I was once like millions of other bargain hunters. A thrift & charity shop lover who was also on the lookout for the best deals at the mall. Proudly snagging that fast fashion dress on sale for €3 without giving a thought as to how exactly the clothing company could still be making a profit on garments that had been marked down 70%, 80% and even 90%!
It wasn’t until I began my refashioning journey 4 years ago and started deconstructing & chopping up clothing that I actually realized the amount of work that went into creating even the most basic item. It was then that I made the decision to stop supporting unethically produced fast fashion and, in addition to refashioning what I already had in my wardrobe, strictly buy from charity & thrift shops, sustainable makers and stores that have a proven track record of ethical production to create my own unique style.
Isn’t it time for you to do the same?
This amazing infographic by Alexandria Heinz brilliantly illustrates the shockingly high human cost of fast fashion:
Why are you still supporting unethically produced fast fashion?
Disclaimer: I am not at all an expert on the big business of fast fashion however I am a concerned consumer who has chosen to learn & share as much as I can through my own personal experiences & the wealth of resources available online.
My ambition to inform & influence others to step away from unethically (& immorally) produced products is the driving force that motivates me to continue providing fabulous free eco-fashion/accessory/decor tutorials, ethical outfit inspiration and helpful thrifting tips on my Confessions of a Refashionista as well as contributing & sharing my creative skills throughout the online maker world.
Find all of my ethical fashion articles here then check out my E-courses right over here:
and transform your entire wardrobe for pennies with my groovy CoaR tutorial E-book collections right here:
So are ALL fast fashion producers unethical? What about H&M’s recycling initiatives and agreements on more sustainable fast fashion production?
There are most definitely ethical fashion retailers, luckily the convenience of the internet allows us to research brands before we choose to buy. I’m currently working on a post to share as many of these informative sites as I can.
I am not at all an expert on the big business of fast fashion however I am a concerned consumer who has chosen to learn as much as I can through the wealth of resources available online.
Sadly, it seems H&M has been planning “initiatives” and “agreements” for years yet they are still constantly caught with their unethically produced pants down but with a legion of lawyers & a massive PR machine successfully convincing the bargain fashion hungry public that they are (mostly) ethical & sustainable these so-called plans can easily be pushed further & further into the future.
Imagine if everyone suddenly completely stopped buying H&M products…a fair living wage & safe working conditions would probably be in place a heckuvalot sooner than the “planned” 2018.
The Clean Clothes Campaign has several articles detailing H&M’s current unethical practices & future ethical plans: http://www.cleanclothes.org/@@search?SearchableText=h%26m
Interesting how their unethical practices did not get as much airtime as they should. Thanks for the link, quite a lot of info there; info that did not surface when I googled H&M 😀 Such is the power of superb marketing.
I’ve recently made a similar commitment. It has to be thrift if it is not made in the USA. LOVE the graph and I applaud that you show us how to creat our own style even without mad sewing skills. I can sew but who has all that time? I’ve been quietly following your blog for some time now. You keep me inspired. Thanks!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts (& fab compliments 😀 )
As every consumerist society produces, imports & exports both unethical and ethical products I don’t think the answer lies in strictly buying from any individual country but instead choosing to support brands & companies that follow fair wear, fair trade and humane production & business practices. – and of course thrifting & upcycling whenever possible 😉