Ethical fashion: where can I buy 'ethical' clothes?
Thursday, 05 April 2007 14:15
This is not as easy a question as it might seem. Although there are many companies claiming to produce ‘ethically’, there is no universal definition of what this means. Consumers need to look beyond the marketing and ask what a company making claims to be ethical is actually doing to make a difference.
For us, ‘ethical’ means that workers’ rights need to be respected throughout the supply chain – currently there are no companies that fits the Labour Behind the Label view of what an ethical company should look like. There are some high street companies that have taken small steps in that direction, but none that have earned the right to be considered ethical. For more info on what high street companies are doing see www.cleanupfashion.co.uk.
There are also some ‘alternative brands’ (people also use terms such as eco-fashion, fair trade or values-led interchangeably) that use a different model of production or trade. For example, some might source from co-operatives or artisan producers. Others may focus on other ethical issues such as the environment. Some alternative brands are making a genuine effort to challenge the way the garment industry currently operates; others are more hype that substance.
The emergence of alternative brands is a positive sign, but in order for the garment industry to fundamentally change and for workers' rights to be upheld, mainstream companies need to change. Buying from alternative brands does send a message to mainstream brands that ethics matter, but it's just as important to demand that mainstream companies change their practices. A small change by a large company can have as much, if not more, of an impact than setting up a whole new alternative company.
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