Most of us have no idea who makes the garments that we purchase
or how much they are paid for their work. In today’s globalized
market, a long chain—whose links are the many distributors
and middlemen—separates consumers at one end from workers
at the other. Textile factories, the first link in the production
chain, are notorious for poverty wages and miserable working conditions.
But in El Salvador, we have created an alternative to the sweatshops.
In 2003, Just Garments was formed as the result of a labor conflict
in a Taiwanese factory. We have distinguished ourselves from our
competitors through our unionized workforce, our commitment to
pay a living wage, and our vision towards worker ownership. We
pride ourselves on the high quality clothing that we produce using
a “sweat free – union made” label.
Concerned consumers, including fair trade supporters, university
students, and faith groups, have been instrumental to our factory’s
survival. Many have pledged to purchase Just Garments products.
However, there have not been enough large-scale orders to meet
all of our factory’s financial commitments.
That is why we have developed a plan to solve our financial stresses
while offering conscientious consumers an alternative to the sweatshops.
Using the “beta test”, described here,
Just Garments would produce large numbers of t-shirts that would
then be distributed in the U.S. The income generated would repay
our debt and help the factory to begin a production cycle that
would lead to self-sufficiency within a year. Interest in t-shirts
has been overwhelming; now we just need to raise the capital to
place the first shipment of shirts in a U.S. distribution center.
We are writing you to ask if you will consider helping our factory
to break this chain in which distributors and large brands receive
most of the profit and workers receive very little. We must raise
$120,000 in order to implement the plan and ensure our factory’s
survival.
We have not been able to identify a single source that can finance
this amount and so we are now reaching out to our base of supporters.
We are confident that this powerful movement of concerned consumers
will come together to help keep Just Garments viable. We ask you
to read the beta test proposal and consider contributing towards
this important effort.
Your support for the Just Garments beta test can be made as a
donation or a loan. If you are able to make a loan, please contact
us to talk about the terms of repayment. If you choose to donate,
the returns on your investment will come in the form of worker-controlled
shares.
Please take a moment to fill out the pledge
card and send it to us at info@justgarments.net.
When we near our goal of $120,000 we will contact you and ask
you at that time to send your money. This way you can be assured
that the plan will be implemented and that you will be an important
part of its success.
We hope that you choose to become part of Just Garments by helping
us put our plan into action. Time is short and we need to receive
your pledge as soon as possible. Help us break the chain that
separates the consumers from the producers. Don’t miss this
opportunity to invest in the new future of global production by
making an investment in Just Garments.
Gilberto Garcia
Worker Representative to the Board of Directors |
