Olympic Wardrobe Malfunction

Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor

It is reported Canada imports all their clothing from China to the tune of 4.2 Billion dollars annually. That is some serious coin, especially when you take into consideration that is the wholesalers cost here, once you put the markup before it gets to retail stores add another 20% to that, then once it gets to consumers you can easily add another 20 to 70% depending on the clothing. It easy to see why Clothing manufacturers prefer the healthy profits offshore labour brings to their corporate purses and why  "Made in Canada" one day will be nonexistent.

One wonders how much the US market imports cheap clothing from China, rest assured Canada's piddly 4.2 Billion dollars is pocket change when compared to the US imports from China.

The following Truths has been said in the media:

Most Canadians think our Olympic athletes should wear "Made in Canada" labels on the world stage, but we don't apply the same standard to the clothes on our own backs.Instead, consumers flock to lower-priced imports from China, Bangladesh and India.

Apparel industry experts say most shoppers aren't willing to pay a premium for a patriotic tag on their shirt, pants or party dress -- but that it's not critical to the future of Canada's industry.

What I find funny are the Corporate Buzzwords stated by Corporates justifying their stance to do what they do where they put the blame squarely on the consumer and not their profit market. These buzzwords apply to the USA too.

Here are the following Corporate Buzzwords you will find in this story which I feel pretty much still mean "Corporate Profit" North American unemployment and I will try to interpret their meanings in brackets.

• Diversifying Production Sources (Means it cheaper in China and "More Profit for Us).
• Cost Effective (Child Labour is Cheaper).
• Value Chain (Cheap Labour means Profit).
• Repository of Knowledge ( Where to find even cheaper sources of labour).
• Symbolically Critical (If the Government is paying us to make Made in Canada Olympic  clothes we are all for that).
  
• "Quintessentially Canadian" (Well... How about if we just make the Labels in Canada?)
  
• Technical requirements ( Asian Children have Tiny  Nimble  Fingers needed to get that Zipper Thingy to work).
  
•  "Complex and Emotional." (Quit  your Whining Canada, where else are you going to get your clothes unless you make em yourself)
  
• Declining Prospect ( Less Canadian Jobs, More Profits for Corporates).
  

Yep, pretty much, no matter how you slice it, Corporates have Consumers by the Fruit of the Looms.