Do you think Katy Perry was paid less than a living wage to pose for these fast fashion ads?
How the hell do people think a sequin embellished t-shirt can possibly be sold for 9.99 or an embroidered, sequin alpaca sweater or a bloody evening dress for 19.99 unless it is unethically created by underpaid, overworked and mistreated garment workers?? It’s sickening that celebs would promote this BS for a pay cheque instead of using their influence to help educate the public and improve the lives of those who actually make the garments and accessories they’re shilling.
Unfortunately the general public has been conditioned to believe that the crazy prices of unethically produced fast fashion are the “norm” and are constantly on the lookout for even cheaper deals, sadly never giving a thought to how and by whom the garments are made. Trying to actually earn a living wage by creating sustainable, ethically produced products is near impossible as the average consumer expects the same (or cheaper) prices for “handmade” goods.
How can sustainable, ethical makers possibly compete with celebrity endorsed, mass produced, throwaway fast fashion?
Don’t fall for the hype created by the huge, wealthy publicity teams behind fast fashion, discover the truth behind the brands and start supporting ethically produced sustainable products!
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.
It’s all so sickening. I do not feel guilty at all for educating people on their fast fashion choices but I’m realizing that so many just don’t care. That’s sad. Leading by example is key. It’s amazing to me. It’s been 2 1/2 years since I stopped buying retail and incredibly I get way more compliments on my thrifted outfits than I ever did sporting fast fashion. I’m trying to teach my children as I go along but this is where I sometimes hit a brick wall.
I have my fingers and toes crossed that my kiddo won’t get sucked into the fast fashion trap as she gets older – she loves hunting through thrift shops now and completely understands why it’s better to re-use and upcycle than buy new all of the time so I’m hoping my values and lifestyle will continue to rub off on her…
I just watched a segment John Oliver did about fast fashion, and now your article… Honestly, I don’t think any consumer can say they aren’t aware that fast fashion is made by underpaid garment workers in developing countries (and probably child labor). There’s been so much talk about it in the news over the last decade, that nobody can say they had no clue. People just choose to look the other way, or think there’s nothing they can do about it anyway. We’re too consumed by our own problems, our budget and the need to constantly look trendy and stylish. And that’s sad on so many levels.
Sometimes I also feel that my efforts are too little too late. I don’t want to just bash my friends who buy cheap fashion, because that always forces people into defence-mode. And that never helped any arguments. I think all we can do is keep on showing by example that another way of living is possible, even on budget. And that having the most trendy and big wardrobe truly isn’t the key to success, nor happiness.
Leading by example and choosing to be part of the solution rather than the problem is definitely the best course of action and absolutely one of the reasons I continue to share my inexpert expertise on the subject. Unfortunately those who choose to turn a blind eye to such serious problems usually need more than a gentle nudge to make them see the truth and change their behaviours. My wardrobe and lifestyle are the absolute proof that one can be stylish and have a closet chock full of gorgeous garments on an extremely tight budget without supporting unethically produced fashion.
You, and this refashioning hobby that I have picked up, have taught me about ethical fashion and I try to pass it on to others. We had a “dirty Santa” swap at church a week ago and one of the ‘hot’ items was a Michael Kors wallet….. seriously, at a $10 swap! I forgot myself and shouted out “oh for the love, it’s fake and who knows how many children are working for .50 a day to make things like that”!!!!!!!!! One friend actually said “.50 goes a lot farther where they’re from”…… saddened me terribly.
It’s magnificent that you took the opportunity to spread a wee bit of unethical truth to the group, even if it didn’t seem to get through 🙁 someone might remember and stop and think a bit the next time they’re shopping. I would have chosen my words much less carefully, especially when confronted with such an idiotic response. (I was under the impression that ALL church-going folk were supposed to be charitable, think of those less fortunate and do unto others…but as I’m not at all religious I could be wrong)
Perhaps your “friend” needs to watch one of the many documentaries spotlighting the unethical production methods, abuse and death behind the deals she so eagerly snaps up – here’s few to get her started:
https://awesomesauceasshattery.com/2015/01/30/incredibly-high-human-cost-fast-fashion/
https://awesomesauceasshattery.com/2015/05/22/the-e2-t-shirt-experiment/
https://awesomesauceasshattery.com/2015/05/08/jon-olivers-true-cost-of-fast-fashion/
https://awesomesauceasshattery.com/2015/10/16/made-in-bangladesh-a-look-behind-the-label/
I am really interested in all the posts you write about ethical fashion and decided a while back to have an all ethical and sustainable wardrobe. I’m glad I have always been into op-shopping and into my own style and what suited me rather than what was the latest fashion, even as a teen.
