Fabriqué en Chine?

What the BLEEP is "Fabriqué en Chine"?  Let me tell you that that the Urban Dictionary hit this one on the head: "Used as a humourous euphemism for cheap, imported goods of questionable quality."

Yes, that's exactly what I thought when I was browsing clothes at Target.  After the grand and horrific (albeit late) realization that synthetic clothes are PLASTIC, I was looking for a couple of cotton shirts.  I was confused when instead of telling me what I was buying, the tag just said "Fabrique en Country." Some things felt cotton, but I had no idea what material they consisted of, so I didn't bite.  Even the children's clothing was listed as being made of fabric-of-whatever-country-we're-taking-advantage-of.

At this point, it would be nice to just crawl back under my clothing bubble and pretend that I didn't come by any of this information.  I should probably apologize for busting your clothing bubble, too.  Too bad, you're on this crazy train with me. That's what you get for reading the internet.

Let me tell you what "Fabriqué en Chine" really is in my opinion.  It's a major retailer's way of telling you, the consumer, that they think you're not paying attention enough to care what the hell your clothes are made out of.  It's their way of telling you, the consumer, that you probably don't want to know what these clothes are made out of, because it ain't good.  It's probably a major retailer's way of skirting around some regulations set on various fabrics by claiming that it is something different.  I'm just speculating that last bit, but I wouldn't put it past them, and it would be a really good reason to falsely label the fabric.

Just a few weeks ago, I was in that bubble where I'd buy anything that looked good, especially on sale.  I would have bought several cute things without looking this day at Target.  In fact, a few weeks prior, I needed sweaters and t-shirts to replace some with holes in them, so I stopped by Old Navy.  I only realized days after that I failed at my conviction to pay attention to the fabric.  No sweat, I would try again next time.  And now, I realize that these retailers know that we're not paying attention and/or that we don't care.

I tell you what, I am going to look even harder for natural fiber clothing made in the USA.  I thought it was too much for people to try to wear organic cotton clothes, but at least you know that it's cotton!  Damn this consumer-needing-to-know-what-the-bleep-is-going-on-market.  I swear, it was not this hard to shop for real stuff when we were growing up.

The PSA is over.  You may now return to your regularly scheduled program.