The organizers of the Vancouver Olympics 2010 have come out with an affordable and practical souvenir of the upcoming Olympics - red mittens. The knitted mittens have a white Maple Leaf in the heart of each palm and the Olympic Rings and Vancouver 2010 on the outside. The red mittens match those that will be worn by the 12,000 torchbearers who will carry the Olympic flame in the torch relay to more than 1,000 communities in Canada beginning October 30, 2009.
Proceeds from the sale of the mittens will complete the funding of the Own the Podium initiative, which provides Canadian athletes with top equipment and training for the 2010 Olympics.
The mittens cost $10, and go on sale October 1, 2009 at Zellers, the Bay and Home Outfitters stores. They'll also be available at Olympic Stores at the Vancouver International Airport and in Whistler, and at a selection of communities along the torch relay route. The organizers are hoping for a sea of red mittens to wave the torch on its way across Canada.
Photo: © VANOC/COVAN
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Comments
After purchasing a pair of the red mittens, I found to my disappointment that they were made in China. What is wrong with this picture! The way our economy is today you would think that some attempt could have been made to have them made here. I am totally disgusted with the whole ide.
get over it….there is way more profit to be made for OUR Canadian athletes, if the overhead cost of the mittens is low! Yes we have great products here but things like that can be mass produced cheaply in China
I, for the most part, agree with Gwen. If the mittens had been produced in Canada, you’d be supporting both the Canadian athletes and Canadian manufacturing. So although a higher overhead might mean a lower relative financial contribution to Canadian athletes (just how much per sale is being contributed?), there will be an infinitely greater financial contribution to Canadian manufacturing. In fact, if I knew I was investing manufacturing and athletics would be happy to pay $15. I would imagine that if you were to sell the mittens as a product made for Canadians, by Canadians, in support of Canadians, you would attract an even larger consummer base. Furthermore, let’s not forget that not all Canadians support athletics, but my guess is that 99% Canadians support the Canadian economy.
No “Red” mittens for this guy.
That’s like buying shoulder badges for the US Border Patrol, made in Mexico.
When are we going to wise up.
So Canada has no knitting machines, or the know-how?
Ridiculous!!
Ed’s right on. No Red red mitts for me.
Hello, what I would like to know is that with these mittens do the proceeds help both OLYMPIC and PARALYMPIC athletes? If not I do not see how this is humanely acceptable! Why aren’t the PARALYMPICS show cased just as much as the OLYMPICS are?!
I am a former Summer Paralympian, and I know that when I went to the 1992 games it cost me almost double what it cost our “Olympic” athlete! I didn’t work any less or it wasn’t any easier for me to get there! I had train and work out long and hard if not harder to prove I was ready! So, why are we not helping our PARALYMPIANS in the same way that we are helping the “OLYMPIANS”?! I see no difference in the two!
I just want to know so I can PROUDLY support BOTH! I WILL NOT SUPPORT ONE OVER THE OTHER!!!! We are all equal, or at least thats what Canadians say. Now lets show it!
I was planning to purchase at least 10 pairs of mittens, thinking that I was supporting a good cause. How much of the “prodeeds” actually go to the olympians and how much goes to China. I agree with the other posts, they should have been manufactured in Canada by Canadians for Canadians. Shame on the Olympics!!!!
Oh come on now, what isn’t made in China?… flip your keyboard, or look at the back of your monitor, and I guarantee something came from China on it. Point it… I have a pair and wear them proudly. The *Made in China* tag is hidden…but the noteable Canadian Maple Leaf is on display. Let’s just be proud.
I would have gladly paid $30 -$40 for a pair of “made in Canada” mittens in support of our olympic team. Instead I have now supported the chinese economy and probably their athletes. What a shame. I will not wear my mittens
Steve is right. Made in Canada, by Canadians, for Canadians would have been the correct way to go.
You all neglected to mention the Red Mitts and other Olympic items are only carried by an American-owned chain of stores.
These Olympic merchandised souvenir’s that they sell in Zellers and the Bay are all made in China.They should bloody well send all of this crap back to China.Our Vancouver Olympic uniforms and souvenir’s should be made here in Canada.I refuse to to buy any more junk made in China.I want to buy “MADE IN CANADA”
Vicky..
Hiding the Made in China label won’t do much for the economy.
Sure…the Maple Leaf isn’t hard to reproduce, even for the Chinese.
Just like they reproduce all other copy writes.
Accepting that everything will be made in China in the future, is a trade off, so we might as well start importing their Bicycles, and send them our Gas guzzlers.
Ooops to late.
-Ed-
I agree with most of the above. Too many items are made in China and that is why they have large investments in the US and Canada. I say buy local or at least Canadian. Help to support Canadians as well as the olympics.
Iwas planing on buyng some “red mittens” for my grandchildren for Xmas, but after reading the comments on this page I think not.
Our Olympic souviner for Canada ……….made in China…..
not good
I was going to buy mittens for my whole family. Which is a lot. After reading they were made in China, I guess not. We will find another way to wave on the torch bearer.
I totally agree with Steve. We should be supporting the Canadian economy as well as our Olympic athletes. Don’t know if I will buy five pairs as I had planned.
I had planned on buying Red Mittens for my Grandchildren,, BUT MADE IN CHINA…NEVER, what is wrong with us Canadians…Get a new Committee, BUY IN CANADA..This is hard to believe that Canada would do this, no matter the cost of making them.
SHAME ON YOU COMMITTEE.. You did not make me proud.
Ruth
I live in the US but planned to ask my aunt in Niagara Falls to get several pairs for us. Now I have NO interest in buying these at all. They look very nice but I can’t imagine that you go to another country to have them manufactured.
I don’t trust the quality of anything manufactured in China, they have proven many times that they will compromise safety to save money..
Where is the “red mitten campaigne” to support the thousands of workers who lost their jobs because their place of work is within the “security zone” and has had to shut down?
Seems like we have a “common” lament. This is unique for Canada and most Canadians. (We’re nice)
My biggest “bitch” is…pardon my language..if it’s our Winter Olympics, are we going to buy these mittens at the “Dollar Store” for a Dollar (+).
I remember Canada Day…The Dollar Stores were filled with Maple Leaf paraphernalia. Pens..Flags..Key Chains..etc.
Do we not realize..hold on…………………………….Oops..My Keyboard comes from China…Computer comes from China..(IT is so sad)
Stopped putting “Mushroom from a Can” on my Steak. You guessed it “Made in China”.
Have we adopted GWB’s scenario about jobs Canadians don’t want/need to do? Mushrooms?? Come on.
I may be straying from the original subject about “Red Mittens to support “our” Winter Olympics, but it just creeps up on you.
