Howies co-founder quits, but why?

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Howies co-founder quits, but why?

89 posts & 46 voices | Started 2 years ago by NikNak7890 | Latest reply from theflatboy

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mcgruff - Member

hora - as i mentioned previously i can't go into specifics on an open forum, but if you want to contact me at howies then i would be happy to give you details on how we tackle this particular problem. Not all audits are done the same way.

idave - it sounds like we both want the same thing but are coming at from different directions, by being in China we're trying to initiate the change needed through working practises and giving rights to those workers. If every company pulled out of China right now you would only hurt the workers, the Chinese govt would still be sitting in luxury and we wouldn't have any computers to use this forum. I would be really interested to get your thoughts on sourcing through Mongolia.

Posted 2 years ago #
iDave - Member

Happy to discuss Mongolian textile opportunities, I work with three factories there, all with exceptional equipment and ethics. email in profile.

Maybe if every company didn't go to China in the first place, and made it clear why they wouldn't, the changes we all want may have taken place already? Maybe you could try insisting that all your Chinese workers can access facebook, twitter and youtube.......

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

In the nicest possible way. Ive been around the block a few times. I'm a bit jaded by reports/assurances etc. All the best mate. Hope you dont drop your rose-tinted specs.

Posted 2 years ago #
MrSmith - Member

Rapha, well... Cycling gear for rich City expense account types to wear with their fixie for the four hundred yard ride to their local posing spot with all their fakenger mates. £95 for a simple Merino top? Frack Off.

the jerseys (with pockets/zips/reflectives/stripes) are expensive but their merino base layers are priced between £45-£55 and often they have an offer on for 3 for £100. so their 'simple merino tops' are actually very good value.

Posted 2 years ago #
mcgruff - Member

hora, the offer is there for you or anyone else to have more information if you want it. No rose tinted spectacles but a significant number of years spent in textile factories.

Posted 2 years ago #
iDave - Member

mcgruff, this highlights the problem - as soon you choose china, you immediately put a company who have traded on their sustainable and ethical credentials on the defensive. fire fighting when you could be more productive with your Sunday morning...

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

mcgruff. Do your factories work exclusively/solely making only Howies products?

Posted 2 years ago #
epicyclo - Member

Every Australian knows that Kiwi merino is superior to any other country's merino because Kiwi sheep are more "loved".

Posted 2 years ago #
the00 - Member

epicyclo - Member
Every Australian knows that Kiwi merino is superior to any other country's merino because Kiwi sheep are more "loved".

LOL

Stepping away from the howies thing a bit, but...
I can't see how isolating a country and it's people brings any benefit. It is by trading with a nation that the people see outside influence.

Posted 2 years ago #
iDave - Member

the00, which would work better..

change regime/ethics and then we'll start to do business

or, we'll do business with you anyway and then maybe see if you can change a bit, or we might not do business with you any more, which would cost us a lot in lost expenditure......

the west is soft on china because it suits big business and that suits govt

Posted 2 years ago #
the00 - Member

[edit] double post

Posted 2 years ago #
the00 - Member

change regime/ethics and then we'll start to do business

Can't think when that has ever worked. China expanded massively under sanctions, and now the option is irrelevent as the internal market is so huge.
IMHO, barring external forces, like invasion, it is the people that keep a regime in place or not. If the people are shut off from knowing what life 'might' be like, they won't know the mess they are in, and could not imagine doing anything about it.

Posted 2 years ago #
karnali - Member

i have a couple of howies meroino tops and they are nice and good quality (bought about half price in a sale) i also havea pair of jeans from them, dead comfyhey are. A while back there was an article in one of there catalogues about a toaster that only coooked on one side, they nver sent it back but it always bugged them so they would never buy that make again. It went on to say they would rectify any manufacturing defects of their goods. About 2 eks into my jeans lifethe stitching came away (not massively) but on the front of the fly. A little dischuffed i packed them up and sent them back to them, gave them a call to let em know the problem and that the eans were on the way. Was told no problem they would be sorted. About a month later they found my heans in their retrn dept and said they could not fix the stitching or exchange as they did not have nay more of that model. I could take them to a tailor to get them stitched. I don't buy howies anymore.

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

..Thought not.

Posted 2 years ago #
mcgruff - Member

hora, as i said earlier I welcome any emails to howies for more information, but I will not post specific details on an open forum.

Posted 2 years ago #
hora - Member

A factory owner can not survive on one customer. What happens if the customer goes out of business, decides to go with their secondary supplier or a new supplier altogether. Factories always have more than one customer and are always keeping alookout. Theres alot of competition from rival factories, not just in China but globally from Mauritius, Bangladesh, Morocco etc etc etc etc. Therefore there is no way you can police how a factory treats its staff if they have different customers etc etc. Sorry. I dont buy into corporate ethics. After all, you are owned by Timberland.

Like I said, lets all wait for the new anti-corporate brand to emerge with brand values intune with free-thinkers and subtle/subliminal-ecospeak

Posted 2 years ago #
Mal-ec - Member

If David + Howies were as fanatically cynical as Hora makes out, I'd guess he wouldn't be leaving + they'd put their feet up + go along with the corporate ride. Not sure if many of us has got the balance between making a living, trying to do the right thing + having fun + adventure on the way, totally dialed.
Good luck to those like David that try + expose themselves to the scrutiny of the on-line critics.

So come on idave, don't be shy, what d'you do?

Posted 2 years ago #
iDave - Member

My company sources sustainable and ethically produced cashmere from Mongolia for designers and fashion labels. That's Outer Mongolia, the Buddhist democracy, not Inner Mongolia the region of the Peoples Republic of China. Funny enough, we could do some cool base layers for Howies, much softer and warmer than merino.......

Posted 2 years ago #
NZCol - Member

Haven;t managed to read all these replies - business owner trying to sew up another company sale

Irrespective of industry and environmental ethos - you start a business for your own reasons. Then you build it a bit, then you have a decision. Keep it small and maintain margins and quality as you see everything that goes on and you can be agile. Or seek to grow using capital or as I call it 'OPM' other peoples money. Now, business is business and I haven't buit businesses because I feel the love, i feel the cash. I would suggest that Timberland felt Howies met their purchase criteria on a variety of levels. But ultimately they'll be wanting to bleed the sucker dry and get maximum return for investment.
For anyone that finds this unacceptable I suggest you maybe need to harden up and realise thats how the world goes round.

Posted 2 years ago #
theflatboy - Member

PeterPoddy - Member

So does Coca Cola and McDonalds. Doesnt mean you will buy their products.

That's gotta be one of the pooerst compariosons I've ever read.........

though i'd once have put innocent in the same grouping as howies, and who part owns them these days?

Posted 2 years ago #

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