FINAL PROJECT: CONSULTING ON APPAREL INDUSTRY PROBLEMS Chelsea Mack

Week One, Assignment Three!

  Issue/Problem: Should a private label be introduced?

  Top Two Recommendations: Private labels are a quick and easy way to increase profits. Private labels allow for increased control over products, inventory,

customer relations, and competition.

  Key Concepts: We learned about private labels as a business strategy, their pros and cons, their different types and the relationships they help build with your customers.

Benefits of Private Labels   In an unstable economy full of unemployment and inflation, it is important for

companies to constantly strive to survive. In order to do so, it is important to take any steps necessary that will increase your profits, set you apart from your competition and to increase your chance of longevity in these uneasy times. For some companies centered in the fashion industry, all of these steps can be accomplished at once by simply adding a private label to your brand.

  Private labels give your company a lot of financial freedom. Since private labels are owned by the company they belong to, that company can set the prices of the garments. Since private label merchandise is purchased directly after they are produced by the company that owns them, there aren’t any additional costs associated with the merchandise. This gives the company the opportunity to sell their private label merchandise at a competitive price and still maintain a strong profit. Private label merchandise is also cheaper to buy in the first place, since it is not associated with a brand name.

  Introducing a private label is not only financially beneficial; it also gives the company more control over what it sells. The company has to design and pick each and every product that is going to in their private label. They have control over color, sizes, and materials that are going to be associated with their label. Companies also have more control over their inventory. They get to choose how much of each product is going to be sold.

 

Benefits of Private Labels   Not only do private labels offer companies more freedom, it offers customers

more choices. Instead of having to dig through the racks to find a pair of classic black slacks, they will be able to walk into the store, grab their private label black dress pants, and then find an amazing blouse from the brand name racks to go with them. By offering customers more choices that fit their shopping wants and needs, you are increasing your customer loyalty. By increasing your customer loyalty, you are not only increasing your profits because of continual shopping by the customer who loves your company, but you are also almost guaranteed the same type of loyalty from their friends and family. It is a well known fact in marketing that people trust user reviews and word-of-mouth references because there is little risk involved, since that product, company, brand or service has essentially been test driven by someone they know and trust.

  Along with a private label and increased customer loyalty comes the added benefits of being set apart from the competition. In the fashion industry especially, where competition is fierce, something as simple as adding a private label to your brand, can and will be a driving factor in why customers will chose to shop at your store, rather than one across the street.

  Private labels are a very quick and easy way for a company to increase their profits, allow them to have more control over their products and inventory, give your customers

Benefits of Private Labels   additional shopping value, and set yourself apart from your competition. With all of

these incredible benefits in this horrible economy it’s a wonder that not all companies have their own form of a private label!

    Works Cited

  "Advantages To Private Label Products." Private Label Pet Products. Privatelabelpet.com. Web. 14 Jan. 2012. <http://privatelabelpet.com/advantages/index.htm>.

  "The Benefits Of Private Label Products." Alminc on HubPages. Hubpages.com. Web. 14 Jan. 2012. <http://alminc.hubpages.com/hub/The-Benefits-Of-Private-Label-Products>.

  Glock, Ruth E., and Grace I. Kunz. Apparel Manufacturing: Sewn Product Analysis. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2005. Print.

  Stone, Amanda. "Advantages of Private Label Products." Ezinearticles.com. Ezinearticles.com, 08 Sept. 2009. Web. 14 Jan. 2012. <http://ezinearticles.com/?Advantages-of-Private-Label-Products&id=2891496>.

 

Week Two, Assignment Three!

  Issue/Problem: How can Federated Department Stores, Inc. reopen a new and successful store in an old May Company store location?

  Top Two Recommendations: Reopening a store in the Wilshire Boulevard shopping district of Los

Angeles is a good idea because there is need of a higher-end department store in that area. There is a strong customer base nearby to support the idea.

By renovating a new store to resemble the old store, you will be able to establish a strong customer base and increase profits.

  Key Concepts: We learned about demographics, analyzing competition, as well as garnering and keeping customer loyalty.

Former May Company Store   Introduction:   Built in the 1939, the May Company store on Wilshire Boulevard helped name the

area the “Miracle Mile”, a shopping utopia for die-hard Los Angeles fashion influential’s. However, with an expanding city with a booming population and strong competition from high end department stores, the May Company store eventually shut down.

