Comments on: Gossip on Uniqlo

By: Japundit » Not Your Mother’s Uniqlo

Japundit » Not Your Mother’s Uniqlo — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 07:07:53 +0000

[...] The wall of color and the simple lines may look like Uniqlo to you, but I promise you, this is NOT the same store you might visit in Japan. I was privileged enough last night to attend the flagship store opening ; longtime readers of Japundit will remember that we had a lively discussion last year about the early test-marketing attempts of Uniqlo corporate here in NYC, and that we speculated how it would fare long term against global competitors such as H&M and Zara. [...]

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 08:16:03 +0000

no. 9, meet no. 8.

By: ghoti

ghoti — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 13:24:07 +0000

anon-
Says I and all the Chinese I know, as well as my first hand experience in China. Where do you get your information? Mother Jones?

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 13:15:56 +0000

I recently saw an amazing documentary about sweatshops in China: China Blue, by documentarian Micha Peled.

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117928549?categoryid=31&cs=1

http://asianamericanfilmfestival.org/films/film_detail.php?i=26

Not sure when it will hit PBS/and or theaters, but watch it if you can.

And just because unskilled workers want a job at a factory, doesn’t mean that they arren’t being exploited.

The documentary is amazing, and really unravels the impact of globalization in a personal and touching w ay.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 05:49:47 +0000

most desirable says who?

By: ghoti

ghoti — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 08:48:07 +0000

Well then you may be surprised to know that factories that manufacture for international brands are among the most desirable employers of unskilled labor in 3rd world countries. Any more questions?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 01:58:24 +0000

You may be surprised to know that expensive brands also use cheap labor. They are no less immune to the need to reduce costs. Chinese are happy to have the work, so I wonder what exactly the “questions” are.==ghoti

no one in their righ mind would be surprised to know that. it’s quite well known, indeed.
as far as the “questions,” they have to do with factory conditions, workers rights, wages and safety, etc. hardly small matters–particularly in second and third world scenarios.

By: ghoti

ghoti — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:31:54 +0000

Uniqlo’s reputation in China is quite good, according to the Chinese I know who work for them.

Incidentally, looking at the tag is not a n accurate way to learn country of manufacture. Because of EU and US protectionist quotas, Chinese factories will happily print “Made in (name your country).”

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 23:16:20 +0000

I went to Uniqlo in soho last weekend, I’m actually wearing the shirt I bought there today. I think the tag says made in Malaysia or something. Anyway, they say they will alter any pair of pants for free after you buy them, which is nice.

By: Marie Mockett

Marie Mockett — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 23:00:00 +0000

Ah, yes. Always a problem with fashion.

A friend and I were talking the other day about the staying power of peasant blouses, sequins and embroidery; she pointed out to me that the mass marketing of these goods is only possible because of cheap labor. And this of course brings many more questions to mind.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 22:55:45 +0000

It’s important to find out where Uniqlo’s products are manufactured, as well. And the role those factories and workers play in the provision of those “rock bottom prices.”