Ever wonder why that cardigan you bought was only 12 dollars? We’ll I am sure you already know, but just don’t want to hear it. Sadly, one of our guilty pleasures, primarily because it is very cheap, is Forever 21. Unfortunately, the company, as we all know has found itself in some serious legal chaos concerning copyrights and because that wasn’t bad enough, we are now hearing more and more about their work policies, or lack there of.

The PBS documentary, “Made in LA” was created by a group of women who banded together after being sick of working in sweatshop-like conditions. The documentary exposes F21’s wrongdoings, and totally puts a face to that cheap cardigan you are probably wearing right now.

According to a source, ” Forever 21 has been taken to the California Supreme Court regarding its unfair labor practices repeatedly. As one factory worker Guadalupe Hernandez explained she earned, “$4 per hour working 10 hours a day 6 days a week in a factory with no running water and no bathroom.”

Hmm, you’d think Guadalupe was working in a sweatshop abroad right? Nope. More like a factory in LA.

Not only does Forever 21 treat it’s Los Angeles employees like garbage, but they utilize third-party manufacturers to make their items overseas in countries like Cambodia and China. Forever 21 has faced lawsuits regarding their sweatshops overseas, but they get away with what they do because they place the blame on the third-party manufacturers they hire.

Forever 21 is a family-owned business, ran by husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Chang. Ever notice the bottom of your Forever 21 bag? John 3:16? According to a source, “Mrs. Chang has been known to take young designers and send them on Christian missions and if they become “born again” they will be promoted and financially rewarded.” The owners are super-mega Christians who support missionaries so isn’t it kind of ironic that they would subject their staff to hellish working conditions?

As much as I love buying 5 dollar accessories, and 20 dollar dresses, I am going to have to ban Forever 21 from providing me retail therapy, forever, or until they clean their act up.

I am not asking you to do so as well, but it’s something to consider. Besides, their return policy sucks.

For more information about the documentary, “Made in LA”, click here.