Posted on 01/31/2005 8:54:52 AM PST by WmShirerAdmirer
CHERAW, S.C. - The spinning frames at the Cheraw Yarn Mills still hum 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The mint-green machines still turn out more than 4 million pounds of thread each month, destined for bras made by Vanity Fair, home furnishings covered with Richloom fabrics and the Soffe-brand cheerleading shorts worn by American girls everywhere.
The mill, in this tiny South Carolina town, is one of the last survivors of a U.S. industry that's been decimated over the past 10 years by apparel makers' quest for cheap materials and cheap labor overseas. Now, at the dawn of 2005, this 87-year-old company faces its greatest challenge yet.
Jan. 1 marked the expiration of the Multi-Fiber Agreement, the 30-year-old trade contract that set up a quota system regulating the flow of imported textiles and clothing into the United States, the world's single largest apparel market. Now that the agreement has expired, a huge additional segment of the apparel industry - from yarn-making to the cutting, sewing and finishing of garments - is expected to stream into China as though drawn by a magnet.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
Was browsing yesterday in a Macy's, and every label in the teen and young womens department read "Made in Vietnam, China, India, Yugoslavia, Sri Lanka, etc., and I remember thinking to myself that "Americans wouldn't know good quality fabrics, workmanship or design if they saw it," because we've lived with cheap foreign manufactured clothing and good for so long.
The first piece I pulled off the rack was the "Made in Vietnam" item and I thought of the War and how the guys who died over there in Vietnam would be turning over in their graves if they knew it had come to some shirt that was marked down twice to $12.99. I've long thought that "money talks" and eventually any and all world conflicts involving America will end up in American money paying for the inexpensive goods manufactured by the long ago (twenty-five years tops) enemy.
I guess what really bothered me yesterday was that we are paying our hard earned dollars for product that at best is generic in fabric, style and quality workmanship. Often it is defective in parts or pieces that are suppose to match or fit or be put together. It is frustrating to find that there is "no competition" to buy from, to get the quality one was accustom to or expects.
We are becoming a shoddy living and dressed nation,always looking for the affordable, but having to do with the cheap. I am very thankful and glad that the powers that be in this country are not outsourcing and handing over our military's needs to these "other nations of manufacturers" for then we would then surely be a great nation no more.
Yeah, I'm not sure what is considered "made in the USA" anymore.
The absence of a "made in New York City" label hasn't seemed to reduce it's affluence. The same thing is happening to the entire US. We do other things besides sweat shop labor. And I'm damn glad of it.
My Chrysler (now owned by a German company) was made in Canada.
If you have a chance, check out Made in America on the Travel Channel. It's hosted by John Ratzenberger (Cliff from Cheers). It's a great show and he drives all around the US to show how much stuff is still made in America.
Sad day when we can't afford the products we produce.
We have priced our selves out of the market.
It is a good show...for American morale as well as
interesting info. I watch it weekly.
"I bought a Honda in 2003 which was made in Alabama with over 60% US-made parts. I bought an Acura in 2004 which was made in Ohio with over 65% US-made parts.
Yeah, I'm not sure what is considered "made in the USA" anymore."
Excellent Point. GM is having some of their engines built in China but Honda and BMW are building vehicles here in the states ? I too have an Acura which came from the plant in Ohio. People often make me laugh when they claim that I should have purchased an American vehicle but little do they know my Acura may have more American parts than their Chevy.
I don't buy anything but Toyota/Lexis. Sorry,just a better quality vehicle. IMO It is made in USA, though. $$$ shipped back to Japan I'm sure.
Yeah, I agree. I don't catch it every week like I would like to. I loved when he went to the bagpipe factory a few weeks ago.
Here a link to John Ratzenberger's Made in America site: http://travel.discovery.com/fansites/jrmia/jrmia.html
Thanks for the information, I will watch it sure. Thanks again.
How much is this due to high union wages.
Bingo!
Hope you don't think I was trying to promote sweat shop labor in this country by my posting. I am not from NY but have a short term job here, earning $7.00 an hour and trying to make ends meet. As I wrote I was "browsing", and have resigned myself to not being able to buy. Just wanted to see what was in style nowdays.
If foreign companies are manufacturing in the USA, they should promote their products as such and knowing this I would patronize thse companies and their products when I can afford it. Thanks for your reply.
The Brooks Brothers suit I'm wearing was made in Israel. I have had it for five years, and it wears like iron. I have repeatedly slept in it on transatlantic flights and worked the next day, and with a bit of ironing it serves later in the week, too. The material is wool, and the construction appears to be traditional, with all the proper interlinings to keep the jacket's shape (unlike the "fashionable" stuff I see at Bananna Republic). Where would I get better, other than a bespoke tailor? (And I would not put a fine custom suit through such abuse.)
When Daimler-Chrysler built a new transmission plant here, they divulged that their cost for an inexperienced new hire, all benefits and taxes included, was $59.00/hour.
A friend of mine hired in and was told the first day by the Union Steward, "forget what the front office told you, forget what your supervisor told you, you do it how WE tell you!
Need I say more.
Thanks for the link, will read.
Otherwise, why pay more if some of my money ends up in union thugs' pockets?
Agree with your comments about the foreign vehicles like toyota, honda......that old buy ford, chevy etc is moot. Any business that employs Americans with good wages is welcome....including ford and chevy of course .
My educational update and monitoring of "imports" is usually highlighted at train crossings here in the Panhandle of Texas. The looooong freight trains are almost "all" loaded with yan ming or china something or another sea containers. These trains are a mile long minimum pretty much and average one an hour.
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