Okay, so, “nike am i a bad person,” huh? That’s a question I’ve been wrestling with lately, thanks to this whole Nike campaign and my own shopping habits. Let me walk you through my thought process and what I actually did about it.
First off, I saw the ad. You know, the one with the Colin Kaepernick stuff? And immediately I had a gut reaction. Part of me was like, “Yeah, stand for something!” and another part was screaming, “But my shoes! Are they gonna get more expensive? Am I supporting something I don’t fully understand?”. I know, selfish, right?
So, what’d I do? I didn’t just sit there and stew. I started Googling. I mean, really digging into Nike’s practices, their labor stuff, their environmental impact. You know, the whole shebang. Turns out, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Some shady stuff, some good stuff. A real mixed bag.
Then I went shopping. Yeah, I know, seems counterintuitive. But hear me out. My old running shoes were toast. I needed new ones. So I hit up the Nike store, but this time, I didn’t just grab the flashiest pair. I actually talked to the sales guy. Grilled him, really. “Where are these made? What’s Nike doing about sustainability? Are the workers paid fairly?” He looked a little stunned, but he actually tried to answer. I even asked about some of the specific criticisms I found online.
Okay, so here’s where it gets interesting. I didn’t buy anything that day. I walked out empty-handed. Why? Because I realized I needed to do more than just ask questions. I needed to see if there were alternatives. So, I visited some local running stores, the ones that carry smaller brands. I talked to the owners, checked out their ethical sourcing policies (or lack thereof), and actually tried on some shoes that weren’t plastered with the swoosh.
After all that, I ended up buying a pair of Brooks. They weren’t as stylish, maybe, but I felt better about where my money was going. Plus, they’re actually pretty damn comfortable.
But the story doesn’t end there. I also started looking into organizations that advocate for fair labor practices in the apparel industry. I found a few that seemed legit and donated a small amount. Not much, but it felt like something.
So, am I a bad person for even considering buying Nike in the first place? Maybe. But I think the real question is: what are you doing about it? Are you just consuming, or are you actually thinking about the impact of your choices? I’m not perfect, and I’ll probably slip up again. But at least I’m trying to be more conscious.
- Researched: Dug into Nike’s practices.
- Questioned: Grilled the sales guy at the Nike store.
- Explored: Checked out alternative brands.
- Donated: Supported fair labor organizations.
This whole thing has been a wake-up call. It’s not just about the shoes, it’s about the whole system. And I’m just one person trying to navigate it all.
