Many in the U.S. have heard Syms’ tag-line “An Educated Consumer is our Best Customer.” Now that Syms is closing it’s doors, what makes a current educated consumer? Is it still the bargain hunter? Well, in many cases an educated consumer assesses value to price ratio on it’s purchases. But in this day and age of Occupy Wall Street, what does it mean to be an educated consumer of apparel? One the main points of this blog is to share a point of view and advocate for companies that are updating and improving their processes in order to offer innovative design while reducing their carbon footprint; now on a post #OccupyWallStreet era it also helps if the company is also working to improve local economies. With that said, I’m happy to have read certain developments since my last post from companies around the globe that have been working in similar model.
Globalization of Fashion is something that has been explored in this blog, inclusive of the pros and cons of such; even as those pros and cons continue to shift. Well, certainly working to reduce carbon footprint and improve local economies is to some extend against Fashion Globalization; at least from a sourcing perspective. Last post covered how My New Balance® for J.Crew 1400 sneakers are made in USA and available at a Liquor Store. In this post, I’d like to share how across the pond, two major companies in the U.K have chosen to increase their local manufacturing and help improve their local economies.
Mulberry Factory
The iconic brand Mulberry has plans to open it’s second factory in the UK with some help from their government: “Mulberry has secured £2.5 million from the Regional Growth Fund by the coalition Government to help set up the second factory at total cost estimated at £7.5 million and add a reportedly 250 jobs.” Click here for more information about their new upcoming factory in Bridgwater, Somerset
In addition, John Lewis has started to: Give the consumers the choice to buy cheap products coming from half a world away or pay more for locally made products that can help grow local economies. The department store will mark all locally made products with a “Made in UK” stamp. As it appears in John Lewis’s Press Release: “The ‘Made in UK’ identifier will appear on over 4,000 products which are manufactured in the UK, from early 2012. It consolidates John Lewis’s support of British manufacturing which sees it work with over 130 companies which make its own-brand products. John Lewis also operates a factory in Lancashire, Herbert Parkinson, which weaves and produces its own-brand fabrics, duvets and pillows, and where its seven-day curtain service is based.” For complete transcript click here: John Lewis backs British manufacturing with launch of Made in UK product identifier
Now imagine if only Walmart would do something similar? lol
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