After Bangladesh, it's Ethiopia's turn... The new El Dorado of low prices...

I've had this article in my head for a while, and Sunday, on my way home, I came across Capital magazine, special Low-Cost issue. I feel like I'm going to put myself through some pain. But that's just how I am. A bit masochistic.

So, everyone's heard about it, but I'm going to summarize THE AFFAIR for you (yeah, it's like a love story, but actually no).

So, the big fast-fashion textile companies decided to go produce in Ethiopia because labor is cheaper there. Not out of the goodness of their hearts, thinking that in light of the Bangladesh and Rana Plaza tragedies, underpaid workers, poor working conditions, and all that would finally be over. Not at all. After making beautiful promises, like all children caught with their fingers in the Nutella jar, they preferred to relocate part of their production.

Right or wrong. I don't care. I am neither judge nor party. Giving work to a population for whom singers, when I was in primary school, sang because they knew poverty and famine, I say yes. After all, some people will buy these clothes, so.

Except that,

Except that ultimately, they go to Ethiopia because the wages are even cheaper than in Bangladesh. And you yourself know that in Bangladesh, it's not exactly a PARTY ON THE BOULEVARDS, right!!!

They tell us yes, but it's a matter of proximity. Certainly, it will pollute less. But still...

I don't really like the idea of making people work and exploiting them so that the brand's profit margin can swell even further. Because they don't have the same needs as us...

I could also tell you that even the Chinese are going to produce there because labor is cheaper than in China... Yet, regarding labor laws, should we even talk about China?? And salaries, I mean, the Chinese aren't millionaires or anything...

I'm not going to give a lecture on "Made In France," because we ourselves don't manufacture in France... So I'm not going to act all boohoo, BUT we're not going to go to a country where labor is ultra cheap just to really gorge ourselves afterwards... I don't know.

Anyway, despite everything, in Ethiopia, there is only one company that works in fair trade (thanks _Aurelia) and that manufactures shoes from recycled tires and cotton. The company is a member of IFAT (well, I think they mean WFTO because we know that IFAT no longer exists!!). No Max Havelaar, and that makes me happy, it means it's still a small structure, even if it employs 100 people. Who, as in fair trade, are paid 4 to 5 times more than the local minimum wage...

The shoes cost about $65, I don't know if I'm not going to splurge... And it really made me laugh when you see the multitude of companies going to Ethiopia to make cheap leather... Just LOL, seriously!!