Really? Walmart's new clothing brand is called..... (didn't anyone thing of this horrible connotation?????)

[Tap]

Walmart's new brad is called Free Assembly..... OY!

Well I guess if you use sweat shop labor and pay next to nothing for the workers assembling the clothes, they are finally being honest !! Unfortunately, those cheap clothes they are advertising come at a very high human price. 

I can't believe someone didn't say "hmmmm. Maybe we should revisit the choice for the brand's name ?" Yep, you can make super cheap clothes, if you pay pennies for labor costs!!

Quote from the link

Free Assembly rounds out our elevated brands portfolio to offer customers incredible market value among modern clothing brands available today. Starting today, the Fall collection will include more than 30 items for women and 25 items for men, all priced between $9 and $45. Customers will discover well-designed, high-quality pieces at prices below other American clothing brands – including a $45 structured blazer with an updated silhouette, a $39 viscose tiered maxi for women and a $30 fishtail parka at a fraction of the price found at specialty retailers. What I’m most proud of though is the $40 organic selvedge denim that retails at an incredibly low price. Customers are going to be wowed by the style, quality and fit of these pieces for the value. They are that fantastic.

[Ausmumof3]

Wow that’s unfortunate.

[popmom]

Listen, I am NOT a fan of Walmart for how it destroyed so many small businesses and made us SO much more dependent on China...but...

from  the website: "committed to sustainablility" and "Produced in LEED and Fair Trade certified facilities that aim to protect both the environment and the worker." FWIW

If it's accurate, it's definitely a step in the right direction.

[SKL]

I think the interpretation in the OP is a stretch.  My first thought was the meaning in the First Amendment to the US Constitution (freedom to peaceably assemble).  Though that might be a stretch also.

I also think that everything WalMart does is going to be attacked, for the wrong reasons.  Just my opinion.

[TheReader]

17 minutes ago, SKL said:

I think the interpretation in the OP is a stretch.  My first thought was the meaning in the First Amendment to the US Constitution (freedom to peaceably assemble).  Though that might be a stretch also.

I also think that everything WalMart does is going to be attacked, for the wrong reasons.  Just my opinion.

that was my first thought, first amendment free assembly. And then the info/wording in the link/article is about the ability to "freely assemble into various combinations" which I don't think will jump to mind for anyone, but, :shrug:  

 

[gardenmom5]

speaking of names.  . . The Seattle Lake Union Trolley. . . . . no one thought that through.  It wasn't even opened before someone was selling t-shirts that said "ride the s.l.u.t."

[Guest]

I care about the issue of Fair Trade practices - and, when I see shoes at Walmart priced at $3.99, there’s zero doubt in my mind that someone is being unfairly paid for that to be possible - however, my mind does not go there due to the brand name being “Free Assembly.” I think it is hinting on the US Constitutional First Amendment. It would not be the first time Walmart branding has emphasized American patriotic symbols. Their brand in the past was called “Faded Glory,” like a weathered American flag. 

There is definitely a segment of the population that both expects to buy very inexpensive clothing and feels very positively towards symbols of American patriotism. Call them “Rednecks” or whatever other term, but that is, in fact, the marketing demographic for Walmart clothing. 

I do not know how/if it is consistent for international Walmart markets, though. 

[popmom]

On 9/22/2020 at 11:22 AM, Quill said:

 

There is definitely a segment of the population that both expects to buy very inexpensive clothing and feels very positively towards symbols of American patriotism. Call them “Rednecks” or whatever other term, but that is, in fact, the marketing demographic for Walmart clothing. 

 

There is a segment of the population that has no choice but to buy very inexpensive clothing and does still feel very positively about symbols of American patriotism. Is this a crime? Sounds like perseverance to me!

This comment kinda made my blood pressure go up. My knee jerk response--whether right or wrong--was: elitist, condescending...even the word "dehumanizing" came to mind as I was reading it. Can you clarify? I totally get that it's almost impossible to infer tone and truly know your intentions from just this one comment.

I'm sensitive to it because there are people that I love in the demographic that you are referring to. My grandparents and great grandparents on one side were dirt poor "rednecks". And I love all my extended family that fit this demographic. I'm not uber serious about it--I love redneck jokes as much as anybody, but that's because I got redneck blood flowing through my veins.  If you don't, you don't get to laugh.

Also, I buy Walmart clothing. So there's that. 

Edited September 24, 2020 by popmom

[Guest]

6 hours ago, popmom said:

There is a segment of the population that has no choice but to buy very inexpensive clothing and does still feel very positively about symbols of American patriotism. Is this a crime? Sounds like perseverance to me!

This comment kinda made my blood pressure go up. My knee jerk response--whether right or wrong--was: elitist, condescending...even the word "dehumanizing" came to mind as I was reading it. Can you clarify? I totally get that it's almost impossible to infer tone and truly know your intentions from just this one comment.

I'm sensitive to it because there are people that I love in the demographic that you are referring to. My grandparents and great grandparents on one side were dirt poor "rednecks". And I love all my extended family that fit this demographic. I'm not uber serious about it--I love redneck jokes as much as anybody, but that's because I got redneck blood flowing through my veins.  If you don't, you don't get to laugh.

Also, I buy Walmart clothing. So there's that. 

I’m not mocking any demographic. That’s why I put “Redneck” in quotes. My family tree includes those branches; I’m like the character in Silence of the Lambs, whom Hannibal Lecter accurate identifies as not more than one generation removed from such folks. 

Here’s what I’m saying: all stores and brands are targeted by the marketing department to a demographic. It’s the simple truth. It doesn’t imply that one demographic is bad and another is good. Marketing departments continually ask, “what does our demographic typically like?” For a demographic on Whole Foods, it may be a value like fair trade, so their tiny bag of coffee will cost five times what the Walmart coffee costs, but the bag has a bio story on it with a picture of the Andean woman you are lifting out of poverty with your purchase.

Walmart branding has targeted marketing, too. Low prices are part of it. They also sell a lot of hunting and fishing themed goods. Also, patriotic symbols. These are items the marketing department identifies as appealing to many or most Walmart shoppers. AFAIK, you would never find, say, animal rights themed goods at Walmart; you wouldn’t go there to get your PETA shirts. Because the marketing dept has found that many more hunters buy at Walmart than vegans. Doesn’t mean no vegan ever goes to Walmart. But most hunters do. 

It isn’t an automatic disparagement of any person or identity to point out a demographic. It’s just factual. Walmart doesn’t even put down roots in a particular location until the demographic assessment indicates that the people living there are likely to shop at Walmart. 

No harm meant. 

[SKL]

Well considering that much if not most expensive clothing (also accessories etc) is just sweatshop product with a trademark on it ....

[katilac]

8 hours ago, Quill said:

AFAIK, you would never find, say, animal rights themed goods at Walmart; you wouldn’t go there to get your PETA shirts. 

I don't think I've ever in my life seen animal rights themed goods at any mainstream store, much less PETA. That's kind of a niche market, I don't think  it means much that you wouldn't find it at Walmart. They do have ones that promote animal adoption and rescue.

5 hours ago, SKL said:

Well considering that much if not most expensive clothing (also accessories etc) is just sweatshop product with a trademark on it ....

Very true. Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, Disney, Benetton, and plenty of others have much higher prices than Walmart but also much worse reputations for sweatshop labor. Nike and other expensive shoes, iPhone and most other expensive phones - all have come under fire for terrible working conditions. 

Basically, no one can say too much unless they are vetting their products that don't come from Walmart. I sincerely applaud those who do.