Why should you care about sustainability in fashion? Well, as the second most polluting industry in the world, if we want to make changes to out environment it is the best and easiest place to start. The fashion industry is the most labor intensive industry employing millions of people worldwide, most of whom live in abject poverty. The fashion industry is also responsible for large cotton mono-cultures, fur farms, deforestation and a large portion of the micro plastic pollution in the oceans. The textile industry alone in China has polluted over 70% of the waterways, lakes and rivers of the country.
Although it seems like a large problem, I think it is comforting and uplifting to know that as consumers we have such a large affect on the world. In no other industry is it so evident how important our purchases are and how much they can make a difference in the lives of people all over the world.
Again this year, for fashion revolution week I am writing about the impact of fast fashion. However, I feel more hopeful than last year. I have seen the amount of people and news dedicated to climate change increase with a large focus now on cleaning up our act and getting to net zero carbon. The best and most important industry to tackle in all this is the Fashion industry. Big industry has started to listen in recent years with more organic cotton available on the high-street and more 'conscious collections' springing up. There are however still large issues in the supply chain.
One of the most recent issues, is since the outbreak of COVID-19 and the lock-down, many large fashion brands have not been paying their suppliers. Over $3 billion worth of orders have been put on hold or cancelled even though the work has been done. Many workers have not been paid by fashion brands for the work that they have done and have been sent home with no money and no future prospects of being able to feed their families. These companies need to be called out and forced to pay their suppliers for the work that has been done. They could more than afford to do this and take the money from their profits in order to ensure the future for the garment workers but so far they have refused. Although profit is important to every business owner, they are putting the lives of over 50 million people in the supply chain on the line by refusing to #PAYUP . These workers are dotted all over the world from India and Asia to the USA and are all waiting to be paid. Companies like H&M MANGO M&S The North Face Primark PVH Target Tesco Timberland Vans Walmart Zara are all holding money back and not paying their workers. Some have said that they will pay, but have not said when which is useless if you are struggling to pay bills.
Precarious supply chains like these are unsustainable and hold development back in these countries. I do agree that just stopping all of the fashion industry and not buying anything would be dangerous as these people need the work. However, switching to sustainable fashion is the only way to put pressure of these brands to change. Paying someone around £2.00 a day is ridiculous. These large corporations could double these wages or even triple them and still make large profits. The women who work in these factories need to be able to send their children to school, put food on the table and have access to medical care and should not be forced to choose between these while working in a trillion dollar industry.
If you would like to get involved in this years #fashionrevolution week dont forget to tag the brands above and hashtag #whomademyclothes and #PayUp :)
No comments
Post a Comment