Fashioning and Ethical Industry

Fashioning an Ethical Industry

Clothes are often manufactured in countries on the other side of the world from where they've been designed or destined to be marketed and sold. For these garment workers, poor working conditions and the abuse of their human rights are a day to day experience. Their lives could be changed for the better by changing standards within the garment industry.

Garment Workers

The part of the production cycle where the cloth is made into clothes is highly labour-intensive. This stage of production takes place in factories, workshops and living rooms across the world mostly by women.

Excessive working hours, forced overtime, lack of job security, poverty wages, trade union rights denied, poor health, exhaustion, sexual harassment and mental stress are all major problems in the stage.

This reality of life is a far cry from workers rights which are stipulated by law or the ethical commitments which are proclaimed by big brands and retailers

Global Production

Big brands and retailers have become 'global sourcing companies'. They are outsourcing the production of the goods they sell through complex international networks. Today, at least 50 countries look to garments to provide valuable exports and thousands of manufacturers are competing for a place in big brands and retailers supply chains.

Falling Prices

Prices on the hight street have fallen significantly in the last decade, partly due to 'value' retailers such as Primark and Asda George. 

There is now such a thing as 'fast fashion'. Shops used to change their collections a few times a year, now it's every 5 or 6 weeks after items have been seen on the catwalk, at minimal prices. These lower prices and faster orders mean that workers wages are lower, hours are longer and there are worsening working conditions.

Role of Consumers

Image is everything in the fashion industry, no company wants to be associated with sweatshops. From writing, emailing and phoning consumers have a real power to persuade brands to 'get their act together' and sort out their workers rights.

Over the last decade, people have been doing this beginning with the biggest global brands. Consumer pressure has meant that companies to get their act together. Now the agenda is wider, the whole industry needs to change, not just one company.

Marketing and Glamour

Catwalk glamour hides the sordid reality of working conditions around the world. Working late into the night, seven days a week for a few pence an hour is the reality and life of tens of millions of people sewing the clothes we wear.

Fashion Education

They activities of everyone who works in the industry, whether they're designers or buyers affects the workers all over the world. Students and graduates of fashion will be the next generation of industry players and have a critical role to play. They can have a real influence over the way the fashion business is managed in the future.

This research I have found highlights some of the key issues in the garment production chain. These issues can be addressed by the public and high street brands. The key issues are the 'fast, throw away fashion' providing a poorer quality of working life for those working on making the clothes from cloth.

Reference: fashioninganethicalindustry.org

                http://fashioninganethicalindustry.org/static/machine_rollover.html