Fashion's Dirty Secret

I wrote a few weeks ago, on the concept of purchasing intelligently, I thought initially, that I had researched on which big high street brands have been working to produce ethically, and that workers from developing countries are working under poor conditions because of the companies directly.

However, its not just overseas we have to worry about, the dirty side of fashion is much closer to home, in fact its on our own doorstep. Channel 4 Dispatches, show the conditions of UK factories, where it is recorded items for New Look are produced. The documentary exposed the violations of the workers, unsafe conditions, bullying and the long hours.


At the beginning of the clip its almost impossible to imagine that what we are looking at, is a factory based in Britain. 




http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/video/series-75/episode-1/fashions-dirty-secret

But should we blame the companies? The issue that really should be raised, and which high street retailers need to address, is the demand for fast, cheap fashion has only increased the drive to turn around orders within short and almost impossible time scales. This means, that where there are factories set up by western companies, who invest in cleaner working conditions for overseas labourers, the factory suppliers decide to sub-contract. In which the most likeliest cases are orders are passed on to less scrupulous companies, whose production process may not be made aware of by the actual company which the high street labels stand for. Some of this work is even outsourced to small villages, where small children are used to sew the finer detail on the clothing.

Who is really paying?

So who is at fault? The clothing companies? They certainly have a responsibility. But us as the consumers we are to blame too, if not almost marginally, the demand for cheap fashion is because we want it, if we shopped alternatively would factories in areas of Delhi become pressured to outsource. What we as consumers need to question, who is really paying for the seemingly bargain priced dress.

Fashionable Intelligence

We are now aware of how today's consumerism has led to fashion being cheaper, requiring a faster turn-around for companies to get customers to buy, what are the latest arrivals in there stores, and that we have no idea at times, how and which stores, large companies and labels are getting these items made and distributed.

There is an unease, when you buy an item, do you ever feel that guilt? I wonder why this item is so cheap? Were these made by children? Is it OK to buy into a system, where a child should be at school and not earning a pittance if they are lucky of 50p per week?
 The ethical issues of how a garment is made, does not even cover the other issues of the environmental costs and the effect of what it is doing to our planet by consistently buying into the "out with the old, and in with the new" idea.

Fashion is great, don't get me wrong, I love it! I think its a great way to express who you are, how we all become definite individuals and the chance that designers get to show off there skills in imagination, artistry and the job's that it can create.

However the industry has been side-lined by an ugly truth, that for the majority of us, we can usually only afford items that are placed on the high street, amongst stores such as Gap, Debenhams, Primark, Miss Selfridge's etc.. We do not maybe have the luxury to avoid the human cost, we accept that to purchase something bespoke made, by a group of well paid seamstresses, who are not over the other end of the globe, who have a competitive wage packet, with workers rights and a union if they pleased, is impossible.

In fact, that jumper you maybe wearing that cost a sheer £9 at full price, the likely scenario is, that 'it' has been made by the hands of a child, or a woman struggling to feed her family. Am I regurgitating another cliché endeavour? or is it self-righteous for me to say so? Maybe. However, regardless of my intentions, the nagging doubt is there, that's the cold truth, we buy into a heartless regime of consumerism, not thinking twice about who or what suffer's. And although at the best of times, it can not be proven where 'that' purchase may have come from, the tiny bit of doubt should be enough to affect any decent individual to think twice.

So.... what next? How do we buy intelligently? Is it expensive?...
           There are an increasing number of organisation's, that are working within the fashion industry, whether they are individual designers or larger companies that desire to meet new standards of sustainability and fairer practices. Such well known labels are the likes of New Look, Top-Shop and now even H&M, and with smaller brands like People Tree as well as my own.

(To find out more about Ethical Fashion Standards) see the following link:
EFF



As a provider of Bespoke, I began my small business to offer the chance for consumers to buy, at competitive high street standard rates. As well as the opportunity to have good quality fashion, and to have that peace of mind, without worrying about where it might have came from, but rather knowing where it has come from. Guardian Article,