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By admin,

People buy cheap necklaces for a variety of reasons; to finish off a costume, to use for party favors and decorating to name a few. During Mardi gras beaded necklaces are thrown out for tokens and souvenirs. These cheap necklaces are so economical to use they are practically disposable – use them, lose them or discard when you’re through.

Popular retailers and import companies can sell these beads for as low as $7.99 per one hundred forty-four beaded necklaces. That averages out to approximately five cents per necklace. Have you ever wondered how these companies can sell these necklaces so inexpensively?

Most of these cheap necklaces are mass produced in large Chinese factories. In one coastal factory region alone, there are over seventeen million workers employed with two-thirds of the laborers being women. The working conditions within these facilities are deplorable.

The wages in Chinese factories are pathetic. It has been reported that the average worker earns the equivalent of fifty-five cents an hour and works an average of fourteen to sixteen hours a day. Many times these factories pay no overtime at all including the ones that manufacture cheap necklaces.

Intimidation is used frequently for controlling the workers as well as to punish them. In several facilities workers are not allowed to talk, even on their eating breaks. Fines are imposed for using the restroom more than twice a day. The laborers are not allowed to leave the factory compound unless by special permission from a supervisor. It is common practice among the manufacturers to require the employees to relinquish residency permits and pay a bond fee upon employment to ensure the worker will stay. Here are some other ridiculous regulations that many of these facilities impose on their workers:

• Factories can force and charge their workers to live in the company provided dormitories and deduct this charge from their wages.
• Many factory laborers have no choice but to remain at their jobs because they don’t make enough money to afford a bus ticket to go back to their homes.
• Often workers are denied access to their own pay calculations and employment records.

The low pay in these Asian sweatshops isn’t the only negative issue. There are numerous health and safety hazards that workers must endure every day. One example of this was in a factory in Fujian province. In this particular enterprise almost twenty-five percent of the laborers had been disabled or suffered injury due to their jobs.

Chinese manufacturers commonly swindle their workers on benefits and health insurance. Often workers are exposed to dangerous elements such as mercury and lead. In recent years this has been a concern to consumers who would potentially buy these items which could pose health threats yet no one seemed concerned about the workers who were exposed to these dangers on a daily basis.

The next time you decide to purchase cheap necklaces think of all the nameless laborers who worked so hard to produce them for you. Despite their hardships, they are the real people who paid the price for these items to be available so inexpensively.

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By admin,

Necklaces are one of the most important accessories that you can have these days. With so many different varieties, it is hard not to have fun choosing the perfect necklace to top off your outfit.

A big trend for 2010, and a personal favorite, is statement necklaces. These necklaces can take a normally plain outfit and make it pop. Think big pendants, lots of strands, or lots of colors, these necklaces make a statement, hence their name. Pair these with a favorite t-shirt and jeans and you are ready to go; or try them with a simple dress for a little bit dressier event.

Another big trend this year is layering necklaces. By layering we mean taking a simple necklace, like a shorter chain with a small pendant, and pairing it with a necklace with a longer chain maybe with beads. You can play around with this trend a lot, which makes it really fun. This necklace trend looks great paired with a white button down and jeans or even a low cut shirt and a skirt.

Simple pendant necklaces are big again this year. These are dainty necklaces on a shorter chain with a single pendent. Another favorite trend is the initial necklaces that can be used for mothers and children or for best friends. These can be worn everyday because they go with everything.

A classic necklace to add to your jewelry box if you have not already is the ones you have seen since you were a baby and your babies will see them grace the necks of women as well: the beloved pearl necklace. This is one necklace that you know will be around for many years to come, so do not sweat investing a little bit of money in one if you come by one that you love. It will probably be handed down to your daughter one day.

Charm necklaces are making a big come back as well. These are a little bit classier than the charm necklaces of the 80’s but just as much fun. The charms are generally sentimental, like baby shoes for a new mother or a heart for Valentines Day, the ideas are endless. As with the simple necklaces, these go with just about anything you can think to pair them with.

Long beaded necklaces are a great trend for the bohemian look. These can be layered with several different types of necklaces. Some of the most popular ones out there have big beads. Another favorite are the friendship beads, like the ones in your mother’s jewelry box from her younger years. They are great because they have all the colors of the rainbow in them. These are great with more casual outfits or they can be paired with a sundress for a luncheon with the girls.

Finally, and most stunning of them all, are bib necklaces. They are what they sound like, necklaces that look like bibs, only they are made out of beads, chains, even feathers. These necklaces are all over the runway this year because they look great with a cocktail dress or can even be paired down with a scoop neck tee and pants.

No matter what type of necklace you lean toward, one thing is certain: you do not want to leave home without one.