They do this by producing these garments in garment factories that pay poverty wages, endanger the health and safety of workers, consume excessive amounts of natural resources, and pollute the environment.
In this column, we will consider alternatives to continue supporting this fashion industry that emphasizes profit over social and environmental responsibility.
First of all, we can all reduce the amount of clothing we buy. However, this is easier said than done. We all want to look our best and feel comfortable in our clothes.
To reduce the need to constantly shop for clothes, we must distance ourselves from the commercial messages of the fashion industry that are designed to make us miserable with ourselves and to buy what they sell, which they say will make us happier / prettier. / better.
The reality is that, no matter how many clothes we buy, we will never look like the models on TV or in catalogs. So stop receiving clothing catalogs, cancel email notices, and watch less TV.
Alternatively, we cannot give up shopping for clothes for the rest of our lives. Fortunately, there are alternatives to continue supporting this unethical fashion industry. A great alternative is shopping at thrift stores / thrift stores / charity shops. These stores are often inundated with clothing that has typically been worn only a few times and the cost is a fraction of what is new.
This is a way to recycle clothes that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
Other ways to recycle clothing include yard sales, clothing swaps, and renting rather than buying clothing, especially for special occasions. All of these approaches have the added benefit of supporting local community businesses and causes, as opposed to national chain stores.
If you decide to buy new clothes, there are also ethical options. You can choose to buy in stores that have high social and environmental standards. One way to quickly assess the top US apparel companies is to search online for the “Green America Scorecard.”
The International Labor Rights Forum also publishes a No Sweat Shopping Guide. When we buy clothes, we can look for a variety of certifications on the label that ensure that the production of raw materials and / or clothes meets social and environmental standards.
If you want to find fabrics that are gentler on the environment, look for the Certified Organic, Eco-Fabric, or GOTS & GOTS Organic labels. Specific fabrics that are often referred to as eco-friendly include organic cotton, organic soybeans, organic linen, hemp, wool, bamboo, silk, and Lyocell (made from wood).
If you want to make sure that workers who produce raw materials or make clothes are treated fairly and receive a living wage, you should look for certifications that include Fair Trade, Made in Unions, Green Business Network Member, GOTS & GOTS Organic or Bluesign.
Each of these standards varies somewhat in the way they evaluate and certify apparel companies, but they all have high environmental and social standards.
The final classification to consider is “Made in the USA.” Unfortunately, this does not mean that the clothing is manufactured responsibly. Many garment factories in the United States are classified as garment factories by the US Department of Labor They employ illegal immigrants and pay less than the minimum wage AND, these factories frequently have multiple code violations.
If this all seems a bit overwhelming when you’re shopping for clothes, remember that the fashion industry makes clothes that it sells. If you and I buy a lot of cheap clothing and throw it away in a few months, that’s what garment manufacturers will continue to produce.
But, if we say “no” to these things and buy some high-quality items from companies that pay fair wages and don’t pollute the environment, the rest of the fashion industry will start to change.
This has already happened in the food industry, where more and more people are buying organic food and “big box” stores have started adding organic options. What are you going to do?
(References to all factual information cited are provided upon request and comments and questions are encouraged: weiss005@umn.edu)
Douglas J. Weiss and Barb Mann own Balsam Moon in Pine River, a spiritual place of peace, sustainability, and renewal.