Giving Bootcamp - Fashion Conscience

In a world saturated by fashion labels jostling for top position, constantly bludgeoning us with the latest must-have items from shoes to handbags to jeans, it’s important to know just how some of our favourite things are actually being made.

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

Every clothing item we buy goes through several sta ges along the supply chain. At each stage there are ethically questionable scenarios that may arise:

•  Were toxic pesticides used to create the cotton, causing illness and even death to farmers and neighbouring residents, and damage to the environment ?

•  Were unnecessary amounts of water used in the creation of the fabric?

•  Was the garment produced in a sweatshop overseas where the workers were underpaid and forced to live and work in an unsanitary and/or toxic environments?

•  Were children engaged in the production of the garment?

•  Did a home -based out worker in Australia get paid as little as $2.50 per hour for their work?

•  What were the carbon emissions from the creation of the fabric, which was then turned into a garment and transported?

These issues are exacerbated by trend-driven, cheap fashion of poor quality that turns into landfill at the end of each season.

I’M JUST ONE PERSON – IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO?

“Conscious consumerism” involves being aware of what you buy and how it was produced. By actively choosing ethical clothing you can do your bit to give hope and protection to workers who are often abused by some of the biggest global fashion companies’ work practices.

Making the right clothing choices can allow you – the consumer – to play an active role in initiating change. If we refuse to purchase goods made in an unethical way, we choke the supply chain and diminish the credibility of any company involved in poor production practices.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT’S ETHICAL?

Q1: Where was it Purchased?

Was it purchased from a retail signatory to the National Retailers Ethical Clothing Code?

Q2: Does it have the Ethical Clothing Australia trademark?

An accreditation system has been developed by Ethical Clothing Australia, a not-for-profit government-funded organisation that provides assistance for workers by helping the companies that employ them, ensuring companies meet stringent production requirements. Businesses can gain accreditation and use the Ethical Clothing Australia trademark.

Q3: What do the small tags say?

The washing instructions are usually on a small tag on the right inside seam. This tag will also tell you where the garment was made and what fabric was used. This can be more telling than the “organic/fair trade/eco tags”, which can be misleading.

If the garment requires hand washing and gentle care it usually means no or less harmful finishes were applied.

Kate Fletcher, who wrote the book Sustainable Fashion & Textiles, recommends that consumers avoid the following f abrics an d chemical processes. While the y are unlikely to affect the wearer of the clothes, they may harm the workers who are exposed to the chemicals without knowledge, understa nding or precautionary measures . The wastewater also wreaks havoc on the environment, the local people and animals.

•  Polyester 

•  Dyed cotton using reactive dyes

•  Optical brighteners 

•  Bleach 

•  Textile printing

•  Chemical finishing  - whereby clothes are treated with chemicals to create a desired finish , making a garment, for example, softer, shrink resistant or crease resistant

•  Mothproofing for wool

•  Flame retardants 

•  Polythurethane  coating

OTHER WAYS TO ENCOURAGE ETHICAL CLOTHING

Ask questions

Ask the sales people at your favourite s hops about what they’re selling . Make them aware that you care about the practi ces involved in the production of the clothes.

Be informed

There is a lot of information online, including a number of Facebook groups you can join that can help you to keep up to date with relevant facts.

Use your voting power

Find out what campaigns are being organised by FairWear Australia. Sign petitions and write letters to questionable companies. Consumers can be a powerful tool in motivating governments to monitor and police companies in their production chains, change legislation and raise awareness. If we vote with our wallets, companies will take seriously their duty to protect their workers.

FAIRWEAR AUSTRALIA

FairWear Australia is dedicated to protecting home-based outworkers, many of whom come to Australia from war torn countries – desperate for work in Australia, only to find themselves working for minimum wages in often poor and cramped conditions. According to the organisation :

•  There are more than 300,000 home-based outworkers in the textile , clothing and footwear industries in Australia

•  Home-based outworkers are mostly women from non-English speaking backgrounds

•  Home-based outworkers often receive as little as two to three dollars an hour. They often work up to 18 hours a day, seven days a week

Since 1996, FairWear has been organising campaigns designed to “address the gross exploitation of workers who make clothing at home in our Austr alian community.” These includ e letter-writing driv es to retailers and politicians , consumer awareness programs and protest actions.

“ Public support is critical to ensure these workers are protected. Australians are concerned about where their clothes come from. They pay a good amount of money for their clothes and want to make sure that it’s g oing to the people that make it. ”

Daisy Gardener, Campaign Coordinator , FairWear Victoria

ACCREDITED BUSINESSES LICENSED TO DISPLAY THE “ETHICAL CLOTHING AUSTRALIA” TRADEMARK

•  Qualitops

•  ADA

•  Poppets

•  Yakka

•  Tuffa

•  King Gee

•  Can’t Tear Em

•  NNT

•  Dowd

•  Blue Gum

•  Puma

•  Collette Dinnigan

•  Jets

•  Harmony Fashions

•  Pinnacle

•  Snugglerite

•  Classic Sportswear

•  Surrey Clothing

•  Totally Corporate

•  Dayoub Clothing

•  Rayona Frock Manufacturing

•  Beauteston

•  New Model Beauty Queen

•  Fabri Cell

•  Dina Corporate

•  Lifestyle Australia

•  CUE

•  Mr K

•  Bardot

•  Redbox7

•  Monkey & the Brown Man

•  The Social Studio