brynnacallahan0329-blog

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It’s Not Child’s Play

          When it comes to child labor, the fashion industry is a big contributor. It is estimated that 260 million children are being used for child labor. Although many countries have banned child labor, it is still common in many of the world’s poorest countries.

           The fast fashion industry has contributed to the continuation of child labor. Brands are motivated to lower their prices to increase their profit which means lowering the cost of labor. Child labor is relatively inexpensive which means it will cost less to produce a garment.

           In countries like India and Bangladesh, some children are willing to work for very lower wages than an adult. They are enticed into the industry under false promises of earning a higher wage and having safe working conditions. Recruiters convince poor parents to send their daughters to work and do not keep their promises.

           Among the things parents are promised if they send their children to work in factories are fair wages, good accommodations, three meals a day, and schooling opportunities. Most offer families a lump sum payment at the end of three years. This unfortunately is not the reality and most children in these situations are forced to work under horrendous conditions.

           The fashion industry is a main contributor because many tasks require low-skilled workers. Children are also better equipped to complete certain jobs within the industry like cotton picking where children’s small fingers don’t damage the crops.

           Children need to be protected from this horrible reality. I believe that our clothes should not come at the cost of children being robbed of their childhood. Many brands have committed to not use child labor but there is still work to be done.

Source:

https://labs.theguardian.com/unicef-child-labour/

Photo Credit: Child Labour Bangladesh

Flickr Handle: Give Away Smile

GiveAwaySmile

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The Side We Don’t See

           Many people view the fashion industry as a glamorous place. With centers of fashion being posh cities like New York City, Paris, and Milan it's easy to see why the industry has such a chic reputation. This however is not always the case. Most clothing is produced in factories where workers face many challenges not only to their human rights but to their safety.

           In 2013 a series of fires and accidents resulted in 1,500 workers' death in Pakistan and Bangladesh. This woke a lot of people up to the dangers factory workers endure within the textile industry. Even with this wake-up call, there is still much to be done when it comes to protecting the workers.

           Many of the issues factory workers face are a result of the fact that the countries where they live do not have good working conditions or labor laws. With that being said brands still have control over their company policies which means they also are responsible for the safety of their workers. Many people advocate that brands should have policies in place internationally that protect workers.

           One of the ways companies can improve their working conditions is by publicly disclosing which factories they use to produce their clothing. This will reduce the number of illegal factories which tend to exploit their workers and not provide them with safe working environments as well as allow factories to be more easily monitored. Many brands have begun to disclose their factories such as Nike and Levi’s while other brands like Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 refuse.

           An extremely affected group is women who make up the majority of the industry. It has been reported that women have been denied paid maternity leave, have been fired for getting pregnant, and have experienced workplace sexual harassment. This is incredibly unfortunate and a clear sign that people’s human rights are being violated.

           Worker’s rights are a major issue that the fashion industry needs to improve upon. Many brands have taken necessary steps to improve these issues but countless others refused to make an effort. Hopefully one day all factory workers within the industry will be treated with respect.

Source:

https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/05/02/when-clothing-labels-are-matter-life-or-death#

Photo Credit: Factory workers

Flickr Handle: · · · — — — · · ·

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How You Can Help

         Even though many of fashion’s environmental impacts are due to large corporations, there are steps the average consumer can take that will reduce the harmful impact on the environment. By changing where you buy from, how often you purchase clothes, or the quality of your clothes you can make a big change. In addition to helping the environment, some of these tactics might help your wallet as well.

           The basis of many environmental issues when it comes to fashion is overconsumption. The simple solution then that issue to just buy less clothing. This may seem oversimplified or possibly difficult for some but it’s the most sustainable thing you can do when it comes to fashion.

           Another way to decrease overconsumption besides buying less clothing is to buy better quality clothing. Even though it might cost more initially, in the long run, you will get more use out of high-quality durable clothing than most clothing that comes at a cheaper price. Investing in high-quality clothing that timelessly fits your style will ensure you are not buying clothes at an alarming rate and you always have something to wear.

           If buying fewer clothes seems unattainable for you there is also the choice to shop at sustainable brands. This can be done in unison with purchasing less clothing for an optimal environmental benefit or you can simply switch some fast fashion brands with more sustainable ones. There are many resources online that have great information on sustainable brands at every price point.

