The Emmy Award-winning documentary Made in L.A. traces the three year-long struggle between garment workers and the mall-shop retailer Forever 21–whose profits are listed currently at $640 million.
While Forever 21 was selling knock off tops for $13, their contractors were paying garment workers 19 cents a garment, taking advantage of undocumented immigrant workers. But the workers found an ally in the downtown Los Angeles-based Garment Workers Center in who helped guide a lawsuit and a series of protests, holding Forever 21 responsible for the worker’s conditions.
Their lawsuit is thrown out, and Forever 21’s owner Don Chang retaliates suing the GWC and protesters for defamation and libel. By the way, Don and his wife Jin Sook Chang, are hardcore “culty” Christians; Bible verses are published on Forever 21 shopping bags and
designers go on Christian missions around the world, and the company gives sh*tloads of money to orphanages and churches and Christian educational institutions, etc.
Way to demonstrate your faith, Mr. and Mrs. Chang–exploiting workers!
The intimate and moving documentary focuses on three women–Maria, Maura, and Lupe–all of whom have come to Los Angeles hoping for a better life. Maria must cope with a husband who disappears on the weekends, spending his paycheck on drunken benders while she takes in extra piece-work to make ends meet for her and her three children. Maura was fired for asking for a fair wage; she is struggling to earn enough to bring her sons across the border illegally from El Salvador. We see her learn that her children have disappeared making the voyage. Lupe quits her job in the factory and is hired to become and organizer at the Garment Workers Center, eventually traveling to Hong Kong as part of WTO protest coalition.
Their stories reflect the dreams, hopes and struggles of immigrants who traveled here over a century ago, as Maura and Lupe learn when they travel to the East Coast to carry the boycott message further. And though there is friction at Center, burn out from weekend potests starts to fray nerves, and concerns mount that their appeal will not be heard, what emerges and grows is a sense of unity and purpose, especially when the garment workers’ efforts are validated after three years: Their case goes through on appeal, allowing workers to sue retailers and hold them responsible for their contractors’ labor practices. Forever 21 and the workers come to a settlement before the suit is heard, and while the terms are undisclosed, the statement released by both parties emphasizes fair and just treatment of workers.
But Maura points out in the film’s conclusion, jobs are scarcer, more manufacturing work is being exported. Her response: To study English and get a better job and apply for citizenship.
It is Lupe who best sums up the immigrant experience, sitting on a wall in Hong Kong overlooking the harbor, reflecting on the changes in her life, from garment worker to labor organizer:
Just jumping over the Rio Grande to Los Angeles was like wow!
That is the beauty of immigrant experience, that progress and changes can be made, that hope for a better life is here–but it is the sacred duty of employers to provide safe working conditions at a living wage and not exploit workers for one’s own material ends.
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Hello this is Almudena, the director :)
Hi Almudena! Thanks for visiitng us and for making MADE IN LA…what drew you to the subject? How did you get such amazing access?
Almudena, welcome to the Lake.
Hello, it’s a pleasure to be here :)
I arrived to the Center and initially was going to volunteer to do a little 5-month short video about the industry and their struggle, but I soon fell in love with the story and the film ended up taking 5 and a half years of our lives… :)
So I spent a lot of time with the women in the film, listening, and at one point I became like an integral part of their campaign… It was also a “mission-match” -we were in for the same reasons, and they could see that I’d honor and respect their journey.
and in the process we became friends, companeras in that journey… For them, the journey to win the campaign, and for us, the journey to get the film funded and made, and to be able to do it in a deep, beautiful way. To honor their journey, indeed.
Their journey was inspirational–each woman had her own discoveries along the way, each became more empowered as a woman and as a worker
Their experiences in many ways are mirrors of the immigrants who came here 100-150 yrs ago, and women workers became a great part of the suffragist movement, they changed the face of America, much like your subjects changed how retailers in the US must do business..they can;t claim “oh we’re not responsible” anymore
I am glad you were inspired… It was our goal to be able to follow their lives as they become empowered, because we didn’t want Made in L.A. to be another film about “immigrants as victims”; we wanted to say “yes there are problems and immigrants are victims of an unfair system, but they’re also active, empowered agents, able to make change in their communities”. And, the process for change, often transforms you, which is the beautiful thing about organizing that is portrayed in a very intimate way in the film: how the process of asserting your rights helps you find your identity, shapes who you are.
And it certainly transformed each of these women, and I am sure the others involved as well–acyually you showed that at the end where everyone, even the workerd who were too shy to shout, were chanting loudly and proudly.
What is Maria doing now? Maura? Lupe?
Yes indeed there’s a scene in the film where Lupe goes to the Tenement Museum in NY and then to Ellis Island, and you can see Lupe’s face when she realizes that this is not some “new problem”, that this is part of a long history of immigration -and of exploitation of immigrants -in this country. She says, almost in epiphany:
everything remains the same!
