With the ongoing argument that South African politicians
should be wearing designed and made in South Africa clothing, the author suggests
that it is vital that the fashion industry communicates this message to the
government officials in a strong coordinated and synchronised voice.
Instead of cheap rhetoric from South African president
hopeful Jackob Zuma who said the ruling party "needed to become more
involved in the economy ... [and] look for ways of saving and growing jobs in
the clothing and textile sector,"
he should be wearing local designed and made in South African clothing and
using his presence on the political and social stage to demonstrate that he is
Proudly South African and urge his followers, fellow politicians from every
political party to proudly wear local designed and made clothing. Our
politicians need to look at America's new first family as an exemplar of what
can be done to create a surge in demand for local fashion designs.
President Obama's wife Michelle is supporting American fashion.
Even though she has been unfairly criticised by "The Black Artists
Association" for having yet to use a black designer and instead has worn
clothing designed by Cuban and Asian-American designers - of course she is
going to wear at some time clothing designed by African-Americans. The point is
she is supporting and promoting American designers and American retailers.
Obama's children Malia and Sasha wore on the day their
father was sworn in as President of America dresses from American retailer J Crew
a company that started in 1983. According to it promotional material the
company "uses the finest fabrics, craftsmen and mills from Europe and the US." News reports said the company's website crashed due to high traffic when the
American public discovered where the children's clothing had been purchased
from.
Clothing researchers in America say that Mrs. Obama will
have a positive impact on the American apparel sector. According to retail
analysts companies such as Gap and its Banana Republic chain, J. Crew, Club
Monaco and Chico White House/Black Market will be some of the benefactors of
her choice in clothing. Of course it will be dependant on
these retailers to take advantage of this global opportunity
to sustain the interest in their fashion lines.The central point to Mrs. Obama's
choice of clothing is that she is demonstrating that even the First Lady of
America can look slick and elegant without having to wear Couture designs with
hefty price tags.
In most cases in the world of fashion and glamour there is a
Machiavellian side - SWEATSHOPS - and this most hated of words in the fashion
industry can be linked to Mrs. Obama's choice of clothing. While I applaud her
for using American designers, her choice of retail brands is questionable. In
July 2008, New York State labour officials investigated an American clothing
company in Queens, New York that employed Chinese immigrants.
Investigators said the company, Jin Shun, cheated its
workers out of more than $5 million in pay, told its workers to lie to
inspectors, did not pay overtime to their employees and kept two sets of
timecards. Guess which company is linked to this inexcusable exploitation of
labour-GAP one of the companies that may benefit from Mrs. Obama's choice of
fashion. Another company supported by Mrs. Obama is Banana Republic. In March
2008, the company was linked to sweatshop labour in India where workers making
clothing for this brand are forced to work up to 70 hours a week for under a
dollar an hour. Club Monaco, apparently another favourite of the First Lady is
affiliated to the Ralph Lauren's fashion empire which is known to source its
manufacturing from dubious clothing companies that exploit workers.
Whilst the author argues that South African politicians need
to wear the talk and emulate America's new first family they should go further
and demonstrate that they will only support local designers, retailers and
manufacturers that have a transparent, ethical sourcing procedure and in the
case of manufacturing support those companies that are registered with the
South African Clothing Bargaining Council.
About the Author:
Renato Palmi is associated with The ReDress
Consultancy-South Africa www.redressconsultancy.com
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