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Labels Are Fables! Trashin' Fashion!
Labels Are Fables!
I have no idea what "fashion" is I suppose.
I just try to dress in practical clothes.
We're going to be more useful whenever duty calls,
If we don some old utilities or maybe some overalls!
Bob Marley - One Love
Just who is this “Tommy Hilfiger”?
I saw his Hawaiian shirt and I have to say,
As far as Hawaiian shirts go, his was just Okay.
But here’s the fable of his label:
His shirt was selling for a hundred and fifty.
I’ve got to tell you – I have to be thrifty!
Of course there’s more to criticize than just the price.
He’s reported to like “sweatshops”. Now that ain’t nice!
Now this was happening in the US Territory of Saipan.
Labor laws do not apply to the Saipan man.
It’s a US Commonwealth, they say.
And they label it "Made in the USA".
Hilfiger settled a class action suit.
One fifty for a shirt just ain’t enough loot.
“Sweatshop dude? No minimum wage?"
And still, Tommy Hilfiger is “all the rage”.
I saw your coat at the consignment store.
The price they were asking was too good to ignore.
I could tell right away it was made very well.
The workmanship was exquisite as anyone could tell.
The shell is one hundred percent leather.
It’s durable, and warm in cold weather.
Yes, a peasant is making a fine garment.
You’ll get the money and glory, you varmint!
I bought your coat for a pittance of your price.
Now I think of that seamstress and her sacrifice.
She went in early and got off late.
You made sure she had a lot on her plate.
I’ll wear this Hilfiger coat I guess.
But I’ll be wearing it for that sewing princess!
What happened to, “what you do for the least of these,
You also do for me!”? Tell me please!
And what’s this thing called a Commonwealth?
Is this implying an actual “common wealth”?
Or is it just the “common” against the “wealth”?
The “common” have little in common with “wealth”.
So Mr. Hilfiger, your label is a fable.
Allow me to proverbially “lay it on the table”.
In the game of fairness, you came up lame.
The label is a fable. Yours is the name of shame.
I have no problem with wearing this jacket.
I won't picket you or cause any racket.
You're just a topic of rotten conversation.
You like your own brand of discrimination!
It'll be a verification of the observation,
Of your adding inflammation to our irritation,
Because of your corporation, causing regurgitation.
Congrats, you rats, you mastered the art of exploitation!
I'll wear the coat and tell the story.
You'll probably wrap yourself in Old Glory!
So you took advantage of the Saipan Princess!
That's what you and your ilk might call suck-cess!
Now Tommy Hilfiger, I know you ain't common.
Folks who are common, ain't got your wealth!
You just justify "something" with this "Common Wealth"!
There’s a reckoning coming and the reckoning knows stealth!
This beautifully made coat, I'll gladly wear!
For the Seamstress Princess everywhere!
God, give her sweet dreams and when she wakes,
Please give her some happiness and peace- for HEAVEN SAKES!
~By Micky Dee~
More Poems By Micky Dee!
Comments
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So true poetvix! We are indeed our brothers' keepers. And our sisters' too! Thank you Dear!
I find it too sad that some people spend a week's grocery budget on a shirt when children are starving. Thanks for the amuzing write w/ the important message about not only the overinflated pricing of a not so good shirt but further the abuse of humanity that goes into its production.
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Isn't that the truth Pmccray! My daughter was pretty hip to that too. It's good to see the kids taking a bit of an idealistic stance.
This was a pleasure to read. I'm so sick of "followers" who haven't an ounce of individuality and must be one of the Jones instead of being THE JONES.
My son put it beautifully when he was just 14 and was presented with a pair of Jordache jeans by me, his clueless mother;
"I'm not walking around looking like a billboard for some jerk's label"
Out of the mouths of babes.
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Hi Freya. I'd rather pay the seamstress $150 than Hilfiger $5. What changes could someone make in a shirt for it to be all that? Not for me. Thank you Freya!
Will someone send this page to Hilfiger himself? LOL
Good subject, Micky. I must add that Hilfiger (and most of designer) not the only one who deserves to get some warn. But also those who spent too much money for bought those garments. Did those who have no luck in money and all things in this world ever crossed their mind when they start shopping unnecessary things? I wonder.
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Hi BobbiRant! I would love the "Fruit of the Loom" lable if it's cheaper!
It's all in the marketing.
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Hi 2uesday! We are indeed our brother's keeper- and our sister's! Thank you Dear!
Micky you have the skill to communicate and make important points about serious subjects in this interesting and poetic way. I am sure it reaches more people this way as it is entertaining to read as well as informative.
We have had TV programmes (UK) about people working in sweat shops and how hard their lives are and the poor conditions. The young British adults who for the TV show went to work and live alongside the sweat shop workers found it very difficult to cope. It is good to make people aware of these things. Thank you.