China doesn’t need to invade…they are already here.
When this computer breaks down, or gets obsolete, I have promised myself..the next one will be “Made in Canada”
Meet you at the Library. Oh..Oh.
-Ed-
I think that you are all nuts. You are taking something that could provide a lot of fun and smiles on the faces of family members, grandchildren etc. and making it into an “issue”. I think that our athletes work long and hard at their sports and deserve our financial help to aid them as much as possible. The mittens weren’t made in Canada and never will be –at least not this time. So if you want a pair or twenty pairs for heavens sake just buy them in support of the athletes. By not doing so you are sticking it to the athletes not the olympic committee!!!!
Linda, I completely agree with you!
For those that diagree with a “made in china” set of mittens, I recommend you take a few courses in international trade and economics. Policies of protectionism (i.e. only buy whats made in Canada) will quickly lead to a deterioration in our own standard of living.
It’s abundantely clear the majority of people here are highly opinionated but generally ignorant of how it all works…
Just buy the mittens and support the athletes.
If/when Canada has a flourishing competitive textiles industry we’ll get the contracts to make the mittens… in the meantime, we excel at auto manufacturing, commodities extraction, high technology and other services that are higher yielding sectors.
Be proud we don’t make textiles as its labour intensive and low benefit yielding work. Leave it to countries that don’t mind impoverishing their people so we can live well in the west. What we do in Canada gives a bigger bang for the buck than what they do in China (a country that has a very low per capita GDP). At the end of the day we are better off for letting the chinese make the textiles.
I am very much in support of our Canadian athletes but am far more willing to support the people that need jobs, to feed themselves and their children, now and forever. If we continue to allow and support entire industries to be exported en masse we may not be a viable olympic contender as children of people in such industries may never reach their sporting, and educational or social full potentials due to financial constraints we are imposing by insisting that the cheapest route is the best, it is self serving and unsustainable.
Tom, the textile sector left Canada over a half century ago. We supplanted it with several other areas including high technology and services. Accordinly, the economy has grown and the average Canadians’ standard of living increased.
I suggest you do some learning on international trade and economics. In particular I point you towards David Ricardo. Maybe then you’ll see how your remarks are protectionist and in the long run, the philosophy you have embraced is the one that is unsustainable.
Problem solved! http://www.bluenose2.ns.ca/Catalogue/Clothing/OhCanadaMittens.html
Get over it people…. No one bitched and complained when in 2002 Roots Canada sponsored the US Olympic team… So not wearing something that is “made in china” FOR Canadians is pretty sad.
If it wasn’t for the Olympics would all of you have the same opinion? I think not.
I think it’s a shame that the producers of the mittens didn’t have the foresight to produce the mittens here at home… But if “some” proceeds actually do make it to the athletes I think we should all still consider buying them. Canada’s elite athletes, paralympics or olympics, and sadly funded. It’s embarassing. And whether you are pro or against the olympics- you have to support the players even if you don’t support the games. It’s like being a supporter of the troops, without agreeing with the war.
Maybe Canada should rethink there idea and instead of mittens made in China, they can make Tuques being a Canadian born product as well have them made in OUR OWN COUNTRY!!! Who is running our country? wtf
I am mad that I have been trying to buy a pair of these for weeks and you cannot find them anywhere.If they want to make the athletes money for the games have the product ready and available for people to buy.Its ridiculous.
I wanted to buy these for my family members in Europe but since you say they are Chinese I am not going to. There’s no connection with Canada where I live so sorry no business. I also think we should support Canadian products, everything might be cheaper from China but I am not Chinese so why should I pay their taxis (for sure included in price) and why should I pay for their retirements? I’d rather do it for Canadians because I live here now.
I agree 100% with Ryan. This is such a simple economics concept that it’s frustrating when people don’t understand.
Should I explain “comparative advantage”?
I wanted to research where these mittens were made before I bought them and stumbled upon this thread. Thank you for answering my question. I will not buy these since they are made in China, I am sick and tired of buying Chinese “crap” and contributing more garbage to our landfills. As someone else pointed out, I would have been more than happy to pay $30-$40 for a pair that were made in Canada and that would’ve (most likely) last longer.
Re: Ryan and Ken:
Although your basic economic argument is fundamentally sound, I fear that you have forgotten the basic human element that also must be included in this discussion. I won’t even mention child slave labour or environmental issues like pollution, air commons and tainted water supplies.
Canada is not the automotive powerhouse that you propose that it is. The big three provided career jobs with people making a “living wage” for their family. Since the repetitive down sizing of the auto industry, despite the “Auto pact”, look it up.
Toyota has only provided wages that are slightly above the standard minimum wage. If you really want to look at the truth of the industry, find out what happened when the U.S. brought them in to build a plant. All the contractors came from their home country; all the steel was brought in as well. No unions were used. The entire car was built back home and shipped to America to be assembled, not manufactured there.
If you want to talk about protectionist practices ask about the “rules” about GM and other manufactures selling cars in CHINA. They can’t. The tariffs all but cripple the purchase of American products.
It sounds to me like you need to get out of the classroom and back into the real world to see that theories are great, but don’t always work in real life and sometimes the world changes or needs to change to show the inadequacies of the current economic movement.
Mr. A
Support Canada 1st, North America 2nd.
Mr. A,
Its easy to sound right by focusing on small examples. As a whole, international trade and allowing comparative advantages between nation states has lead to an overall increase in the standard of living of the world. Yes some countries are impacted more than others. Yes there are hic-ups along the way as transition can never be as smooth as we desire – this is part of the human condition. Overall, globally, I believe the world has moved on and improved and that economic statistics largely support that.
I agree with prefering something to not be made in China until their evironmental standards and human rights standards increase to those of at least the western world. But the “reality” is, you all buy things imported from China and other countries unless Canada is a market expert in it.
None of you have purchased everything you own from North American, let alone, Canadian manufacturers.
Why should the mittens be any different? Just because they are for the Olymics? Why the double standard? Just because there is a maple leaf on it? I think, Mr. A, you need be a little less hypocritical and realize I actually have a better graspe of the reality of it all than you.
Please, I am desperately trying to buy the Olympic Red Mittens. Zellers are sold out in 10 minutes of receiving them. I need them for Christmas presents for all my family (about 12) Where can I buy them on line?
Myrna,
If you have a VISA card, you can buy them at the Olympic Store at
http://www.vancouver2010.com/store/clothing/red-mittens/vancouver-2010-red-mittens-adult-br-new-inventory-coming-soon/prodRTUAF915.html
They say they are temporarily out of stock but getting more November 1.