  Now, the Miracle Mile on Wilshire Boulevard is a sad, shell of the prominent fashion hub it once was. There is a shopping center, appropriately named the Miracle Mile Shopping Center, full of low end and discount retail stores. Abercrombie and Fitch is the closest retail competition in the area, but would not be able to stack up to a larger department store.

  Re-opening a newer May Company department store would be advantageous to Federated Department Stores, Inc., because there would be very little competition, it would be a highly publicized event, and would increase profits substantially for FDS Inc.

  Demographics:   Los Angeles is a part of Los Angeles County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau

lists the population at approximately 3.8 million people. The median household income was $48,570 and the per capita income was $27,070. Retail sales were reported at being over 36.6 million dollars, each person contributing almost $8000 dollars a year.

  Wilshire Boulevard is a part of Los Angeles County. The population of the area is 22,462. The average household income was $89,523, and the average household expenditure was $64,417.

Former May Company Store   Competition:   There is little competition in the Wilshire Boulevard area. The shopping center

contains stores such as: Marshalls, Old Navy, DSW Show Warehouse, and Dress Barn. Nearby the closest competition is Abercrombie and Fitch. None of these stores pose a risk to a higher end department store.

  How FDS Inc., can position its new store:   Miracle Mile has completely been run down. The area has lost its luster and still has

the same Art Deco theme that was trendy back in the 1930s. I suggest that FDS Inc., starts renovating one of the old buildings in the Miracle Mile area. Build a store that maintains the same charm and feel as the original but is modern and keeping with the current times of this day and age. Launch a huge media campaign, offer deals and sales for the “Grand Re-opening”, and get people excited.

  The Wilshire Boulevard area is a middle-class area of Los Angeles that has more discretionary income to spend on retail shopping. Open a store that is close to their location and that suits their retail shopping needs!

  Five recommendations for keeping old customers:   -Maintain the old charm of the May Company store so that old, faithful customers of

the store will want to return. However, also update the store to fit their more modern needs.

  - Keep the old customer service standards the same. Make the customers keep coming back because of the entire shopping experience they get by coming to the May Company store!

Former May Company Store   -Promise loyal customer rewards, discounts, rebates, and privileges.   -Allow a pre-opening day for preferred customers only; preferred being loyal May

Company store customers. Send out personal invitations.   -Give loyal customers VIP access to brand new merchandise and pre-sales.   Five recommendations for gaining new customers:   -Launch a media campaign to make sure that people are aware of the “Grand Re-

Opening”.   -Offer promotions, sales, and discounts for coming to the re-opening.   -Launch an internet site where they can shop for the store’s products online.   -Promote word-of-mouth advertising by offering discounts for customer referrals.

  -Simply by opening a upper-end department store in a location where there isn’t much competition and where people have more money to spend will help gather new customers.

  Summary   In my opinion, it would be absolutely beneficial for FDS Inc., to re-open the May

Company store on Wilshire Boulevard. The area is in need of a higher-end department store and there is a middle class population near-by to support it. The area is reminiscent of a busy fashion

Former May Company Store   hub, and it would be easy to garner a large and loyal customer base. By opening a

renovated May Company store in the Miracle Mile shopping area, FDS Inc., would increase their profits, their customer base, and would again be the go-to shopping location for Wilshire Boulevard residents.

    Works Cited:   Glaser, Mitch. "Paradox Unbound: Remembering Robinsons-May." Mitchglaser.com. Mitch

Glaser, 31 July 2005. Web. 22 Jan. 2012. <http://www.mitchglaser.com/journal/2005/07/remembering-robinsons-may.html>.

  Glock, Ruth E., and Grace I. Kunz. Apparel Manufacturing: Sewn Product Analysis. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2005. Print.

  "Los Angeles (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau." State and County QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. Web. 22 Jan. 2012. <http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0644000.html>.

  "Los Angeles Miracle Mile Demographics - Neighborhood Demographics." Real Estate Listings - Homes for Sale - Point2 Homes. Point2. Web. 22 Jan. 2012. <http://homes.point2.com/Neighborhood/US/California/Los-Angeles-County/Los-Angeles/Miracle-Mile-Demographics.aspx>.

  "Miracle Mile Shopping Center Directory Listing." Welcome to the Miracle Mile Shopping Center. Miracle Mile Shopping Center. Web. 22 Jan. 2012. <http://www.miraclemileshoppingcenter.com/directory_listing.php?PHPSESSID=07ddce333514c0a920eb5d36beaaa704>.

