09/28/2013 Note: I’ve decided to remove the original content of this post.
My goal was not to promote “china cheapies” or to come across as not caring about patents or copyrights. Copying another’s work and claiming it as your own idea is wrong and a really shitty thing to do. If the original owner has the means to legally go about protecting their work then by all means, I think they should do it.
Selling re-branded diapers and presenting them as a design you toiled hours and hours to create is also deceptive and wrong, in my opinion.
There are lots of reasons NOT to buy products made in China, NOT to move production to China and NOT to support brands made in China. I get it, trust me I do.
My goal was to simply to inspire people to judge each brand and business based upon it’s own merit, consider the American families who own these stores and brands, and not to just jump on the bandwagon against ALL of them simply because other people are.
Smooches,
Julie
I’m Julie, a former cloth diaper retailer who discovered a passion for the industry. Now, instead of selling cloth diapers, I advocate them and promote small businesses I love who sell and manufacture them.
I’m the wife of a fireman and mother of three. I have a daughter and identical twin sons.
Kristen LaValley says
Just. So much. THIS. I’m so glad you wrote this, cause I don’t feel like I have the clout to say it. I mean, there’s only so many ways you can make a diaper, right? At first I was all for it. Yea, let’s get away from the black market diapers that are putting American families out of business. But now it’s become this witch hunt and WAHMs are the target. I don’t get it.
Valarie says
Thanks for this! I don’t really understand why people get so up in arms about it!
If I could only buy the US and Canada made diapers that I could afford, we wouldn’t be able to afford to cloth diaper. Things are tight, and unfortunately I can’t shell out $25 a diaper and have a stash big enough for me to feel comfortable cloth diapering with. Even my prefolds are either second hand or seconds.
Anonymous says
Why do you feel that WAHMs are the target? There’s tons of large manufacturers that are violating patents too.
Michelle says
Like Julie said, it is a complicated issue. Most of my diapers are US/Canada made – a mix of big names and diapers made by WAHMs.
I do have a small stash of my Chinese cheapie diapers that I keep in my diaper bag and car. That way if my bag gets lost or stolen I’m not going to lose my pricey diapers.
Anonymous says
It might be a good idea to reach out to Jenn directly. I don’t think that what’s being represented here is accurate. It sounds more like “chatter” and less like fact.
Crystal Cline says
I think some of the issue with the Cheaper Imported diapers being made for some people, is not just that they may/may not be affecting someones patent – I think the bigger issue for me personally is the fact that we don’t know the conditions in which these diapers are made (of course that goes with anything we own that is made in China), so we are saving money but at what cost – so someone else gets paid peanuts barely supporting their family? Also… I deal with sooo many moms wanting to give up on cloth diapering in general because of the ‘cheaper’ diapers they bought ended up falling apart and didn’t live up to their expectations (such as leaks etc.), snaps melting, pul delaminating, fleece pulling away from the cover and such that I won’t carry them in our store. (that’s not saying that ALL cheaper imported diapers are the same – there are some of higher quality etc.) but I really love the fact that we can support local businesses and communities and strengthen our community when we buy locally. :) I’ve never ‘hated’ anyone choosing to use cheaper diapers, I just really encourage people to research the diapers and places they’re being imported from before buying :) We’ve personally had to purchase some for our own baby and have been disappointed – but did so to speak from experience and learn more about these cheaper diapers…. (so speaking from personal experience) we will stick with the trusted brands who are manufactured more locally and/or value their employees / quality of work. We are all parents and some have stricter budgets versus others, but in the long run you really end up saving money when spending a little more on quality by receiving the manufacturers quality service, in some cases longer warranty’s, and diapers that are most likely guaranteed through multiple children. I hope this helps for people to understand a retailers side of view and that we’re not all out to ‘get’ customers.. but we’re parents as well and care about finding the best solution for all. :) <3
Anonymous says
Just make sure the company you buy from has their diapers made by a fair trade certified company and you can rest assured working conditions and wages are ethical.
Beth says
The only time it bothers me is when someone lists a rebranded diaper on Etsy as handmade. If they are upfront, I don’t really care.
Anonymous says
They are handmade…
Anonymous says
Not necessarily. Some of the manufacturers in China are now running semi-automated systems.