Susan
Neither the mittens or the Team Canada hockey jerseys are made in Canada. Guess I won’t be sporting a Team Canada jersey and mittens.
People!!!! Where has your Olympic spirit gone? ………I’d suggest you go through your homes and with your attitude towards ‘made in China’ you will be able to do a ‘clean sweep’.
These are a pair of mittens…buy them or not but let’s not attack people, committees and countries. I can’t wait to get the mittens so we can proudly support Olympic athletes but the jobs of folks working at retail stores where the products are sold and yes, even the Chinese people…………..we live in a global community, like it or not!!
Well said D Brown.
Instead of complaining about the mitts why don’t you put your money where your mouth or in this case fingers are and start knitting and support our athletes? I think these mitts are a great idea and they show our support for Canada. If you don’t like the made in China, you should probably empty out your house because who here can tell me they do not own anything that is made in China. Yes it would be nice if it were Made in Canada but the overall proceeds would be much less. I want some of those red mitts and I can’t find them anywhere cause they are selling like hotcakes. I don’t hear anyone saying that they would sponsor an athlete any other way. You should just be proud to be able to support them in any way possible.
The Squamish Adventrure Center sells them, they will have a ton in stock starting Tuesday. Line up now!
I hope all of you that had planned on buying Mitts but changed your mind due to their “made in China” tag still find a way to funnel those monies into the Canadian Olympic movement. It is financial support they need never mind the product’s origin. I know I still plan to buy several pairs for Xmas gifts once they are available again.
There’s a ton of them available at the stores here in Canada, I was at a Zellers today and they had a huge bin of the adult sized mittens.
Oh you poor wee kittens……whining about your red mittens!
Most things are made in China these days, get over it. The olympics ARE being held in Canada. All we Canadians seem to be good at is COMPLAINING, it is embarrassing.
Part of the money goes to our athletes. My whole family will be getting mittens and wearing them proudly just as the torch bearers will be doing!
Ryan:
I still agree withyou basic statement concerning the present state of economic affairs in Canada and across the Globe. That point has never been in question, What is in question is whether we as consumers should continue to support, by purchasing, products that are made in third world countries that have no desire to alter their record of environmental or human rights issues.
Simply because the market is flooded with these poor options does not mean that I must buy them. Lets talk about why the market is flooded with these products. Is it truly because it makes the best economic sense??? Maybe for some people, but not for all. I understand the need to raise the standard of living across the world, but I challenge you to prove that the standard of living in these third world countries has altered one bit. We all know that in reality the companies who make these products never share their profits with their employees. If they did they would loose their competitive advantage. So after decade of repeatedly promising to alter the standard of living for their employees nothing has changed. We know that nothing will. All that happens is that the standard of living in North America has plummeted with the highest levels of unemployment and staggering levels of welfare.
The real reason the market is full of these products is because we don’t have a choice to buy most of the products anywhere else. It is simple if I am offered three different pairs of mittens all made in China and I need mittens. I guess I choose to have cold hands or I search for someone from North America who can make mittens.
This discussion is about corporate profits over people and jobs. Everyone wants the high paying job, but they are also happy to not support even their own company to keep their own jobs. You can’t have both. Unless you are part of the corporate world, then you have a good paying job and you turn a blind eye to the atrocities happening in China so you can have the special red mittens and make the company huge profits.
Its about morals and values and profits and people.
BTW. Anytime I have a choice I choose to buy products made here in North America. I only buy foreign products when I don’t have a choice. Hardly hypocritical.
Thanks for the discussion Ryan.
Mr. A
Support Canada 1st, North America 2nd.
Reviewing the pro-mitten group comments. It is sad to see such narrow minded people in Canada.
GET A LIFE. Any way I can support our athletes, I will. So the dang mitts aren’t made in Canada, get over it. To boycott buying the mitts is the same as boycotting our athletes. Sure you don’t have to agree with where they were made, however the fact is they were made in China and you’re not going to change it now. Go buy the mitts and support you athletes.
I was going to buy 15 pair of mittens. But made in China,
no way. If we knew how much was going to our athletes and how much to China , that might make a difference.
Where can i find these “red mittens” need 20 pairs for my staff. Making a Christmas float theme “magic of the medals”. Thought it would be nice!!!
Support Canadian Olympians without supporting china.
Make a donation.
Shame on Canada. I too was going to purchase mittens for my grandchildren – sadly now i will not. What is going on in the heads of the powers that be that they would choose China over our own country. I don’t understand. If it can be made here – it should be. We need to be supporting our own. It’s kind of like Sears and their call centres in the Phillippines – they should move their stores there too. They want us to shop in their stores in this country but they aren’t. They went shopping out of the country for their employees. Shame on them too.
omg, i can’t beleive people these days. it’s a global economy people, things are made all over the place. i would definitely buy a pair of mittens made in canada and would prefer it, but i can’t spend $40 per pair for each of my family members. come on, we’re in a recession so good on those people for trying to make the mittens affordable. it’s not a big deal anyways. if you want something made in canada, then go to lulu lemon and spend the money
I would love to buy some red mittens to support the Olympic athletes, made in China or not, you’re supporting athletes, get over it. Anyway, I would love to buy the mittens but the website still says (today is November 7) that they are out of stock and I haven’t seen them in the stores that are on the website yet so what’s up with that!!!!!!!!
I’ve just read through all the comments here. The reason I’ve checked this out is, I was recently on holiday in Canada and the USA (my home country), from England (my new home). Saw the TV commercial for the red mittens and thought, great, souvenier-shopping problem solved. As you all know, I couldn’t get them while in N America, and now I’m back in the UK and see there are decisions to be made about pursuing a purchase.
Interestingly, when London was awarded the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in 2005, I expected to run right out and get souvenier t-shirts for all the family back in the US. You guessed it, even now, 4.5 years on, there are still no 2012 souveniers to be had (made in China or otherwise).
As an ex-retailer, I find this astonishing.
…still out of stock. I asked my local Zellers if they had any and they said that 30 mittens came in on Oct 1. Those were purchased mostly by store staff, but of couse I should keep checking back.
Made in China or not…I won’t be able to purchase them because they aren’t available.
I thought you might be able to order them online since we have none of these stores close by
After reading all these articles I’m not sure what to say. On one hand I agree we could have and should have manufactured these mittens here in Canada thus supporting our own economy. Yes many people would have been happy to pay much more for them. On the other hand having them made in china supports international trade, and yes probably their athletes, and good will between the coutries. With the cheaper production cost more people can afford to purchase them that would otherwise not be able to. So buy them or don’t it’s your choice. Canada is as free a country as you will find be proud of it and be CANADAIN first!
