Willamette Week

 *NEW* China Blue

[SHORT RUN] The average pair of designer jeans these days will leave you with $150 less to your name. But don't feel sorry for yourself. Feel sorry for the 14-year-old, docile Chinese girl who labored in clipping those loose threads, creating that distressed look, just so, and angled those pockets to make your ass look mighty fine. According to China Blue, a disheartening glimpse into the everyday lives of child laborers at the Lifeng Factory in Shuxi, China, an average workload takes each laborer three months to make the money you just spent. A good day is a 17-hour stretch, making 6 cents an hour, using wages to pay for food, room and board (a dorm room shared with 12 other girls) and the rest to send to family in the provinces. A typical "fun" outing is to steal away for a while to get some energizing medicinal tea, to reduce fatigue and prolong productive working hours. Guess that puts it all into perspective, right ELIANNA BAR-EL. Hollywood Theatre. Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 17-18.