  "Miracle Mile/Mid City." Not For Tourists. Not For Tourists, Inc. Web. 22 Jan. 2012. <http://www.notfortourists.com/hood.aspx/losangeles/miraclemilemidcity>.

 

Week Three, Assignment Three!

  Issue/Problem: How can Worsted Red cut costs without losing out on the quality and value of their garments?

  Top Two Recommendations: Produce a discounted line of clothing for bridge and discount

markets. Use cheaper textiles and less details to increase profits, without

losing the integrity of Worsted Red’s brand name.   Key Concepts:

We learned about cost and costing, the different fashion markets (ie: designer, bridge, and discount markets), economic markets, and all of the costs of manufacturing from the start to the end of the garment’s lifespan.

Worsted Red’s Budget Line   Designer labels, while luxurious, are extremely expensive and are visible signs

of wealth and prosperity. However, the upper class occupies only a small segment of society and the fashion sector. Most clothes are bought by the middle and lower classes. Because of this trend, many designer labels are offering bridge and discount lines to accommodate the shopping needs of their customer base.

  Bridge and discount lines encompass the design, styling and elements of the more expensive styles, but are made from less expensive fabrics, have less details, and are produced by techniques with reduced operating costs. While these clothes are less expensive to make, there still needs to be a certain element of quality in their craftsmanship. Customers will not continually buy products that break quickly and easily even though they might be cheaper to buy. On the other hand, it would be impossible to sell these products at discounted prices if they were made with the same materials and processes of the designer label’s products.

  Introducing a discount line of clothing can be very profitable, since that company is opening themselves up to a new market that wants to buy products from a designer label, even if they are from a discounted line. Designers like Gwen Stefani, Sofia Vergara, Missoni, and Versace have all introduced discount lines through discount retail stores like target and Kmart.

  Gregory Ruffings had nine ideas about how to save money when introducing a discounted clothing line. His first suggestion was to eliminate the quality control position and give those duties to the production manager. While this could be a good idea for the discounted line, I do not feel that this would be a good decision for the designer label. High

Worsted Red’s Budget Line   fashion is centered on details and tailoring, which is one of the reasons why they are

able to command a higher price.   His second idea was to make all of the finishers part time, and have the store

clerks pick up the slack. Again, I feel that this might be a plausible solution for the discounted line, since more than likely cotton and man-made textiles will be predominant. These textiles are more resilient and wind up having far less wrinkles. This would not be a good idea for the designer labels, since more expensive fabrics require more care and caution.

  Ruffing’s third idea was to use cheaper findings on all products produced by this company. I am highly against this idea. I think that reducing the quality of the discounted line would be absolutely feasible, but I would not recommend buying cheaper findings for the designer label. It would be unwise to add a discounted line, get carried away, and reduce the quality, luster, and appeal of the designer line.

  Ruffing’s fourth suggestion is very viable for the discounted line. Reducing the quality and expense of the fabrics is essential for making a successful discounted line. Fabrics that required special dyes, processes, and finishes are not prudent.

  While I think it’s unfair to reduce the number of hours of all employees, I understand that it would be an easy way to cut costs and increase profits. However, this sort of decision has to be carefully thought out and decided upon. Yes, by decreasing the number of hours your employees can work you will be saving production costs, but you are also increasing the unhappiness of your employees, which can have prolonged and negative impacts.

Worsted Red’s Budget Line   Ruffing’s sixth idea is to eliminate certain design elements in the discounted

label’s garments, particularly the cuffs on all trousers and the “pocket cover flaps” on all suit jackets. One important element to launching a discount line is the ability to take a designer look and translate it into a discounted one. To do this, certain design elements have to be sacrificed. I think that these small changes are feasible since they are small but will still increase profit margins.

  His seventh idea is to eliminate all linings on skirts and dress slacks. I think that this is a bad idea. Linings are pretty cheap and by eliminating them, the quality of the garments decreases dramatically, which could have a negative impact on the brand’s label.

  Ruffing’s eighth suggestion is to reintroduce flood pants to save on fabric. I do not think that this is a good idea, simply because I don’t think it is ever wise to push a style just because it is economical. Fashion is fickle and constantly changing. The consumer is the one who decides what is popular and trendy, not the retailers and designers.

