Sweatfree Alternatives

Blackspot Sneakers, http://adbusters.org/metas/corpo/blackspotshoes/info.php, from Adbusters, are earth-friendly, cruelty-free, and made by a small, union shop in Portugal. Blackspots represent a radical, no-compromise experiment. The ultimate goal is to break the monopolies of giant corporations.

Justice Clothing,  www.justiceclothing.com, a  business based in Maine, is a one-stop shop for union-made garments. Sourcing from union shops all over the US, Justice Clothing is committed to combating the global garment industry’s “race to the bottom” by protecting American union jobs. They can connect buyers to a wide range of products, and can be a good source for harder-to-find items like children’s size tees or unusual colors.

No Sweat Apparel, www.nosweatapparel.com,  is a 100% union-made company based in Massachusetts. Its business model is based on the premise that workers and customers are allies, with whom positive relationships should be cultivated. They sell items individually or wholesale, and will screen-print original designs on t-shirts.

Maggie’s Organics, www.organicclothes.com,  a company dedicated to social and environmental sustainability offers 100% organic and sweatshop-free cotton t-shirts and other products. Most of their garments are sewn by Comamnuvi Women’s Sewing Cooperative in Nicaragua (www.fairtradezone.jhc-cdca.org), which was formed after Hurricane Mitch hit Central America in 1998, to combat the 80% unemployment that resulted in the region. In 2002 alone, the coop gave employment to 120 heads of household.

Unionline, made by Rubin Brothers, www.rubinbrothers.com,  has been producing union-made goods since 1910. They offer a newly-expanded line of colorful t-shirts, backed up by a strong commitment to quality.

Union Jeans and Apparel, www.unionjeancompany.com, is a union made clothing company that sells everything from jeans to sweaters.

Global Goods Partners www.globalgoodspartners.org, sells jewelry and bags made by community-based organizations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Ethix Ventures, www.ethixpromos.com, produces union made, custom embroidered or imprinted promotional merchandise for your group or business.

Nueva Vida Sewing Coop, www.fairtradezone.ihc.cdca.org,  is the world’s first Worker-Owned Fair Trade Zone, providing a viable atlernative to sweatshops.  It inlcudes some organi options.

Mayaworks, www.mayaworks.org, markets the works of Mayan artisans who craft beautiful hadwoven accessories and would otherwise have no outlet for their handiwork.

Chiapas Project, www.chiapasprojet.com, sells artisan crafts made in a women’s cooperative in Chiapas, Mexico

Other sweatfree options for bulk t-shirt orders include:

Platinum Sportswear www.platinumsportswear.net

Just Garments, El Salvador www.justgarments.net

New Jersey Headwear Corp. www.unionwear.com

Ben Davis www.bendavis.com

This is not an exhaustive list, and we encourage you to use it creatively. Please contact PJA to help you find the company that is right for your organization.

A note on screenprinting shops: The above companies will be able to screenprint your original designs onto your shirts and sweatshirts in most cases. However, if you’re interested in supporting local small businesses, your organization can look into your neighborhood screen-printing shops (PJA also has some resources for finding these – give us a call!). Be aware, however, that while small businesses often treat their own workers well, they may buy their blank t-shirts from a sweatshop source. PJA encourages you to purchase the blank tees from a union or coop source on this list, and then have them screen-printed locally if you prefer.

Anti-Sweatshop Organizations

Bay Area Sweatfree Coalition www.globalexchange.org/sweatshops
SweatFree Communities www.sweatfree.org
Sweatshop Watch www.sweatshopwatch.org
Worker Rights Consortium http://www.workersrights.org/

[Except for Blackspots, all informaton is from PJA.  For additional information, go to www.pjalliance.org]