Where does the opportunity for social change exist in international trade? How can Fashion Compliance move us in that direction?
While the role of international organizations such as the
United Nations was well understood by the graduating seniors in the Peace &
Conflict Studies Dept. at U.C. Berkeley, international trade systems to effect
social change was not - I learned, while lecturing there this week - something they had really
ever contemplated.
It’s not surprising however, when you stop to consider that
while virtually every person in the US wears and uses products made overseas,
little thought is given to how they got here, who made them, and how the
consumer’s interest in a cheaper product impacts those workers around the world
who make these goods.
When you learn however, that electronics and wearing apparel
are the top 2 imports into the US – which is the largest single economy in the
world (for now anyway…) – you realize that having the opportunity to import
here means economic opportunity for those foreigners that export here.
This is where the opportunity for social change exists.
And this is where a project I am working on that I named “Fashion
Compliance” is aiming to address.
Fashion Compliance is about educating small producers,
retail start ups and others in making US
market-ready clothing and home fashions that are compliant with US
certifications and regulations.
The reason for this is so that the products bought or sold by
these entities can lawfully enter the US
market, strengthening these businesses with their cohorts, and so that they can
protect and grow their enterprises.
This new work-in-progress can be followed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FashionCompliance
and for a sneak peak at some of the videos, such as that on country of origin
marking, you can check out http://www.youtube.com/user/fashioncompliance
and subscribe to the channel to be notified of new episodes.
Your suggestions are welcome. Ciao ciao!
Questions/comments?
Post below or email me at fashioncompliance@gmail.com
Keep up with me:
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FashionCompliance
On YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/fashioncompliance
On Twitter @fashcompliance https://twitter.com/fashcompliance
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