At bgreen apparel, we take pride in producing
quality garments from start to finish, right here in Los Angeles. The recent
U.S. Olympic uniforms debacle (all made in China), has drummed up a lot of buzz
around buying U.S.A.-made, and it begs the question: What is the value of
buying American? Some reasons may be obvious, others… maybe not. Here are five
to consider:
Investing in Our Financial Future
Honest Pay
for an Honest Day’s Work
1. In
contrast to some lax foreign labor standards, we know that as Americans, we are
legally ensured safe, fair work conditions. Beyond U.S. borders, workers can be
subject to harsh and unsafe work conditions, poverty-level wages, and child
labor practices. This is particularly true if they work for a manufacturer
who doesn’t implement a code of conduct on worker rights. Buying American means supporting the basic right to safe and
fair employment.
Healthy
Planet, Healthy Lives
2. Manufacturing in the U.S. is consistently
regulated to ensure environmental
protection. However, many other countries, China
and India in particular, are notorious for production practices that are
extremely detrimental to the health of the planet. In fact, together, Chinese
and Indian cities comprise half of
the top
ten most polluted cities in the world. Purchasing U.S. made products means
keeping our planet cleaner for ourselves, our children, and our children’s
children.
3. As production increasingly moves out of the U.S.,
our overall capacity to manufacture decreases. If this process continues, it
will be difficult to sustain our economy in the long-term. According to Save the Garment Center, just 5%
of the clothing sold in the U.S. is actually manufactured in the U.S. Buying American means investing in our
financial independence.
4. According to Bloomberg, the U.S. trade deficit
reached $49.9 billion in June of this year. Such a tremendous debt leads to
unsustainable borrowing from other countries. By seeking out Made in the U.S.A.
goods, you play a hand in preventing this cycle of debt, and strengthening our
economic stability.
5. According to a 2011 study by the Economic
Policy Institute, the U.S.-China trade deficit has eliminated
or displaced nearly 2.8 million jobs, of which 1.9 million (or 70%), were in
manufacturing.
Buying American is a powerful way to improve
lives in our country. By being conscientious of where our dollars are spent, we
can build stronger communities at home, ensure that what we consume was
produced honestly and fairly, protect our health and the health of our planet, and
revitalize our economy by creating jobs and reducing debt.
Not sure
where to start your search for U.S.-made products? Here are some great sites to help:
www.bgreenapparel.com Offering
quality apparel that looks good, fits comfortably and leaves the world a better
place. Organic ~ basic ~ essential
styles for men and women.