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Thank you Maita! I'd better get over to your place!
sarcasm but true, niceo ne MIck awesome rated up, Maita
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BlondePoet! I do not! You do! Thank you Dear! I'd better come check you out. You always have great stuff!
Oh Micky how awesome. Wowee you rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Hi Pachuca! Don't toss your bag. I'm sure you can appreciate the truth, tell it, and praise the real workers that created your bag with great toil and art! Don't destroy but educate. Thank you Pachuca!
This was absolutely fabulous! truly entertaining and eye opening...wow I didn't know of any of that. I guess I am going to toss my TH handbag in the trash...I wouldn't want to sport anything that has his initials on it. Thanks!
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Ah- Black Label beer! There was a guy who was a for Black Label and said he'd give me a case to switch brands. That was before USMC. I drank too much before the Marine Corps. Haven't "drunk" since.
We have to raise everybody up MFB as well you know. We have to for civilization to evolve. The is the only evolving that man should be interested in. Thank you Bud!
The only label I ever took the time to enjoy was Black Label beer, course I never met Mable, but it wasn't because of my common clothes. Never really had a need for a gator or an eagle or any other logo on my short promoting someone elses wealth, I preferred to make my own wealth in a cheap suit off the racks at some value city store. Great write Mickey, and yes the slave trade for fashion is deplorable. it is akin to wearing the fur off of dead animals, in a metaphoric sense we are wearing the skins of overworked women and children when we wear fancy labels on our backs. ~~MFB III
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Yo Tantrum! I did and it's sad when hubbers attack. Thank you Ma'am!
Thank you Saddlerider Brother Man!I don't get this popularity of people we don't know. Then the folks are just making clothes for the rich and foolish or the foolish. Megabucks for the Tommy. scraps for the workers. I'd rather spin my own thread. Maybe that's what we need next. Thank you Saddlerider!
Yo De Greek! Saddlerider is one heckuva guy! I'll get over to your place soon. Thank you for stopping by De Greek!
Hi HATEisthename! Thank you Ma'am!
hahahah this was highly amusing. well written, and enjoyable.
Well, it seems that Saddlerider1 is a great fan of yours and has recommended you to a lot of people:-))
Micky I loved your slam against this fashion designer it makes me sic as well to read of sweat shops in our world who break their backs and toil all hours for pennies a day to send those products over to America, Europe and make these designers filthy rich. Nike did the same with their footwear and they were boycotted for a spell. Great hub, sad read, but the message was loud and clear my peddling friend.
Hey micky ! You always get so many comments on your hubs ! You're a great guy ! I just answered your post in my hub. Incredible! I love it. Please check my answer and read the hub I link to. Cheers ! :)
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Hi DzyMsLizzy! God bless you! I'll link you up here. We need to be trashin' fashion! Thank you Ma'am!
Right on the mark! Good for you! I'll have one of my own along these lines real soon....have been cooking it up in the back of my mind for years, now...
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Hey Peggy. I live in a "mill" house. I ride through towns just in the immediate area and there are mills closed down. Burlington is almost a ghost town from its hay-day of textiles. I think if they came back - they could make affordable clothing. As it is - we lost and are losing more -infrastructure. Thank you Ma'am!
Excellent hub that will hopefully raise awareness. Sad to think that sweat shops still exist. Hard to even find clothing "Made in America" any longer and that is also sad. Much to think about with this good hub. Thanks!
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Yo Katie! It's nice to buy these pre-owned and well made clothes. Sometimes I wonder, "Where have these clothes been?" "Killer Labels" is right! Thank you Ma'am!
WOWWWWW This is fantastic, I love it. My two daughters are young environmentalist loving the G R E E N thing. We attempt to reduce our carbon foot pring by shopping at Platos Closet. It's a gently used recycled clothing store selling clothes brought in by previous owners, much with the tags still on. Funny thing is this... they buy high end name brand clothes. My daughters always get a chuckle saying it's like going to the one stop fashion mall where even the GREEN theme is attacked by the killer labels... Love your take on labels are fables trashin fashion. I will def be sharing this. :)
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Yo Itakins! There needs to be a "kennel" for these "fat cats"! As it is- the whole world is there litter box! Thank you Itakins!
Who could argue with this!....and yet we keep buying....and fat-cats get fatter.
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And so Petra - you endure! Thank you Dear!
Stupidity comes with a high price tag attached to it, but as opposed to lables could be seen almost immediately. Quality is the only thing that makes an outfit not the name of the designer.
As Coco Chanel said "Fashion comes and goes, elegance endures"
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Hi Sa`ge! I should do a hub on my small Hawaiian shirt collection. I have half a dozen or so. I always buy them used though.
That dadgum 50 Caliber can steal the show with 5 words! Why if he wasn't bigger than most trees I'd... well I'd still be afraid of him! Thank you Sa'ge!
