Unmentionables

The other day I went to one of the largest Sri Lankan garment manufacturers.  It was cool.  Very cool.

Fabric Samples. To get the creative juices flowing.

It was interesting to learn how an idea for a line, such as the Summer 2010 line that’s in U.S. stores right now, goes from conception to development.  I didn’t realize how much of it takes place in the countries where the clothes are actually produced.

These people are creating samples--samples for size, color, cut. The designers have given them the designs and then will work with the sample producers to get it right.

We didn’t go to one of the garment factories, but this manufacturer employs over 44,000 people throughout Sri Lanka.  That’s a lot of jobs, particularly in some of the more rural areas where the clothes are produced.

So this is how you make the cup of a bra. Who knew? It's the most expensive part of making a bra.

The atmosphere at this headquarters was young and hip.  Most of the designers are in their 20s or 30s and all were fashionably dressed.  Fun music was playing in the background and inspirational posters hung on the walls.  It had a lot of the qualities you’d expect to find at a tech company in Silicon Valley: a basketball net to shoot hoops when you need a quick break from your desk, a canteen that provides free breakfasts and subsidized lunches, a swanky gym.

The Unmentionables

Garment manufacturers can be controversial, depending on your viewpoint.  But this one left me wondering if I’m working in the wrong job?

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