I strongly dislike labels and I, too, avoid brands with large ones (North Face leaps to mind). The only Patagonia item I ever had was simple to deal with as the label was stitched on; soon I had a generic item. Living where I do, I occasionally get things from LL Bean and I will try to pick colors which negate the legibility of the labels, and that has worked ok (not great, but ok). I have found a local seamstress who is tickled to cover labels on down jackets and other things with varied items: once a Moose patch and other times colored calico cloth approximating the jacket's color. That probably adds weight but I am sure I sleep better for it — seriously.
I cannot fathom how people get so enthusiastic about free advertising for corporations (even though we now know that corporations are people, too). In a local Wal-Mart the other day I saw a man with the Carhart logo tattooed up his arm. I know I am missing something and it must be important. Additionally, I cannot even begin to understand why grown men and women need to parade around in jerseys with sports players' names on them! Have these people no lives or identities of their own? It's bad enough that jerseys have names on them ("team sports?") and that they are marketed to little ones, but grown people needing this security blanket? I will admit that those in this area who sport jerseys with Yankee names on them are probably showing how tough they are!
