While the girls were at camp I had some free time. I promised myself this summer that I would conquer my closet. I am a pack rat when it comes to clothes and shoes. I keep them forever! Nothing that is out of style but items that stand the test of time. A plain t shirt, a cute dress, a pair of leggings...If they still look good, they are a keeper. I am so blessed that I can still fit in some of the clothing that I wore in HS - also the fact that I wore ALOT of polyester and it stretches. I also have a weird connection with clothing. I have the dress I met my husband in, I have the Converse shoes I graduated HS in, the shirt I wore on my cross country trip, etc... and I cannot throw them out.
So I started going through a lot of my old clothing to give some of it to good will. It was hard to part with some of it but some didn't fit, some were so old the elastic dried up and some I realized it was time to part with. I had 2 huge bags! Now mind you these clothes are at least 20 to 25 years old. My mom stopped by and I told her to drop them off at the St. Anthony's clothing box. She laughed and said it is about time, but did you check where these clothes are from? I looked at her and said I didn't even think to! I took every item out and checked. You will never believe it, out of the 30 items it was getting rid of at least 20 were made in the USA! I was shocked! I went back in my closet and found a shirt from the GAP that was Made in the USA!! GAP has not made clothing in this country for at least 30 years! I kept it in case it will be worth something one day....
So I guess back in the day a lot more of our clothing was made in the USA. I found this on KQED a California news website. It is very enlightening and explains the change in clothing manufactured in the USA over the last 50 years.
http://blogs.kqed.org/lowdown/2013/05/24/madeinamerica/
"In 1960, an average American household spent over 10 percent of its income on clothing and shoes – equivalent to roughly $4,000 today. The average person bought fewer than 25 garments each year. And about 95 percent of those clothes were made in the United States.
Fast forward half a century.
Today, the average American household spends less than 3.5 percent of its budget on clothing and shoes – under $1,800. Yet, we buy more clothing than ever before: nearly 20 billion garments a year, close to 70 pieces of clothing per person, or more than one clothing purchase per week.
Oh, and guess how much of that is made in the U.S.: about 2 percent."
In 50 years we went from 95% of our clothing made here to 2%!! I understand it but I don't have to like it. This makes me want to get that number up to at least 5%! This week was an outreach week. Me outreaching to companies and NO ONE ANSWERING ME BACK. I sent 4 email this week to companies and not one answered back, 2 emails were actually complementary! Next week will be a sharing week. I'll get you outfitted head to toe (well I already have the shoe company, so that's done :). I'll do my research and share sites, stores and vendors for you to shop at if you want to made a difference too. Enjoy your weekend and keep checking your labels!!
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