Ryan…
This is the kind of thinking which got us here to begin with. Just because this is the way things are done does not mean it is the right thing to do. So it seems that if you go by the book and continue to give business to countries who abuse the rights of workers then you are no better than the people who are using this policy of abuse to trim down the bottom line. The workers who create those mittens are shipped in from the countryside where they receive very little in basic human needs and are worked hours on end until they drop and are replaced. Their compensation is trivial for the amount of work they produce and the item is packaged and shipped to our shelves where we pay a minimal fee for it. The Olympics are a time for Canadians to celebrate all things Canadian. We should be celebrating what we stand for instead. What I am trying to say is, if you buy a pair of those mittens you are not supporting just the Canadian Athletes, you are supporting the abuse of workers in China.
Or we can just turn a blind eye to these problems because they are not happening to people in our country. Not very Canadian if you ask me.
Who cares if the mittens are made in China? The clothes on our back are most likely made in China too, so why the sudden outrage? It’s no different from how it was since we became a country. Besides, if we didn’t screw ourselves over for the sake of other countries then no one would like us.
Support your Canadian Athlethes any way you can. I know I will.
I am Chinese Canadian and I’m buying a pair mittens. I am also made in China and Canadian. Buy me! Help your economy?
“if you buy a pair of those mittens you are not supporting just the Canadian Athletes, you are supporting the abuse of workers in China.” Dude, Seriously?
If these mitts were manufactured in Canada, I’d probably see my aunt in the sewing factory.
Why do we always have to screw ourselves for the sake of other countries just so that we can be liked? I am glad that we’re cheating at the olympics by closing the doors to practice areans in everyone’s face. I hate this nice mentality. We should be more like the U.S and start giving the middle finger to others more often.
Oh, and support your canadian athletes.
I Think I will Knit My Own Mittens.
Just got to buy Red and White wool.
Made Right Here in Canada..
I am also knitting my own mittens and will make some for friends and family.
Made in China!!! The people who made that decision should be ashamed. Willthere be any Olympic souvenirs that are made in Canada?
Get over it people. The purpose of the mitts is to raise money for the athletes…not support the Canadian economy. Unfortunately, we tend to not financially support our athletes well…not as individuals or as a country. For us to now undermine the athletes chance to gain some financial support because we don’t like the fact this item was not Canadian made is just sad. While I personally try to purchase Canadian made products as much as possible, we all know that Canadian made would mean less profit for the athletes…and they should be the focus of this endeavor…not our personal issues with the way in which the global economy works.
I was going to buy some mittens for relatives in Poland. I have an issue with the Made in China tag but do not wish to penalize our athletes for the stupid decision of an idiot who did not connect the dots. Did they not think that people would notice the fact that these were not made in Canada? Will we never learn?
I have a pair of mittens and can’t wait for the stores to have more so I can buy 15 pairs for gifts and 60 more for give-a-ways when the Olympic torch comes to our town! I don’t care where they are made. I am supporting our athletes and feel very patriotic doing so; particularly when I am wearing the mittens!
Wake up folks!! Most of the products that say “Made in Canada” are made mostly in China and packaged in Canada. A very small percentage of the product needs to be from here for that stamp to be on the product. No one is willing to pay the price it takes for the product to really be “Made in Canada”.
I think all the people that are in favor of made in China are from China. In you are born hear in Canada you should be for Canada. China is destroying the world market place with all their garbage. We need to bring production back to Canada and stop being a country of consumers.
Moot Point. You can’t buy the mittens anywhere anyway! All sold out. Obviously there are a lot of people who don’t care where they’re made; they just want the mittens! I am one of those people and wish they’d appear sooner rather than later!
I would like to see TWO groups of Red Mittens for sale: ones made in Canada priced at $15 a pair, and ones from China at $10 a set. I would bet that the Canadian ones would fly off the shelves faster!
I live in a community that has many children that could use a warm pair of mitten’s this winter, both friends and peaple whom I work with would like to contribute. We would love to help the children as well as our talented athletes. Please help us help them. If you can give me a number other than web site to call and order many pairs this will help many. So far delivery dates are not making our goal for christmas.
We want to help pls someone contact me.
Sincerely,
Kathleen
Just bought 3 pairs of those red mittens. Something to think about – human manufacturing of ANYTHING comes with pollution and some degree of environmental destruction, including the manufacturing of the mittens, whether you knit it yourself or not. (Think of the dye used to make the wool, or anything red – the chemical is probably not environmentally friendly!). Let’s keep the pollution in the far east while we’re enjoying fresh air. What’s good about strong economy if we breathe bad air? You’ll end up spending more money on your health.
To all those people complaining about the olympic mittens not being made in Canada…GIVE ME A BREAK. You wouldn’t pay the price for the mittens if they were made in Canada. I hear this crap in my retail store from time to time. It is sad…I agree…but it’s consumer driven and the fact is that our labour costs push up the price. You want to shop at Walmart and big box stores…that’s what you are going to get. Everyone wants it cheap.
I am getting sooo confuse I am trying to order some pair of red mittens to support but it just goes to where the advertisement or else where.
where do I go exactly to place an order on web?
Made in China It is not something new to canada
Agree with all pro-mittens comments. Most of the anti-mitten comments are completely devoid of real thought in terms of realities. Canada is moving into a different sort of economy base…while China is still industrial based. There’s a reason why it’s made there people! Wake up! Before pointing fingers and deciding not to support our athletes because you are somehow ashamed or indignant about this, make sure you are not sporting anything in your house, on your back that is made in China. Even things made in other countries…had a lot of raw materials or components from China. If standards is an issue, there should be more of a focus on raising the manufacturing standards in China. Boycotting here is not making [a] difference, because money is enough to drown out the tiny bleeting voice. It always has. Sad, but still true. Get over it.
The mittens may be the only tangible thing we Lower Mainlands can afford for the 40 or 50 years we will be in debt paying for the Olympics. I’ve got my knitting needles warming up, and shall make my own. I can still afford the wool. (Probably made in China as well)
If you have an issue, here’s a tissue! Quit your whining . I will where the mittens proudly for the torch and my country!Eh Oh, Canada Go!
If it makes you feel better about not purchasing a made in China product to support “OUR” athletes then please donate the money directly to the athletes. I am looking into this and that will be my approach to the problem. I was going to by the mittens but they are not available and the clock is ticking. So you keep on crying about the situation or cut to the chase. I know that the athletes will really appreciate it.
