The current buzzword floating around the fashion world at this very moment is ethical fashion. And while this isn’t the only term up in the air, let’s take them one at a time, shall we? As we come up with new rules every single day, let’s understand them completely before picking the side we’d like to support. So, what exactly does it mean to be ethical? How can you know if the fashion brand that you’re buying from is ethical or not?
Truth be told, there is no true definition that you can pull out every time someone asks you what ethical fashion means to you. But if we were to narrow it down, ethics mean principles that help us be moral beings. Lucky for us, the concept of ethical fashion is evolving with us, which means as we hold fashion brands accountable for their actions, they can understand what the consumers mean when they say ethical, helping them unlearn their ways and adopt a few new ones that align with our collective moral values.
An ethical fashion brand focuses on garment design, production and distribution that reduces the exploitation of people and the planet. Ideally, they provide better working conditions and brighter futures for everyone in the company. Coined very recently, ethical fashion rivals the term ‘fast fashion’ as an antonym to an industry that’s infamous for underpaying hardworking employees while also making them work in highly unsafe environments and hazardous conditions.
Ethical fashion raises the right questions about the right issues.
- Who made this particular garment that I’m paying for?
- Is the person who made this earning a fair living wage?
- Were they provided with the right benefits and working conditions while making this garment?
- If not, what can I do to ensure that they are?
If you’re unaware, female garment workers at H&M and GAP detailed the gender-based discrimination and violence they’ve faced from their supervisors. In India, female workers have recalled accounts of physical and verbal abuse for not meeting stringent targets and deadlines. In Bangladesh, women have shared their accounts of sexual harassment by their supervisors and of being fired after trying to file a police complaint. This raises the question, is your pretty new Zara dress really worth the pain and anguish suffered by real humans?
While one side of the ethical fashion coin highlights the human rights violations, the other shines a light on the environmental injustice and its consequences on human and animal life. Studies have shown the major damage factory fumes can cause to reproductive health. The Citarum river in Indonesia provides drinking and communal washing water for 28 million Indonesian. But unfortunately, it also serves as the biggest dumping ground for chemical waste produced by textile factories. This puts millions of innocent humans and animals at risk of skin diseases, including cancer. Beyond the global south, the production of fabrics like viscose and rayon ensures the deforestation of over 120 million trees.
Some action steps that can help you support ethical fashion:
1. Buy less
Overconsumption is one of our biggest banes and we’re digging our graves by letting fast fashion companies playoff on our incessant need for new styles by exploiting human labour as well as putting the planet in jeopardy. Not shopping as much as you regularly do can help you learn the true value of clothes. Practice conscious living. Fashion is a form of self-expression not a chase towards the next new trend.
2. Shop sustainable and ethical fashion
There are several sustainable alternatives that you can opt for such as buying second hand, swapping with your friends, only shopping from sustainable and ethical brands. The quicker you realise the power of your purchases, the faster you’ll be able to align your values with your fashion.
3. Educate yourself
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with a wave of information overload but no one says you need to do everything at once. Read up on intersectional environmentalism and be aware of who you’re purchasing from and what you’re purchasing.
4. Be aware of greenwashing
As sustainability becomes more than just a buzzword, many brands are jumping ship by marketing themselves as eco-friendly. You’ll be surprised how many are actually taking informed measures to become more sustainable and how many aren’t.
Shop the jumpsuit
Jumpsuit from Essgee by Sagrika Grover
