Making clothes abroad does not necessarily mean they are made in sweat shop conditions. Indeed, making them in the UK does not mean they are NOT made in sweatshop conditions. Such is the need to visit your factories to check on their conditions.
From what i recall, Howies have typically used factories used by bigger companies with a good reputation for production i.e. M&S. Nevertheless, visiting these factories is a good idea. IF howies had decided to fly someone over there to check up on the factories what would all the haters say then? Not only is using alternative forms of transport, for what i see as a necessary journey, in keeping with howies ethics but yes, also their marketing ethos. They are in business to make money after all, so surely we cant blame them for using this opportunity to market themselves. I find the whole idea very interesting and look forward to not only hearing about the journey but also the conditions that some of the clothes i wear are made in.
Yes howies are expensive when compared to most cheap high street clothes. But anything of comparable quality is just as expensive in my eyes, if not more. Coupled with that, other manufacturers cannot comment on the conditions of the manufacture of their products and do not have the sort of dedication to materials and their source that howies appear to have.
All companies are in business to make profit and advertising is a part of this. I admit that i buy in to the howies ideal. I appreciate (even enjoy) that they write good copy and market themselves well, but i also find them to be the most transparent and honest of companies, while producing high quality products. Surely the world could benefit from more companies following the lead of howies other simliar businesses?
I can think of many many more companies more worthy of a regular slating on the internet. Now where’s Tim March – I like it when he puts the haters in their place.
