OT: socially conscientious clothing

Submitted by Rodriguesqe on

Is this a consideration to you when you buy your clothes? 

For me, it hasn't been but I'm looking to make a change. I've been a frequent shopper of namebrand retail, especially via deep discount factory and clearance sites. While its nice to get fashionable, quality clothing for low prices no one can pretend they don't know who is losing out in the process.

Last night I bought a hemp hoodie of etsy  for 40 dollars. Its handmade in America ( I have to wait 3 weeks for production before I get it) made from sustainable materials. If I like the feel I plan to buy more hemp clothing.

I've done a bunch of research and have learned some interesting stuff. For example, bamboo was in vogue but now is considered unsustainable, but still is sometimes marketed as such. I also learned that the fair trade / sustainable market is no where near as deep as the rest of retail. Its going to be hard to build my wardrobe if most sites seem to carry only a handful of items.

So, open disussion. Is this something you care about? Do you have any hints about shopping consientiously? 

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DrAwkward

April 12th, 2016 at 7:45 PM ^

I am "conscientious" about doing lots of research before buying my clothing, but I do not buy clothing that is considered "socially conscious" (which I think is the term you were looking for).

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HenneManCrush

April 12th, 2016 at 8:06 PM ^

OP, sorry you're getting crushed here. I mean, even though this is a Michigan sports blog, I agree with your perception of the community and therefore potential interest in the topic.

Anyway, it's definitely something I think about. It's usually more expensive, but at the same time it is so because someone is making a fair wage to create it. More than anything, I simply don't buy clothes very often. I wear mine out. That's a way for me to make sure I'm not contributing to some of the injustices you mention.

It is tough sometimes to want to buy something that isn't yet available because they're out of stock and will be for a while. I wanted to buy a hoodie from Love 146 last year but they were completely out of stock and would be for a while. But that's part of the trade-off. In the end I still think it's worth it.

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Eastside Maize

April 12th, 2016 at 8:43 PM ^

Behind every good man there's a woman. And that woman was Martha Washington, man. And every time George would come home, she'd have a big fat bowl waiting for him...she was a hip,hip, hip lady, man.

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buddhafrog

April 12th, 2016 at 8:48 PM ^

I'm glad you do this. I try but I'm not very committed mostly because of my budget.

UM students have been one of the most impactful voices on national college campuses trying to get universities to commit to healthy practices for clothes manufacturing. Some of you may remember the student group name/s? Sweatshop something.



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UMgradMSUdad

April 12th, 2016 at 9:02 PM ^

I'm not into wearing socially conscientious clothing.  I'll wear my Michigan garb to East Lansing or to the Cotton Bowl with my daughter to watch her Spartans get shut out 38-0 by Alabama if I want to.

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Sports

April 12th, 2016 at 9:12 PM ^

The hilarious thing about all the Michigan "alums" bitching in this thread is that, if you went to Michigan, this is exactly how you think. You don't live in Ann Arbor for four years and walk away without some "hippie tendencies." Also, props to the op for actually raising an important and interesting discussion.

I don't give a shit where I buy my clothes. However, the fine lady I will be marrying does care, ergo, I'm sure this will become something that factors into shopping trips.



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1974

April 12th, 2016 at 9:22 PM ^

'You don't live in Ann Arbor for four years and walk away without some "hippie tendencies."'

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I've known people who entered UMich as moderates and, after hearing SJW-ish screaming for a few years, became *more* likely to vote for, say, Dubya.

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Avant's Hands

April 12th, 2016 at 9:23 PM ^

Way to generalize, guy. I went to Ann Arbor not liking hippies. I left Ann Arbor disliking hippies even more.

As to the OP, I have absolutely no idea what the hell any of that means. 99% of my wardrobe is scrubs, college t shirts, and dress shirts/pants. It amazes me that this is such a big topic.

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drjaws

April 12th, 2016 at 9:19 PM ^

Well, I only buy direct from Inuit natives. Most of my clothes are woven from polar bear and Arctic fox pup fur. Pretty sure they kill the momma animals first. However, for work, I like to go with freshly clubbed baby seal skin suits and bald eagle feather Argyle sox. I don't trust planes so I have my clothes hand delivered by an Inuit in a top fuel dragster (gets about 5.5 gallons per mile .... yes, gallons per mile). Of course, I have to pay for his trip both ways but the quality of clothes is worth it. Also, to keep your tiger leather winter boots nice and broken in during the summer, soak them in a crude oil spill for a couple hours. Only crude oil. Think Exxon-Valdez.

No one fucking cares what you wear and why. Is it cool to be all recycle-y and globally and socially aware? Sure.

But not if you're going to talk about it on a sports blog and be a dick about people who give zero fucks about your "cause." You're not better or morally superior in any shape, form or fashion.



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Erik_in_Dayton

April 12th, 2016 at 9:45 PM ^

1.) This is a fair enough topic given how much we talk about jerseys and such. 2.) It's hard to know the circumstances in which your clothes were made. I'd like to refrain from buying clothes made in bad conditions, but I'm happy to buy clothes when the transaction is helping people in, say, Vietnam create a better life. But I do not have the time - or at least I don't make the time - to figure out what's what. It's admirable if others do, though.

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