LA’s Olympic gear needs a wage, but workers are still waiting
A labor group pushes for ethical sourcing, but the city’s garment industry remains in crisis.
The story
The Garment Worker Center in LA launches WEAR LA to support local garment workers and ensure ethical production for the 2028 Olympics, while highlighting challenges like immigration enforcement and unfair competition.
Source: wwd.com
Our reading
The Garment Worker Center wants LA’s Olympic merchandise to be made by local workers, but only if they’re paid $25 an hour and have valid insurance. It’s a tall order for a city where workers are already struggling with fear of ICE raids and shrinking business.
It’s one thing to demand a living wage, but another to expect it from a sector that’s been undercut by offshore factories and rising material costs. The irony is that the same city that’s hosting the Olympics—where athletes are celebrated for their discipline and sacrifice—seems to have no patience for the labor that makes the event possible.
Maybe the real challenge isn’t just getting LA to buy local, but getting LA to believe in itself. If the city can’t support its own workers, how can it expect them to support the Olympics?
