The goal of lowering prices and increasing profits has caused companies to search out manufacturing arrangements that cut their costs. Manufacturing has largely been moved to places where the working conditions are disconnected from our awareness. Most people have heard of ‘sweatshops’ and are aware of the implications of this term, but the fact that it is ‘out of sight, out of mind’ makes it easy to ignore when searching for a bargain. As a society, we have trained ourselves to believe that we need and deserve the cheapest thing possible. We need to address this mentality, supporting better and more ethical practices. This may mean making sacrifices by buying less and buying better. For us, ethics includes fair wages, reasonable hours and safe working conditions. The high cancer rate of cotton farmers is a clear indication that we need to start treating this as an issue of serious concern. There are a few organizations that certify ethical labor practices as Fair-Trade, and there are many Women’s collectives and artisan groups that are innovating micro-economies and empowering a workforce. We also see ethics as being larger than just a concern for human well being. Issues regarding animal rights are becoming more commonly understood relative to the food industry, but there are equivalent concerns in the textile industry. We avoid fibres that utilize practices such as sheep-dipping which are frightening both for the health of the animal and the end user, and we endorse fibers such as Peace-Silk that are taken from the silkworm without killing it. We also support companies who give back. Many companies in this industry will contribute a portion of their profits to a cause or charity.