Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart.

Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart | Grist

grist.org 11 Apr '12, 2pm

Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart.

Forever in blue jeans, babe? Not anymore. Photo: bburky My friend Tony’s closet is as good a place as any to begin an investigation of Walmart’s environmental impact. Tony has a pair of Levi’s that date back to high school more than 20 years ago. They still fit him and they’re still in rotation. The fabric has a smooth patina that hints at its age, but, compared to another pair of Levi’s he bought only a couple of years ago, this pair actually looks far less worn. The denim is sturdier, the seams more substantial, the rivets bigger. Tony’s old pair of Levi’s may well have been made in the U.S, and they likely cost more than his new pair. The new ones were manufactured abroad — Levi’s closed its last U.S. factory in 2003 — and, though Tony didn’t buy them at Walmart, their shoddy construction can be blamed at least in part on the giant retailer and the way it’s reshaping ma...

Full article: http://grist.org/business-technology/2011-11-11-is-your-s...

Tweets

@TracyRedefined » 29 Apr '12, 2am
Great article. No $6 toaster here. “@spearso: Thanks, Wal-mart. [link]”
@BiggerBras » 27 Apr '12, 4pm
Wondering why higher prices for quality products actually saves you money? Read this! [link]
@itspastormatt » 25 Apr '12, 7pm
Big retail undermining durability of consumer goods [@grist] [link] #household #frugality #waste
@dianalehua » 24 Apr '12, 5am
RT @qaqcpipeman: Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart [link] via @grist
@RockDocInLV » 17 Apr '12, 5am
RT @Sara_Jeans: Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart [link] via @grist @occupywalmartdc
@Sara_Jeans » 17 Apr '12, 5am
Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart [link] via @grist @occupywalmartdc
@five8ths » 13 Apr '12, 12pm
Great article on the affect of cheap, low-quality clothing on our habits and the environment: [link]
@fsheey » 12 Apr '12, 6pm
There's no longevity in tangibles anymore RT @storyofstuff: Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart. [link]
@bezatkritumiem » 12 Apr '12, 6pm
Kādēļ mūsu nopirktās mantas sāk sadalīties jau pēc pāris gadiem: [link] Par džīnām nevar nepiekrist...
@RevApparel » 12 Apr '12, 6pm
We. Loved. This. Article. Consumer culture, WalMart, and the habits we're all buying into. [link] (thanks @joelrunyon!)
@NatMobi » 12 Apr '12, 5pm
You can thank Walmart for all of your products that are falling apart [link]
@Locavesting » 12 Apr '12, 12pm
This Disposable Economy. Another great piece by @stacymitchell | Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart [link]
@CostasGarden » 12 Apr '12, 5am
Forever in blue jeans, babe? Not anymore. [link]
@lukestevens » 12 Apr '12, 1am
Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart [link] (cc @nancymalik)
@steveshirkey » 12 Apr '12, 12am
"Where once we measured value when we shopped, Walmart trained us to see only price." The Chinese model won. [link] via @grist
» 11 Apr '12, 11pm
Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart | Grist [link] Arrgggghhhhhh!
» 11 Apr '12, 10pm
RT @TomOstapchuk: Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart [link] via @grist
» 11 Apr '12, 8pm
Why the Retail Giant is still not sustainable: Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart [link] via @grist
» 11 Apr '12, 8pm
Is your cheap stuff falling apart? Just Act Natural shared a good article about the quality decline in clothing.... [link]
@mbernards » 11 Apr '12, 7pm
Is your stuff falling apart? Even if you didn't buy it at WalMart, the system WM drives - low price=good - is to blame. [link]
@MartinCarel » 11 Apr '12, 7pm
Walmart making a profit because of the very questionable durability of its products. [link]
» 11 Apr '12, 5pm
Walmart still unsustainable? Levi´s Jeans Wash Green? [link]
» 11 Apr '12, 5pm
The six-dollar toaster is not a good thing. Just another reason to boycott big-box retailers. [link] | via @TampaTIBA
» 11 Apr '12, 4pm
Worse than planned obsolescence. It begins shoddy: Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart [link] via @grist
» 11 Apr '12, 4pm
Can higher quality compete with lower price? I won't be shopping at Walmart anymore. [link] #ThankfulForTheEarth
@omarswife1 » 11 Apr '12, 4pm
RT @CanarsieBK: RT @storyofstuff: Is your stuff falling apart? Thank @Walmart. [link]
@chasingdawn5683 » 11 Apr '12, 4pm
Walmart is the root of what's wrong. [link]
» 11 Apr '12, 3pm
Here's a great article about the increase in cheap stuff we buy every year. Although it singles out Walmart,... [link]
@merismullaley » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
Is your stuff falling apart? Thank the cheap consumables retail culture: [link] via @grist
@Kentriggs » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
Look at us! Fat & disposable RT @awesomehotdogs: Even if you don't shop there, Wal-Mart is still ruining all your stuff [link]
@meganhcarroll » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
I also argue that this trend affects the way people view & approach quality handmade. [link]
@RagTagnTextile » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
Really interesting article about how our 'stuff' has decreased in quality. Something we noticed ages ago. [link]
@MotherTongues » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
The price of $10 Levi's. (Our toaster just broke after about 4 years, and I remember having the same toaster ALL... [link]
@BarefootBrandy » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
Previous rant began with this article: "Is Your Stuff Falling Apart? Thanks Walmart" [link]
@jwilker » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
RT @awesomehotdogs: Even if you don't shop there, Wal-Mart is still ruining all your stuff: [link]
@coymer » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart [link] vía @grist
@awesomehotdogs » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
Even if you don't shop there, Wal-Mart is still ruining all your stuff: [link]
@hrtNsoul704Jane » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
remember when things used to ....last...? [link]
@MC_Hamelin » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
Great article from @Grist! [link] And what about the brands that make clothes that last? Any suggestions?
@TampaTIBA » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
This old news that bears repeating over and over again. See more in the book Cheap by Ellen Ruppel Shell, and The... [link]
@Bohemian_Gipsy » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
RT @storyofstuff: Thanks, #Walmart. [link]
@andrewrjw » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
RT @storyofstuff: Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart. [link]
@MsEffundatrix » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
RT @storyofstuff: Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart. [link]
@guinnessjay » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
RT @storyofstuff: Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart. [link]
@CaitlinSommer » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
RT @storyofstuff: Thanks, #Walmart. [link]
@danafrasz » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart [link] via @grist
@thehackery » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
RT @storyofstuff: Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart. [link]
@PavementsEdge » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart [link] via @grist
@ReWorksYYC » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
RT @storyofstuff: Thanks, #Walmart. [link]
@vrexford » 11 Apr '12, 3pm
RT @storyofstuff: Is your stuff falling apart? Thank Walmart. [link]