Growing Popularity of Union Made T Shirts

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Milford, MA, October 26, 2010 — There have been several case studies in the news about workplace abuses – especially in domestic and international sweatshops. Poor working conditions are detrimental to the health of the workers in supply chains. Instances of harsh factory environments resulting in worker deaths are not uncommon, and all for branded t-shirts being sold through major retailers.

The move towards ethical production of manufactured goods is on the rise as conscientious consumers are becoming more aware of the atrocities that occur in sweatshops. Sweatshop workers face low wages, work related injuries due to a lack of health and safety regulations, long shifts without adequate breaks, and forced overtime without increased pay – at the risk of repercussions if they don’t comply. To combat these negatives, there has been an increased demand for Fair Trade certifications and products from concerned shoppers.

Fair Trade principles promote improved selling prices, community sustainability, respectable operating conditions, and honest terms of commerce for farmers and employees from developing countries. Fair Trade addresses the injustices of standard commerce, which in the past has discriminated against the poorest, weakest producers. It does so by requiring corporations to pay prices that don’t fall below market standards.

Since finding Fair Trade manufacturing facilities throughout the supply chain is challenging, individuals who would like to end worker abuse and sweatshops are purchasing the popular Union Made labels. Many conscientious consumers are looking to Union Made labels because the local manufacturing standards for these products are similar to the international definition of Fair Trade.

Aria DiSalvo from Solidarity Exchange says, “Union Made remains the platinum standard for ethical merchandise, as it has in the US for generations. Interest is peaking for Union Made items from Fair Trade groups. Our sales have increased significantly from groups concerned with labor and environmental standards in manufacturing. And increasingly, international Union Made options are also becoming available.”

Currently Union Made products, most especially t-shirts, are primarily made locally. Not only are they physically manufactured in the United States, but many raw materials come from various cities and towns to support local industries. Union Made t-shirts are similar to Fair Trade since the principles and concepts that surround its manufacturing are all in line with the vision and mission of this movement. By purchasing Union Made T-shirts and other products, you are advocating for workers in fair trade industries and also making a stand regarding the disadvantaged workers in traditional manufacturing sites.

Additionally, Union Made products support the environment. Since items are manufactured locally, they are not shipped around the world, decreasing the use of fossil fuels. Union manufacturers are also starting to use more recycled and organic materials in their products.

Ethix Merch, a shopping guide for ethical merchandise, uses union made, fair trade, sweatfree, locally made, and eco-friendly items for organizations who want custom logo products. This company advocates the rights of workers and lobbies for fair treatment and just benefits for employees. There is an increasing number of supporters for ethical and highly sustainable products, so their Union Made T-Shirts are gaining popularity day by day.

According to Kevin O’Brien from Ethix Merch, “There are many new options for ethical T-Shirts, including Union Made, Organic, Local, and Fair Trade. We developed an online quote tool so clients can easily see the price differences of all these various options.”

Although consumer support of ethical merchandise is on the rise, there is still a long way to go before the standards have effectively permeated the world of apparel manufacturing. Thus, conscientious consumers who want to support Fair Trade principles should look for the Union Made label. Purchasing Union Made t shirts and other products is a great way to support economically disadvantaged workers and high labor standards.

ETHIX VENTURES, INC. is a trusted corporation overseeing two projects: Ethix Merch and Solidarity eXchange. Ethix Merch provides clients with Sweatfree, union made, fair trade, locally made in the USA, and eco-friendly custom logo products. Solidarity eXchange engages movement members in an affiliate program to help shift current purchasing to ethical options.