Any climbing clothing companies that are sweat shop free?

Seems to me most climbing companies aren't interested in this aspect. Makes me wonder what difference it makes to wear something by a climbing company versus any other logo, beyond wanting to look like a climber.

Verve is produced here in the states and IMO they make a good product.

Verve is actually based right here in Boulder. I believe the sewing is done by folks who work out of their homes.

patagonia.com/us/patagonia.…

Ya, it is expensive, but damn they make good clothing.

Westcomb ... Madein vancouver bc

Feathered Friends based in Seattle...expensive as hell although some of the best quality you will ever find.

I know the guys at NWAlpine don't employ under-payed foreign labor, which is what I think you mean. Can't vouch for the "sweat" part. Pretty sure running a small business making US made apparel is hard work.

The South Butt? Oh wait, North Face shut em down.

Wild Things and Ragged Mountain are both USA made in good conditions.

It's good quality stuff, too.

The is nothing inherently different about climbing brands' business models other than the image.

The Case for Sweatshop Labor:

For many employed in so-called sweatshops, this is the only game in town. Either they work for the 'evil' US company producing garments for cents, or they have no income whatsoever.

Sweatshops represent an exchange of labor and money for both the employer and employee. Just as in the USA.

All developing countries go through this cycle. The sad, but undeniable fact, is that it is a road to better standard of living for the whole community. That money trickles into their communities creating wealth through the multiplier effect.

Would you rather deny those workers a better future in order to pander to your middle-class guilt?

Icebreaker.

icebreaker.com/site/baacode…

$$$ but i love their tops and long underwear for climbing.

what does anyone know about Prana? they sure do make you pay alot for their clothes which is why I thought they are US made. Where from?

Eric Whitbeck wrote:Yes, but MattQ, you can make a decision to spend your money locally rather than send it overseas. That is not based on guilt, but a set of values slightly different than those popular called free market thinking. It means paying more for something so that the employee can pay rent.

That's the point though. They can pay rent because their cost of living is so low BUT to make rent they have to work ludicrously long hours in very unpleasant conditions. Just like millions of Americans, except that the Americans have to spread it over 2-3 jobs, due to our labor laws. And sweatshops are only necessary because companies like Walmart keep insisting that prices stay much MUCH lower than could reasonably sustain anyone at even a tenth of our cost of living. You cannot balk at high prices and be angry about sweatshops. Its an either-or proposition.

Demand for low prices has driven manufacturing out of America, and out of most of the developed world.

Vertical Girl! Designed in Seattle WA, and manufactured in the USA!
Check it out here:

verticalgirl.com

Melanzana is made in Leadville. You can see the fabrics and sewing machines in the back of their retail store. They did an onsite alteration for me when I bought my jacket. I will definitely send my money their way when I need fleece. melanzana.com/

Brian Scoggins wrote:Demand for low prices has driven manufacturing out of America, and out of most of the developed world.

Well put... if we want democracy to continue in the US, we'll need a functioning middle class- to have a functioning middle class, we'll need (for the time being) a viable manufacturing sector.

Also, +1 for Verve... well made, good looking and reasonably durable.

Tim Davis wrote:Melanzana is made in Leadville. You can see the fabrics and sewing machines in the back of their retail store. They did an onsite alteration for me when I bought my jacket. I will definitely send my money their way when I need fleece. melanzana.com/

+1

Woodchuck ATC wrote:what does anyone know about Prana? they sure do make you pay alot for their clothes which is why I thought they are US made. Where from?

I believe most items are made in India.

Here is their sustainability information for their products where it talks about their membership in the Fair Labor Association: prana.com/sustainability/pr…

Be careful what you ask for. If you choose to buy clothes made in the developed world where fairer working conditions exist, remember that you are taking valuable work away from those that work in "sweat shops."

Who needs the money more, lower/middle class Americans or the poor in the developing world?

Eric Whitbeck wrote:Yes, but MattQ, you can make a decision to spend your money locally rather than send it overseas. That is not based on guilt, but a set of values slightly different than those popular called free market thinking. It means paying more for something so that the employee can pay rent.

People outside the U.S. pay rent too.

Mattq331 wrote:The Case for Sweatshop Labor: For many employed in so-called sweatshops, this is the only game in town. Either they work for the 'evil' US company producing garments for cents, or they have no income whatsoever. Sweatshops represent an exchange of labor and money for both the employer and employee. Just as in the USA. All developing countries go through this cycle. The sad, but undeniable fact, is that it is a road to better standard of living for the whole community. That money trickles into their communities creating wealth through the multiplier effect. Would you rather deny those workers a better future in order to pander to your middle-class guilt?

Wow. You can't be serious?

guardian.co.uk/global-devel…

Here's a sample from that article...

The report found that excessive overtime was the "norm" in sportswear and leisurewear factories in Indonesia; workers in all the factories surveyed were doing between 10 and 40 hours of overtime a week. There were incidents of mental and physical abuse when workers failed to reach production targets – in one factory, 40 workers were locked in an unventilated room without access to toilet facilities, water and food for over three hours as a punishment.

In Sri Lanka, workers were forced to work up to 130 hours per month in overtime, and anyone asking to leave would be verbally harassed. In the Philippines, 24% of workers said that they did not receive additional pay for their overtime. Typical hours can be 6am to 8pm.

Many of the workers at these factories in Sri Lanka are young women from rural areas. They are told when recruited that the factories prefer them not to marry, and some companies even carry out pregnancy tests to weed out pregnant women. Sexual intimidation and abuse was common.


Middle class guilt because I don't think woman and children should be treated like this just so you can save a buck or two?

More here if you want to educate yourself...so sad.

google.com/search?q=sweatsh…