..... like joe fresh etc.. and as long as these big companies can keep doing it , they will........as long as they are making lots of money from it.
And they wouldn’t make anything if you didn’t buy it. These companies survive by your hard earned money.
Clothing has become such a big problem from creation in Asia to disposal in West Africa and the oceans. Recycle ♻️ stained clothing is how 1 can help just a little.
At the beginning of the video they said the workers were from North Korea. And the workers probably don’t get any of the money, that means it probably goes to their government. That’s not good.
It's ironic how they talk about human rights, when they don't even afford that to their own citizens anymore.
lol wdym
I remember how my Grandmother told me how she used to work at such places. She graduated from middle school and started working at a young age. She told me she would sew parts of clothes and each piece would give her a yen or two. I felt so sad when I once heard it and I just really hope that in the near future this treatment of workers in the clothes industry will improve.
Well if this is a problem with Chinese clothes then we need to look into golf equipment too!
Sad but I have seen people run to golf course just to be part of the clan and pay big $ just to be popular! More sad than ever!
Sincerely
Victoria Laidlaw
Hello from Santiago High School in Corona, California. We love your show and watch it every day and discuss the stories.
Hmm, however unlikely. Although being that it's CBC, & that California has lost its way in the last few decades. Maybe you do listen to the Socialist Government Broadcaster of Canada, CBC
Marketplace is so fire 🔥 It would be nice if the stations here in the US would stop bickering about politics for 5 minutes and do something useful like CBC!
Thank you for reporting this!! It made an impact on me. I hope to see change soon and less people suffer.
Something Canadians need to know is to check the CA identification number, which is on every label. It is very enlightening. Lots of things are made under license, most notably to me is Laura Ashley- made by Winners under license, and that was verified by me directly from Laura Ashley. Just because the label says something, does not mean that designer actually made it. I am actually disgusted with Laura Ashley that they do this, as well as with Winners. That store is full of stuff like this.
This is correct, fashion houses license their brand name
It’s on a sweater I just bought at winners it’s 89th Madison label
I walked through Kohl’s yesterday to make an Amazon return. I looked at the women’s clothing and it was so hideous and very shoddily and cheaply with horrible rayon and cheap polyester fabrics.
Yes, and it seems no matter the price point of the store, the clothes are all shoddy workmanship and ghastly fabrics. I sew but am also having trouble finding quality fabric. I buy a lot from thrift stores and tailor them to fit. I have a 20 plus year old shift dress from LLBean in a wool gabardine which will last me forever but they don't even make things like that any more, sadly.
@@Chahlie I LOVE thrift stores!
@@lisamarielund6292 I do too! What can be done about the thrift store smell, I’ve tried a few things and haven’t been successful.
@@jenniferbond7073 I just machine wash with a lot of Tide and those scented laundry crystal thingies. Forgot their name. Then I machine dry using scented dryer sheets. I couldn’t get a strong perfume sent out of a tunic I bought, even after I had washed it twice so I ended up having to toss it out.
@@jenniferbond7073 borax or baking soda
id love to see a marketplace episode about canadian cannabis and how/where some of the products are really grown.
Marketplace, are you brave enough to investigate Toronto's sweat factories? Bakeries? Show Canadians the truth behind all bread, bagels, cookies....what there consume every day. Show them how many people getting Welfare and working in these factories for cash because the pay is not enough to survive.
No they won't. Unless the boss is Chinese, Russian or Iranian
And why is Montreal such a poverty-stricken city? What's going on?
They are getting welfare and cash??? If they have kids they get child benefits plus they get a GST check. In the end they are making more money than I am.
I know one person on welfare with 3 kids and I found out that she makes like $3000 a month when you add it all together. I wish I had that right now during COVID.
Don’t forget those farmers keeping South Americans against their will and allowing Covid to rampage amongst themselves
There’s way too much unnecessary stuff being made.
Phones every year because we all “need” 8k cameras in our pockets SMH.
This was sooo good, we need a follow up!!
I went to school for fashion design at GBC and learning about all the discrepancies and how if you wanted to do it ethically made it that much more unlikely of your brand succeeding, made me not want to pursue a career in fashion.
I'm from Mexico, and when I moved to USA immediately knew that it would be impossible to compete with the prices at the store, only one piece of clothes takes several hours to make, and you also spend money on the material! It's very discouraging to pursue your passion for fashion, when you encounter this situation.
I worked in one of those places making warm wool sports coats for Lauren and others. Maybe it costs $1-$3 to make something and the company sells it for 20-40 times the cost. Definitely unjust. Working as a assembly line with limited bathroom breaks. The conditions unbearable and 90 degrees inside at summer where you are dripping sweating all your shift and 5 16oz waters are not enough for 8 hours. Then many people passed out unconscious and had to be taken out in a wheelchair. Definitely not a good environment. Non citizens were paid cents per piece so when there wasn’t work they weren’t paid and when there were they had to work until exhaustion just to get by.
