I have, at times, struggled internally with the location where my clothing was made. Made in China was the norm when I was a child. Made in Indonesia became more and more prominent as I became an adult. Anyone who really knows me is aware that I received an expensive sewing machine as a college graduation gift. The long term goal was that I would make my children's baby clothes. By the time my children were born the cost of making clothes was 10X that of buying them at Target and Old Navy. Plus, what new mom with 3 kids under three has the time?
Disposable clothes have become the norm these days and I was expecting just that when we traveled. I wasn't concerned with packing as I figured we would find what we needed along the way. This is partly true. What I have found is that what I need is very different than what I want. Sure India is packed with hawkers selling their wares. T-shirts, pants, underwear and flip-flops. Readily available but somehow out our reach. Maybe it was the shopping experience of standing next to a cow while trying to purchase a dress that turned me off or maybe it was the feeling of waste that occurs in every country (that we have been too) that started to wear on me. Do I really need it? Do I really want it? Can I get by without it?
I caved in Sri Lanka with the girls and stopped by a shop with bathing suits in the window. In all honestly, the Target bathing suit that has been purchased for Izzy and passed down to Maddy was now showing it's age and needed to be replaced. It had earned it's $12.99 price and was ready to retire. To my surprise and amazement I was standing in the TJMaxx of Sri Lanka. Even with the tags cut out I can still recognize a pair of Gap capris. Most of us could do the same. Guess what? They we all Made in Sri Lanka. The bathing suits, shorts, t-shirts from H&M, pants from Eddie Bauer.
I knew that what I was about to pay for a pair of shorts, 3 swim suits and a dress was no bargain, (equal to what I would have paid at Target) but as I handed my Sri Lankan Rupees to the store owner I knew that they would end up closer to the source of production than had I bought them in Willowbrook. Which made me feel a little better about where my clothes were made. But not much.
-Suzanne
Disposable clothes have become the norm these days and I was expecting just that when we traveled. I wasn't concerned with packing as I figured we would find what we needed along the way. This is partly true. What I have found is that what I need is very different than what I want. Sure India is packed with hawkers selling their wares. T-shirts, pants, underwear and flip-flops. Readily available but somehow out our reach. Maybe it was the shopping experience of standing next to a cow while trying to purchase a dress that turned me off or maybe it was the feeling of waste that occurs in every country (that we have been too) that started to wear on me. Do I really need it? Do I really want it? Can I get by without it?
I caved in Sri Lanka with the girls and stopped by a shop with bathing suits in the window. In all honestly, the Target bathing suit that has been purchased for Izzy and passed down to Maddy was now showing it's age and needed to be replaced. It had earned it's $12.99 price and was ready to retire. To my surprise and amazement I was standing in the TJMaxx of Sri Lanka. Even with the tags cut out I can still recognize a pair of Gap capris. Most of us could do the same. Guess what? They we all Made in Sri Lanka. The bathing suits, shorts, t-shirts from H&M, pants from Eddie Bauer.
I knew that what I was about to pay for a pair of shorts, 3 swim suits and a dress was no bargain, (equal to what I would have paid at Target) but as I handed my Sri Lankan Rupees to the store owner I knew that they would end up closer to the source of production than had I bought them in Willowbrook. Which made me feel a little better about where my clothes were made. But not much.
-Suzanne
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