Trying to buy clothes that aren't made in sweatshops AND fit my school's dress code.

[cheesycheese01]

So, erm, after going to public school for 8 years, getting homeschooled for 3 or 4 or something, I'm going back again to public, and this time around I'll have to deal with this crazy dress code:
http://lincolnparkforums.com/showthread.php?t=10050
*cries*
And my mom confirmed she's getting some money from HER mom (the joys of being broke :P) so I can go buy some new clothes that fit the dress code, but I refuse to buy from sweatshops nowadays.
The thing is, WHERE can I get sweatshop free clothing? I know American Apparel is a great brand for that, but there's no stores around here that sell it, apparantly. I heard Hot Topic was all USA made, but I'm not positive about that. So, erm, any suggestions as to what places I can shop at without supporting sweatshops?

I'd use the money to spend on fabric, if possible, but my mom's like "rawr, I'd rather you spend the money on actual clothes because you might mess everything you make up and then I waste money and you still don't have anything to wear to school." =/

Oh, and now she thinks I'm uber picky and my friend thinks I need to get over this now, haha. :(

[cheesycheese01]

I forgot to add, I know I could go to thrift stores too, but I erm... can't really get used to the fact that the clothes are used... I buy used electronic stuff all the time but used clothes (used by people I don't even know) kind of creeps me out. =/

[Ms. MaCabre]

go online. all the stores you want to shop at are there. then on your own time you can cruise the thrift and fabric stores and make some of your own. your mom will be a bit more on the mellow side when she knows that you have "approved and purchased" clothing to fall back on.

[cheesycheese01]

go online. all the stores you want to shop at are there. then on your own time you can cruise the thrift and fabric stores and make some of your own. your mom will be a bit more on the mellow side when she knows that you have "approved and purchased" clothing to fall back on.
I know, I know, shopping online. I used to have to do it all the time, but the thing is, you can't really try the clothes on before you purchase them, it's a pain to send them back, + there's the shipping cost and the wait... I just like shopping at stores so much better.

[broadwaybohemia]

OMFG! Ouch!

[cheesycheese01]

OMFG! Ouch!
The dress code?

[broadwaybohemia]

The dress code?

YEAH! I mean, really! Just implement a uniform at that point!

[cheesycheese01]

YEAH! I mean, really! Just implement a uniform at that point!
Haha, I know! That'd atually make it a lot easier on everyone.
Luckily I can wear patterned clothes, and vests and sweaters and stuff shouldn't be a problem. I can wear hoodies before and after school, and just keep them in my locker.
The annoying thing is, though, that the students and their parents don't agree with this dress code at all, but the school board hasn't really cared.

Hopefully they won't be so strict on hairstyles and colors. By the time school starts back up I'm pretty sure I'll have some insane hair. My mom shouldn't buy me hair bleach and leave it in my room when I have two jars of manic panic, and the skillz from studying cosmetology to cut my own hair, plus the love of mohawks I've had since I was 12, haha. I don't think that can all add up to anything good.

[Hovawart]

You'll make your own life easier if you get over the "other people have worn this" barrier. Think of thrift shop stuff as heirlooms.

[kisukejazz]

May I remind you that sweatshop-free clothing is way more expensive. There's nothing wrong buying one~ but why waste a lot of money on clothes? Especially when we are driven to fashion trends.
We sure are acknowlegded over the terrible working conditions within the sweatshops. Especially the ones in India, China, Indonesia and other poor-developing asian-pacific countries. Think about it--- when you don't buy, is it because you thought of the squalidness within the fashion business industry? Why do you think these very low income workers need to work in those squalid factories? They need money from the clothes we buy, for their own needs. Of course the retailers won't play the fair game towards them, as these workers will always receive the lowest wage. But still, in the end, they will get the money they waited for.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG TO BUY CLOTHES FROM SWEATSHOPS!

It's not the fashion companies' fault for the terrible working conditions of the sweatshop.
It's not even our fault for it!
It's the sweatshop management's fault for exercising that regime!

And it's not worth it to pay loads of money just for the sake of the dress code! Why complicate the matter? Make your mom happy and relieved, at least, by saving lots of money.

