Ethical fashion What, why and why now?
Overview
What is ethical fashion, why is it important and why do we hear about it now? Well, to answer these questions, we start with what is wrong with clothing production today. Most of the clothes available in stores today are made in an unethical way using sweatshops and / or child labor to ensure a higher profit margin. Manufacturers use non-durable fabrics such as non-organic cotton (nicknamed natural, accounting for almost 25% of total pesticide use) and polyester (which is a by-product of oil).
They use conventional dyeing methods that release chlorine, chromium and other pollutants into the environment, posing a health risk to farmers, assemblers and carriers (7 of the 15 most commonly used pesticides on conventional cotton in the United States are possible to known carcinogens). The shift to ethical production practices in the apparel industry has been undeniably important for a long time, allowing the market to be ripe for positive change. Consumers are beginning to ask better.
What is ethical fashion?
Ethical fashion is that which is produced with well-paid and fair-treated adult workers; sustainable fabrics and materials such as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and salvaged or recycled materials; low impact dyes for vegetable fibers or dyes; Respect for a healthy environment and / or product for the farmer, the assembler and the wearer of the garment.
Why an ethical fashion?
We are all responsible for how our lifestyles affect the environment. Simple steps can be taken to achieve big changes by simply changing our buying habits to include products made from low-impact materials. The positive pressure on companies that have not yet decided to voluntarily clean up their acts is very easy to apply by simply choosing not to spend money on their products and by helping - little by little - to develop companies that have explicitly engaged in responsible business practices.
Why now?
What is wonderful about the rise of the ethical fashion industry is the wide variety of patterns, colors, cuts, fabrics and sizes now available. Long stigmatized as cousin of the burlap bag, the ethical offers are now focused on design. Designers with hearts create beautiful, sexy, edgy, classic, up-to-date, imaginative and flattering pieces. Ethics will simply not be compromised and, fortunately, the appearance of their work will not be compromised either. Reducing our footprint can be done without making any sacrifice.
Public awareness is one of the main drivers of the ethical fashion boom. Thanks to the presentations on major manufacturers, we can no longer ignore the fact that the workforce of sweatshops is used for the vast majority of production. The power of the boycott has been demonstrated, as has the power to vote with our dollars to support good practices. Through accessible work as An Inconvenient Truth, the layman is no longer free to appease his guilt towards the environment with the denial of the existence of climate change. Thanks to the alternative medicine practitioners, who are dealing with the cause instead of just the symptoms, we learn that we can improve health by surrounding ourselves with healthy things and consuming them.