Julie says
It was not my intention to portray China made diapers as being better than USA made or WAHM made diapers. My intention was simply to point out that there are still real families behind these brands, they aren’t just some faceless XYZ China diaper company, and I think fellow retailers, manufacturers and bloggers often forget that.
Jill says
What I don’t like is the ones that copy and try and ‘steal’ from people who originated things like a ‘print’ for example. Like there aren’t a million types of fabric you could use, so you copy the newest thing that an American company is famous for?
My 2nd issue is the ones that say they are just like xyz but really delaminate the first time you get them, so you have people SO disappointed with cloth diapers, and feeling like they wasted (albeit little) money, and are so disenchanted with the process. I belong to a support group and now when people say they have nothing but leaks, my first question isn’t about the size of the baby, absorption rates or any of that, but where did you get the diapers. If it’s not a ‘name brand’ sold in the states, then you can bet that the person got roped into some scheme for $2 china cheapies and now they feel cheated. Not all co-ops are bad, and not all diapers made overseas are bad. One brand I had to actually go digging for online because I’d never heard of them, and only found ONE review from a blogger about them, and they gave them less than 1 star. That should REALLY be a hint. But if you’re new to cloth diapering and someone says ‘these are so cheap, come on’.. it’s easy to jump in versus doing research first.
Stephanie Goetsch says
AMEN! While I would love to be 100% USA made in my home, its just not possible in this economy. :( (and to maintain the quality of living we are used to)
I will continue to use my China-Cheapies and CD my baby, knowing that I don’t have a lot of other options. :(
Crystal Cline says
Absolutely :) Fair Trade or check the companies website – GroVia is a manufacturer that cares about the conditions of their workers and explains what they do to ensure it. And of course local WAHMS… support them – they sometimes have some awesome diapers and prints and you know where the money is going – to help support their families :) <3
Blogs From a Single Mom says
I love my china diapers. They function better than any USA diaper I have tried, and the price allows me to diaper my kid and keep the babysitters on board.
Anonymous says
There are seperate issues when it comes to China diapers that shouldn’t be mixed:
From the Patent side, there is a good argument, however a long time ago I’ve heard (and in many industries), unless your willing to shell out .5 – 1 million to defend a patent in court then it’s not worth the time and effort (the moral side of the discussion is also seperate). If you don’t have the money to defend, then you must discredit, informing consumers and hoping for their support (counting on their moral obligation). Thus far I haven’t seen or heard any ligitation in place and many discussions have been attempting the later, but it doesn’t seem to really be having the desired affect since everyone has been seeing the expansion of the cheaper products.
The quality angle is seperate in that almost all cloth diapers have parts, pieces, or all together made overseas. Quality is a function of the company and doesn’t matter where its made. Buy from a reputable company and quality is generally better, but even if there’s an issue, you’ll be taken care of.
From the business side, cheaper and more accessible diapers will affect small business owners in that the profit margins and customer base that have been enjoyed over the years ARE changing. Holistically though, as has been stated for so long in so many discussions, the economics behind cloth diapers have always been a plus over disposables, isn’t cheaper diapers upping the ante? Isn’t getting more kids in cloth more important than any one business (although business owners may have a different answer!)
Just like any other business model there are going to be knock-offs and competition, it those that adapt and expand that will remain. I too believe in small business and WAHM’s, but what happens when dispoable companies decide that its profitable enough to get in?
Anonymous says
I have no problem with diapers made in China. Did you know Gro Via is made in China…so is Fuzzi Bunz and several other “name brand” diapers sold in the US. What I do have a problem with is moms who portray themselves as WAHMs, open up an online store and then sell re-branded diapers that they did not do a single thing for, except order direct from China —and then they have the gall to actually put things like “I designed these diapers, or , I created these diapers”, completely acting as if they are making these diapers themselves and portraying that their diapers are different or better than xyz. That is not being honest at all and I could make a list of the “WAHMS” that are doing this. It’s shameful.
While there are other diapers made in China that the owners have put a lot of time, thought, energy, and design or improvements to..they just simply cannot afford $10,000 just to get their own print. So instead they have to use mass produced prints immediately marking them as “cheap chinese diapers” when in fact they are not. They are just made in China like almost everything else. Great Post Julie!
Megan says
Rally?! People actually do that? I had no idea there were a bunch of moms walking around scamming people with cloth diapers.