Stylish Ethics

Everyone has that moment when they first begin to show interest in fair trade clothing, for me it began with an Environment & Society course that I took last year in college. I've always been interested in fashion, at various times I've wanted to be a fashion designer, a shop owner, or a fashion museum curator, but it wasn't until this class I truly stopped and thought about the unethical side of the industry. I believe that most people are aware of the horrible acts that occur in factories around the world however, not believe many people really stop and think about the consequences of fast fashions. For many people it is easier to ignore a problem then to take action to eliminate it. During my E&S course we learned about several different environmental issues but the one that caught my eye was of course, sustainability and fair trade. It was around this time that I began exploring just how awful the fashion industries practices are that the Bangladesh factory collapse at Rana Plaza occurred. I followed the story very closely, wanting understand how this could happen and what was to become of the workers who were injured or of the families who lost loved ones. People have questioned why exactly people would work in such a unstable setting but as Rojina Akter, a survivor of the collapse told NPR, "We are poor. We work to live. We entered the factory because we needed to be paid. But the government should have overseen the construction of Rana Plaza; it was built on marshy land." When I read statements by Rojina Akter and other survivors like her, my heart breaks, no one should ever feel as if the place they work is unsafe. After the Bangladesh disaster I've continued to read up on the industry and way's changes are being made or could be made. I talked about the Rana Plaza building collapse with anyone and everyone, some people were outraged but others feigned a polite sort of interest but really didn't seem to give a damn. These are individuals who would probably like for people to just 'forget' about what has occurred in Bangladesh. But we cannot forget. We cannot go back to wearing clothing that was cheaply made with slave labor. I do not think I am alone in thinking this (in fact I know I'm not, just go on twitter and other social media sites and look at people's outrage) and if we do forget, well then, it is a slap in the face to all of those who have suffered because of the garment industries crimes. It is important that we continue to support garment workers rather then companies, they are the one's which pay the true price in such disasters. Way's to show support vary from buying from ethical companies, to petitions, to calling out misbehaving companies, and calling for laws to be put into place. Those who say that nothing can be done clearly haven't looked into all the different ways individuals can help to enact lasting change within the fashion industry, that, or they are just extremely lazy. It really isn't that hard of a choice to make, is it?