I too was shocked when I heard that those totally Canadian Olympic red mittens had been made in China. However, when I thought a little more about it, I realized that it was really OK. Still wierd to think about, but OK for our economy
The economy of Canada and everywhere else on the globe is based on the concept of an international marketplace. Free trade, though I just loathed it at first, has allowed Canadian Manufacturers great access to the US and now we are developing a great relationship with China. They can make our stuff and sell it to Canadians and we can in return make stuff for them (all 3.5 billion of them!) and export our goods, services & resources to China. We are Canadians and we are capable of negotiating intelligently in all international arenas.
GO CANADA! We are made up of the whole world.
china mittens or not you would think living in vancouver i could find a pair to buy. been to several stores on different days and times always to hear come tommorow we put them out first thing, i’ve yet to see a pair. maybe i should go to china?
Well, it is simple, Canadian Manufacturing is dead because of unions. They would have cost $35 to make here in Canada becuase of stupid unions. So let China make them or lets get rid of unions.
to David: Claiming that the cheap $10.00 crap mittens are a better buy than a product produced in canada is bull. The quality of the wool and the weave is incredibly poor and is more akin to a cheap promotional item than a useable wearable product. The pair I bought for my daughter lasted exactly 24 hours before they started to unravel
Another example is the price of the “original” cowichan sweater. It is less than the price of the chinese knock off and blows the quality of the “cowichin” sweaters out of the water.
David… your belief that had HBC used a union shop, it would have driven the price up to $35.00?
Another example: An embroidered baseball hat from a union shop costs $14.00 at a store. An “olympic” embroidered baseball hat costs $35.00 at the store, where the initial cost of the hat is less than $2.00
It’s OK by you to have Big business rip you off by having a product representing canada… produced in a chinese sweatshop… paying the workers less than $200 per month. As opposed to having the same product produced in Canada, using canadian wool and paying canadian workers a fair wage for a quality product that will last.
To say that this product would have been produced by a union shop if it had been made in Canada shows just how little you know about the state of the industry in Canada. Chances are it would have been produced in Canada, by underpaid immigrant workers anyway.
everything is made in china now! GET OVER IT! I have a pair, they are worm, comfortable, and you feel so proud while you are wearing them. So I recomend getting a pair!
OK everybody get off your soap boxes and take a wander around your home…are all of your purchases Canadian made…Please
I have gladly purchased the mittens and wear them proudly to support our atheletes
If the were manufactured in Canada and the cost was $30-$40 we would all be complaining about that.
So the mittens are made in China. That is about the only way to manufacture them at low cost so that they can be sold for 10 dollars. It appears that 4 dollars of each pair sold would benefit the athelets, and that is terrific. The whole point was to get people into the Olympic spirit. Most people can afford a 10 pair of mittens, plus they are pratical and are much more visible than, say, a pin. Those of you who don’t approve can simply make a donation to support our athelets. The rest of us can cheer them on by waving our mittens.
Anyone one have mittens thats they dont want cause i lost mine and my parents are really pissed and i cant afford to get new ones . it would be soo greatfull if you could help e out . please email me at megoohayes28@hotmail.com if you would like to help me.
i would love to have a pair of mittens but they are really hard to find here in Newfoundland. and yes i do agree that someone in Canada could have made the mittens other then getting them made in China. I guess with all the talent we have in Newfoundland making hand made/crafted items we all must of been to busy. Ha Ha
eldest daughter bought 6 pairs of ‘official olympic’ mittens from the Bay as Christmas presents for family members. HBC should be ashamed. Maybe even boycotted. These mittens are more cheaply put together than anything you could buy at a dollar store. Every pair exhibits flaws in the attachment of the thumbs. Begs the question.
Have the torchbearers thought about a class-action lawsuit against HBC and 2010 Olympics for frost bite incurred while wearing these mittens?
Ours are all going back.
I too am peeved about everything coming from China we dont even know what kinds of hazards exist in the wool they use. What do they allow us to make for their Olympics?
For all of you who try to make everything political, shame on you! You don’t deserve the red mittens anyway.
If the mittens are such a bad idea to some people simply for the reason they were not manufactures in Canada then the alternative would be to purchase the Olympic pins whihc are being designed and manufactured locally!
Any of this contain lead like most stuff made in China ….
wow, all of this talk over just mittens. If as many of you went out and did something about this instead of just talking about it on here where PS its going to get you no where then maybe something would have been done! Too many people dwell on the fact that it wasn’t made in Canada. Well neither was the keyboard or the computer that you are using now so deal with it. Also, how many of you are even going to watch the Olympics this year? more then likely not many. So really I don’t think you have a right to be “disgusted” about this! yes thats right SOME only SOME of the profit goes to our canadian olympics but hey its better then nothing! I agree with “doesntmetter” in saying you don’t deserve the red mittens anyway! ENOUGH with the freaking out over everything being made in China, jezzz! Its not going to stop, its not going to make it go away so why are you wasting your time!
Holy cow…a whole blog about mittens so I may as well jump in with my 2 cents worth. I am still trying to purchase mittens…one pair I will wear proudly, and one pair will go to my sister in Australia so she can wear them proudly. I don’t care what the tag says, I care about the Maple Leaf, supporting our athletes, and being proudly Canadian. I don’t want to be associated with the whining complainers above…you kind of lost the point of the mittens. Take a walk around your house and dump all the “made in china” stuff out in your driveway, don’t buy anything anymore that isn’t made in Canada…and that includes your food so you can continue to live your righteous…but spartan lifestyle. In the meantime, as a proud Canadian I will have contributed to our athletes and everyone will be able tell that I did. Sort of like the red t-shirt Fridays for our troops (oh yeah, the t-shirts are probably from china). LoL.
All this complaining about mittens….I have been trying to get a pair since before Christmas!!!! My daughter went to check out Zellers again last and the whole display had been shoved into a corner. All i have to say is …SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!
After an indepth discussion with my grade six classroom the students decided that “money talks”. One question they had was…Is Canada just accepting the fact that we will get products from anywhere providing that the correct price tag is on them? What about the workers in the textile factories (working conditions and environmental concerns)? How much of the Red Mitten initiative uses children as workers? Just a few thoughts that came out of our discussion.
After reading many of the posts both positive and negative, I believe that there are several folks out there that don’t give a damn about the Canadian culture. We probably don’t have the industry to do everything but when there is a company or supplier that can do what needs to be done in Canada it should be done in Canada and NOT purchase off-shore regardless of the profit margin. We have to start supporting our own industry no matter what it is. I am sick and tired of having one choice for items when I walk into a store. I want to know that there was no other choice but to get it from China or any other offshore location. As for the Olympic items that are available, I have yet to find ANYTHING “Made in Canada” and that is very disappointing. This is “Canada’s” Olympics and not China’s, so why are the Chinese companies benefitting financially more than Canadians?? VANOC should be held responsible for this and held to account for this. Profit is not an excuse!!
