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news fashion week
Chicken Feathers and Garlic Skin: The Other Side of Fashion Week
The brightness and gloom
Within months, the world fashion once again strut aglitter as models, designers arc, click on the photographers, celebrities mingle and the rest of the world watches rapt envy the spectacle known as Fashion Week.
During seven days (11 February to February 18, 2010), in the fashion capital in the world of New York, industry elite, media, and therefore our attention also becomes the side show of clothing.
Eight thousand miles away on a small island in the Pacific, a young woman turns his attention in the nine years he spent as a garment factory worker, working 14 hours a day, sleeping on mattresses made of bamboo, enduring insults from the monitors, who live in overcrowded housing, suffering back pain, and more - an experience documented in his book, chicken feathers and garlic skin: Journal of a girl of Chinese garment factory in Saipan.
Yes, clothing factories. It is the side not-much-we speak of the shadow of the fashion industry gets an occasional basis, in the brief spike in the public interest, and then, very likely, return to the status quo.
The formula and the Fight
That status quo is based on a simple formula: to produce clothing at the lowest possible cost, with order to make the greatest possible benefit. This simple formula is part of a bigger picture of jobs, opportunities and human rights. Workers in countries higher minimum wage, as the cry of the United States, the loss of manufacturing jobs in clothing low-wage countries like Vietnam and Mexico. Meanwhile, human rights activists lobby and fight on behalf of workers allegedly exploited in countries, ensure better conditions work and higher wages.
As you can see the pomp and parade of press, celebrities and benefits, take a little peek behind the scenes with the following extract Chicken feathers and skin of garlic, as Chun Yu Wang reflects on the day he received his first check.
[Begin Excerpt]
My first check!
On February 20, 2000, I received my first paycheck! It was for about $ 210US. That was about 1.680 yen. This was the first Once I have received so much money.
A few days had begun, the head dress bench worker brought the Bank of Saipan to the office for all the world will count. Thus, the check had been deposited directly into our accounts.
The check was for two weeks of work. In China, could buy a 21 inch TV color about 1.000 yen. I bought a washing machine for 600 yen. An air conditioner could cost 2000 yen. My holiday in China was about 180 yen. The apartment was owned by my in-laws, so I have a good price. It was actually worth about 400 yen per month. by my school son was 200 yen each month.
My first paycheck. I was very happy. How our checks made things a little better for girls new to many of us at the Mirage. He gave us some hope for the future. The 18 of us who had arrived at the same time, met and talked about our checks, and compare the U.S. dollar and yen.
That night, I called my mother and father to share the good news. When I told them how much money he had won, it was agreed that it was good. I asked how much I paid in taxes. They said it was better than in China.
In China, my salary would be about 3.300 yen. At that time in China, although the chiefs making ¥ 3,500 per month. I was told that if he could do ¥ 4,500 per month, which would be even better than managers in China were doing.
In China, we work every day. No holidays. We work Saturdays and Sundays. Even national holidays, many companies give employees the day off. In China, going to work, you have to take care of his family and household chores. In Saipan, just had to go to work and then back to the barracks. If compared, it was actually a easier life here.
From the beginning, many girls did not like to spend their money no € "even a single dollar if they could handle.
We control every two weeks. That made us very happy. After three months, he began buying drinks and some food to cook. We did not negotiate every penny. We could buy what we wanted. We do not have to deprive. Sometimes I went to buy crackers and noodles and vegetables to cook for us from the barracks food was not good. Sometimes we get hungry after working overtime and the need to eat. Da Mei and I cook together in our room in a small butane stove laptop can he bought for $ 10.
We saved a little more for the first few months since he had brought a lot of things in China. Da Mei and I had to buy clothes, shampoo or soap. Even tissues and female pads.I remember people laughing at us at the airport when they checked luggage and saw the toilet paper and pills.
After six months, Da Mei and began to send money to China to pay what they had borrowed.
I was spending about $ 10 or $ 20 per month. I was saving everything. In my first year I spent about $ 700 for food and other items. Da Mei spent only about $ 200 the first year. Da Mei could really cling to one dollar. He liked to eat, but do not want to buy. I started thinking I was a little selfish - always wanting to spend my money for both of us. Sometimes he got angry at each other and stop talking. After three or four months, we've stopped going out altogether.
When people come to Saipan to work, not everyone succeeds in making money to send to their families or to take back to China. Some lost in many ways. I'm thinking long scam City traders ....
[End Excerpt]
Ongoing stories
"Saipan, and Wang is a fascinating story, and remains hidden about what things were very similar in Saipan, and still are, as in other countries. Chun's book is the only account first-hand the life of a garment factory worker in Saipan China. He said right in their own words - chicken feathers is simple, but full of profound ideas, and comes a totally unspoiled view. This is an account directly transcribed, said without the bias of reporters, journalists, social workers, human rights activists or visions the Western world.
"It is not about black and white. It can be called good or bad, because you can not really appreciate all the contradictions without side of the workers heard the story. Opinions range from those outside, but most workers felt inside was an advantage to earn money I had.
Fashion Week come and go, but the situations that these young people are experiencing will continue, at least for the foreseeable future. Really no one can see the glamor in the scene, without a better understanding of the darkness behind the scenes. Do not take anything to the models, but maybe I could change - or, as minimum, workers, too - in their perception that the stars are in the ongoing story of Fashion Week.
About the Author
Walt F.J. Goodridge is author of three books about Saipan, and is the “as told to” source and editor of Chicken Feathers and Garlic Skin. Learn more about Saipan's garment factories and order a copy of Chicken Feathers and Garlic Skin at www.saipanfactorygirl.com
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