           A great way to shop for sustainable clothing at a cheap price is to shop second-hand. Thrift stores and vintage shops are a great way to limit overconsumption as well as reduce the amount of clothing that gets thrown out. These types of shops are often much less expensive than their traditional retail counterparts and are filled with unique and authentic clothing pieces.

           There are many ways to help out the environment while remaining fashionable. These are just some of the ways you can reduce your consumption of clothing and save money in the process. The most important thing to keep in mind is shopping in a way that works for you and the environment.

Source:

https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/en/reducing-our-impact

Photo Credit: Thrift Store Window

Flickr Handle: John Hoff

John Hoff

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The Industry’s Big Impact

         Fashion impacts the environment in numerous ways. The industry harms the planet through its high carbon emissions, overproduction, and overconsumption. All of these issues have major negative impacts on our world and are unsustainable.

           The fashion industry emits 10% of human carbon emissions worldwide. This is more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined. Many people and scientists believe high carbon emissions contribute to climate change which has the potential to alter our world as we know it, whether it's hotter temperatures, rising sea levels, or mass extinctions.

           Part of the reason the industry emits so much carbon into the atmosphere is that clothing production has nearly doubled since the year 2000. This means that the factories that manufacture clothes have doubled the number of pollutants that they release into the air. This drastic increase in production and pollution has the potential to be devastating to the environment.

           In addition to production increasing consumption of clothes is also increasing. It is estimated that people purchased 60% more garments in 2014 compared to 2000 but they only kept their clothes for half as long. Through purchasing more only to wear them for fewer time people are consuming clothes at an alarming rate. This can be linked to the fast-paced trend cycle due to social media as well as increased production.

           In another vein of overproduction, high fashion European brands have shifted to an average of two collections per year to an average of five collections per year in 2011. Through these high fashion brands who normally set the trends increasing the number of clothes they produce they are setting the tone for all fashion companies to produce more. These types of brands are typically where the rest of the industry draws inspiration and direction from.

           The influence of high fashion brands can be seen when you realize that fast fashion brands like Zara and H&M have also increased the number of collections they produce in a year. Zara puts out 24 collections per year while H&M ranges anywhere between 12 and 16. This clothing is typically trendy and low quality meaning the consumer will likely get rid of it or through it away rather quickly.

           Overall overproduction and overconsumption are leading the fashion industry down an environmentally dangerous path. Both high fashion and fast fashion brands are responsible for the overproduction of clothing at an alarming rate. I believe that the current state of the fashion industry as a whole is unsustainable.

Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-fashion-environmental-impact-pollution-emissions-waste-water-2019-10 .  

Photo Credit: Shopping

Flickr Handle: Wolfgang Friedler

Wolfgang Friedler

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Shopping Ethically Is the New Black

My blog is about how to be an ethical consumer of fashion. It highlights both environmental and human rights issues within the fashion industry as well as gives tips on how individuals can shop responsibly. This blog will provide vital insight into the issues within the industry as well as solutions.

I selected the topic because I am passionate about the environment, human rights issues, and fashion. These three things may seem like they don’t have anything in common but they are all interconnected in a big way. The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters and has always been ridden with labor and human rights issues.

I always try and support ethical companies when I shop. Whether it’s trying to reduce my carbon footprint or making sure no one was harmed or taken advantage of when producing what I am buying. A lot of people also share this interest but a lot of the time this doesn’t extend to fashion.

It can be overwhelming and difficult to always shop ethically. The unfortunate reality is it’s nearly impossible that everything you purchase is ethically produced. That is why I believe it’s important that when you can you make an ethical choice not just for the environment but for others.

People may see clothes as just a necessity while others use fashion to express themselves and show the world who they are. However you view fashion I believe it shouldn’t come at the price of the environment or other people. Many people are unaware or turn a blind eye to these issues but through reading these posts hopefully you will understand the severity of the situation.

I want to work in fashion when I graduate college, ideally making the industry a more ethical, environmentally friendly place. There is a lot to work on within the industry but I believe it can be done. This blog will be a great place to educate others on why this is so important and also make it accessible and easy for people to shop ethically.