I want you to ask yourself, where did my clothes come from? You might be thinking, what kind of question is that? You might be thinking something along the lines of, I got my clothes from the mall, target, a boutique downtown, etc. But what I want to know is where did your clothes really come from. The shirt you’re wearing right now didn’t just automatically *poof* onto that clothes rack at the store. Someone had to make the shirt. Who do you think made your shirt? I can tell you it wasn’t the sales floor worker at the store or even the owner of the store’s corporation. That clothing was most likely mass-produced in a factory with people working in poor conditions for little pay. I’m not just talking about any specific store, but any mass-produced clothing companies. All of these companies have negative ethical impacts that I had no idea about and that’s the first issue.
There are a few things you should consider before buying from mass-made corporations. Although it may be hard to believe but, discrimination, slavery, child labor, and unsafe conditions are still happening today in the fahsion industry. There are millions of people out there who are working countless hours with not enough pay to support their families. so that we are able to wear that shirt that we are wearing. If this isn’t enough, the environmental impact that the fashion industry has is using huge amounts of water, land and energy. These are just a couple of the issues that a person contributes to when buying from mass-produced clothing industries.
1. Think before you buy. Do you really need that new shirt? I, personally, cannot tell you how many clothing items I have bought over the years that I have never worn.
2. Buy from thrift shops! Re-use as much as you can!
3. Look for products that are Fair Trade Certified. “Fair Trade Certified™ products were made with respect to people and planet. Our rigorous social, environmental and economic standards work to promote safe, healthy working conditions, protect the environment, enable transparency, and empower communities to build strong, thriving businesses. When you choose products with the Fair Trade label, your day-to-day purchases can improve an entire community’s day-to-day lives.”
4. Limit the amount that buy. Cutting cold turkey from mass-produced shops can be hard. Cut down as much as you can, because every bit helps.
Watch: The Real Cost–Found on Netflix.
If you’re looking for more information on the Fashion industry and what kinds of ethical issues that come with it, visit this website: http://fashionrevolution.org.
Fashion Revolution is a global movement that are trying to raise awareness of the fashion industry’s pressing issues.
Sources: