Shopping and Consumerism

Discount fashions can be fashion forward, but do they foster waste?

By Adaora Udoji, Mary Elizabeth Williams, Jesse Baker August 26, 2008, 07:56 AM

In the world of fashion, you get what you pay for, and that’s exactly the point Britain’s House of Lords has taken issue with. Clothing chains like H and M, or Forever 21 epitomize this trend of “Fast Fashion”- where it’s in one day and out the next. Does this simply foster a culture of irresponsible waste- or is this what being “fashion forward” means in the year 2008. The Takeaway talks to their own personal shopper of sorts, The Takeaway contributor Mary Elizabeth Williams.
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Postum, Underalls, and the comeback of the Hydrox cookie

By Adaora Udoji, Corey Takahashi, Katherine Lanpher August 21, 2008, 05:42 AM

Are you a brand-loyal consumer? Are you a cookie-eater? If so, you may have noticed a void at the supermarket these past five years. The crème-filled Hydrox cookie disappeared from shelves in 2003, but, with a huge marketing push, is being revived by the Kellogg Company at stores this week—sans trans fat. Which brands would you bring back?

The Minimalist saves the planet

By Adaora Udoji and Katherine Lanpher August 20, 2008, 07:39 AM

Guest: Mark Bittman, The New York Times
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Shoppers and grocery stores both buying locally

By John Hockenberry and Adaora Udoji August 06, 2008, 08:02 AM

Look for new placards at your grocery store that say "local." More stores are catching on to food that's made close to home. In part, it's because of high oil prices, which make it harder to transport food, but it's also due to the curiosity of Americans who want to know where their food comes from. It's doesn't matter why: Local farmers know a boon when they see it.
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Playlist: Musicians sing the blues as an economic downturn changes tour plans

By John Hockenberry and Adaora Udoji July 31, 2008, 06:18 AM

The downturn in the economy is changing the music business. New bands can't afford to tour, and the ones that do spend more on gas than they do on hotel rooms. The Takeaway's resident musician, Jack “The Martini Cowboy” Grace, sings the blues about the highs and lows of touring when times are tough.
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The Big Mac Chant-Off: How to sing happy birthday to a burger

By John Hockenberry, Adaora Udoji, Leo Duran July 22, 2008, 06:32 AM

Happy Birthday, Big Mac. The McDonald’s signature burger turns 40 this year and the company has asked MySpace users for their own take on the iconic song. The Takeaway talks about the different ways you can sing two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame-seed bun. Also online, view video of classic food jingles.
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Video: Classic food jingles

July 22, 2008, 05:52 AM

McDonald's is asking MySpace users to create a new jingle for its signature Big Mac sandwich. Will the new tune find a place among these classics?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

1 — McDonald's Big Mac

David Wall Rice: iPhone iPhoria

By David Wall Rice July 14, 2008, 06:14 PM

And why is there still a quarter-mile line zigzagging around the mall? A telephone? Right, right... GPS... music... really fast Internet. Sexy. But plans don't come with a great mortgage rate. They don’t come with free gas either. So maybe my homeboy Phil Gramm was on to something with his "mental recession" assessment.

The pawn-shop index, recession-proof stuff and the iPhone 3G

By John Hockenberry, Adaora Udoji, Corey Takahashi, Kent DePinto July 11, 2008, 09:20 AM

Is there such a thing as recession-proof stuff? If we’re all being tight with our wallets, then why, in this time of economic turmoil, are certain industries thriving? The Takeaway turns to Columbia business professor Cheryl Einhorn then goes to Stockton, Calif., (dubbed “the foreclosure capital” by 60 Minutes), where sometimes a bad turn can mean good business — for pawn shops.
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Legislating the sound of silence: The Do Not Call Registry turns five

By John Hockenberry, Adaora Udoji, Chelsea Merz June 26, 2008, 07:15 AM

Friday marks the fifth anniversary of a law responsible for recovering some peace and quiet in your life: The National Do Not Call Registry. The Takeaway listens to what we've been missing.
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Join the conversation about Shopping and Consumerism

The main debate surrounding this issues comes from consuming something that you don't need (i.e. like food you buy but then throw out because it goes bad) and the environmental and social impacts resulting from the production of the garment in question. In the case of the latter, I am a shocked you did not bring up the issue of the production of cotton, which can have very adverse environmental impacts from its production and from the widespread application of pesticides and fertilizers. In addition, there are also has socio-economic impacts that include health issues in persons applying fertilizers and pesticides as well as increased vulnerability to famine in the case when the production of cotton displaces other food crops. Finally, the way in which the clothes are produced (in factories etc), should ensure that no child-labor is used and that basic worker rights are guaranteed.

In summary: We should perhaps re-evaluate how many clothes we actually need. In addition, we need to see where these clothes come from and ensure that they are produced in a sustainable way that does not harm the environment or those producing the materials or clothing items. H&M and other companies have already made improvements on this front by launching clothes produced with organic cotton and which cost only a bit more.

This is a very complex issue and I think it deserves a more detailed and serious analysis of the issues involved

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by Jeremy, August 27, 06:07AM

on Discount fashions can be fashion forward, but do they foster waste?
As the days leading up to the release of the iPhone 3G approached the hype was growing more and more. I personally spent a good amount of time reading up and viewing features of the new iPhone a few days before. People around me talked about the new edition of this highly advanced technology. While I was on the Apple website I realized that at the bottom of the page, there was an ad for the software update 2.0. For the people that already own the first iPhone, this upgrade adds everything that the iPhone 3G has except the GPS and the 3G internet. But you notice that it is a small button hidden somewhere on the page for the iPhone 3G. I am sure many of the people that were in line own the iPhone already, and did not know about this upgrade. However, even the ones that did know about the upgrade still stood in long lines for a long period of time for the new gadget. I believe it is really not the new features or the new look that attracts a multitude. It is having the newest, most talked about gadget on the planet. Some people who barely make it through a month paying bills will be paying a max of $149.99 a month on a product that is not that far ahead of other smart touch screen phones. I see this “iPhonomenon” as acquiring the newest technology on the planet to feel successful and important, even if the light in the house does not turn on. "

by Solomon Adeyemi, July 18, 09:45PM

on David Wall Rice: iPhone iPhoria