It took...

9 Months before I cracked!

But, how many of you out there could go nine months buying only Made in USA or Fair Trade products?  There is only a limited world of these items.  Very limited. And expensive!  Moving forward what has to be decided is how to proceed in the future.  What lessons have I learned?  Where is the balance?  Does it really matter?  I've had a hard time weighing the negatives and positives of third world countries making our clothes.  Negatives are poor working conditions, unsafe factories and environmental damage.  But there are positives.  We are contributing to growing economies and people are making money.   Some perspective has to be maintained.  The conditions they are working in are not that different from workers in the USA during the beginning of the industrial revolution.  It was messy, dangerous and unregulated.  There were great muckrakers such as Ida Tarbell and Upton Sinclair who brought attention to what was wrong.  I'm sure that there are modern day muckrakers out there in leading the way to the truth, creating an awareness and demanding changes. 

There really are two sides to every coin. 

Shopping in Louisville, KY

Up to this point I've been purchasing items online.  It's time to reach out to the local business community and see what is out there.  A couple of weeks ago I went into the Willow Tree on Hurstbourne Lane.  Although a little pricy I would say about half of their clothing items are made in the USA, Canada or France.  I would recommend them but use caution as there are quite a few things made in China.  I did speak to the owner, a really nice lady. She said she really does try to buy things made in USA if it's possible.  So, I'm encouraged by this.  However, just like any other made in the USA or any other country that pays their employees a decent wage the prices end up being on the high end.  It's just unavoidable  folks.  Here's their website if you are interested http://willowtreelouisville.com/.

I also visited Just Creations on Frankfort Avenue.  They have a lot of clothing (fair trade).  However, for me I found the clothing a bit odd sized.  The clothing was either way too big or too small.  One bonus though they have Maggie's Organic socks and tank tops.  It was nice to see this brand in a store after having bought things from them in the past online.  I really recommend Maggie's Organics.  So far everything I have purchased from them has been high quality.  The material for one thing is thick.  No thin material on their products.  Even the socks are generous.

After my rant a couple of weeks ago I ended up buying a pair of tennis shoes that were not made in the USA.  I can't justify buying tennis shoes that cost $160.00 just to prove a point.  I also went consignment shopping over the weekend.  Yes, I did buy a couple of things.  No, they weren't made in the USA or Fair Trade.  You could say I'm cheating.  But, if you read the rules in the first post I am allowed if I lost 10% of my body weight.  Which I have.  Even more than 10%.  So, it's not cheating.  I'm getting close to the end of the year.  If I can buy what I need made in USA or Fair Trade I will.  But, I am no longer limiting myself.  However, I will only purchase second hand which isn't quite as bad.  Further, I will stay away from Target clothes. 

Extremely Frustrated....Rant...

When I first started this challenge there was an out.  If I lost more than 10% of my body weight I could abandon this project.  Well at this point I've lost close to 20% so I have every right to go shopping and buy what I want.  But, I haven't yet.  I'm going to try to hold on a little longer.  At this point there are only four more months in the year.  It's possible once I pull out my fall/winter clothes that I might have a change of heart.  I'm allowed. I've earned it.  But, let me share how I'm feeling right now.

EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED!!!  I want to shop at Clothes Mentor so much.  I want to buy piles of clothes and a new designer purse.  I want to run into Target and buy some cheap clothes.  I want to go to Carnival Shoes and buy some new shoes.  My tennis shoes that I bought last December are starting to give.  I can feel it in the heel.  They aren't providing the same support.  Tennis shoes that are made in the USA?  That's IMPOSSIBLE!  New Balance has some pairs that they source as much as possible from the USA and it's made here but the shoes start at $160.00.  I'm not going to spend $160.00 on a pair of shoes.  No matter how good it makes me feel.  For one thing, there is no guarantee the quality is going to be better.  As I have found out this year buying made in the USA or Fair Trade, etc. doesn't guarantee ANYTHING.   I'm not even sure I can truly say I feel better about these purchases anymore.  When I spend so much more money for ill-fitted clothing that look old too soon anyway.  I could at least buy second hand clothes that have been washed several times giving a much fair representation of whether is well made or not. 

This is killing my pocket book!  If I can't buy responsibility when I'm trying how can the rest of the us?  During this election cycle a lot has been said about bringing jobs, such as the garment industry back to the USA.  But, HOW????  Really, HOW????  As I've stated before we aren't going to pay the cost difference.  The genie is out of the bottle.  No one is going back to the way things used to be.  They just aren't.   GIVE ME A BREAK!!!