Workers and clothing: an interlude

This is my favorite picture of myself ever.  Notice geeky frameless glasses, nerdy bookbag, and my confidence that I will make a political difference.  Circa 2003.

  

Style Nation, my thoughts have been heavily tuned to politics lately.  As some of you may know, the rights of public sector worker are under attack in places like Wisconsin (the birthplace of AFSCME) and Ohio. 
I try to keep my nerdy academic pursuits off this blog, but lately, I am unconcerned with style but consumed with politics. 

I'm wearing pink!  I support Public Service.  From the University Paper, circa 2002.

So what does this have to do with fashion and style?  My current paper (which is purely exploratory at this point, and may at some distant future be the basis of a publication) explores the ways in which corporations have "voluntarily" committed themselves to protect human rights, environmental standards, and workers' rights through their supply chain.  Some very skeptical labor rights advocates are even (tepidly) agreeing that some kinds of corporate social responsibility arrangements, particularly those that allow for great participation of stakeholders (trade unions, human rights NGOs) can be effective in helping to enforce rights for workers "on the ground" in Global South factories. This makes me hopeful.  Given that labor costs comprise a very small percentage of an article's total costs, I don't agree that one needs to spend inordinate, inaccessible sums of money to buy ethical clothing.

As I attempt to finish up these papers and continue to immerse myself in the political drama unfolding in my former home state (Rad in Madison- 1980-1984), my appearance here and on the blogsphere may be a bit spotty (I'll still be reading your lovely blogs, but perhaps commenting a bit less).  I apologize for the absence but hopefully I will emerge in a couple weeks with a clearer head, and some information about social responsibility, social auditing, and other aspects of ethical consumption that will hopefully be relevant.  (I've recently learned about which kinds of cut flower ethical labels are more trustworthy).