Cotton ethics of Bronson MFG
Any consensus or resources on the ethics of Bronson (or other Chinese brands) in relation to cotton procuring and Uyghur labor? I've had Bronson recommended a few times especially for sturdy quality at the price, and while researching some pieces I just came across an MFA thread that brought this concern up. Made me surprised that I didnt think about that before.
Also, would anyone have recommendations for alternatives fitting a similar quality/price point? Bonus if it hits some of the same basics+repro subject area
12 Replies
Bronson is just a front for a Chinese factory. I'm sure the cotton is not audited, though Uyghur cotton is somewhat difficult to export due to Western sanctions. Nothing will be the same price/focus because you are essentially buying direct from a chinese factory and cutting out the middleman.
Nor will anything at that price point be ethically different.
- ethical
- low cost
- cute
pick 2
Chinese brands do not have a monopoly on poor ethics. Most brands you buy from at that price point are not ethical.
Does front in this case mean chinese factory that chose to market/just do sales straight to market/westerners, or something else?
Yes
for sure, guess as I said it was that concern being brought up that made me think of it, and it being a specific spotlighted issue as opposed to a general bad working conditions concern for other pieces in the same niche. would you know of an example of a tier-up-in-price but auditable ethics brand hitting a broadly similar niche?
Im pretty flexible on cute if you know of any that hit the other two well
I think the similar style (mil-surp and vintage workwear reproductions) but ethical would be something like Buzz Rickson https://www.selfedge.com/buzz-rickson
Buzz Rickson
Buzz Rickson’s mil-spec gear is the standard by which all other mil-spec is judged. Launched in the 1990s by Toyo Enterprise in Japan, Buzz Rickson is known for reproductions of American military garments: outerwear, tops, bottoms, and accessories like wallets and watch caps. What Buzz Rickson produces, though, are more than “reproductions...
Got it, thanks! Will check them out
Appreciate all the input from everybody
no i only care about 1 of those bullets and its not low cost or ethics sry:blushcatto:
A tier up in price you can buy a lot of the originals that bronson repros. M65s especially are all over the place
got it, ive seen alternatives posted for the other basics that bronson stocks, so ill look into what alternatives seem the best there
Yeah if it's anything 60s or whatever it's as easy to get originals
Also some Bronson has been American cotton but otherwise it's unspecified and presumably China or wherever is cheap