To everyone who indignantly declared that you were boycotting the “worthless” Made in China mittens, did you make your monetary donation to the Canadian Olympic athletes yet? The manufacturing of the mittens is too late to change, but why did you want Canadian Olympic mittens anyway? Wasn’t it to support the athletes? So go do it. Do it wearing whatever the hell mittens you want on your hands.
(If you’re not a knitter and need a hint on where to get the Canadian-made mittens AFTER donating the cash to the athletes, “Emily” provided this merchant above: http://www.bluenose2.ns.ca/Catalogue/Clothing/OhCanadaMittens.html)
And in case you did not make your donation yet, I found the page where you can do so:
http://www.olympicfoundation.ca/?signin&r=%2fdonate.htm
For the knitters, you can buy the pattern from Rachel (Canadian knitter) for $5:
http://www.buyredmittenscanada.ca/knit-red-mittens
Btw, the hyperlink above parsed in the close bracket ‘)’, this is the Canadian-made mitten maker again:
http://www.bluenose2.ns.ca/Catalogue/Clothing/OhCanadaMittens.html
Welcome to the Vancouver Olympics brought to you by China! I have had enough. Can someone honestly tell me that we cannot manufacturer quality goods in Canada? I am willing to pay a little more for Canadian goods that are of superior quality to much of the crap that comes from offshore. We have unfortunately become the consumer’s distributing for China. Don’t think for one second that tax dollars are not going towards the Vancouver Olympics. Nice to see that some of our tax dollars are going in while a good portion of the ‘product’ profits are on their way to China. It is shameful and Canadian manufacturers should be outraged. Its about time the Government began to exercise some muscle in dealing with the balance between imports and exports. Well that’s my rant.
My wife just said “Those mittens are cute, I’d like a pair.” “I’ll google it”, I replied. Oops. They are made in China. Forget it.
I know I’m a little late in coming to this red mitten conversation, but I’m glad I found a place to vent, even if no one reads this. I just found out these mittens are made in China AND that the only place I can buy them is on eBay at inflated prices. Wondering why they’re no longer available? Check out the inventory that eBay sellers have stockpiled – obviously more than The Bay! I am with all of you on this blog who are questioning why these mittens weren’t made in Canada. The VANOC could have had them made by Canadian manufacturers for $25 or even $30 a pair, and they still would have sold, because people want to support the athletes.
Hey I Love The Mitten’s! Been Searching Online All Day Here At Work In Columbus, Ohio U.S.A …. Looking Outside The Window Looking At Over 20 Inches Of Snow… Wish I Was In Vancouver With All My Fellow Canadian’s… But Work Pay’s The Bill’s… If You Don’t Want Your “Made In China” Mitten’s. I’d Be Happy To “Take Them Off Your Hands” LOL
You Can Send Them To Me At:
Eddie Smith
987 Michigan Ave
Columbus, Ohio U.S.A 43201
Thanks….. Hope Everyone Has A Safe Fun Time….
These mittens are discusting. How do we represent Canada with Made in China mittens. It is just sad.
I am joining this discussion rather late, obviously. I just saw the mittens last night at the opening ceremonies (I am from the States and didn’t seem them until then) and loved them! I also love that proceeds go to support the athletes. But now that I read these posts I am not going to get them. I’d be willing to pay three times as much, were they made locally. Glad I came across the posts when I was googling them to try to buy them.
Hey! I need to order a pair of these as a keepsake.
Never got the Olympic event tickets I wanted for my efforts…typical. They switched the red maple leaf with a white mitten to a white maple leaf with a red background.
I couldn’t find a sponsor to help me create them.
Here was my original proposal that was registered in their open bid process:
From: Marcel Pighin
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 4:33 AM
To: ’sponsorship@vancouver2010.com’
Subject: MP2ME Enterprise Would like to become a sponsor
Hello,
I have a small business that sells “Tickles the Bear” children’s books on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Walmart.com, etc. (Just type in “Tickles the Bear” in a search engine or Amazon.com!)
I would very much like to be a part of the Olympics in 2010 and watch some of the Olympic events. To achieve this goal I make the following proposition.
Provide, for free, at least 5000 pairs of cotton blend/one size fits all mitts or gloves with a red, iron-on maple leaf on the inside palm of the glove/mitt and a sponsor’s name on the outside wrist of the glove/mitt. That way event attendees can wave at the camera and proudly display Canada’s red maple leaf to the whole world!
I could hand out the gloves/mitts for free at the doors of ice skating or other Olympic events and then I could watch the Olympic event!
It is my goal to have sponsor(s) pay for the cost of the gloves/mitts. Your sponsorship would be very much welcome!
I estimate the total cost, including labor, supplies and equipment will be around $6000. An Olympic symbol or other 2010 Winter game lableling could be ironed on, as well.
I am currently prototyping these mitts/gloves and would be happy to provide you with a sample, if you would like.
Again, my goal is to just be able to attend some 2010 Winter Olympic events. I could realistically guarantee 5000 pairs if I get approval for this proposition within the next year. Since I have a family of 4, my idea would also give you 4 employees to pass out mitts/gloves at Olympic events. If I could be guaranteed a place to stay near the events you wish me to pass out the gloves/mitts at-that would be an added bonus!
Please share my dream of attending the 2010 Winter Olympics by letting me make this fun idea a reality. I am originally from Kimberley, BC and know that all Canadians would be proud of displaying a part of Canada’s heritage with an enthusiastic wave to the world!
Its sad….but if these mittens were make in Canada or the States, they would probably have to sell for $29.95 because of the price of labor.
wow what sour grapes support the atheletes ; this is the best of all nations coming together for harmony; the games remember whose game it is The international world includes China thanks for letting us be a part great gloves enjoy the games i love the gloves also that we can be a small part together helping Thanks Canada and all
Made in China – what did you expect for $10. If they were made in Canada, the price would be double and then everyone would complain about the price. Today’s world, you can’t have it both ways.
Thank you for advising me a head of time that the red mittens are Made In China, I will be cancelling my order.
Hi, I would love to purchase a pair of mittens, so if any of you would like to get rid of the ones you’ve purchased, please let me know. I think my daughter would love them.
By the way, these gloves probably cost $1/pr to make. Typically vendors mark up that much! So, it’s a very nice profit for Canadian athletes. Maybe a nice balance could have been achieved by having both inexpensive and hand-made in Canada mitten options.
