Ethical Fashion In A Hindsight To Help You Understand
Orsola de Castro once said, “Demand quality, not just in the products you buy, but in the life of the person who made it.”
The term sustainability is ever-growing and contains thousands of different meanings. Like culture, wherever you go, you find new perspectives while still wondering about the original feature. Some people define ethics in fashion as being long-lasting and proudly woven with every piece. Some others think of it as the value being put over the production process.
While both are correct, there are still unsaid facts behind ethical fashion which are often overlooked by customers, even manufacturers. Like what Orsola mentioned, people are the most important factor. In any business, human resources are considered as one of the crucial assets in making everything work perfectly. Thus, why isn’t this concept considered in fashion?
The Garment Worker Centre states a statistic that’s sad, but not shocking. A piece rate of 2 to 6 cents per piece is paid to about 85% of garment workers in place of the minimum wage. The majority of garment workers put in 60 to 70 hours a week for an average take-home pay of $300. Workers toil in hazardous conditions without receiving overtime pay. The fast-paced, demanding demands of the work usually cause them to acquire physical illnesses.
The objective is to create a system that functions while leaving no trace behind. Fair pay supports education and directly enhances the standard of living for workers. Of course, there would be more happiness in the world if everyone made a living income.
Complexity is not a justification. Brands can alter their business practices to guarantee that garment workers receive a living wage. For example, other than providing adequate wages internally, PRLA strives to hold the ethical title to our best possible effort. We are currently collaborating with LindungiHutan, an organisation that lets you donate two mangrove trees with every purchase of our products, to fulfil our sustainable fashion needs.
But, on the side, we also take social welfare into account. Through this collaboration, we provide new opportunities for the local farmers at Benoa Bay, Bali to care for the environment by building rather than harvesting trees. In conclusion, chances are everywhere, and you just need that one step to revive it.
Be a sustainable and ethical warrior starting today!