Thread: Chinese Badger knots and sweatshops

In an unrelated GD razor thread that got sidetracked, RobinK made a statement that many cheap Chinese badger knots were made in sweatshops - this concerns me because he also implied that one of our major retailers TGN is a guilty party - and I happen to own quite a few knots supplied by them.

Hopefully Robin will come along and explain what is behind the statement but in the meantime is anyone else aware that there is any truth behind the claim?

A good friend of mine just spent 2 years of his life, commuting to China every 2 weeks to get a project manufactured.

He says the problem is, everybody is looking to make a buck, or even a few pennies and employees would quit and go across the street to work for a penny more. His biggest problem was quality control, as soon as he left the contractor would sub out the work to another contractor and quality went out the window.

I doubt in this day, there are Dickenson Sweatshops where workers are held prisoner, forced to make products, especially un-skilled products like knots. Just because they don’t have air conditioning, doesn’t make it a sweat shop.

This should turn out to be entertaining gentlemen. I am also curious, from what I understand, most badger hair comes from China. If there is another source it would be great.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

I doubt in this day, there are Dickenson Sweatshops where workers are held prisoner, forced to make products, especially un-skilled products like knots. Just because they don’t have air conditioning, doesn’t make it a sweat shop.

I believe it is worse than that Inside a Chinese Sweatshop: "A Life of Fines and Beating" .

Bob

Conditions in Apple factories have been in the news this past year.

Apple 'failing to protect Chinese factory workers' - BBC News

I would like to hear what types of badger hair was used for brushes historically. Is European and N. American badger fur suitable?

So, first, that article is 15 years old… and comp aired to subsistence sun up to sun down farming…

I thought those NPR, Apple sweatshop reports were proved fake?

It looks like one news report concerning Apple factories, this American Life 2012, was fabricated. But there were several stories from late 2014 and even one from last month saying workers are being forced to work under poor conditions like long stretches with no time off.

I dont know about TGN knots coming from sweatshops but unfortunately they are many in China and India, so its not unreasonable to think that they could come from unethical sources.

Yes, working conditions may have improved over the years but I'll bet they are still nowhere near what would be considered acceptable by western standards. Mind you western working conditions are not what they once were either.

Bob