They’re doing well, there’s actually an nice update in our bilingual page at http://www.madeinla.com/about/update :) As you know life continues after a struggle, with the good and the bad things. The news that’s not in there is that Maria passed her citizen exam and became a citizen last December!
That to me was so poignant, and I think that for her was THE moment, she saw herself as part of glorious past and hopeful future. She saw what could be accomplished based on what had been already changed…
And that is so wonderful for Maura!
How many people were involved in the Center and protests?
I agree… What’s also beautiful, and I soeak after a year and half on the road with the film, is how others have been able to also see themselves as part of a larger struggle. In fact part of the reason why we just launched our May Day Campaign was to be able to reach an even wider audience so the film could be further used as a tool for organizing -for labor rights, but also for immigrant rights, women empowerment, sweatfree organizing etc. Made in L.A. stays at the interconnection between all of these themes, and that helps put all these issues in context.
In the first first lawsuit there were 19 workers, then other lawsuits followed the first. But the protests were supported by many more workers, students (a lot of them came to the protests to support!) and other organization, including KIWA (Korean Immigrants Organizing Network) and faith-based congregations like All Saints.
Sweatfree shopping is really important, as is environmental shopping, so much “disposable fashion” gets tossed out–and it doesnt biodegrade, that stuff is impervious to nature! I really find those stores pretty rephrensible on so many levels…
Yes it is time to start questioning who really pays the price for the products we use…
The irony is that Do (Don) Chang and his wife is that they are hard core evangelical christians, yet they exploited workers in hideous conditions, using some of their profits for certain charities, yet ignoring the very people who made it possible for them to have such a lavish (and charitable) lifestyle
We have been partnering with Sweatfree Communities to help pass sweatfree procurement legislation in colleges, towns and states… In fact a month after our screening in Ashland, OR (this was part of a large Pacific Northwest tour with them, see more on our blogs http://www.madeinla.com/month/2008/12), the city passed a a sweatfree legislation! Each of those little actions has HUGE repercussions on thousands of real people’s lives…
Has the lawsuit, type of lawsuit argument been used other places?
Moving clip above. Letting people grow in their capacities is so important because of the confidence it brings.
I wonder how many people know that sweat shop like this exist in this country .I bet most people think this stuff only happens in third world countries
This was basically one of the main concerns of the workers during the campaign… What’s beautiful, though, is that on the other hand lots of faith based groups are actually using the film to organize!
How did Maria, Maura and Lupe learn about the Garment Workers’ Center. I would think that employers must not be too willing ot have fliers posted int he break room…
Well, there are efforts everywhere to make “the top of the pyramid” (in this case retailers, in other cases the company subcontracting the jobs, whichever they are) accountable -and we’ve seen this internationally too in many of our screenings. But in this case retailers are very powerful and nothing has been fully successful yet…
Yes it’s all about self-empowerment -change starts from within…
You’re so right! I can tell you that in our screenings people are IN SHOCK… That’s why media (films, blogs :) are so powerful to actually bring these realities to people. Many people DO actually care about human rights and the well-being of other human beings and would act if only they knew, I think.
Yeah you’re right. At the time the center started there were news in the Spanish-speaking channels actually :) And then workers tell each other. Interestingly, the Labor Commissioners Office also had flyers around…
Can you tell us more about the May Day Campaign?
Just a side note on sweatshops globally: Over a decade ago, Kathy Lee GIfford got caught in an overseas sweatshop scandal, really brought the Third World issue forward; however in Bangladesh in 1993 fearing the crackdown on child labor, factories dismissed 50,000 child workers–sadly only 10,000 went back to school, the rest ended up in worse working conditions, including prostitution…
Large Indoor Shopping Malls have commanded huge money from their tenants. In Daytona Beach, FL. Volusia Mall has typically collected rents of $18,000 per month for a 3000 square foot store space (over a period of ten years with a ten year lease!). It is no wonder that someone down the line would get burned in the process. Makes sense that a $13 garment could cost as little as 19 cents.
Incidentally, mall rents are dropping. A new lease for 3000 square feet at Volusia Mall can be had for $8000 per month. The past ten years had been very lucrative for mall landlord/barons. Contraction is occurring in many areas of commerce.
Not exactly something you hear about from MSM ,with the immigration debate going on, sweat shop are only gonna get attention, when they are raided looking for undocumented workers
Forever 21 makes about $1000/square foot I learned.
Sure! We have just launched this injitiative with orgs all over the country to organize screenings and put a human face on the issues of immigration, immigrant workers’ rights, and supporting humane immigration reform.
We’re asking people to screen the DVD at home, with friends, in their organizations, churches etc, and to help spread the word. We have cool banners and buttons, and the Media Consortium just launched a great widget with immigration headlines featuring the campaign.
You can learn more at http://www.madeinla.com/mayday
This has been taking the last 4 months of our lives but it’s amazing to see the community reacting and participating in this important debate about immigration reform!
