Rich Seymour's stochastic statements.

I would write an in depth article about this, but I’m too lazy to properly research it. Bottom line is somewhere between 2006 and 2009 Ben Davis, world renowned San Francisco based clothing company, moved its manufacturing to the Dominican Republic and China. Prior to 2003 they had a unionized labor force… then that year UNITE (www.unitehere.org/) went into something to get them to raise their wages. They eventually did… but… perhaps to the downfall of Ben Davis as USA made brand.

Evidently UNITE is a bit slow to notice when one of their union brands goes overseas, since they still list Ben Davis there. Perhaps Ben Davis is still union, but I think they would keep union made on their label if they were.

I love unions. But are they complicit in the loss of jobs in the US? I’m not one to say.

That said, American Apparel makes all manner of pants down here in LA, they just don’t make pants that last more than 2-3 years… … and their travler’s chinos are way too short for me.