  His final idea is to reopen to company store and sell all of their products at that location. I really like this idea! I think that having a brand store headquarters will only help enhance the brand. Flagship stores help set the feel of the brand. Store location is also very important. By putting your flagship store in a location where competition isn’t present, you will be able to increase profits.

 

Worsted Red’s Budget Line

  Works Cited   Glock, Ruth E., and Grace I. Kunz. Apparel Manufacturing: Sewn Product

Analysis. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2005. Print.

  "Missoni for Target: The Aftermath Plus Product Reviews! | Apartment Therapy." Apartment Therapy | Saving the World, One Room at a Time. Apartment Therapy. Web. 01 Feb. 2012. <http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/missoni-for-target-the-afterma-156982>.

  Rotenier, Nancy. "Clothes | PageDaily." PageDaily: Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle, Celebrity, Health & Fitness. AskMelissa, LLC. Web. 01 Feb. 2012. <http://www.pagedaily.com/tag/clothes/>.

  Uticone, Christina. "Combat Shopping at Target on Missoni Line's Debut Day." Houston Press. Houston Press, LP, 13 Sept. 2011. Web. 1 Feb. 2012. <http://blogs.houstonpress.com/artattack/2011/09/combat_shopping_at_target_on_m.php>.

 

Week Four, Assignment Three!

  Issue/Problem: How can we work to reduce and/or eliminate waste from the fashion industry?

  Top Two Recommendations: The fashion industry needs to be held accountable for their choices and

should start leaning towards using more green method and fabrics. Since recycling programs have been proven to work, they need to be

emphasized and enhanced so that they can eliminate more waste in our landfills.

  Key Concepts: We learned about production, production costs, and production protocols including production planning and management. We also learned about waste management and the costs, pros and cons, as well as solutions to the waste management crisis.

Waste Management and the Fashion Industry   Introduction:   Good afternoon. My name is Chelsea Mack and I am here to discuss the issue of

waste management as it relates to the Fashion Industry. Each year in the United Kingdom, for instance, 1.2 tons of clothing and textiles are sent to nearby landfills. In North America, on the other hand, over 12 tons of textiles go to landfills each year.

  That’s a lot of waste which leads to a lot of problems! Landfills are already at capacity, and many more are overflowing, causing severe environmental impacts. A lot of landfills are located near major water sources. Due to this close proximity, the chemical and hazardous run offs emitted from the landfills as garbage decomposes are leaking into these water sources. This contamination affects our drinking water, all living creatures that are exposed and destroys the environment.

  The cotton industry is huge in the United States, but so is the harmful pesticides used to keep our cotton fields insect free. These pesticides are toxic and harmful to the environment and all living creatures.

  These are just a few of the sources that contribute to the fashion industry’s huge environmental impact. Things need to change and quickly if we want to preserve our earth and our way of life.

  Solutions:   While the impact the fashion industry has on this planet is profound, there are

several steps that can be taken to reduce and diminish this impact.

Waste Management and the Fashion Industry

  Instead of sending unused, dirty, damaged, and worn garments, textiles, and shoes to the landfills, we should be recycling them. Americans are buying a lot more clothing these days, and disposing of them quickly because there is such a vast availability of discounted and quickly made clothing. Instead of simply throwing them away, we should be giving them to those who need them. All around the world, homelessness and poverty are major issues. We could help ease the suffering of many people and children around the world by simply dressing them in appropriate clothing for their climate. How many children freeze to death around the world, simply because they can’t afford to dress warmly?

  Another great use for old and worn textiles and clothing would be to donate them to fashion learning institutes around the world. This way, we could be greatly impact someone’s education. Tuition in private art institutes and fashion schools are astronomical. Many student’s cannot afford to purchase their own textiles as a result.

  Elizabeth Katzman is a woman who turns discarded and junked textiles into high end, couture shoes, which she sells. This is a practice that should be employed by more corporations and companies. There is such a huge availability of discarded, yet amazing, textiles that there could be more than enough to supply as many companies who would be interested.

  The fashion industry should move towards enhancing and focusing on the existing textile and garment recycling programs. Approximately 93 percent of textiles and garments that are sent to recycling programs are recycled successfully. However, 85 percent of all discarded textiles and garments go to landfills. We should be working to change this. Recycled textiles are made into usable textiles for the automobile, paper, home furnishing, mattress, yarn and other industries.

