Just for a moment imagine you are a designer for a new range of shirts for golf professionals and amateurs. You will have to make a number of challenging decisions that will test your moral and business judgment. Do you use petroleum derived synthetic fabrics or natural fabrics? Do you use additional chemical finishers? After reading ‘material safety data sheets’ (MSDS) you appreciate some of these chemicals are skin irritants and even carcinogenic. After further research you understand there is currently no regulatory toxicity tests on any combination of chemicals used to make sports apparel. On the positive side these chemical finishers make synthetic fabrics such as polyester and nylon moisture-wicking. They can also be used to enhance anti-bacterial and stain removal properties. Do you pay your textile workers the absolute minimum as stated by local jurisdiction or a living wage? Do you use a factory which generates its electricity from coal fired power stations or ‘cleaner’ renewable energy such as wind and solar power? Do you use a factory which recycles its dye-coloured water or one that washes it away into local rivers causing widespread pollution? Do you tell your customers which chemicals you use and how your sports apparel is made?
Making something is difficult. Can you be proud of how your golf shirts are made? ----------------------------------------------------------