Organic, Cruelty-Free Socks? - Maggie's Organics - Brief Article

Vegetarian Journal, May, 2001

So what you eat is vegan, organic, non-GMO, and cruelty-free, and you feel great about it. It goes without saying that you avoid fur, leather, suede, and possibly wool, but have you ever thought about the cotton you don? How long before your favorite brand of clothing is exposed in a Kathie Lee-type sweatshop debacle and you realize that your brand-name, animal-free sweater represents cruelty imposed on humans?

Maggie's Organics announces a unique sewing coop project in Nicaragua that hopes to improve the lives of garment workers. The project should serve as a model of social responsibility for companies doing business in emerging nations. By working with a foundation that will have initial ownership of a newly-constructed sewing facility, Maggie's is working to ensure that workers will acquire ownership over five years. Empowering the workers in Third World nations is practically unheard of these days, and we should certainly applaud the efforts of Maggie's, Inc.

If that isn't reason enough to purchase a pair of socks, Maggie's has been making a high-quality line of clothing for eight years, using all certified organic fibers. They carry camisoles, nightshirts, t-shirts, dress oxfords, gloves, aprons, bags, sheets, baby clothes, crib sheets, and, of course, socks.

For more information on the product line, or to find out more about the co-op project, visit the company website at <www.organicclothes.com>, or call Mic LeBel at (207) 563-7695. You can contact Maggie's directly at 1955 Pauline Boulevard, Suite 1004, Ann Arbor, MI 48103.