The History of Labor Day: How Far Have Garment Workers’ Rights Come?

For many Americans, Labor Day means the unofficial end of summer, one last long weekend, and perhaps a little shopping. But the history of Labor Day tells a much more important story, one rooted in the fight for safer workplaces, shorter hours, fair wages, and basic dignity for workers.

And for the fashion industry, that history is particularly relevant.

From 12-Hour Days to the 8-Hour Workday

During the Industrial Revolution, American factory employees commonly endured extremely long workdays, sometimes working from sunrise to sunset. Movements to shorten the workday began as early as the 1820s, according to the  U.S. Department of Labor. By the late 1800s, organized labor was fighting aggressively for an eight-hour workday.

The first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City on September 5, 1882. By 1894, Congress had made the first Monday in September a national holiday recognizing the contributions of American workers.

Over the decades that followed, labor protections continued to evolve. The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 eventually established federal standards governing minimum wages, overtime, and working hours for many American workers.

Today, covered U.S. garment workers are entitled to federal minimum wage and overtime pay for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek, among other protections. But having laws on the books does not necessarily mean every workplace follows them.

Made in the USA Doesn't Automatically Mean Ethical

It's tempting to assume clothing manufactured in America was automatically produced in an ethical workplace. Unfortunately, recent investigations show why consumers and fashion brands need to look deeper.

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor investigated more than 50 Southern California garment contractors and manufacturers and found Fair Labor Standards Act violations in 80 percent of its investigations. In one particularly troubling case, workers were being paid as little as $1.58 per hour. More than half of the investigations found employers paying some or all wages off the books. 

In another Los Angeles investigation announced in 2024, the Department of Labor recovered more than $1 million in back wages and damages for 165 garment workers after contractors denied workers overtime and falsified records. 

It's an important reminder that Made in USA is a statement about where something was produced, not necessarily how the people producing it were treated.

What Makes a Fashion Factory Ethical?

An ethical workplace prioritizes fair treatment, legal wages, reasonable working hours, worker safety, freedom from forced or child labor, and respect for workers' rights.

For fashion brands, choosing an ethical manufacturing partner therefore requires more than simply looking at a factory's address.

Independent certifications and auditing programs can provide another layer of accountability. WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production), for example, independently audits participating apparel and sewn-product facilities against 12 social-compliance principles. Brands can also look for Fair Trade Certified factories, which must comply with independently verified social, economic, and environmental standards covering more than 100 compliance criteria.

Certifications aren't a substitute for ongoing oversight, but they can give brands and consumers greater transparency into the people and practices behind their clothing.

Unsafe Factories Didn't Disappear, They Moved Overseas. 

The problem becomes even more complicated when we look at the global fashion supply chain.

The 2013 collapse of Bangladesh's Rana Plaza exposed the devastating human cost unsafe garment production can have. The disaster killed 1,138 workers and injured more than 2,500, according to the International Labour Organization.

Significant safety reforms followed, but garment worker rights remain an important part of the global conversation surrounding fast fashion and ethical fashion.

This is one reason understanding the difference between an Ethical Fashion Brand and Sustainable Fashion matters. Sustainability asks important questions about our planet, while ethical fashion also asks us to consider the people making our clothes.

It's also why choosing quality over fast fashion can be part of becoming a more conscious fashion consumer.

Labor Day Is More Than a Day Off

The History of Labor Day reminds us that better working conditions did not happen by accident. Generations of workers fought for safer workplaces, fair wages, reasonable hours, and the basic right to be treated with dignity.

As consumers, we now have a role to play in continuing that progress.

Before purchasing your next garment, take a few extra minutes to investigate the brand behind it. Where are its clothes made? Does the brand disclose its factories or manufacturing partners? Does it discuss wages, worker safety, factory audits, or ethical certifications? Remember, a "Made in USA" label alone does not guarantee an ethical workplace, just as manufacturing overseas does not automatically mean a factory is unethical.

Every purchase is an opportunity to support the kind of fashion industry we want to see.

Where you spend your money matters. Choose brands that value the people behind the clothing just as much as the clothing itself. Forward this blog to a conscious consumer friend now and support fair wages everywhere.