Looking Behind The Label

What does it mean when consumers "shop with a conscience" and choose products labeled as fair or sustainable? Does this translate into meaningful changes in global production processes? To what extent are voluntary standards implemented and enforced, and can they really govern global industries? Looking behind the Label presents an informative introduction to global production and ethical consumption, tracing the links between consumers' choices and the practices of multinational producers and retailers. Case studies of several types of products—wood and paper, food, apparel and footwear, and electronics—are used to reveal what lies behind voluntary rules and to critique predominant assumptions about ethical consumption as a form of political expression.

In a study crucial to our understanding of American social inequality, Edna Bonacich and Richard Appelbaum investigate the return of sweatshops to the apparel industry, especially in Los Angeles. The "new" sweatshops, they say, need to be understood in terms of the decline in the American welfare state and its strong unions and the rise in global and flexible production. Apparel manufacturers now have the incentive to move production to wherever low-wage labor can be found, while maintaining arm's-length contractual relations that protect them from responsibility. The flight of the industry has led to a huge rise in apparel imports to the United States and to a decline in employment. Los Angeles, however, remains a puzzling exception in that its industry employment has continued to grow, to the point where L.A. is the largest center of apparel production in the nation. Not only the availability of low-wage immigrant (often undocumented) workers but also the focus on moderately priced, fashion-sensitive women's wear makes this possible. Behind the Label examines the players in the L.A. apparel industry, including manufacturers, retailers, contractors, and workers, evaluating the maldistribution of wealth and power. The authors explore government and union efforts to eradicate sweatshops while limiting the flight to Mexico and elsewhere, and they conclude with a description of the growing antisweatshop movement. Los Angeles Times Best Nonfiction Book of 2000

A wine book that turns the world of wine upside down. This time the starting point is not the differences between wine regions, grape varieties, top producers or exceptional terroir. In Burp - the other wine book the focus is on the design and the stories behind the labels. Bas Korpel, writer and wine specialist: “The world of wine is infinite. Behind every label, there is a story. And we strongly believe that a wine tastes better when you know the story behind it. While making the book we discovered stories about battling armies, a logistical nightmare and an inventive importer. Thanks to the book we got our hands on the work of the art director of The Godfather, a label turned into a sobriety test and we exposed an artist’s disputable choices he made during World War II. The good thing is that our readers can now discover all these trivia themselves.” Jur Baart, concept maker and illustrator: “By looking at wine from the starting point of the label, you suddenly get completely different stories when opening a nice bottle. You no longer have to be a ‘wine nerd’ to have an entertaining story at the table. Burp is suitable for both the wine freak and the novice enthusiast. It not only describes the wine, but also the world of design, storytelling and branding. " The book contains 260 pages and describes 40 different wines. The makers Bas Korpel and Jur Baart call it a "punk wine book", because not only the stories are outspoken, but also the illustrations and photography. They published Burp - the other wine book themselves under the name of Fitzroy Publishing.

The wine label is a powerful icon of modern civilization; it is a precious object of art that symbolizes and disseminates the cultural and spiritual values of the land where the wine is grown. Wine label design has undergone a renaissance where art meets marketing in the most powerful way, penetrating the subconscious, and using the power of suggestion to imply flavor and quality. Jeffrey Caldewey and Chuck House are acknowledged masters of the new designs and they have created designs for some of the world's most sought after wines and this book is a collection of their most important works. Beginning with a short treatise on some of the philosophical aspects of modern iconography, this book documents 100 wine labels and bottle designs with complete descriptions of the genesis and thought behind each design concept. This book will become a classic in package design and essential for wine marketers and those who collect label art.

This wine book provides comprehensive coverage on all aspects of wine making, and puts wine, wine-making and wine drinking into historical perspective.

Reveals how foreign investors have reaped great harvests under China's 'celebrated' economic reforms unleased in the early eighties, while workers' rights have been flouted. Shows how factories in China operate behind a veil of secrecy & are part of a growing subcontracting network. Many Americans are not even aware of where their garments are being produced or what the human rights conditions are. Names the specific companies that are involved in this abusive trade by contracting production in China. Appendices list resource groups, company profiles/working conditions, companies' contract information, imprisoned unionists, etc.