Most people do care however ther are still many who don’t and they equate a person’s value too often by the color of their skin, or whether or not they speak English. A film like this does much to change attitudes but that is never ending fight given the hate and loathing that Fox News and others cranks out. Like some wingnuts saying the Obama administration is pushing for the Health & Human Services Secretary’s nomination tomorrow because Mexicans dying furthers the President’s agenda. We have many whackos out there.
Yes but it’s important to connect both, because the workers at sweatshops are mostly immigrants, so a lot of anti-sweatshop organizations are indeed supporting immigration reform.
I agree: the work always continues! We were in Fox and Friends taking about Made in L.A., believe it or not, and so they had to listen to what we had to say… (that felt good, by the way) :)
And not only are the factories brkaing the law by exploiting workers, violating labor an health codes, they often know they are hiring undocumented workers, and see them as disposable. My friend Diego, an undocumented worker wand his co workrs told annually by his boss–a very fancy celebrity promoted design company where he worked making jewelery–”hey there’s problem wiht your socila security number..fix it or you’re out of here..” they knew he and everyone there had fake numbers, ID cards etc, and the managers didnt care because they could get more work out them fo rless moeny..it was heartbreaking to hear about his working conditions, and he didnt want to complain because he ws afraid of losing his gig…
HOw did Fox and Friends react to you and the movie?
Well, it’s news format so they just asked a few questions (aboiut undocumented workers etc) and let us speak. We don’t know what viewers thought, but it was certainly a different kind of message that the one they’re used to hearing at Fox, certainly…
I just forwarded the website information to friends in Iowa. They are professors in sociology. One went up to help after the Postville ICE raid. They have a daughter who works with AFSC in Denver on immigration issues. They will find this very interesting
Understatement. But at least they gave you the opportunity.
This is one of the huge problems that this broken system creates: on one hand, offers jobs (that most American-born don’t want by the way) and accepts their IRS contributions etc, but on the other hand chases them so they live in fear. In effect, what it creates is a second-class of citizens who are our neighbors and often our co-workers but for whom labor laws don’t fully apply (even though they do have rights they’re scare to apply them or don’t even know about them)
I ma actually going on Friday ot the MIWON (Multiethnic Immigrant Workers Organizing Network) march in downtown LA and wil shoot some video…
Thanks! AFSC has been a great supporter of the film and are organizing many screenings around actually. Let there be one in Denver too!
Great! MIWON is great, we’ll see you there too :)
One thing the Garment Workers Center does is educate workers that labor laws apply to EVERYONE in california, not just citizen, not just the green carded, but to everyon. Tat is a powerful message
Yes this is one of the most important things worker centers are doing all over the country: educate workers about their rights. In fact in Made in L.A. that’s the one statement you hear constantly in the part of the film… And it’s beautiful to hear Lupe say at one of the meetings
I would really like to see this movie but have no idea where. Any help?
And thanks for making the movie. This subject needs to be talked about over and over. I hope millions see it.
If you’re interested in reading more about the worker center strategy (certainly new to the organizing movement) you can check our Learn More page, where we link to an amazing article on the issue with info about tons of different worker centers around the country!
Are you still in touch with Lupe, Maria, and Maura? Have their working conditions really gotten better, and stayed that way? Are they still involved with the Center?
You can go to our website and get a DVD on our “Buy and Use a DVD” page, or organize a screening in your community if you feel inclined to! :) We’ve created Fundraising screening kits where orgs can actually fundraise up to $200 with the sale of the extra DVds that come on the kit (you can learn more at our Host a Screening page)
And it looks like there may be a boradcast this summer, so we’ll keep you posted!
Finally, you can ask your public library (or your school if you’re in school) to get it so that others have access to it for years to come!
All proceeds help support our outreach campaign!
None of them are at the center anymore, although they are all still active and go to protests here and there. Lupe left the Center and started organizing with Sweatshop Watch, but my understanding is that it lost its funding, so she’s working at factories now. They’re however very involved with the film and have come to speak tons of screenings, so they’re totally on board with what we’re doing! :)
What is your next (current) movie project? When will we be able to see it?
Ha ha ha, I have no time! :) Just kidding, right now we’re fully involved with the Community Engagement Campaign of Made in L.A. As things wind down (after two years traveling showing with the film!) we hope to have some time to start thinking of new projects. And then, 5 years from now, we’ll meet here again! :)
I the meantime it’s just so important for us to have the support of the grassroots community. Despite the Emny, despite all accolades, Made in LA started and continues being a grasroots project, and it has truly been the support of the community what made this film possible in the first place -and the driving force behind its success. So we ask you to please spread the word about the campaign and to forward the short web video that we created about it. You can find it all at our May Day Campaign page. Thank you!!!
Thank you all so mucch for being here–especially Almudena for takng time out form the May Day campaign to share wiht us. Pleas emake use of the links she’s posted, shop responsibly and have a great evening!
Thank you guys!
Thanks for making this film and best wishes for the future to you!