I would like to first start off by saying that the clothing at this store is very well made. The colors are nice, the fabric is comfortable, and the double-stitching is durable. I live nearby and went into the store for the first time the other day. Sales clerk were friendly, but a little too much in your face. Not as tacky as the Lululemon staff, but equally nice. They kept pushing on the idea that this store is different since the clothing is "ethically" made in the USA. I bought a shirt and shorts and when I came home and thought about it, the concept they advocated is a load of crap and frankly, misleading.
There is nothing wrong with having clothes made in other part of the world. What is unethical is to offer them next to nothing in wages, poor working conditions, and lack of basic benefits. When Nike pays workers in Vietnam according to their "cost of living," they are misleading us because no one should sacrifice lunch to buy a bar of soap.
The shorts I bought were $95. They are comfortable but overly priced. The shirt I bought is more reasonable, and I didn't buy it because it was "ethically" made; I bought it because I liked the color, the style, and the fit. So, PLEASE STOP telling people that they are "ethically" made. Just because it's made in Long Beach doesn't mean it's made ethically. Look at your factory and see how many parts used to make textiles come from China, or Europe, or a dozen other countries. We live in an international community that is interdependent on other economies. The least you could do is to make them in other countries and offer them the same conditions we have and help their impoverished economies. If you want to advocate nationalism or "buy American," it would be more believable. But to have a showroom in La Jolla, paying top dollars in rent, and sell a 1 sq. meter fabric with a drawstring for $95 AND calling it "ethical" is NOT ethical. It's just American.
Having said that, I think the clothes here are great and are equally comparable to their competition 4 doors down. Incidentally, this morning I went for a run with my Yogasmoga shirt and Lululemon shorts and felt just as a good. read more