Ethical Fashion: Consumerism or Beyond?

Why does ethical fashion matter?

Why is fast fashion considered unethical?

Why standing up for ethical fashion beyond consumerism is necessary?

We all love fashion, outfits, the glamourous world, and everything about it. But many questions might come to your mind when you hear the term ‘ethical fashion.’ Notably, one of the massive dilemmas comes from the confusion between ethics and sustainability.

So, what is the difference?

Why getting both from your fashion brand is necessary?

HOLD ON! We know there’s a lot to wrap your head around, and it is precisely what we’ll be unfolding in this article.

Take a look!

About Ethical and Sustainable Fashion

To start with, FASHION is a lot more than fishnet stockings, pencil skirts, off-shoulder dresses, etc.

According to the dictionary, the term ‘ethical’ is associated with marking the line between good and bad. Thus, when it comes to fashion industry, ethical is connected to morality. But what moral issues could probably disturb the fashion industry?

LET US TELL YOU, there’s no scarcity of moral concerns, be it slave labor or racism.

Defining ethical fashion in simple words, is a mechanism of getting deep into the roots of the industry’s unfairness and building a moral industry.

To name a few examples…

Are the workers’ paid equally and fairly?

Are the workers given proper rest time or breaks?

Are the companies contributing positively to the community?

These are some of the crucial questions that decide the ethical standards of a brand.

On the other hand, sustainable fashion is the impact of garment production on the environment, the waste involved in the process, etc.

Assuming that now you’ve understood the difference between the two, here’s more for you to learn.

The Importance of Ethical Fashion

Writing an entire book on the importance of ethical fashion would be less, and volumes will have to be released.

Just kidding on the volumes part!

Here are some of the crucial issues that need to be highlighted:

1. Exploitive Working Conditions

Affairs like the unsafe working environment, extensive working hours, etc., are some of the most common conditions of a garment factory. Workers might not even get time to rest between their shift timings and may have to work all seven days of the week.

The worst scenario is women dealing with sexual harassment, which has also been proved by Human Rights Watch reports.

2. Low Wages

According to a brand survey, the majority of fashion brands are extending insufficient help or wages to their workers. Additionally, sometimes they are underpaid but also not paid at all during the crisis period.

The report also says that the workers are paid less than $3 per day, which may take them their entire life to earn as much as the CEO makes in just a matter of days.

3. Absence of Basic Worker Rights

Why aren’t the workers taking a stand for themselves?

If you’re thinking the same, let us correct you by mentioning that the workers are indeed fighting against such biased conditions. Unfortunately, however, their actions are often disregarded, not taken into consideration, or threats are imposed.

Ethical Fashion and its Consumerism Aspect

‘Is ethical fashion all about consumerism?’ is one of the primary questions posed by many people.

Well, it is essential to mention that conscious consumerism is only one side of the coin. For all those unfamiliar with the term, it is the buying practice that involves shopping that contributes to social, economic, and environmental influence.

Aiming for ethical fashion as shopping with the brands comes with a lot of limitations. For instance, price, size, time, and more. Therefore, counting on conscious consumerism as the only solution to build an ethical fashion industry will not fix the massive issue.

Don’t you think that the transformation will take years before the workers get fair wages and their basic rights?

The idea is to bring the change NOW by ensuring that the garment workers earn dignified wages.

Does it mean that conscious consumerism is of no use?

The fact cannot be ignored that many big brands are working towards bringing a positive change in the industry. Moreover, these companies are efficiently offering alternatives to issues like labor exploitation and mass development.

The Expense Involved with Ethical Fashion

There’s no denying that ethical fashion can be more expensive when compared to fast fashion, which becomes one of the vital reasons behind pushback from people.

Fast fashion involves the production of inexpensive clothing, WHICH IS WHY people might unknowingly get intrigued towards the same more than ethical fashion.

But why is ethical fashion expensive than fast fashion?

Notably, it is because of the two crucial factors: production practices and scale.

If a brand is working ethically, it involves paying fair wages to the workers; however, there are many more expenses. A brand must also invest in ensuring a safer working environment, healthcare, utilization of eco-friendly materials, and more which comes expensive.

On the other hand, fast fashion brands earn tremendous profit due to their production at a large scale.

Spreading Awareness to the Ill-Informed

Undeniably, the fashion industry is packed with labor exploitation and human rights mistreatment. However, entrepreneurs are introducing changes by building apps for people who are ill-informed and must take a stand for their righteousness.

It is essential to keep an open mind and remain informed about such issues, especially when the voices of the ones impacted are going unheard.

So, what is your take on ethical fashion technology?