Whatever happened to sweatshops?
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They’re still there. They’ve occasionally been the subject of attention, with Nike Inc. a particular target. But sweatshops haven’t been in the headlines as they once were since Robert Reich resigned as secretary of labor.
But they could be again–starting Monday.
That’s when President Clinton’s task force will submit its report and recommendations on setting standards for wages and working conditions for apparel factories–worldwide.
And, sometime next week, the Senate is expected to approve Reich’s successor as labor secretary, Alexis Herman.
Reich was a champion of eliminating sweatshops; he believed in issuing what the apparel industry dubbed “good guys/bad guys” lists to guide consumers.
Herman is likely to follow suit: People who’ve worked with her in Washington said she’s interested in women’s issues and women’s rights and relates that to the numbers of women who work in garment factories. According to the labor secretary’s office, when Herman was being briefed for confirmation hearings, she concentrated on issues related to sweatshops. A spokesman for the office said he believes Herman “will make sweatshops a priority in the same way Reich did.”
A new look: The block on the west side of North Michigan Avenue has never been remarkable as a shopping mecca. There was a McDonald’s on the corner bordered by Superior Street, a bank on the Chicago Avenue north end and, in between, some shops and that quirky-looking Banana Republic–probably the one shop people would cross the street for.
Come fall, the building being developed by the Thomas J. Klutznik Co. on the block bounded by Michigan and Chicago Avenues and Rush and Superior Streets could be a big attraction for people who want clothes, jewelry and–mild surprise–all kinds of things for the home.
Four quite different stores on Michigan will have homey items as their common denominator.
The Banana Republic will introduce its home accessories to the city when it opens in November; Pottery Barn, making its urban debut, will carry its full lines of furniture and accessories, as it does in the suburbs. Tiffany & Co. will continue with its whole range of fine china, crystal and silver, and Polo Ralph Lauren will expand its selections of furniture, as well as clothing.
That should heat up the competition for potential furniture customers. Down the street, there’s Room and Board and Crate & Barrel, the latter already in competition with Pottery Barn for customers in suburban malls.
There’ll also be a big CompUSA store, which will wrap around the Rush and Chicago corner.
Yet more furniture: Toms-Price Home Furnishings of Wheaton will open a second store this fall in north suburban Lincolnshire. The upscale retailer, which originated in Chicago, has been in business for 89 years and having a second store is, well, a first for them. The store, already under construction on Milwaukee Avenue and Knights Bridge Parkway, is slated for a September opening.