Ethical Fashion: What is it and why it matters
Lately, this words has been used more often and you may have heard, “fair trade”, and “sustainable fashion” as well. But, what exactly do all of those terms mean?
In order to explain them, we have to know what “Fast fashion” is. This term refers to the phenomenon of recreating catwalk fashion, at a low cost and high speed. It results in almost 52 fashion “seasons” per year. In order to meet such high demand, something must be sacrificed. Sadly, that sacrifice is often related to the quality of the garment, environment, and the human lives involved in the production process.
Most of fast fashion retailers are only worried to achieve their goal of producing massively, they take advantage of cheap labor overseas, they don’t provide good working conditions, and they have also become one of the biggest sources of pollution.
Clothes Factory in Bangladesh
As a reaction to all the harm the fast fashion has provoked, certain movements have emerged, such as:
Fair trade fashion which puts people and the environment central to doing business. It recognizes, promotes and protects the cultural identity and traditional skills of small producers as reflected in their craft designs, and other related services.
Sustainable fashion, also called eco-fashion. It means to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It focuses on taking care of the environment, by reducing the negative human impact.
Ethical fashion is a mixed of the previous terms. It focuses on both, the social and environmental impact of fashion, seeking to improve the working conditions of laborers, along with the environmental impact of the clothing production process.
So, now that you know a little bit more of ethical fashion and what is fighting against, are you going to think twice before shopping?
Thank you!
Coral Castro