So, Who Actually Sews Up Pakistani Made Kilts?

[Riverkilt]

Not political, just plain curious as to how the Pakistani made kilts are so inexpensive after being sewn up there, shipped here, and resold through U.S. companies.

Guess it applies to my WPG jackets too.

Read the horror stories of malnourished children chained to looms in Pakistani carpet mills. Hope its not that bad.

Just would really like to know how its all done so inexpensively. With all the experts on this board thought someone might know the market.

Again, no malice, just curious and trying to make sense of it.

Ron

[MacHummel]

Ron thats a great question I'd love to know that answer, considering machine stitching a kilt is a bit quicker than hand stiching but it is still labour intensive, I would hope that children aren't involved in the making of these kilts. I too have read many slave labour stories and abuses that go on. I 'm a little passionate about the subject I work with kids so I get a little worked up sometimes. I'm not meaning to sound political I know many companies use this form of labour it dosen't mean I have to agree with it.

[davedove]

It's a simple matter of greatly reduced labor costs.

2004 Per Capita income per the International Monetary Fund (in US $):

United States 39,935
United Kingdom 35,548
Pakistan 684

That figures out to be about 33 cents an hour, and that's assuming a 40 hour work week. So it doesn't even need to be "slave Labor", a company could even pay $1000 a year and the workers would be getting a great wage for their country.

So weaving the cloth and sewing the kilt is much cheaper.

[Colin]

That's a very valid question Ron. However, I doubt that even the kilt companies (no I didn't mean kilt makers) that sell these kilts can tell you who sews them up. I would assume that if there were questionable practises going on, they wouldn't be out in the open. Besides, how many people from these kilt companies have gone down the Pakistan to see where their kilts are made? See no Evil...........

As davdove said though everything could be on the up and up and just be cheaper costs. Wouldn't customs on such a big order (let's say 6-12 or more kilts in standard sizes) but through the roof and add to the final costs?

[Iolaus]

I don't have a problem with child labor, as long as they're paid the going rate for their area. It wasn't that long age that children in Europe and America were also considered valuable contributors to the family budget, just out of sheer necessity.

Not every country is a First World county, and I don't think we should apply First World standards to different situations.

I firmly believe in the concept that if we were to choose not to use the products made by low wage workers in foreign lands, simply because those workers aren't paid the same wage as we are, then the employers would not pay the employees more, but would, instead, eliminate the jobs, because the product isn't being purchased anymore. We would hurt the very people we try to help.

Even Second and Third World families have to eat!

[Sciuropterus]

That's certainly a valid concern. Some child labor problems in Pakistan involves Soccer balls- they are made on a piecework basis, usually at home. The parents then make the kids sew up the balls. I understand steps are being taken to require soccer balls to be assembled in the factory to keep the kids out.

Tailoring is done by grown men. Here is a picture of our Nightstalker kilts being pleated, and another showing our kilts being sewn. I will take more pictures when I visit next year (my wife isn't too thrilled about my business travels)

Anyway, having worked for a few years at a large contract sewing facilty in MN, I can assure you that "Made in America" does not always mean "made by Americans"

[646guy]

[QUOTE=Sciuropterus]Anyway, having worked for a few years at a large contract sewing facilty in MN, I can assure you that "Made in America" does not always mean "made by Americans"
[QUOTE]

You got that right...not when they claim the Northern Marianas as a US commonwealth and have it produced there. That's how most companies get away with the Made in the USA label. Technically it is...but it's really not.

[toadinakilt]

Sciuropterus, sir, I just want to say that your employees do a fine job. Thanks for posting those pictures.

[MacSimoin]

Read the horror stories of malnourished children chained to looms in Pakistani carpet mills. Hope its not that bad.

Ron

Ron,

Just curious, but do you have any links available to substantiate this statement?

[Riverkilt]

Yes, did some searching Googling up 'Pakistani sweatshop' 'pakistani child labor' that sort of thing and ran across a number of them. As someone said there seems to be a problem in the soccer ball area too. Was whipping through so many didn't mark or get the one with the story of the children chained to the carpet looms. Suppose I could go back and find it, but today's a work day and the day I was Googling wasn't.

I remain amazed, but relieved, that such fine working conditions with adult labor can produce such an inexpensive product even after shipping costs.

There was an old business saying, "You can have any two of price, quality, or service."

I would guess that all those Pakistani made kilts on Ebay offer price and service.

For an investment like a kilt in my clan tartans I prefer quality and service.

Ron