Our economy could be helped by simply buying American made t-shirts, instead of ones that are manufactured in overseas sweatshops. If you are concerned about the state of our economy, as everyone is these days, the best way to help is to support American made products. American made t-shirts are being produced by companies in the United States utilizing our natural resources, as part of the recent “green” movement. Foreign ‘sweatshops’ use cheap labor for their manufacturing, in addition to materials that may not be free of toxins and pollutants. Now is the time for the American public to support American made t-shirts and other products.

If you want to be sure the products you are purchasing are not produced in sweatshops by workers, who are being exploited, buy USA made t-shirts. Foreign countries that deny humane treatment to their workers and pay them very little are notorious for seeking reprisal against non-conformers in their workforces and make them work long hours without breaks.

The origin of the clothes is not something many shoppers think about before they purchase. They may change their shopping habits if they were more aware of the horrible working conditions these items are manufactured under and the consequences for American workers that may lose their jobs.

Adhering to a few pointers can assure that you are supporting American workers and buying American made t-shirts. One of the ways of finding USA made t-shirts is to look for clothing made under the Fair Trade system. Instead of sweat shop conditions, the workers are paid a normal wage and enjoy benefits like occasional breaks and sick leave when they need it. These Fair Trade system workers tend to be economically challenged and barely able to keep their families fed, in some cases, but they are willing to put in a hard day’s work.

The UNITE HERE label is another way to find American made t-shirts that are not made in sweatshops. This is a union that was created when the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees and Hotel and Restaurant Employees International Union merged. USA made t-shirts purchased with a Union label is a guarantee that the workers who made your t-shirt are treated fairly. They have a contract with the company they work for that ensures safe and fair working conditions as well as the wages they are being paid and benefits.

Clothing companies can be researched before you purchase. Union made clothing made by cooperatives may be another source of t-shirts made from all natural materials. In addition to protecting the environment, it offers support for the low-income employees that are trying hard to feed their families. Co-ops also give some ownership to the workers and other individuals who ensure better working conditions while producing higher quality products than found in imported items. Good quality products are a result of the pride of ownership and the team support that cooperatives provide.

If you have a favorite store where you purchase your clothing, you can check them out and see if they have poor labor habits. If clothing made in your favorite store is guilty of sweatshop work ethics, you would certainly want to know it, wouldn’t you? The Responsible Shopper Website lists American made clothing that are really made in the USA. USA made t-shirts can be investigated to be sure they are really made in the USA.

If you make sure the clothing you are buying is not made in sweatshops with unfair labor practices, you will also be supporting the companies that practice fair labor standards. We should be concerned with the clothes we wear naturally because we want to look our best. Emphasis is on wearing name brand clothing and if American made t-shirts have the brand, this is all well and good. But if the brand you like is being made by children who are being mistreated and made to sit for hours without breaks, is wearing that brand worth it? Do some investigative work about the brands you like. Only by taking a stand will the unfair practices be stopped.