Waste Management and the Fashion Industry   As we move away from petroleum based products, the fashion industry should move

away from manufactured fibers made from petroleum and other harmful substances. Also, textiles that have a negative environmental impact should be eliminated. There are more than enough natural and manufactured fibers that do not harm this planet that can be used instead.

  A huge contributor to the fashion industry’s waste problem is the paper waste left by paper catalogues and magazines. As people are more technologically and computer oriented, it would only make sense to begin eliminating paper waste and moving towards online publications. Also, all printed catalogues and magazines should be required to be made from recycled fibers and paper.

  Viable and Cost Cutting Solutions:   All of these ideas are viable solutions to the waste problem that can be dedicated to

the fashion industry. However, some of these solutions are more viable than others. When it comes to recycling, we should be improving and enhancing the ones that are already making such a huge impact. 85 percent of all textiles, garments, and shoes go to the landfills each year, where they sit there, contributing to run off and overfilling of our landfills. We should be working to reduce that number. We should be setting up recycling incentive programs to encourage people to recycle their textiles. Also, we should be educating people about the impacts of not doing so. If we improve our recycling programs, we can greatly reduce the amount of textile waste that is sent to our landfills.

  When it comes to cost cutting, recycling is again the way to go. Recycled materials are cheap and benefit everyone involved. They benefit the plant by reducing the amount of waste we

Waste Management and the Fashion Industry   dispose of, recycling programs help the economy by providing jobs, and increase

profits by reducing costs of materials.   Conclusion:   As humans we are intelligent and capable of great things. But, we are also extremely

wasteful and detrimental to the environment. The fashion industry is no exception to this trend. We need to be held accountable and things need to change. We can no longer continue down the path that we are going without making irreparably bad choices that are going to greatly impact our future. One easy way the fashion industry can change this is to be more accountable for the waste that it produces. We need to work towards being more environmentally friendly by the choices of textiles we make, how we make, them, and what we do with them when we are done with them. Simply by recycling our used clothes, by sending them to the needy or by giving them to recycling facilities we will be making small changes that will profoundly impact our environment and way of life.

  Thank you!

 

Waste Management and the Fashion Industry   Works Cited:   Claudio, Luz. "Environmental Health Perspectives: Waste Couture: Environmental

Impact of the Clothing Industry." Environmental Health Perspectives: Monthly Journal of Peer-Reviewed Research and News on the Impact of the Environment on Human Health. Environmental Health Perspectives, 01 Sept. 2007. Web. 04 Feb. 2012. <http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/info:doi/10.1289/ehp.115-a449>.

  Desbarats, Adrian. "Let’s Keep Clothing out of Our Landfills | Eartheasy Blog." Eartheasy.com ~ Solutions for Sustainable Living. Eartheasy.com, 24 May 2010. Web. 04 Feb. 2012. <http://eartheasy.com/blog/2010/05/lets-keep-clothing-out-of-our-landfills/>.

  "Eco Friendly Decorating Trends For 2009." Style Estate -. Blogspot. Web. 05 Feb. 2012. <http://blog.styleestate.com/style-estate-blog/eco-friendly-decorating-trends-for-2009.html>.

  "Fashion Creative Practice - University of Central Lancashire." University of Central Lancashire - Voted 'Top Modern University in the North West' by the Times. Www.uclan.ac.uk. Web. 05 Feb. 2012. <http://www.uclan.ac.uk/schools/adp/fashion_resources.php>.

  Glock, Ruth E., and Grace I. Kunz. Apparel Manufacturing: Sewn Product Analysis. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2005. Print.

  Goodman, Larry. "Council for Textile Recycling." Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association: Welcome. Council for Textile Recycling. Web. 04 Feb. 2012. <http://www.smartasn.org/textilerecycle/index.htm>.

Waste Management and the Fashion Industry   "H & M Leasing Corp. » A Waste of Useful Product." H & M Leasing Corp. H & M Leasing Corp.

Web. 05 Feb. 2012. <http://www.handmleasing.org/?page_id=6>.   "How to Recycle Clothes / Textiles." MY ZERO WASTE. Myzerowaste.com. Web. 05 Feb. 2012.

<http://myzerowaste.com/2010/02/how-to-recycle-clothes-textiles/>.   Kadleck, Chrissy. "Archives." Waste & Recycling News. Www.wasterecyclingnews.com, 28 Nov.

