Friday, January 08, 2010

From India


In response to my last post I had a recommendation from a priest friend in Wales for this company who are based in India, delivery is about 10 days, apparentyly the vestments are well made and lightweight.
I don't think they are to my taste but less than $400 for a High Mass set, under $200 for a funeral pall, a thurible for $49, it is worth looking at.

13 comments:

Norah said...

Before anything is ordered it would be necessary to ascertain that the workers who produce the vestments are receiving adequate recompense for their labours and are they working in safe conditions.

Harry said...

Norah,
Just as one does when buying sportswear or a tee shirt from a chain store?

gemoftheocean said...

Harry, that doesn't mitigate the fact that Norah is correct. Particularly, when the durable good is something that will make the manufacturer a killing on the backs of children. i think the west made a big mistake killing off their own manufacturing base (which in the west would hace to recompense labor at a more fair market value - than turn a blind eye to exploitation of children and people who in communist countries are virtual slaves to the state. And I blame both political parties. that said, I agree that it is hard to find ANY clothing goods manufactured in the west now -- from fabrics all the way down the line., Such was not the case 30 or 40 years ago

But I'd agree wtih Norah that that was my first thought too.

gemoftheocean said...

(And with heavily embroidered goods, one would immediately expect something like that. Are they advertised as "Hand embroidered?" [-- if so, then you can bet the person who did the embroidery didn't get paid squat that it was worth. [Although I do know that machines can do some amazing things now.]

Anonymous said...

I suspect that like me, you have, as the old saying goes: “Champaign taste on a Beer budget.” I have purchased several Copes in what I consider the European fashion (Green & White) and have been very pleased with both – the White set has a Humeral Veil – the embroidery is machined, but high quality machined, which is oddly enough a lot of hand work, in guiding the embroidery machine.

epsilon said...

Harry - Norah is absolutely right. It is very important that the Church in caring for the poor do not exploit them in any way, especially in buying vestments.

The website says they are "a Government of India Registered proprietorship firm under Small Scale Industries" and they "do follow international employment guidelines and our Employees are amongst the top paid in the domestic market"

but a priest would have to do some research and be given proof before buying anything. For all we know, the business could be operating out of the UK for instance, making large profits on workers in India.

Father, if you find they are ethical, they might be able to make vestments to your taste - the website says:

"Please feel free to send us your designs and get a quote from us"

Norah said...

Just as one does when buying sportswear or a tee shirt from a chain store?

Of course Harry.

our Employees are amongst the top paid in the domestic market"

A vague statement which doesn't mean much to us in the first world.

We would need to find out what that represents in rupees and ascertain how many rupees a day is necessary to live on.

Anagnostis said...

I agree with Norah's test. If it passes though, it's excellent news. The "established" ecclesiastical suppliers (you know who you are) have been practicing outrageous extortion for decades. This should put the cat among the overfed pidgeons
(owner of a quality bespoke Greek cassock, costing £40. Messrs Finchley and Wimpole would choke).

nickbris said...

Refusing to buy something because you are led to believe the workers are underpaid does even more harm.

Most of our Public Service workers are grossly underpaid and their pay has to be made up by benefits.

We should look at ourselves before persecuting the less fortunate,at least they are a lot happier than our own low paid.

Dominic Mary said...

Perhaps it will reassure you to know that skilled seamstresses/tailors and embroiderers in India are always in short supply, and can therefore make a very good wage.

As a result, they'd hardly stay working for someone who didn't pay at least the going rate - thus you can be fairly sure that the people making these vestments are earning a realistic amount by local standards.

However, if you're really worried bout it, you could always send a percentage of what you save to a Religious Order in India to support their work !

Andrew said...

Father, we've bought sets for our parish before and I can testify that the workmanship and quality is great and it is really value for money. They're also pretty prompt in responding to queries via email. The place was recommended to me by a friend from the SSPX and they're no slobs regarding the quality of the vestments they use.

Norah said...

they [low paid Indian workers] are a lot happier than our own low paid.

What comparison surveys told you that?

However, if you're really worried bout it, you could always send a percentage of what you save to a Religious Order in India to support their work !

Great idea.

Jorn Ackermans said...
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