Sometimes I wonder exactly how you are supposed to know where things come from. I know it says the Country on tags but then where in that Country and by who etc.
Things from top designers confuse me. I see some lovely things I’d buy if I were rich (one day) that are between $100-$300 (NZ) and they look and feel good quality but how can we tell if the price is high because the workers were payed fairly or because it is by a really good designer like Kate Sylvester or Trelise Cooper or Annah Stretton. You know, they might charge heaps because it is their ‘art’ and they can because of high demand. Not sure if you will know those New Zealand names!
As well as refashioning I enjoy sewing things from scratch using my op-shop 20 cent patterns but I also sometimes wonder if the material I buy is ethically made.
Also is it O.K to buy fast fashion from op-shops? I guess it is all a matter of opinion in some cases. I like how our local church Op-Shops donate the money made to community projects and charities.
BTW, alot of the fast fashion in NZ like Glassons is not even that cheap any more.
Attempting to find 100% ethical and sustainable products in regular stores really is a challenge. The Fair Wear Foundation has a list of ethical brands on their site and The Clean Clothes Campaign provides honest, detailed, up to date reports on brands (simply use the handy search feature).
Unfortunately most of the material in fabric stores is manufactured in similar conditions to fast fashion. Unless you are buying something that is clearly marked as ethical and sustainable you can be pretty darn sure it is not. Companies who actually take the time and spend the money to ensure that their products are ethically and sustainably produced absolutely shout it from the rooftops, add it to the tags and proudly display extensive information about their production policies on their websites.
Buying fast fashion at thrift and charity shops is definitely a personal choice. On the one hand the money is no longer going into the pockets of the unethical brand but on the other hand, you’re still a walking advertisement for the company when you wear the garments regardless if they are second hand or not.
I know of one fair trade brand (eternal creation) that I was lucky to find something of theirs in second hand.
They have some beautiful things and I would love to shop off websites like theirs but we are on a tight budget right now so in the mean time I will enjoy thrifting and refashioning.
Do you have any idea when all of this started? What I am asking I guess is, if you are buying from a particular vintage year or earlier then can you garuntee that it is most likely ethically produced?
I was looking through my wardrobe (things in closet and draws now, not stuff in storage for other Seasons) and think that I must have 90% second hand and alot of my things are NZ made. Wouldn’t things made in New Zealand and similar Countries have to be ethically produced because their are laws about minimum wage.
Thanks heaps for your earlier reply. I am keen to learn more and will check out those links
Unfortunately there are absolutely zero guarantees that any garment from any era was 100% ethically produced. The unethical treatment of garment workers has been happening since mass produced clothing was invented. Unscrupulous companies have (& will) always find a way to cut costs regardless of the labour laws and sadly illegal sweatshops can be found in every country in the world.
Outsourcing the piecework to factories in poor countries began in the mid-1970’s and from there unethically produced “fast fashion” truly began and had completely changed how the general public shopped for clothing by the 1990’s. The rise of the internet has finally given garment worker rights activists an open, worldwide platform to spread the ethical/sustainable fashion message and educate the buying public about just how and by whom fast fashion is made and the actual costs involved behind their throwaway-and-buy-more clothing & accessories. The sad truth is that the average consumer simply doesn’t care and the instant gratification of scoring a new steal of a deal item is more important than pausing to think about who made the garment
I have devoted an entire section of my blog to this topic including documentaries, articles, stats and tips about how to shop ethically & sustainably: https://awesomesauceasshattery.com/ethicalfashioninfo/
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.
Thanks for your reply. It sure is sad. I would love to design clothes ones day and I sure wouldn’t want to get wealthy by paying people 37 cents a day. I can’t believe how little the clothing brands and people care. They may design cool stuff but I can no longer respect most of it
Intelligent people shouldn’t buy these things at all. A weak piece of synthetic of low quality, which never look as good as on the commercial photos. For the quality the price is incredibly high, and people who actually made it with their own hands are ridiculously underpaid, while the people in the business are ridiculously overpaid…
exactly…it’s a never-ending circle that can only be broken by the consumer saying “no” and ceasing to buy the unethical products until changes are made. Sadly the average shopper simply doesn’t care 🙁