Seriously folks?, okay if you guys want to go after Canada for their mittens, then I guess you won’t be surprised that Ralph Lauren, who dressed our athletes for the opening ceremony were probably not made in the USA either. Granted, Canada has dropped the ball on several counts, including the ice rink for speed skating, which in some way distracted the skaters. If Canada would have made the red mittens you probably would be paying a whole lot more for them. So the bottom line is in this case, is that the athletes are getting a cut, and the fans get to take home a souvenir . If you want to stand on your soap box and say that you were going to support the athletes, but now your not, well I am sure most of you haven’t donated a dime to begin with.
I think everyone is focusing on the wrong things here, it doesn’t matter who made these red mitts, we have people all over the world coming to these olympics, foreigners are in canada spending their money, supporting your economy, and some of you are complaining because chinese workers made a few cents for a pair of mittens, and as for how much do the olympians receive from the sell of these, well, they are getting an experience that is priceless, I think they appreciate the contributions they have gotten, so I think crying about this is pointless and nonsense.
Guys, really. Are you seriously arguing about this? Listen to yourselves. These mittens were made to support the athletes in the Olympics. Does it honestly matter where they were made?
If you buy someone a gift for Christmas or another holiday, and that gift just happened to be made in China, then does that mean you can’t accept the gift because it was not made in your country? If you are raising money for your school or work, but your items are not made in your country, then you think you can’t sell them?
It is for holiday spirit, much like how these mittens are for the Olympic spirit. Forget WHERE they are made and just enjoy the hard work all the athletes have put into leading up to the next few weeks.
China is a beautiful place, having been there many many times since my early childhood. They do not use “hazardous” material, as I’ve read some posts specify above. I realize that there have been cases where there were, say, lead traces found in toys, but if you actually read the news instead of what many biased reports say, those manufacturing businesses were owned by American companies. The Chinese assembled them, yes, but they were supplied by the USA.
But people are so quick to point and blame others for their problems now, aren’t they?
I am not biased; I am only trying to tell everyone what has to be said. For years I have heard too many people blame China for things that they should not be blamed for. Don’t always believe the first thing you hear because it’s most likely untrue, especially when many people are so against countries like China that mass produce and ship items.
Agreeing with several others above, if you were to search around your house and throw out everything made in China, then I’m sure you’ll be surprised at how empty your house will be. Many high quality items come from China – items that spoiled North Americans can not dream of living without.
And on a closing thought, whoever began to bash or talk lowly of China should be ashamed of yourselves. Look at you, you’re here to support the Olympics but here you are talking about how “cheap” items in China can be made? How dare you talk towards a country and its people like that when most likely you probably might not have even stepped foot on its soil? Mass production does not define a country.
And on that note, because I read this somewhere above, China is NOT a third world country.
Now let’s cheer for our respective countries and watch the Olympics like sophisticated human beings!
“Leave it to countries that don’t mind impoverishing their people so we can live well”…somebody actually wrote that???? You gotta be kidding me! So it is OK to exploit others for your own comfort level??? YOU have a ways to go fellow….your mama aught to slap you silly. SUPPORT you economy at home (be it Canada or the US of A): buy local and spend locally. You will sleep a lot better at nite.
i think you should all get over it. yeah they were made in china, big deal..
It’s not just about benefiting our athletes by using cheap overseas labour to increase the profit margins on olympic merchandise vs making less money off home made products. Half the country is already pissed off that we wasted billions of dollars on this instead of solving some of the worlds problems, what about our own problems? The manufacture of the Vancouver Olympic merchandise could have created jobs HERE in Canada rather than elsewhere. So much for a sense of national pride, I’m really glad the toxic detergent they washed this hat in before shipping it to Canada successfully got rid of the blood from that little Chinese boy’s industrial sewing machine mangled hand.
Let the naysayers rant and rave – and not buy their mittens. More for those of us who do still want to buy!
Be glad your not from the U.S.! Been trying to buy the hat our athletes wore at the opening ceremonies-with the moose – they were $75 from Ralph Lauren – because apparently our economy is so great, we will pay anything. Well it must be – the hats sold out in an hour and now on ebay for $250! Also, made in China or not I can’t find the Canadian mittens anywhere either, because I would have gladly supported someone’s athletes. You can bet Ralph Lauren isnt sharing ANY of it’s profits with the athletes. just greed, greed and more greed! At a time when our national pride isn’t the greatest, this wouldve been a great way to show some pride – but the almighty dollar has won out! Sorry for the venting.
Do you people realize that Canada is one of the only countries in the world that does not give any form of financial support? This means all of the hours of training, all of the time spent traveling from competition to competition all of it is on the athlete and corporate sponsors. I personally am glad that we can have something like the mittens and the toques that people, from every financial situation can purchase.
I’m disappointed in people not seeing the true spirit behind the Olympic gear. It’s a way for Canadian across the nation to stand behind our athletes. Who really cares where it’s made?
To all you people that are complaining about the made in China aspect of the gear, does this mean you’re going to stop wear pretty much all the rest of your clothing? Because I’m guessing that if you go through your closet a god 75% if not more of your wardrobe will be made some where else.
Anyway, I for one plan one buying several pair of mitts (if I can ever find them)
GO CANADA GO!
The mittens should yes, be made in Canada or at least North America… However… if it’s for as much profit as you can get… Then China is the answer, the cost was probably less than .05 cents per pair.
I am from Switzerland, living in Houston Texas. I try to buy as much I can from the country I am living in.
It is not easy, but try it…
I received a pair of red mittens as a Christmas gift. I quickly “gifted” them back to the store where they were purchased. I feel that all the Olympic clothing and accessories should have been made in Canada. With the unemployment being what it is now, we should help ours first. What really kills me is that we’re told that because it’s made in China, it’s cheaper to the customer. Bull! We pay just as much – the stores and their shareholders pocket the benefits. Shame on greed. We’ll be sorry in a few years from now when one country controls the world economy! It’s halfway there.
I don’t care where they are made, my wife wants a pair, where can I get them?
Google Olympic mittens, go to gifts & order up to 10 pairs.
Don O
get them from China you idiot!!!
maybe soon we’ll all be mitten making slaves too.
All of the Olympic wear I looked at was Made in China. I refuse to buy it. The more we buy overseas goods the more they source overseas. Lets get some industry back to Canada – BUY CANADIAN.
Received my red mittens in the mail today from my cousin’s wife in Cranbrook, BC. She felt sorry I received no credit for my idea. Thank you so much! I think the mittens are very nice! Great souvenir! Makes me proud. Doesn’t matter to me where they made them. They are cool and reflect the spirit of Canada I wanted them to reflect! My two year old prototype versions can be seen on my ‘pen name’ blog site: http://relofone.blogspot.com/. These versions are way better than my prototype!
I wonder why so many people can NOT find a pair of olympic red mittens to buy. There are STILL lots for sale at http://www.buyredmittenscanada.ca. Please post this to allow them to find red mittens if they want, regardless of the nationality of the people who manufactured them.
