LAMILITE SOCKS ONCE AGAIN PROVE THEIR WORTH

Dear Wiggys,

So I bought the 8" Lamilite socks for my wife and myself, not sure if they'd actually do what they said. I wore them with boots, that while waterproof, often make my feet sweat and I feel clammy and cold. (If my feet are warm I can pretty much stand any weather. We live in way-Upstate NY, near Canadian border.) We were fortunate enough to attend the Army-Navy game last Saturday; it was snowy, wet, windy, and cold. After 9+ hours outside (and in, and out, and in...) my feet were warm AND dry! Impressive! Thank you for a quality product! Please feel free to use this in any manner. Ray.

Before you read the article I had to publish this experience with the Lamilite socks. I am pleased to say sales for this item, among others is exceptional. Thanks Ray.

SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS THAT HURT AMERICA

VF Corp. announced its new global sustainability and responsibility strategy, Made for Change. The strategy was communicated in conjunction with VF’s Sustainability and Responsibility Performance Report.

According to the article there is no mention of whom; person or company was responsible for the report noted above.

Made for Change outlines VF’s aspirations for advancing environmental and social improvements across its business, portfolio of brands, global supply chain and communities worldwide. Among the new goals and targets established as part of the strategy are VF’s commitment to reduce its global environmental footprint by 50 percent, from farm to front door, by 2030, and to measurably improve the lives of one million garment industry workers and local community members by 2025. Additionally, VF has committed to a 35 percent reduction in the average environmental impact of key materials used to make its products.

I have read and reread this paragraph several times and I do not quite understand what they are saying. What is the size of their global environmental footprint to begin with?What do they get from the farm and how will that change what shows up at ones front door by the year 2030. Whoever wrote this will not be employed by VF Corporation by 2019 the way they go through people. How will they “immeasurably improve the lives of 1 million garment workers? What are the materials they are using that currently have an environmental impact that they use that no other companies use to make the same products?

“Respect for people and the planet has long been a guiding principle for VF, especially during the past decade as we’ve taken meaningful steps to embed environmental and socially responsible programs throughout every aspect of our global business,” said Steve Rendle, VF’s chairman, president and CEO. “We are accelerating our actions at VF by combining our relentless focus on innovation and operational excellence with responsible business practices to drive meaningful and lasting changes.”

If for the past decade they have been guided by respect for the planet why do they have this need to do things differently now? I take exception to the statement of “accelerating our actions by combining our ‘RELENTLESS’ focus on innovation and operational excellence”. In recent months I purchased one of their sleeping bags and did a video showing that they have incorporated both the cheapest fiberfill I have ever seen in 50 plus years of being in the fiberfill business as well as the cheapest sewing construction possible. These bags will quickly fill the landfills unless Patagonia can get them to recycle.

VF’s Made for Change strategy centers on three focus areas the company will pursue with clear action plans:

• Circular Business Models: Fueled by a belief that the linear system of production – take, make, use, waste – is not sustainable for a planet with a growing population and limited resources, VF will pursue the commercialization of circular business models to continually reduce its environmental impact while creating new growth opportunities. This work includes a focus on branded rental and recommerce business strategies for its brands, in addition to emphasizing products that are designed to have a second life.

VF Corporation does not have production; period! They contract with factories in Asia to make the products they sell in the U.S.A. I have never in all my years in the manufacturing business heard of the term “linea system of production” used. I am interested in knowing what is meant by “commercialization of circular business models”? If it means going in circles then they are. As for creating “growth opportunities”; where? In Asia? “recommerce” is a word if you have never heard of it that does not exist, there is a reason; there is no such word. Therefore, how can it be applied to business strategies?Now we are getting somewhere with respect to their designing products for a second life. That states that they are not interested in making durable products to begin with, they prefer to make products that fit into the category of “planned obsolescence”.

• Scale for Good: As one of the world’s largest apparel and footwear companies, VF will leverage its global scale and influence to drive meaningful changes across the industry. This includes dramatically reducing the impact of materials used to manufacture its products such as water and cotton, and decarbonizing across its supply chain to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, VF will continue to take actions that ensure safe working conditions at its contract supplier factories and benefit factory workers and their communities including: access to clean water and sanitation; health and nutrition initiatives; and childcare and education.

VF is a publicly traded company so its main focus is on making profits to satisfy their stock holders and that means they do not actually care about the people who work in the factories that make the products they sell. The more these people working in the factories earn the more expensive the products will become and then VF will look elsewhere for production, and the owners of these factories will not increase wages!!!

• Movement Makers: VF and its brands will unite to serve as a catalyst for global movements that help more people pursue active lifestyles and access sustainable and responsibly sourced products. VF will support these efforts with strategic investments, targeted advocacy, philanthropic gifts and collaboration with public and private sector partners.

If you believe one word from the above paragraph I have a bridge to sell you.

VF has a proven history of operating its business with the highest environmental, social and ethical standards. The company’s actions have been recognized by some of the world’s leading authorities on corporate social responsibility. In 2016, VF was named to Corporate Responsibility (CR) Magazine’s 100 Best Corporate Citizens List, which recognizes U.S. public companies with standout corporate responsibility performance. VF was also named a 2017 World’s Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. VF is one of only three apparel companies to make the list.

VF is a holding company and as such is only interested in owning companies for as long as they are profit making and will present in my opinion to the public an image of a do-gooder and nothing more!

VF owns companies such as the north face and timberland, etc.