How do I find out where my clothes are made?
The first thing to do is to trace the label. That little piece of
fabric is at least supposed to provide you with all the information
you need. Many databases can be found on the Internet to help research
garment companies and determine which brands are owned by which
companies, although there is often a cost involved. However, there
are some useful Internet resources that are free of charge.
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A free database at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/rn/rn.htm
can be used to look up who owns the brand name of a garment.
By using an RN (for U.S. textile products), CA (Canadian)
or WPL (U.S. wool product) number, found on the labels of
garments sold in the U.S. or Canada, information can be found
about brand names and companies.
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To find out more about the corporate structure of some multinational
corporations, try checking Hoover's Online, a database of
business information, some of it available for free http://www.hoovers.com/.
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A detailed document on how to investigate a multinational
corporation can be found at:
http://corpwatch.radicaldesigns.org/article.php?id=945
In the United States, the above mentioned RN number is obligatory.
In Europe this is not the case. The CCC is setting up a campaign
for European transparency laws. To find out where your piece of
clothing is made, the only option you now have is write to the
sourcing company and demand information.
Remember that in all cases the only thing you then know is where
your clothes are made, while the most important thing you need
to find out is how. Ask them! Armed with this information, you
can use your power as activist and demanding consumer to make
them change their ways.
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