Forum > Everything else > Financial crisis in Europe: do you support European products?
SYLK 29.05.2012 21:06Lately I have been thinking about financial crisis in Europe and what would happen if we, as Europeans, would support products from Europe? Not going to Asia, Africa or Amercia on vacation, but staying in Europe.
Not buying (cheaper) products from China or other Asian countries, but from European countries.I certainly feel the need to focus on European products more than I have done so far (not only to support the European artisan, but they have goood stuff too!! :-)
Supporting Europe by buying their products: how do you feel about this?
Stoffenjunkie 30.05.2012 09:20I feel you are right. Also in this financial climate, who could afford a vacation outside Europe (with a 4 person household the planeticket prices are enormous).
Not that I would have to change much, I buy most of my thing locally and my internet purchases are rarely done outside Europe (unless it is something we don't have here).
Also buying handmade in Europe means no massproduced item from China or other countries. Especially with clothing that may be made under very poor working conditions.
Only problem is that the European products are more expensive that the Asian counterparts and with the crisis buyers may not be able to afford it.
SYLK 30.05.2012 09:24PS
Last couple of years I travelled a lot in Asia to find materials and I also had a studio there (and one in Europe) That's how I started thinking about this.
And then I read the Dawanda- article about "Iyiami Leather Handbags" from Greece, which strengthened my thought. Her products are so beautiful! Yes, gems are also to be found closer to home.A long story... I just wonder if "the crisis" has changed your mind about buying European products.
Btw, I am looking for a supplier of good Italian leather ;-)
SYLK 30.05.2012 09:44Stoffenjunkie, our posts crossed. So true about plane tickets! Even for 1 person (euhm...me) it's a lot of money. I could save this and buy more (costly, but better quality) European products ;-)
I only wish it was easier to find suppliers in Europe. In Asia there are huge markets and fairs selling only fabrics, beads, silver, from poor to premium quality. You go to one market and wham! You can see and feel the material and have your pick. I prefer to see it myself rather than buying from online pictures.
Maybe there is something like this here that I am not aware of.
Angela-Katzensprung 01.06.2012 11:49I think the higher costs might be a problem. Otherwise, I am already practising exchanging my articles in LETS-Circles in Germany. That is an exchanging System without money.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_exchange_trading_system
Money is not everything. This might be one of the tools how to get over the crisis. In Argentina, when they had their crisis many people survived with a similar exchange trading system, they had to. There was nothing else, no jobs or means to get money.
Unfortunately a lot of my products are made with supplies from China, I just don't see how I could alter that.
SYLK 07.06.2012 10:56I love these swopping-clubs, even without a crisis! (well, there is always a crisis somewhere... ;-)
It is not easy to find affordable European supplies, most supplies come from 'cheaper' countries, even when you buy it from an European supplier. But when it comes to finished products European quality is more solid in many cases.
Gunadesign 12.06.2012 08:14Sounds very nice idea, but I am afraid it will not work. We all look on price and Asian quality gets better and better, but price still is lower. Sometime ago, there was also a call not buy Chinese products because they don't accept international rules of human rights, but if you go in middle class price shop in Europa it contains mainly Chinese products. So, actually there is no choice. Many products contain label "Made for EU", so no idea where they were produced.
purenaturegr 31.07.2012 22:06We have great minds in Europe and very good raw materials. Especially for natural handmade products (herbs, etc.) we have nature on our side.
The problem is that once they crisis hit our door and started the pressures, prices increased, wages fell and as the market weakened so and the courage of the people!
No matter how difficult things is the things in my country (Greece) im trying to support local products and neighboring European countries because it gives the people strength and courage to continue to struggle! We have very good products, very good hardworking people and together will give a breath of freedom in Europe!
Keep up the good work you do and continue to create from your heart!
There will never be able forbade us to dream and create!
