Non Chinese kids coats

[Thevoiceofreason2021]

Help, I’m trying to buy my toddler a winter coat, but I won’t buy Chinese products for ethical reasons. Does anybody have an ideas? I’ve tried ohm Lewis, Jo Jo, M&S, Frugi….or do I throw my ethics out the window? YANBU - keep your ethics YABU - get a grip and buy a coat even if it’s Chinese

The point of having ethics is that you stick with them even if it's not the easiest option. If I refuse to buy anything Chinese except where it's cheap/easy, I'm not going to make much difference.

Polarn o Pryet I think are mainly made in Sweden. Or somewhere like Patagonia? They have a very ethical ethos - though I think they do sometimes use China and have a big reasoning on that.

Alternatively - second hand? Then country of origin doesn’t matter so much. I find the octopus club pretty good

I'm sure if you keep looking you will find one. So many clothes are made in Bangladesh, Turkey etc

All produced in crap conditions and all with plenty of reasons to boycott too FWIW

Could you find a local dressmaker, and get them to make a coat for your child, out of ethically made fabrics, @Thevoiceofreason2021?

Not cheap but have you looked at Patagonia? They’re quite ethical and if you select any product on their website you can see where it’s been made, DD’s cost from there was made in Bangladesh.

makeitbritish.co.uk/top-ten/made-in-uk-childrenswear-brands/

I think second hand is your best bet if it’s for ethical reasons - if it’s not made in China the majority of other coats will be made in poor conditions in other countries. I would imagine it’s almost impossible to find one that isn’t

She has this one from last year, we sized up and it still fits, looks like new. Made in Bangladesh.

eu.patagonia.com/gb/en/product/baby-reversible-down-sweater-hoody/61371.html?dwvar_61371_color=HOPN&cgid=kids-babies-toddlers-jackets-vests

The best ethical choice you can make is to buy second hand. Just got my daughter a coat from vented, excellent condition, think cost me about £7 all in.

Vinted not vented

H&M any good? They have the background of their products when you look them up.

I'd go for second hand. Our local charity shops regularly have winter coats in so you might be in luck, if not you could try FB marketplace or eBay.

Just got my daughter's from H&M, made in Bangladesh. Not sure that's any better from an ethical point of view though.

But if we dont buy form China surely the workers wont have any jobs an be worse off? Plus £15 for a coat, its all i can afford

Hi OP, ethical sourcing is a big part of my job.
I imagine you (rightly) have concerns around the treatment & forced labour of the Uyghur people in China.
My advice would be to focus on the retailer rather than the country of origin of the product. As PPs have mentioned, modern slavery is a problem everywhere, even in the U.K. But if you buy from somewhere with high ethical standards (such as M&S who are founding members of the ethical trade initiative- I don't work for M&S btw ) then you can trust that not only should the factory workers have fair working conditions, but also that the retailer is allocating profits towards actively improving workers rights.

I admire your ethical stance, but how strong is it really? How far can you take it in this modern globalised world? Or is it a matter of picking and choosing, doing what you can?

Does it only extend to clothing made in China? Or do you consider the computing and electronics in your computer/phone too? What about utilities? 8% of Thames Water is owned by a Chinese company for example.

Surely the best way to buy ethically is to buy second hand or U.K.?

I have bought clothes made in China, that has been a bit Tat, as not sewn well, and inferior material, but also bought stuff from China, that has been of good quality and design..

M&S have lots of items made in Bangladesh and Turkey. Zara in Morocco

Just looked at dds coat from M&S and it was made in Myanmar, I don't know where that fits ethically, but it isn't China.

Muddy Puddles?

@FourteenSixteenTwentyTwo

Muddy Puddles?

Although I'm not sure where they are manufactured, but they are made from recyclable plastic!

I'd second buying secondhand usually loads of coats on ebay if you can't find one in a charity shop. If you have to buy new then Muddy Puddles is a good bet - not only are its ethical standards high but some of its range is made from recycled plastic bottles.

@HappyTimeTunnelDinosaur

Just looked at dds coat from M&S and it was made in Myanmar, I don't know where that fits ethically, but it isn't China.

I’m guessing you haven’t heard on the news about Myanmar’s treatment of Rohinga Muslims. I think it would be lower down my list of countries to boycott than China.

I believe that those down type jackets from China use feathers from live animals, not sure about other countriss though, I expect most down used in jwckets and duvets comes from China as its cheaper.