Bye, bye America: Levi Strauss shuts last of its North American plants in Texas

indianexpress.com ^ | Saturday, September 27, 2003 | LESLIE EARNEST

[Destro]

I should have clicked more news classification categories.

[norton]

"...Levi was a symbol of ‘‘confidence, sex, youth, rebellion, freedom, originality and authenticity,’’ said...a marketing company. ‘‘Those are the dimensions of Americana, according to Levi,’’

When all I can find in the stores are 'relaxed fit', 'stone washed' (pre worn out), and enough material in the ass to carry along a friend...

they suggest to me 'fat guys', 'stupid consumers', and 'brain damaged druggies'.

Oh yeah, and the gay marketing thing.

Shop around, boycot companies from 'Frisco, and to hell with Levis.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Last year, 96 per cent of apparel purchased in the US was made in other countries.

Amazing. What happened to "Buy American?"

Wonder what companies make up the remaining 4 per cent.

[L.N. Smithee]

Despite the quality of the product, I swore I would never let the Levi's logo on my butt ever again after they started sponsoring the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network.

This doesn't help the economy, but I am glad to see the company go.

[Tanstaafl]

Here Here!

I discontinued support of this outfit and purchase of its products many years ago when they made their anti-family and pro-homosexual intentions known. Interestingly enough, that was when they made a point to push the pro-homosexual agenda in one of those Texas cities.

[EdJay]

Actually, you can't even trust the products that say "Made in America" any more.

A lot of "Made in America" clothing is made in places like Samoa and the American Marianas, which are allowed to use the "Made in America" label and to come to mainland America without import quotas or tariffs and bear a "Made in America" label. Garment factories in Saipan, for example, make clothes for dozens of American brands like Gap, Dayton Hudson and The Limited. The garment workers in Saipan are largely women recruited from China. Essentially, they're sweatshops, but the workers are glad to come (and even to pay fees to recruiters) because conditions, while bad, are still better than they are in mainland China.

Bills to bring the Northern Marianas under mainland minimum wage or immigration laws have extensive support in Congress but have been blocked, largely due to the influence of Tom DeLay, the congressman from Texas.

Frankly, as long as such practices continue -- and as long as we continue to have almost free trade with China and other countries with substandard labor practices, there is little we can do about American companies going elsewhere to manufacture their goods. If you were running a company, wouldn't you go where the costs are cheaper -- where the wages were lower and you didn't have to spend money to avoid polluting the air & streams? Even the maquiladoras in Mexico along the Tex-Mex border are now losing out to China and other places, because the costs are less than even in the maquiladoras.

[Kewlhand`tek]

soo its moving.....i wonder if any americans have worked there in ages

[joesnuffy]

Wrangler

[BIGZ]

It ain't all labor ( WAGES ) that is the problem, TAXES, OSHA, EEOC, LAWYERS, ENVIROMENTALISTS,ILLEGAL ALIENS,WORKMANS COMP, SOCIALISED HOSPITAL INSURANCE FOR WORKERS, ( CALIF. ),INSURANCE IN GENERAL, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, ETC.

The government makes it tough on the average American to get into business because it is so difficult to amass cash. Small business is predominately new people to the country, they bring the cash with them, or are financed offshore.

[BunnySlippers]

Levis was snowed by the gays in northern CA. Sad. I think they contributed to the demise of this once great company.

[caisson71]

You are sooo right.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I remember a few years ago that Levi's revealed just how leftist they are. Couldn't happen to a more deserving company. I feel for the workers though.

[VxH]

>>Wrangler

Checked their website... nothing to indicate that their products are manufactured in the USA.

[Bonaparte]

Levi Strauss, champion of the homo agenda and all liberal causes. Good riddance to bad rubbish!

[Destro]

What are you all talking about? Levis is not going out of business! Just leaving American employees (well legal residents anyway) behind for cheaper labor abroad. In fact it had record profits this year.

[Bonaparte]

"...and to hell with Levis."

It looks like you may be getting your wish. The Haas family and their idiot managers have been running the company into the ground for at least 6 years. Seems they think the best ways to deal with a problem are to:

1) spend

2) borrow

3) default.

Sound familiar?

[Bonaparte]

"...the Levi's logo..."

And, as we know, that would also include the Dockers label and the Slates label, both owned by Levi Strauss.

To brighten your outlook on this dreary, overcast San Francisco day, see article I linked in post 18.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I just checked out a Wrangler jacket. Made in Sri Lanka.
Last year Levis were made in Mexico, now they are made in Guatamala.