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You read that right: it's employers stealing from their employees, not the other way around. It's contractors being stiffed by clients. It's illegal shitfuckery happening in broad daylight to exploit labor in every way imaginable. Learn more in our article on wage theft.
The Testy Skulls episode 8
STOP TIPPING
Stop tipping. Not because people should “get a better job,” but because tipping culture has taken over everything. It keeps workers quiet instead of pushing for real wages.
When I worked at Buffalo Wild Wings, I tried to unionize. Nobody cared. they were making $300 a night and didn’t want to risk it. Tips made them complacent.
Stop feeding a system that keeps workers from fighting back. It has to get worse before it gets better.
I’m not some expert. I just see what’s happening.
This week's episode is all about Forever 21, a deep dive into how one retailer change changed our habits, along with the entire business of making and selling clothing.
We’ll be talking about the following topics:
🌼The history of Forever 21: where it started, how it grew, and where it went wrong, 🌼The many ways that Forever 21 changed our relationship with clothing, including how much we were willing to pay and how long we expected a garment to last, 🌼How cultural and social trends of the 00s (including "high/low style") helped Forever 21 grow, 🌼The ways in which Forever 21 paved the way for ultra fast fashion brands like SHEIN…only to fall behind in the end.
This episode is a little nostalgic, but also a serious look at how Forever 21 delivered artificially low prices via all kinds of unethical behavior that had a negative impact on workers around the world.
In the episode I talked about how the prices at Forever 21 always seemed off to me, but then again, I didn't know much about the business of making clothing (until I began my career as a buyer). So let's talk about the real cost of making clothing. It's super relevant right now as we talk about tariffs. These slides might seem comprehensive to someone who hasn't worked in the industry, while those who have will say "AMANDA, BUT WHAT ABOUT_______" And yet, even with this more simplified view of all of the elements of a garment's price, you have to ask yourself, "how could a tank top be $1.90? A dress $19.90?" When you start asking yourself those questions, you get to the heart of the scamminess of the fast fashion model. And the success of all of these brands relies on all of us not understanding how clothing is made.
Our sense of price and value has been turned upside down. All we can do is remind ourselves of all of the elements involved in making the things we buy. Do the numbers add up and seem ethical? Go for it. But if they don't, ask yourself why.
This week's episode is all about Forever 21, a deep dive into how one retailer change changed our habits, along with the entire business of making and selling clothing.
We’ll be talking about the following topics:
🌼The history of Forever 21: where it started, how it grew, and where it went wrong, 🌼The many ways that Forever 21 changed our relationship with clothing, including how much we were willing to pay and how long we expected a garment to last, 🌼How cultural and social trends of the 00s (including "high/low style") helped Forever 21 grow, 🌼The ways in which Forever 21 paved the way for ultra fast fashion brands like SHEIN…only to fall behind in the end.
This episode is a little nostalgic, but also a serious look at how Forever 21 delivered artificially low prices via all kinds of unethical behavior that had a negative impact on workers around the world.
In the episode I talked about how the prices at Forever 21 always seemed off to me, but then again, I didn't know much about the business of making clothing (until I began my career as a buyer). So let's talk about the real cost of making clothing. It's super relevant right now as we talk about tariffs. These slides might seem comprehensive to someone who hasn't worked in the industry, while those who have will say "AMANDA, BUT WHAT ABOUT_______" And yet, even with this more simplified view of all of the elements of a garment's price, you have to ask yourself, "how could a tank top be $1.90? A dress $19.90?" When you start asking yourself those questions, you get to the heart of the scamminess of the fast fashion model. And the success of all of these brands relies on all of us not understanding how clothing is made.
Our sense of price and value has been turned upside down. All we can do is remind ourselves of all of the elements involved in making the things we buy. Do the numbers add up and seem ethical? Go for it. But if they don't, ask yourself why.
And also: if you haven't checked it out yet, watch my video from Sunday about why tariffs won't fix fast fashion. There's lots of information there about how clothing is made.
No Kings, No 1%! Mountain View CA May Day rally and march. Pups for Immigrant and workers rights. Photo by Santi. May 1, 2025.
An open letter to the U.S. Congress
Pass S. 2767 / H.R. 5408: The Bipartisan SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act!
821 so far! Help us get to 1,000 signers!
As your constituent, I am urging you to vote for the passage of S. 2767 / H.R. 5408 the bipartisan SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act. When the SSI program was created in 1972, the asset limits were $1,500 in savings for individuals and $2,250 for couples. The limits were gradually increased between 1985 and 1989 to what it is today. If the asset limits had been indexed to inflation beginning in 1972, it would be $9,929 for an individual and $14,893 for a couple in 2024. Due to these onerous asset limits, SSI recipients can’t have much of anything in cash, bank accounts, retirement accounts, whole life insurance policies, investments, and certain types of personal property to be eligible for the benefit, which keeps them stuck in a life of poverty. The bipartisan SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act would increase the asset limit from $2,000 to $10,000 for an individual and $3,000 to $20,000 for a couple, and it would exclude retirement savings from the countable assets. The limits on assets for SSI beneficiaries are truly unfair to families. They often prevent family members from seeking promotions, accepting new jobs, or saving money for fear that their loved one will lose their benefits. The workforce is also impacted by the draconian asset limit. It keeps qualified workers out of the job market for fear of losing access to benefits or health insurance. Will you join Senators Brown (D-OH) and Cassidy (R-LA) and Representatives Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Higgins (D-NY) as cosponsors of the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act? Thanks!
▶ Created on January 30 by Jess Craven
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"The doctrinaire and necessarily fantastic anticipations of the programme of action for a revolution of the future only divert us from the struggle of the present."
-Karl Marx
February 22nd, 1881
Happy Labour Day!
The strength of a nation lies within its workforce.