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Thank you Joy! These are pretty old posters!
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Hi Valerie! The problem of part time staff with no health benefits permeates our society. Loggers quickly come to mind and that is dangerous work.
How are "benefits" at grocery store chains? I just don't know. Some of them used to have some benefits- Winn-Dixie comes to mind.
But a lot of grocery stores have their own giant "scam" running with their "card" that has to be swiped in order for you to get that discount.
Our problem with America is that we are overrun with criminals running the country and businesses.
You cannot swing a dead cat without hitting a crooked corporation.
Let's face it- we have stinky people right here. Let's be sure and say, "well this is the best there is!" The real problem is that "American" businessmen are traveling to every corner of the world to "be businessmen". Thank you Valerie!
Micky Dee has done it again, the clothes in this case does not make the man. How he takes it apart reminds me of Napoleon Bonaparte LOL I am still chuckling at your and Always reaction to 50's, that's ok 50, I did not know either. LOL but thanks, now I do know hehehe. OH, the vintage aloha shirts (hawaiian shirts) are usually 150$, the newer ones from 5$ and up, yea, all the way up, so sad, makes me mad! ~aloha~
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Hi Billy! I'm not sure about the definition of "capitalism". In capitalism do you just screw anybody you can? Thanks Billy!
LOVE THE PICS AND THE POINT OF VIEW.... keep on rolling these hubs out
Good for you. I am one of the few people I know who refuses to shop at Wal-mart most of the time, due to their practice of employing scores of part time staff with no health benefits. I believe, and nobody cares, that large organizations with mega bucks, are responsible for how they treat their employees and the world. All I see so often is greed, and the rich wanting to get richer at the expense of those they use to get that way. I could write a sermon on that; better stop now, since this is a comment, not the hub. (: v
What I always think is hilarious is that the same Chinese factory of underpaid workers churns out the same garment just whacks a different label on it - the only difference is the garment hits US shores again and the sales docket is marked up to fit the crime - oops I mean the label.
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Hey KKalmes. I think the punishment should fit the crime. Maybe Tommy should walk a mile in the shoes of the "Seamstress Princess"! We have wolves watching the hen-house! Thank you KK!
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Hey Jane! I think my daughter's favorite store years ago was "Old Navy". I have seen fashion rule the passion! Thank you Jane!
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Yo Always Exploring! Hang on- 50 has a million of them!
Go for it Micky Dee
you are right on target
Hilfiger a fashion mogul maybe
but his conscience is all about the market
him thanking the seamtress you'll never see
acknowledge the workers' unions with fair wages
he and his cronies.. Gap, Wal-Mart and Nike
prefering to cheat the poor, they belong in cages
I'm not nearly as good at this as you and so I will end this tirade with you go, Micky Dee... 100% on target.
Now, if I can just get my kids to agree...
So funny (and a whole collection of really sweet images).
OH MY GOD, I JUST SWALLOWAD MY GUM AT50,S REMARK, I CAN,T STOP LAUGHING
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Yo Lee! I'm a thrift store shopper for sure. There are very nice consignment shops near me too! Let's re-cycle!
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Yo Epigramman! You know Sir, that I use pretty pictures to direct the reader's attention away from the obvious inferior poetry. Your poetry is better. This is probably a bunch of needless meandering just to say, "Save your bucks! Hilfiger sucks!"
Yo Epigramman! I think my "ex" and I got into one of those "juxtapositions" one time. We had to see chiropractors for a year or so!
Love this poem! I am more dedicated than ever to buying clothing from thrift and consignment stores or making them myself. Tommy Smellfinger is right on!
you can just about take the 'micky' out of anything with your brilliant juxtaposition of irreverence, wit and charm!
Always nice to sit here and marvel at what a good hub should look like!
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Yo Bro! I just spit espresso all over the computer! Tommy Smellfinger is one of those guys that has a good idea and then gets other people to do the work. He makes most of the money for it. Screws the poor at the sweatshops and then screws people at the stores! Then he sails his boat or plays golf!
Mic, who is tommy smellfinger?
Peace, 50
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Hi AM Gwynn!
It's hard to figure,
These people like Hilfiger.
Too much money is never enough!
I'd rather go around in the buff!
And people like him will never defend,
The rights of the "common-wealth of men"! Thank you!
HA! Indeed!!
This was a whole lot of several things, one of which is the clever run on "designer" fashion.
I know a few people who will wear nothing unless it has a certain label, or name... you have to laugh. You just have to.
Great Hub!!
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Yo Tantrum! I couldn't believe what I saw- a Hawaiian shirt for $150. The cotton mills and manufacturing are all shut down around North Carolina and in my "neighborhood". Thank you Ma'am!
LOL Micky ! Tommy Hilfiger is crap for sure.
Just snobbish garments,
to wear in 'cool' Manhattan apartments
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