[Muffy_Stopheles]

Wow. That's one heck of a dress code, jees.

Good luck finding clothes - -- and it'd be to your benefit to getting used to wearing thrift shop stuff. You'll save tons! And remember - everything gets washed at least once before it's put on the racks. =]

[CrimsonCat]

I went to Catholic school for 4 years (granted, that was 25 years ago) and we had a uniform that wasn't even that strict. Wowzers.

[Grande_Cabeza]

May I remind you that sweatshop-free clothing is way more expensive. There's nothing wrong buying one~ but why waste a lot of money on clothes? Especially when we are driven to fashion trends.
We sure are acknowlegded over the terrible working conditions within the sweatshops. Especially the ones in India, China, Indonesia and other poor-developing asian-pacific countries. Think about it--- when you don't buy, is it because you thought of the squalidness within the fashion business industry? Why do you think these very low income workers need to work in those squalid factories? They need money from the clothes we buy, for their own needs. Of course the retailers won't play the fair game towards them, as these workers will always receive the lowest wage. But still, in the end, they will get the money they waited for.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG TO BUY CLOTHES FROM SWEATSHOPS!

It's not the fashion companies' fault for the terrible working conditions of the sweatshop.
It's not even our fault for it!
It's the sweatshop management's fault for exercising that regime!

And it's not worth it to pay loads of money just for the sake of the dress code! Why complicate the matter? Make your mom happy and relieved, at least, by saving lots of money.

Amen to that....

[cheesycheese01]

May I remind you that sweatshop-free clothing is way more expensive. There's nothing wrong buying one~ but why waste a lot of money on clothes? Especially when we are driven to fashion trends.
We sure are acknowlegded over the terrible working conditions within the sweatshops. Especially the ones in India, China, Indonesia and other poor-developing asian-pacific countries. Think about it--- when you don't buy, is it because you thought of the squalidness within the fashion business industry? Why do you think these very low income workers need to work in those squalid factories? They need money from the clothes we buy, for their own needs. Of course the retailers won't play the fair game towards them, as these workers will always receive the lowest wage. But still, in the end, they will get the money they waited for.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG TO BUY CLOTHES FROM SWEATSHOPS!

It's not the fashion companies' fault for the terrible working conditions of the sweatshop.
It's not even our fault for it!
It's the sweatshop management's fault for exercising that regime!

And it's not worth it to pay loads of money just for the sake of the dress code! Why complicate the matter? Make your mom happy and relieved, at least, by saving lots of money.
Well, I basically gave in and bought a bunch of clothes from company's whose clothes come from sweatshops.
And yeah, maybe my purchases don't make much of a difference, but I'd rather not have anything at all to do with this shebang, y'know?

[molly bee]

American Apparel is vertically integrated and sweatshop free. (vertically integrated meaning they own, operate and control every part of manufacturing of their clothing...from the cotton field to the store). There's also http://nosweatshop.com. I've bought stuff from there and it's all awesome.

[molly bee]

And sorry for the double post, but I don't like to support sweatshop dependent companies because:

The sweatshops ultimately do more harm than good...they rely on the poor economic state of the country to keep a good manufacturing rate. If they were helping these countries, they would be not helping themselves. They take advantage of and exploit these people's desperate state for money and work. And I'd rather not support something that hurts and exploits people, when I can buy clothes that are made by people supported by their jobs, or buy clothes from the thrift store that are cheap, most of the time support community projects, and that helps the environment by reusing clothes.

[toasterb0t]

http://www.organicclothes.com/
http://americanapparel.net/
http://nosweatapparel.com/

all of those are very good companies.
ive actually visited the only factory of the first one, its an amazing company!

despite what people are saying, dont buy from sweatshops,
I HAVE VISITED THEM AND THEY ARE HELL!
ive talked to union workers who have been threatened with death or the injury of a family member!

the company DOES have a choice, its a race to the lowest a company can spend on production costs.

[cheesycheese01]

Thanks so much!
I already spent pretty much all of my clothing money though. :(
But I'll look back at the thread next time I need to get clothes. :)