Daniel
Oh, Canada Mittens
Mittens of 100% “Yukon Fleece” polyester. Made in Canada, eh. Makes for happy hands.
Yeh, they’re fleece/polyester with the maple leaf and no olympic logo….duh!!
Almost 3 million of these Red Mittens Have been sold. Seeing them being waved in the stands at the Olympics has been really cool!!!! Go Canada
Good grief…I am so embarrassed by how ignorant and uneducated some of my fellow Canadians are….
This time last year, I can guarantee that most of you couldn’t have cared less about the origins of the goods you purchased. As many people have mentioned, we live in a global economy, which means that many of the products we purchase will not be made in our own backyard.
I have traveled to other countries and seen products with a “Made in Canada” label on them, and haven’t heard the locals gripe about how they wished it had been made at home.
I have to agree with David (#83) who said that the reason why these mittens were not made in Canada is (partly) because of unions. When it gets right down to it, most born-in-Canada citizens think they are too good to work at certain jobs…especially textile factories where, let’s face it, you are bent over an industrial sewing or knitting machine all day long. If you look at the textile factories that we do have, most jobs are held by immigrant workers who aren’t too proud (or can’t afford to be picky) to work hard for their wages.
And for those of you who don’t know, we in Canada also have “sweatshop” labour (mainly in textiles, by the way) in places that I myself have seen….and sadly, it is mainly immigrant workers who have no other choices open to them. So you need to get off your proverbial high horses and do some research before you open your big mouths to whine.
I would also like to point out that Rita is correct in saying that China is not a third world country. I lived in China (as well as other parts of Asia) for a very long time, and those of you who have never left your own backyard have no right to judge others based on what you think you see from your comfy couch.
So just be proud to be Canadian and buy the flipping mittens in order to support our Canadian athletes…which is what the mittens were supposed to be about in the first place…!
All of you with mittens are so lucky. I can’t seem to find any except for on Ebay it seems. I can’t even buy from Ebay. (I don’t have an account, my parents would never let me, and Ebay can’t be trusted that much.) I can only hope that the Olympic store might stock some more or something.
And the whole Made in China thing. Well, if you want it to be made in Canada so badly then why don’t you go get a job making them. The point is finding someone willing to the job, and probably the cheapest people willing to do it. If the Chinese are willing then let them make the mittens. They probably need the money more than some of us middle class people.
To all of you decrying “Made in China”, let me challenge you. How many of you support your local farmer; how many of you make a conscious effort to buy your clothes, linens, shoes from a Canadian manufacturer; how many drive Canadian made cars; how many of you support your local theatre, sports teams, orchestras; how many watch only Canadian television shows…. From personal experience, these – and more – require not only a large commitment in time, but also a considerable financial one. I am proud to wear my red mittens to support my fellow Canadians and hopefully encourage a new generation of young people to get active and stay healthy. And perhaps one of you can organise another successful fundraiser in the future that will be truly “Made in Canada”.
Its unfortunate that even during a time when all the countries of the world come together to celebrate the strengths of its athletes and to compete on an global level, that we as humans cant see past the everyday issues of the world. Why not for just a moment, take the time to live, love and laugh, enjoy life and celebrate with the olympians…. Wear your mittens with pride and be proud to be Canadian… and if your not Canadian then be proud to be whatever you… and know that for 16 days the world came together and was united as it always should be…. With Glowing Hearts!
Well I am glad all you people wont be buying the red mittens because they are all SOLD OUT and now going for 3 times the price
Can one of you whiners please send me your mittens?
I need a pair for my girlfriend, since it is all she talks about now, and they are all sold out everywhere.
Unwanted Mittens Fund
1231 N 50th Street
Seattle, WA
USA 98103
Ok, if your talking about day to day products buy USA. But for the Olymics why shouldn’t China or anyone be a part of it in everyway. Your missing the pont about this event and everyone comming together. Can’t we all just get along for once! Be Happy enjoy the moment.
well if all of you are complianing about these mitts can someone tell me where i can still get a pair cause i want one !!!!
And now they ARE $40 Canadian, via e-bay, still made in China.
http://www.buyredmittenscanada.ca/Store/adult-red-mittens-shop
BTW, Happy St. David’s Day.
It would appear there is still considerable demand for these red mittens….so why doesn’t the Bay or any anyone else want to bring in another supply to sell after the Olympics. I thought the proceeds were intended to assist in funding future training for potential athletes. So why not keep selling. This is the first time I’ve ever heard of discontinuing the sale of a product when there is more demand than supply. Go figure.
Hi, trying to buy a pair on line for my wife, who was massivly impressed with seeing all the mittens in the crowds at the various venues.
oh…I’m in the UK, just hope our people come up with something just as good, that as such an impact come the summer in 2 years time.
we have the possibility of losing our skiers because of lack of funding, so if some of your cash finds its way to your athletes, then that has got to be good.
For all those that do not want to purchase the Red Mittens because they are made in China, Just send in your $10, because we still need to support our future games!!!
where can i get the 20 pair red mittens for $191,00 saw on computer but cant find it now thanks
I feel bad telling you all this. I work at a apt. complex and on my birthday of all days a resident walked in with the “famous” mittens. This same guy is the main camera guy for the Today Show.
Does anyone have any recommendations on how to wash these? Thanks so much! I hope you all get a pair!
I wore mine out for my birthday, and everyone wanted them. What I need to know is how to wash them. I only wore them a few times and the last time I wore them I rubbed my mitten (the canadian leaf) part on a banister and got it a bit dirty.
They got a new shipment of the red mittens @ the Downtown vancouver location of the Bay! They arrived this morning so if you want them hurry because I saw people getting baskets full of mittens this morning (probably for a profit on ebay!)
Have you lost you job yet? NO? Keep buying products from China and you will soon enough.
P.S. Kenny. Look up a thing called “Air Commons” The air across the world swirls around it never stays in just one spot. That means that even if the pollution is half a world away…it still gets here to us. It just takes a little longer. Same thing with the water. Don’t believe me? Look it up
Yeah, you were going to buy a dozen of these mitts but since it was “Made in China”, you had changed your mind .. oh, but wait, you cannot even buy a single pair .. can’t even find a store that had stock .. because it was too popular. Most of the purchasers were too into the spirit to care about where it was made. BTW, checked your TV, DVD, cellphone, or underwear lately as to where it was made? And to those who would gladly pay $40-plus for a mitt, wow, sure makes a whole lot of sense.
My left Olympic mitten reads, “VANCOUER 2010″
Are there any others that have this spelling mistake on their mittens?