Is your wallet supporting modern slavery

March 07, 2018

Fashion is implicated in some of the biggest environmental and social challenges that we face globally, including climate change and modern slavery. Those who suffer are usually young women. How can we make a difference and press for progress?

 

The products you buy impact the world

The culture of cheap clothes from low cost countries is supported with a high demand from customers. If we continue shopping and expect to buy a dress for a few dollars we should be aware that it’s not going to last us long. It’s mass produced at low cost. Also, it’s often made by factories that are cutting corners on safety and health. To raise our own awareness and press for change, we can start to ask manufacturers/companies/suppliers on their products origin. The big how, where, why and when question!!

“Sustainable” is a term to describe a better way of producing the clothes that we buy and wear. It’s the antithesis of fast-fashion and the habit of buying a new, cheap dress for every night out, which may well fall apart after a couple of washes.

 

85% of all garment workers are women

We are increasingly disconnected from the people who make our clothing as 97% of clothing items are made overseas. There are roughly 40 million garment workers in the world today; many whom do not share the same rights or protections that many people in the west do. Sexual abuse is a widespread problem in the fashion industry, both in textile and garment factories and also in the modeling world. Sadly sexual harassment is very common in factories and often workers have a very little understanding of what constitutes sexual harassment.

Garment workers are some of the lowest paid workers in the world, and roughly 85% of all garment workers are women. The human factor of the garment industry is too big to ignore; as we consistently see the exploitation of cheap labor and the violation of worker’s, women’s, and human rights in many developing countries across the world.

 

Are you willing to pay higher price for fair trade products?

The harsh truth is that people want sustainability, fair labor but sweatshop prices!!
The sweatshop business model is where tailors get paid per piece so they work harder to make more money and push themselves to maximum number of pieces each day. The consequences are high turnaround, sub standard quality as the focus is on quantity over quality. The results are lower product prices and is sustained with continuous demand.

Let's begin to be fair in how we value the clothes we want to buy and think about it as a long term purchase. Is it reasonable to look for good quality and good style and not be willing to pay a higher price? Would you be willing to pay twice the price for a dress if you knew it was made sustainably and by a fair trade company?

There are companies that go the extra mile to ensure the people working to produce the raw materials and clothes have a safe working environment, fair wages and help invest in local communities. Transparency in the supply chain is a key. Sustainable processes are kinder to the environment and to the people involved in the production process. Organic cotton is a better choice than clothes made in conventional cotton. Organic cotton is grown without the use of harsh pesticides and fertilisers and uses less water than the non-organic process.

Choose sustainable brands that reduce their impact on earth and care about their workers. We can all make a difference. Let’s make International Women’s Day really count and press for progress. We can have an influence by starting to choose sustainable, fair trade products.

 

 On the occasion of International Women's Day we offer 10% discount on all orders by clicking this link.

We want our customers purchase to make a difference, learn how.

 Learn more about women's rights in the fashion world.

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