2011. Web. 04 Feb. 2012. <http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/arcshow.html?id=11112801501>.

  "LANDFILLS." Zero Waste America Is a Non-profit Environmental Organization That Promotes Zero Waste and Provides Information and Analysis on Related Matters. Zero Waste America. Web. 04 Feb. 2012. <http://www.zerowasteamerica.org/Landfills.htm>.

  "Oldenburg, Donn - Decision and Order, March 15, 1994 - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation." New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Web. 04 Feb. 2012. <http://www.dec.ny.gov/hearings/11617.html>.

  "Pediatric Health Blog, Texas Children's Hospital - Keeping Children Safe In Cold Weather | Medicine | Milestones | Miracles." Pediatric Health Blog, Texas Children's Hospital - Medicine | Milestones | Miracles. Www.texaschildrensblog.org. Web. 05 Feb. 2012. <http://www.texaschildrensblog.org/2011/02/keeping-children-safe-in-cold-weather/>.

  Standen, Amy. "State Officials Ignored Scientists in Approving Pesticide | IWatch News by The Center for Public Integrity." IWatch News by The Center for Public Integrity | Investigation. Impact. Integrity. Www.iwatchnews.org, 22 Aug. 2011. Web. 04 Feb. 2012. <http://www.iwatchnews.org/2011/08/30/6042/state-officials-ignored-scientists-approving-pesticide>.

Week Five, Assignment Three!

  Issue/Problem: How can you salvage the image of a company after being associated with a sweatshop scandal surrounding human rights violations?

  Top Two Recommendations: Diamond Retailing should take a tough stance against sweatshops as

well as answer all questions and confront all rumors associated with this scandal.

Diamond Retailing should also launch an investigation to prove their innocence.

  Key Concepts: This week taught us about ethics and values. We learned about the social and moral obligations associated with fashion, production and business. We also looked at these issues on a global scale, especially human rights violations is third, impoverished, and developing countries.

Ethics and Sweatshops   Plan of Action   Public opinion can easily make or break a company. If people become upset or

perturbed with a company, they may very well stop their patronage of that establishment. They also might express their discontent with friends and family members, spreading around a bad reputation and preventing other customers from buying your merchandise or supporting your company.

  There are many negative outcomes to not maintaining a good and legitimate public image. Diamond Retailing, Inc. currently has a bad reputation because they are associated with cruel and inhumane sweatshops.

  Sweatshops are factories located in third world, developing, impoverished, and tyrannical countries. In these countries labor is cheaper, thus profits are higher. Because of this, workers are exposed to dangerous working conditions, cruel treatment, obscene hours, and extremely substandard pay. In many cases, a worker will work a 15 hour shift, making mere cents an hour for their wages.

  In order to repair their tarnished reputation, Diamond Retailing, Inc. needs to take immediate action, before irreparable harm is done to their brand. In order to do so, Diamond Retailing, Inc. must step in front of the country and address the issue head-on. They shouldn’t be afraid to talk about sweatshops and respond to the tough questions surrounding the rumors. They should also note that they have already taken some action by addressing the rumors and by firing key staff, as well as ensure that more will follow.

Ethics and Sweatshops   If Diamond Retailing, Inc. is telling the truth and their products are made within the

United States, then they should then allow an outside agency to conduct an investigation to prove to the world that they are not associated with sweatshops in developing countries. Diamond Retailing, Inc. should publically take a stand against sweatshop labor through channels of charity, media and marketing. This way, Diamond Retailing, Inc. can appease the rumors as well as their customer base.

  Sweatshop Scandals   The Kardashians are a celebrity family who are known for many things: crazy antics,

the need to stay in the media spotlight, curvaceous bodies, and now having Chinese sweatshops manufacture their merchandise.

  Abhorrently bad human rights violations, dangerous working conditions, and unreasonably long hours for an astonishingly low wage are a few of the allegations that have been reported at the sweatshops associated with the Kardashian name. The accusations get worse, however. Stories of imprisonment, abuse, and unreasonable expectations and quotas have also been reported. One report says that workers weren’t allowed to go to the bathroom, and if they were eventually granted permission, they were given four minutes to go to the bathroom and be back at their station. If a worker was disabled and couldn’t make it back within the allotted four minutes, they weren’t allowed to go to the bathroom at all.

  While the Kardashians are associated with some pretty bad sweatshops in China, Apple is associated with the worst. Chinese sweatshops hold the contracts to make Apple’s products, like IPods, IPads, Mac computers and IPhones, selling them for billions of dollars in profits. Unfortunately, the workers who put together thousands of Apple products are paid cents for

Ethics and Sweatshops   the day. When they are not working, they are locked in their dorm rooms, which

house at least 12 people per unit. Each facility is barred, locked and barricaded like a prison.