My Grandmother would take a design that I would make, sew it, and I'd wear it. I was grateful for my grandmother's talent. Yet, that's a different time, and I don't sew. I asked a local sewer to help sew a dresses she wanted to charge 3 grand then you have to find somewhere to sell it and market it. Not as easy as it looks to do.
Forced labor! I do believe people that buy cheap things at places like Dollar Tree in the US are still buying things that are made in prisons and by forced labor.
The cameraman at 15:35 dipped out when she started talking about COVID
I think we need a major fashion industry overhaul ! Between worker exploitation, extreme resource waste and giant clothing landfills in Costa Rica, Africa and I'm sure more elsewhere its a crisis situation. Clothing industry is 4th biggest contributer to climate crisis...we need big changes 🙏
Good expose but lets dig deeper people need to see how bad this monster is. Industry needs to be accountable for problems it creates.
So what is to come from this report? Are people going to boycott purchasing from these stores? I'm sure some of these people care that their products are being made by factory workers who get paid pennies but I doubt most will think twice and not buy from their favorite stores. This doesn't stop these factories from operating.
It’s up to us what becomes of this documentary
@@cayk9444 Exactly. I have chosen to stop shopping at these stores after seeing this. May not seem like a lot, but I have spent hundreds in these stores in just the last year alone. Now, if a couple hundred, or hopefully thousands of people follow suit, their losses will become apparent very quickly.
8:10
*Inner voice: "pretend to be totally shocked and do your best- I was totally unaware they associated with forced labour REACTION! 3,2,1..GO"
"NO WAYYY!"
That reaction was so NOT convincing! 😂😂😂😂
oh hey guys did you hear Reitman's has a 'policy', everyhting will be ok now
The US literally does the same thing with their prisoners. They pay them little to nothing for work.
Agree, 100%. And We also exploit mexican worker
They get free housing. They'll be ok
It’s really sad. But even if a few people stop buying from those stores. It doesn’t change the fact that the poor workers are still in those sweat shops.
Well, penningtons and Reitmans will see some losses.
So now it's a factory that sews for Pennington... they all use places like this. Outsourcing is a menace. How can we petition Canada to stop these shipments from entering the country?
No wonder their stuff doesn't last. My girlfriend bought bras from them and they didn't hold up after 3 months
Oh yes I think of those who make y clothes, reason why I never buy any clothing at full price. Just the fact that they can sell it at such a low sale price says a lot.
You are a smart person, I also concur.
Sorry, how does buying clothes at a discount help? The retailer doesn't make as much money, but the company making the clothes still makes the exact same amount, and the employees still get the same pittance.
This reminds me of the clothing documentary: The True Cost 📺 💲 💰🌟
It was well known for decades that expensive clothes are made in sweat shops. Then we discovered the Chinese.
My mother used to do this. It’s tough. We should be outraged.
How about doing a surprise visit to the Spadina garment shops? Are you sure they are getting paid with minimum wage, etc.? Dirty laundry could be much closer to home.
This is why I like this series. These guys are very brave to go on-site like that.
Thanks for this investigative reporting. Continuing to bring to public these kinds of issues is the start of change. More stories creates more outrage. People have power with knowledge and vote with their wallets. Thanks for telling the truth.
I live for these marketplace videos. Tbh it’s the only reason I am subscribed!
Thanks CBC for a good coverage of this matter.
This why I don’t shop mainstream fashion. For these exact reasons, next time your wearing a brand name just understand there’s a lot of shady activity behind it..
I don't blame them for still selling the products even though they no longer buy from them. It's not like the factory is going to take it back and what do you expect someone to do with already paid for goods- just throw it out?
The update I heard, by radio, is Reitmans has located all garments made in this factory, still in their stores and has donated them to charity.
This is why I ONLY shop at thrift stores! It's so sad :(
Love this feature! Keep up the great reporting.
After seeing this I have decided to stop wearing clothes in public. If you see me, I simply ask that you don’t point and laugh. 😂
I wish they investigate into the retailers that are producing safe and sustainable clothing so, that we have an idea of who to buy from. But, instead we have been left out here in the dark, not knowing what to do or where to shop.🤔🤷🏻♀️
Got to etsy but check the location of the seller. Some pf them are even on RUclips so you can see them actually make the items
I am wondering about the garments sold at Loblaws and Walmart, that are " imports"
That is what I call quality journalism.
I really feel the pain of those undepaid workers. Been there. When you got paid that wasn't being said in the contract. It hurt my feelings so hard because it's like someone stabbed you.
Thanks again for another great investigation.