Uh-oh! Sounds like the Kardashian klan’s eager-beaver antics are finally catching up with them.
The ladies, Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, have been praised in the past for their savy business sense, having created the mega million dollar empire known as “Kardashian” all stemming from a simple E! reality show (which of course lead to spin-off after spin-off). From clothing lines to create-your-own shoes via the web, the Kardashians have been putting their name on anything and everything and while it seems to be serving them well, the Kardashian empire is yet again under fire with new details of the girls’ brands being crafted in foreign sweatshops with slave-like conditions.
According to Radar, the Kardashian’s lines K-Dash by Kardashian, the Kris Jenner Kollection for QVC, and ShoeDazzle (founded by Kim) are under investigation by a prestigious human-rights watchdog organization. Apparently the ladies have been endorsing and selling products produced in foreign sweatshops where employees, some as young as 16-years-old, are paid as little as $1 per hour and work up for 84 hours per week in “slave” like conditions. Charles Kernaghan, executive director of the institute for Global Labour and Human Rights, says “the Kardashians are in bed with some pretty bad people.” He goes all to call the region of Kardashian product production a “scary place” and the peak summers “brutal” with temperatures reaching 100˚F with no air-conditioning to keep cool.
The sweatshop workers live in squalid factory-run dormitories filled with the stench of sewage while toiling up to 84 hours during seven-day work weeks to produce some of the goods that helped Kourtney, 32, Kim, 31, Khloé, 27, mom Kris, 56, and the rest of their family earn $65 million last year.
A rep for the Kardashians has said in response of the allegations:
“This is the first we are hearing about it and take it very seriously as we would never condone this. We are presently investigating the situation.”
Well, someone needs to! While we don’t personally think the K-Klan knew of the production conditions in China, it’s probably time they start getting a liiiittle more involved with the more vital aspects of their brands. After all, any smart business man (or woman) would cover all angels of their bread and butter, don’t you think?
[Image: Star Magazine; Source: Star, Radar Online]