  Wake-up is at the crack of dawn, with the mandatory singing of the Chinese National Anthem. Their day is regulated in a military fashion, in fact, new recruits go through a “basic training” environment, to break them down and prepare them for their drone existence as a factory worker.

  Conditions at the Apple sweatshops in China have gotten so bad as of 2010, that 11 workers committed suicide, while many more have tried and failed.

  Responses and Reactions   The Kardashians began their defense by denying any knowledge of their alleged

associated with sweatshops in China. When that didn’t stop the public outcry against the Kardashian empire, the family initiated a formal investigation to clear their name. They also issued formal statements and responded to interview questions all denying their connection to Chinese slave labor.

  I don’t feel like the Kardashians have done enough. Simply denying an allegation and launching an inconclusive investigation are mere shadow games to deter public opinion away from the scandal. The Kardashians should have worked to prove their innocence and promoted their American factories. They should also have taken a stronger stand against slave labor in general.

Ethics and Sweatshops   Apple took a different approach in their response to their sweatshop allegations. At

first key Apple spokespeople and board members spoke out saying that their Chinese factories are far more luxurious than they are being made out to sound. They said that these allegations are ridiculous and took no responsibility.

  When that didn’t seem to appease their customers, Apple decided to take further action. The company that holds Apple’s production contract and is in charge of the sweatshops in China forced all of their workers to sign “I will not kill myself” contracts that are legally binding and would affect their families if they were to kill themselves. These contracts also nullify any responsibility of the company in the event that another worker decides to kill themselves, robbing the surviving with the ability to bury their dead relative and settle their estates.

  More bars, fences, and barbed wire have been installed all over the facility to prevent people from jumping to their deaths. However, this makes the facility even more like a prison institution and is more harmful to the employees than beneficial.

  Apple made one final gesture to better compensate their factory workers, they gave them a raise of .30 cents per hour. While this may seem like a small gesture, it did not come without strings. Each worker is now given less hours but has a higher quota to meet than before. This way, Apple doesn’t have to pay as much money to their workers, but can also get more work out of them!

  Apple’s response is cold and unacceptable! They are a mega corporation that profits billion of dollars a year; false promises and backhanded raises are simply not enough! They should be working to improve working conditions for their factories in China, paying descent wages, and using their influence and money to change the way sweatshops are run throughout the world!

   

Ethics and Sweatshops   Works Cited   Glock, Ruth E., and Grace I. Kunz. Apparel Manufacturing: Sewn Product Analysis. Upper

Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2005. Print.   "Kardashian Sweatshops - Slave Labor Scandal Kardashians | Gossip Cop." Gossip Cop:

Policing Hollywood and Celebrity News. Gossip Cop Media, 21 Dec. 2011. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. <http://www.gossipcop.com/kardashians-sweatshops-slave-labor-scandal-investigation-factories-china-kardashian-family/>.

  Malone, Andrew, and Richard Jones. "Revealed: Inside the Chinese Suicide Sweatshop Where Workers Toil in 34-hour Shifts to Make Your IPod | Mail Online." Home | Mail Online. Associated Newspapers Ltd, 11 June 2010. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1285980/Revealed-Inside-Chinese-suicide-sweatshop-workers-toil-34-hour-shifts-make-iPod.html>.

  Marikar, Sheila. "Kardashians Taking Sweatshop Reports ‘Very Seriously’ - ABC News." ABCNews.com - Breaking News, Latest News & Top Video News - ABC News. ABC News, 22 Dec. 2011. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. <http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2011/12/kardashians-taking-sweatshop-reports-very-seriously/>.

  Murphy, Meaghan. "Kardashian Products Manufactured In 'Brutal' Sweatshops With Child Laborers, Report Says | Fox News." Fox News - Breaking News Updates | Latest News Headlines | Photos & News Videos. Fox News Networks, LLC, 21 Dec. 2011. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. <http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/12/21/kardashian-products-manufactured-in-brutal-sweatshops-with-child-laborers/>.

   

Week Six!

During our final week we learned about the fashion industry as a whole. We learned about the different markets, as well as the job opportunities that come along with each market! Finally, we learned about how to find and begin the right career path for us, as well as what to expect in that field!