Shit, shit, SHIT. A lovely friend has given me a beautiful gift... and it's by a company I actively boycott :(

[TheWestCoastLotus]

I posted here because it's an item of clothing.
This is a really more of a WWYD, or maybe a cry for some comforting... I am not a twat (well, mostly not)(oh crap, I really hope I'm not), and I'm not being precious, and before anyone flames me as an ungrateful cow, I gave my friend a huge hug and said thank you and was so excited about the gift... and then I saw the label :(:(:(

It's a company I simply can't support, I object to their marketing strategies and their internal policies (some acquaintances have worked there) and most of my friends know I don't buy anything from this company.
This friend doesn't, we haven't known each other very long, and I would not for the world hurt her feelings.

It's a jacket, and it's gorgeous. It's sitting on my bed, looking at me, calling to me, saying "I'm beautiful and you'll look lovely wearing me, my colour is fantastic for you, just put me on!"

Shit shit shit. If only it weren't by this company. I'd wear it in a heartbeat.

I try not to let convenience or vanity get in the way of principles, and have resolutely boycotted this company for years now.

Could I have some (kind) advice?

cut out the label?

tell us which company and why and then we will judge give kind advice

what company is it? I would be inclined to say as it wasn't you who spent the money on it, you haven't actively supported the company. If you dont accept the jacket your friend might feel put out and you might look a bit, erm, I dunno, a bit smug...(sorry, Im sure you're not smug at all irl....)

The jacket exists, it has already been purchased, the nasty, evil company have already profited, there's nothing you can do.

Cut the label out and wear the damn thing.

gAP?? Bennetton?? am intrigued.
I take it she is not aware of your feelings?
If she is reasonable you could simply tell her and ask her to return it.

Which company could possibly be sooo un PC that you would refuse a lovely jacket from them? Osama's Clothing Co Ltd or Mugabe Fashions pertetre?

Not your money, don't feel bad. You haven't actively done anything to support them. Wear and enjoy. Remove label if it helps!

American Apparel?

If it's Chanel and you don't want it then I can give it a good home.

lol FITG

Just wear it, it was a gift. You didn't go and spend your money there.

yes wear it so that the processes by which is was manufactured aren't wasted

Agreed. Have Nestle got a diffusion clothing line?

What's the beef? Do tell!

i'm gonna need to know the problem please thanks

Monsoon is my bet.

Got seal fur on it?

Thank this friend for her present, but tell her about the company, and why you are against it, maybe she doesn't have a clue about it...?

I'm going to go with Per Una.

I need to know which company it is before I decide.

Come on Lotus, spill.

How often do you see this friend? Does she come to your house a lot?
If you don't see her that much then I would personally give it to a charity shop. If she comes to your house a lot, I would leave it in the wardrobe but not wear it. If she's likely to notice you not wearing it, I think maybe you should tell her you boycott the company. I'd be worried she might buy you something from there again in the future.

I haven't knowingly consumed anything Nestle for 12 years (except once when stuck up a mountain having not eaten for 6 hours and I ate a Lion bar-I still feel guilty!) and when I inevitably get a Nestle easter egg from my Nan every year I pass it on to someone who will eat it. She doesn't listen but I can't bring myself to eat it.

It's lululemon :(

There were several articles done on their marketing strategies which borrow heavily from cult psychology. They force their management to go through a course called The Landmark Forum, and anyone in the company who doesn't want to do this is phased out of the company.

Google "lululemon and Landmark Forum".

I'm very much into yoga and used to buy a lot of their stuff, then read these articles and was horrified. Asked two people who had formerly worked for the company if this was true and they confirmed that working for the company has a very large aspect of "drinking the Kool-Aid". Neither of them work there anymore, one was, in fact, phased out, and the other quit. Since then, I've not bought anything from there. I don't make a big deal out of it and I don't trash the company to people who like their clothes (which are, admittedly, gorgeous) but if anyone asks why I won't buy their clothing, I tell them.

I will see this friend every weekend for the next four weekends because I'm taking a 9-weekend yoga teacher training course. After that, probably not very often (which is too bad, she's lovely) because we don't live in the same area of the city, both of us work, have kids, etc...

What's really making me cringe is that some people in the YTT course know how I feel about lululemon, and if they see me wear the jacket, might comment, along the lines of "OMG Lotus, you're wearing something from lulu!!!" Which she might then hear. And then would probably ask. Gah. :(

Its a friendly gift fgs.from your FRIEND.Accept it and don't stress.Not the end of the world.

BTW for whoever asked, I would never sacrifice a friendship over a principle to do with clothing , that would be awful. I may be an occasional twat but I hope I'm not as much of a twat as that. :(