Made-in-China = Dangerous & Poor Quality, Part 1

We decided to have a China-free Christmas in 2007. No products Made-in-China would be given or received.   Easy to say but a bit challenging to do when you have young children who are into trains and cars.  My boys have been into the Wooden Thomas & Friends (recalled in 2007 for lead contamination) since they were 1, and I hate to say that we own A LOT of it!  So when making this decision for Christmas to boycott China products, I also wanted to find good products that my boys would love. 
 
I hate to generalize and say everything Made-in-China is bad but I haven't found any good reasons to say Made-in-China is good.  From the recalls on millions of toys in 2007 (because of high levels of lead), contaminated toothpaste, the hundreds of brands of pet food contaminated from China, and cheaply made and fake everything from Ray-Bans to Gucci purses (what's real these days?).   At my local mall, you can spot hundreds of teenage girls sporting the latest Louis Vuitton purse (but is it real?).    After a trip to Paris a few years ago, I am now versed on how to spot the fakes and as a Louis Vuitton owner,  I am outraged by all the Made-in-China fakes out there!  It truly dilutes the brand and makes me consider alternatives like up-and-coming designers that have NOT been "faked". 

The latest recall news is surreal — toy beads from China called Aqua Dots (sold by Spin Master) coated with a chemical that can turn into a toxic "date-rape" drug when ingested.    By the way, these toys were aimed at 4-year-olds and were on the top 50 toy lists for Christmas!  That was it for me.  I am never going to take a risk of putting my kids in any danger. Consider the added benefit of not buying China made products. You can contribute to a renaissance of U.S. manufacturing jobs that are today decimated by cheap China imports. 

So we successfully conquered Christmas with non-China toys - lots of toys made in Denmark, Germany, US (yes they exist) and UK.  It has become a routine process in our family now, whenever we shop, we turn the product over or find the garment tag to see where it's made.  And don't be fooled by high end brands.  North Face and Ralph Lauren for example are almost solely made in China.  And Burberry sells a few items Made-in-China (can you believe it?).  Most athletic shoes and children's shoes in general are made in China.  But with a little determination and detective work, you CAN find brands that make their products elsewhere.  

And when you do buy something from China, just think about the safety risks, poor quality, child labor, filthy warehouses and unscrupulous business practices - it's enough to rethink your labels.  For me, China also equals cheap. It may cost a bit more to buy in US or in Europe, but you are buying better products, safer products (Europe for example has extremely strict safety standards and some companies conform to strict textile standards called Oeko-Tex they use textiles WITHOUT harmful substances). For Christmas I purchased my husband a pair of Diesel jeans Made-in-Italy for $225.  Yes, they cost a bit more than your China-made Levis but worth it.  Look at your labels and think about it - and start asking for US made or not Made-in-China products.

Before I place an online order now, I always email the company and ask where the product is made.  It is a cumbersome process but for me it's worth it. My boys will be needing summer sandals and so my search has already begun.  I have to pass up the cool Keens, Merrells, Crocs, and Stride Rites.  All made in China.  And I am not proud to say I own all those brands (last years shoes for the boys) but this year will be different!   I am now looking at Naturino, Primigi, Birkenstock, and Dansko brands that are made in Italy and other parts of Europe. Instead of 2 or 3 pairs of shoes, I may have to settle on one good (and expensive) pair!

Lastly, a recent trip to Ikea was eye-opening.  Instead of the aisles and aisles of Made-in-China products found at Target, Crate and Barrel and Walmart, you can find products made in Sweden, France, Belguim, Turkey, India, etc.  I did come across a few products made in China - but there were A LOT more from other countries!  It's definitely made me rethink Ikea.

Have you checked your labels today????  Hopefully at least one isn't Made in China!  Don't be cheap, be SMART.  Don't buy products Made in China.