Made in Lesotho?
A few months ago, I bought a few golf shirts when I was in USA. I bought them over there mainly because there is such a huge selection, the quality is great, and the prices are far cheaper than back home.
So, imagine my suprise when I discovered that one of the shirts that I bought was made in Lesotho, just around the corner (in fact inside) South Africa. This leads to an interesting question. Why is is that I can buy clothing in USA that were made just around the corner for about half what it costs in South Africa?
Our textiles industry has a fascination with the imported Chinese clothing, and how the imports are affecting our textiles industry. However it baffels me that I can buy clothing basically made in South Africa for fall less than it costs to buy a similar product in South Africa. Something doesn’t make sense.
Can somebody please explain?
4 Responses to Made in Lesotho?
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If I understand your question properly then the answer is the following:
South Africa has labour laws. Lesotho does not. Workers there earn near slave wages. Hence, Lesotho can manufacture garments more cheaply than we can.
Thanks, but my question is why is a garment made in Lesotho cheaper to buy in USA than in SA?
I would think that a garment made in Lesotho would be more expensive in SA (south africa) because SA has labor laws and they want people in their country to purchase garments from places that have labour laws so they jack up the price of a garment made in an area that does not have labor laws…..so you don’t buy them?
I just purchase my first clothing article made in Lesotho. I didn’t even know where that was so i looked it up. More reading led me to believe that Lesotho does not condone “sweat shops”. but i guess they do earn near slave wages?
Gosh a person wants to do the right thing and now I’m not sure if i should have just past on this garment.
i look at location and price and quality. i will buy american even though it costs more.
Yeah, you are right. I believe that in USA you have to have the country of manufacture on the label, whereby it is not required in South Africa. But even with tariffs and protecting of local industry, it still amazes that it is cheaper to buy clothing in USA than in a country that is less than 2 hours flight from Cape Town, but I guess that is international commerce for you.