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?

I dont think you will ever feel happy wearing it - even if it does look lovely. So, I would try to tell her the truth or say nothing and give it away to someone else.

I would go with Fakeplastictrees idea

This reminds me of the FRIENDS episode with Phoebe who inherits a fur jacket

You didn't buy it, chop the label out and wear it. There is nothing to gain from not wearing it now the thing has been made and bought, but you could possibly lose a friendship over it.

off to read The Landmark Forum..........

my company used to be VERY pro landmark (I did it) and we have alot of ex landmarkers working here

It is a bit of a head fuck, but its not that bad IYSWIM

I do worry about vulnerable people that do it

anyway, fair enough, you have principles. but given that they already HAVE the money its w aste if you dont wear it now

DON'T tell your friend. That would be incredibly rude fgs.

You are not supporting the company as you have not given them any money.

Either tell the truth so she can take it back or think about what is more important as your friend will notice if you never wear it.

Thank you everyone, I will wear it.

As for cutting the label out, it can't be done, on lululemon clothes the logo is embroidered somewhere prominent on the clothing. I'd have to actually cut a hole in the jacket.
For whoever said "I'd love to have a casual friend who buys me lovely clothes" it was in return for something I did for her related to my profession. She asked if she could pay me and I said no or just to buy me some flowers or a bottle of wine. She bought me the jacket while shopping at the lululemon outlet.

If anyone asks, I'll just say that it was a present, and hope they'll leave it at that.

Can I just ask, because I feel like I'm getting a bit of heat for having principles (or rather, a principle), is that such a bad thing? From some of the responses I'm starting to feel a bit ridiculous. Of course it's related to clothing and not an important thing like Nestle (whose products I also try to avoid which gets a bit painful when I'm really craving a Kitkat), but I always thought it was important to figure out what I object to and then stick to it. My DS is three and I'm trying to figure out how to teach him that sort of stuff without buggering it up too badly.

As has been said, wear the jacket, the money has been spent.

I myself think boycotts are useless and never participate. If they worked then a)Nestle would have changed their policies, which they haven't in a lot of ways and/or b) they'd be out of business, which they are not. The Nestle boycott has been going on for about 40 years at this point.

WCL, if you have principles, great! Practice them.

You're really lucky to have a friend who will buy you a jacket!! I usually get some shower gel or chocolates.
I've never heard of the company myself but would suggest you just leave it in the wardrobe or give it to charity if you're that bothered about people seeing the label.

It's a fucking jacket. Get over it.

If you feel so strongly; go to China look at the factories and make changes.

You are ridiculous and terribly whooo

If your principles are so strong as to prevent you wearing a jacket that someone else bought, surely you're obliged to tell your friend the reason for being unable to accept the gift, to educate her and to get an alternative gift.

Just wear it

It woudl be VERY rude not to

Lotus - I think you sound really nice for what its worth. You are obviously bothered by the jacket and what it stands for and yet you are considering your friend's feelings.

I say wear it with pride because it shows what a lovely friend you have!

Just read this on their site.......WTF????

Fun
When I die, I want to die like my grandmother who died peacefully in her sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in her car.

What part of that statement is fun????

tbh, you don't have to wear the thing. You've thanked her, said all the right things. Just charity shop it in a few months.. if she asks about it say: the dog chewed it/you ripped it/ it caught fire/ you lost it :(.

Don't fret.

Shineon, if you read my last post before this one, I did actually ask for a bottle of wine.

OK, thanks everyone, it's always good to get perspective.

It's a tiny logo though, isn't it? Buy a nice button to sew over it. If your friend asks, just tell her you have other friends who had bad experiences working at lululemon, but you loved the jacket so much you just covered up the logo. It's very understandable, really.

If it's the waterfall cardigan, you have to return it.

Yikes, Landmark looks like really horrible stuff.

I think you've been given a lot of stick on here and I'm not sure why, but fwiw I applaud you for bringing the company to the attention of many on here! I would avoid them like the plague.

It seems obvious to me to not use/buy products whose company line is dodgy, I don't see that it's 'woo' but common sense.

I'm not sure that I would wear it if you can't avoid advertising the brand - if the jacket is really that nice, people at your yoga class will comment and ask where it's from. I think you should tell her, apologetically and gratefully why you can't wear it. But there are a lot of people on here who disagree so I guess it depends how you think your friend would respond. I guess worst case scenario is that she judges you a bit, but as long as you explain why, you won't seem ungrateful.

So, is there a 'cult rescuer' charity you could give a donation to, to balance up the karma so to speak?