# where's a place to buy ethical running shoes **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 26, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-place-to-buy-ethical-running-shoes/184576 "2003-06-26T18:16:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-place-to-buy-ethical-running-shoes/184576/21 "2003-06-30T12:48:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WIGGUM \* > \*\*I’m pretty sure that _New Balance_ are manufactured in Bangor, Maine. At least they used to be. \*\* Well, as the owner of two pairs of New Balance shoes, i just went and had a look at the labels. Both said “Made in China.” According to [this 1999 Jobs With Justice site](http://www.jwj.org/updates/1999/04-99.htm), > [@](#): > > Nashville, TN - As part of a national campaign against New Balance, the Nashville JwJ organized a protest at a local Footlocker store. New Balance promotes an image of itself as “committed to US manufacturing,” but it’s imports from China increased over 37% in 1998, and they increased the number of low-wage, no-benefit temp workers at its distribution center almost tenfold. The MA New Balance workers voted to be represented by UNITE last spring and are now fighting for a fair first contract. If you want to know which New Balance shoes are made in the United States, go [here](http://www.nbwebexpress.com/madeinusa_nb.htm). ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-place-to-buy-ethical-running-shoes/184576/22 "2003-06-30T13:08:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by [t-bonham@scc.net](mailto:t-bonham@scc.net) \* > \*\*Much of what is labeled “Made in China” is made by prison labor. And I’d expect that trying to leave a Chinese prison would result in “threat of personal harm”. \*\* Gotta recent cite for this? Hmm, the US has prison labor, and having grown up in a maximum security prison town, a con trying to “leave” prison also has the “threat of personal harm.” Certainly there is prison labor in China. But to call it “much”? I know it’s an easy target, but seriously just how much do you think is much? 0.1%, 5%, 10%, 25%? Even if you’re a cynical commie basher, it makes sense to concede that the Chinese aren’t stupid and they figured out that the negative publicity of having prisoners make export goods was far greater than any possible benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-place-to-buy-ethical-running-shoes/184576/23 "2003-06-30T13:16:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kaio \* > \*\*Well, sure, but without some sort of independent verification, there’s no way for me to tell if this particular “Made in China” item was made by an ethical Chinese company or a sweatshop just from the tag. \*\* The same can be said about some products made in Los Angeles and New York. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-place-to-buy-ethical-running-shoes/184576/24 "2003-06-30T13:33:53Z")
Ethical shoes? How ‘ethical’ do you wanna get? There’s a shoe-shop in inner-suburban Melbourne called Vegan Shoes…now that’s pretty darned ‘ethical’ in MHO. Mind you, all of their shoes are vinyl and they ARE exorbitantly priced. Ahhhh…but on a decent read of the thread, I see that **Melanie** has beaten me to it!! Bugger. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dreaming\_of\_Maria\_Callas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@Dreaming\_of\_Maria\_Callas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dreaming_of_Maria_Callas)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-place-to-buy-ethical-running-shoes/184576/25 "2003-06-30T14:44:54Z")
When I was in the Navy some years ago, all of the clothing we were issued was Made in the USA. (The Army might be different, since I hear those new black berets are made in China). New Balance will have to keep producing at least some of its shoes in the US to keep that lucrative contract with the military. Of course, even Made in USA could mean sweatshop produced in Saipan. UnuMondo ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-place-to-buy-ethical-running-shoes/184576/26 "2003-06-30T15:06:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\*The same can be said about some products made in Los Angeles and New York. \*\* Uhm, cite? I would think that OSHA regs would prevent companies in NY and LA from doing things like forcing workers to handle caustic chemicals and glues without safety equipment. ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-place-to-buy-ethical-running-shoes/184576/27 "2003-06-30T15:22:37Z")
Ethical vegan running shoes. Whatever makes you feel good I guess. Runner 1: _“Damn those are ugly! And why are you limping?”_ Runner 2: \* “Well they’re $250.00 ethically made vegan shoes, and their slighly uncomfortable”\* :limps off: ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-place-to-buy-ethical-running-shoes/184576/28 "2003-06-30T17:48:12Z")
If the product is made in the USA and the workers are paid minimum wage isn’t that still a sweat shop? Minimum wage is not a living wage. I suppose it depends on your personal ideas on what ethical is. IMHO if you are working 40 hours a week on any job you ought to be making more than minimum wage.Overtime rates be damned. Overtime just keeps people away from their families.There are enough problems with kids not having parental supervision. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheres-a-place-to-buy-ethical-running-shoes/184576.md?page=1)