In the wake of the tragedy of the building collapse in Bangladesh on April 24, 2013 which killed at least 1,100 people, the spectre of sweat-shops and poor and even dangerous working conditions has risen again. But, some things cannot go un-noticed.
I've resisted covering this tragedy because, while terrible as it is, its not inline with discussing the power the design of a T-shirt can have on society, health, happiness and humanity. But, under the design resides the vehicle to display the message, slogan or art, for charity or for profit. Its that vehicle, the physical T-shirt itself which has caught the attention of the world again. At what cost do we measure an affordable T-shirt. How high is too high, and are the measuring sticks inappropriate?
Its a rhetorical question with a variety of answers, all equally important to various peoples of the world.
Since 2005, 1,800 people have died in Bangladesh in fires and collapseds buildings. The working conditions are horrible. Outright dangerous and life-threatening. The pay in Bangladesh is by far the lowest in the world. People can expect to earn .24 a hour.
All terrible and dismal statistics which will drive hordes of protestors to any retail location in the western world, spouting ugly cries of abusing the poorer nations of the world for cheap T-shirts. I won't deny those people their combination of guilt for enjoying cheap T-shirts and the sincere desire for improved working conditions in countries like Bangladesh.
But. But, let us all step back a moment and recognize this terrible incident and its relation to all that we, I believe, sometimes take for granted in the western world. The world of plenty and cheap. While there will be cries for the horrific tragedy in Bangladesh, let's remember the on-going punishing work conditions in China and the continued trend of workers committing suicide due to intense working conditions to produce all of the wondrous electronic gadgets we feel that we cannot live without.
When a terrible incident such as the Bangladesh building collapse occurs, its easy to use that as a rallying cry. Its something physical. Tangible. Something we can look upon with sorrow. But, we all need to recognize that T-shirts shouldn't be something to die over, but neither should a cell phone. Or a trinkets from a tourism gift shop. Pointing fingers at this company or that company or the general populace of the western world solves nothing, unless you understand the problem is bigger and more complicated than most are willing to understand.
For decades, the movement of jobs in the textile and garment industry has slowly moved from the western countries to the poorer nations of the world for one simple reason. Low wages. The western world, able to breath a sigh of financial relief at lowered garment prices due to impossibly low wages in places like Bangladesh, turn a blind eye to the loss of American jobs in return for lowered garment prices for everyone else. Seems we'll suffer a few lost jobs for the benefit of everyone else.
Sadly, we've let that trade-off of jobs for lower costs on our products become the standard until it reached a critical mass. The USA has high unemployment with a work force that have 72% of its workers in the service industries. Where'd our productive capacity go? Oh yeah, we allowed government and large global industry to move those jobs from the USA to places like Bangladesh where large corporations in dominate control of the textile industry can pay impossibly low wages and place workers in dangerous work environments. It is only now, after 1,100 people have died in one building collapse does the western world think to suffer any guilt in allowing those jobs to be stolen from the USA and moved to Bangladesh, and for enjoying low-priced T-shirts. It is only now that you suffer your rightful guilt.
That's all easy to cast shame upon the western world. Where were you before the collapse of the building in Bangladesh? Enjoying your soft, nicely sown and low-priced T-shirt, texting on your cell phone? Instead of questioning the terrible working conditions and miserable pay, you need to ask the correct question. Not WHERE are the T-shirts made. But, WHY are the T-shirts made in Bangladesh. Why there?
In these days of economic uncertainty, the cost of fuel makes delivery of even regular mail a costly effort. The postage on a letter in the USA postal service is more than what most Bangladesh workers make in a hour. Yet, with the high cost of shipping in the western world, and that of shipping to other countries, one has to stand in awe at being able to grow cotton in one part of the world, ship it to a facility to be turned to yarn, shipped again to be turned to fabric, shipped again to be cut into T-shirts and sown, and shipped again to the western countries, and shipped again to store, one last time for you to purchase it. With all that shipping, very few have the funds available to buy $50 T-shirts in the western countries in workers in Bangladesh received USA worker wages. So, who pays the price for all that shipping? The Bangladesh workers with low wages.
Before you stand too quickly to cast blame, you need to decide what you are willing to accept for your products you purchase in the store. If you are concerned for the health and safety for the workers in Bangladesh, then raise awareness of the issue and seek a solution. It solves nothing to just hurl insults. Bring a solution with you to the rally. If you prefer the lower prices of T-shirts as apposed to higher prices and more jobs in the USA, than stand quiet.
This is why I have not spoken on this issue, until now. Its not an easy subject for the peoples of the western world to discuss, because it requires an ability and willingness to self-analyze. And, the subject is not a T-shirt or textile issue. Many things you buy at the store are made in countries like Bangladesh, China and other nations where terrible working conditions and low wages are allowed to occur, and are encouraged.
If you are concerned about where your T-shirts comes from, contact the manufacturer of the T-shirt. Learn the source of the T-shirts. Then, you can make a decision as to what is acceptable for you, as to what denotes a proper T-shirt source. If enough people do this, then many the textiles industry might move back to the USA where it will bring with it, much needed jobs.
What are you willing to sacrifice to cast blame upon for the T-shirts you wear?
