The FastDay Forum

An interesting read whether you're in the US or not. Maybe one day they'll make it to California. When I'm in London, Primark and M&S are at the top of my list.


http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27160390

My daughter is actually an ironworker restoring that very building. The idea of it makes me cry though. I have very happy memories of the old 'downtown' and the beautiful department stores complete with elevator matrons.

clairemarie, I know you are right - it will be nothing like the old-time, stately department store - but unfortunately there are very few left nowadays.

I love Primark, the one in Edinburgh was just fantastic, very sleek and elegant compared to the ones near me. They sell a load of tat but if you look you can also get some lovely things. But for Primark I'd be bare foot as almost all of my faux fur lined boots and flat shoes come from there and I rarely wear anything else,

Ballerina x

Primark has been my "go to" store since losing weight, I can finally fit into their clothing! When I was in Belfast last week I went to the big one there, I spent a good few hours wandering around and bought loads of clothes lol.

If one looks at Primark's track record of ethical business practice you might think twice stepping into the store. Meanwhile M&S are leaders in their field of operating responsibly, so I support them.

@clairemarie a colleagues daughter is a smith and is setting up a small forge in east London. It's a tough profession these days! Well done your daughter.

[wildmissus]

I'm really lucky that both my daughters are not into designers names. The both like Primark as they can buy lots and lots. I've taught them well. The day after the Edinburgh meet up @Ballerina my sister took me to the Primark in Stirling. I bought a basic white scoop neck t-shirt for £3 and a purple vest-top for £2.

[quote="Lizbean"]If one looks at Primark's track record of ethical business practice you might think twice stepping into the store.

Unfortunately they are not alone in this global greedathon. A lot of big name stores have very unethical practices but it seems to be a sign of the times. There was a time when I refused to shop in Primark because I did not wish to support their low wages policy but I then had a fit of conscience that by not shopping in these types of stores I was condemning their out workers to starvation. I really don't know what the answer is and perhaps I'm kidding myself that I am somehow putting food on tables that would otherwise be bare. M&S are no saints either, I know of farmers who have been put out of business by their restrictive, aka sharp, practices. Big business is a dirty business these days I'm afraid.

Ballerina x

@Lizbean thanks we are proud of her. She is one woman among many men and and I am told they have to keep up with her. She is earning a great living and saves on her wardrobe as well...sweat shirts and raggy jeans!...As for Primark we already have enough junk stores. I imagine they have their factories in China.

[carieoates]

I have to say that Primark is great for towels, t-shirts, socks, pj's and many more things.
I too had the conscience dilemma after watching a documentary about children in places like India being paid very little to sew beading on clothes for stores like Primark. But then I found out that gap and others were also using similar sweatshops for their clothing

So after much weighing up, discussion and Tooing and frowing I came to this conclusion.

These people have got a job, whilst in there they are not being prostitutes. You see this doco did show what these lovely people would be doing if they weren't sewing.
At the end of the day we can't all eat free range, fair trade and home grown veg from down the local market. I do buy food which is mostly local and coming from east Anglia our veg is usually grown just down the road.

Wouldn't the world be a great place if everyone could buy local, know that the animals were treated well, and that our clothes and household goods were built by people being treated and paid well.

Wow did I moan at my hubs when he bought asparagus from Peru. But that's another debate isn't it.

@carieoates if I was to eat local I would starve. The weather and urbanization wouldn't support the population. In the summer I do buy local but the cost is more than extravagant. I have a grocery that is quite reasonable and one day they had a very large bag of frozen broccoli for little money only problem was that it was grown and packaged in China. That's where I draw the line. No quality standards. Also, came across a great price on Alaskan Cod but read the fine print caught in China! How can they sell Alaskan cod if it was caught in China? I think we have to be very careful in the grocery store.

[carieoates]

Yes I agree, we have to make choices given the environment we live in and the availability we have. Luckily we live (by choice) in the fens which in the uk is a very flat area of the country which is mostly arable land. We can walk down the lane and get potatoes, celery, sugar beet, lettuces and carrots (if we wanted) Unfortunately at present we are surrounded by this highly perfumed and pollen loaded plant called oil seed rape which is used as bio fuel.
So we all have our crosses to bear so to speak.
A funny little story....
We went to Spain with the inlaws and we found an "English " owned and run restaurant. I didn't want to go as "when in Rome" I like to eat the local delicacies. Well my lovely inlaws were so happy to be offered cod and chips. This is a favourite of there's, reminded them of home. Except it was North Atlantic cod......we were in Spain, local fish caught and prepared on the same day and they were tucking into something caught in the north Atlantic, frozen, shopped to Spain and cooked to order. Mmmmm choices...

I wish I was small enough to shop in Primark for myself. Everything I have bought from them for the lads has been of pretty good quality, washed well etc. But not the thin t'shirts. I found after one wash that they were all twisted out of line, but the thicker t'shirts were great. Their sale rails are also a brilliant way to get nice stuff for just a pound especially clothes for the little ones.