Comment: Three ways to be ethical and still look great
By Rebecca Quinn
I'm sure that, like me, you were shocked by the pictures of devastation and suffering caused by the Bangladesh garment factory collapse a few weeks ago in which over a thousand people died.
But perhaps the most shocking thing of all, was that none of us could be sure that what we were wearing had not come from somewhere like that factory. Somewhere where the quick production of cheap clothes came before the safety and the rights of the workers who made them.
I’ll be honest with you. Like many people, I’ve found my conscience flexible enough in recent years to ignore what I know about the fashion industry’s practices. I’ve seen the headlines about the poor conditions of garment workers and I’ve continued to buy cheap clothes – and accommodate my guilt. My books balance better, and in these straightened times it’s a compromise I've been willing to make.
But I've changed my mind. In a better world, the Bangladesh tragedy would be followed by rapid action on the part of all international garment producers to ensure safe conditions for factory employees. And there has been some progress. Legislation in Bangladesh is being signed by stakeholders like Primark and Benetton. However, it all feels like a little too little, a little too late.
So I've decided to take my clothes off. In fact, I think we all should. In a manner of speaking.
I've decided to go big brand free – until I can go into a shop and know for certain that no one has paid the price for my cheap clothes. It might seem like a small act. One individual's choice is not going to make big brand fashion companies change their behaviour overnight. But ten years ago, fair trade food items did not line our supermarket shelves. And every single person who gave up buying non-fair trade tea, coffee, fruit and other sundries is responsible for that success.
Here’s how you can be responsible for another one:
Go retro
This one should be easy. Second-hand fashion is all the rage. So why not make a habit out of it? From charity shops to second-hand websites, there are many viable options.
One of the reasons big name clothing companies get away with bad practice is because demand is so high. By buying second-hand, you will help to reduce that demand.
Do it yourself
Just a couple of generations ago, most people made their own clothes. And if you dig out some old pictures of your grandparents, you’ll probably find that they look pretty good.
This one’s back in fashion too, as belts tighten. You can always update items of clothing you already have if you're worried about starting from scratch. So why not give it a go? (It’s also gentler on your ego than unflattering shop lighting.)
Ask and you will receive
This one’s a bit of a cheat. It’s not a practical tip, but it’s something we can all do to put pressure on big brands to behave better.
Next time you pass a high street clothes shop, why not go in and ask the manager if they have a fair trade guarantee on their clothing? You don't have to get into a long conversation about it, but you can ask for your query to be passed on. If this starts to happen on a big scale companies will change their policies. Try it. Tell your friends how it went.
I'm not saying that any of these things are a magic bullet for big bad fashion. But they are steps that we can take in our day-to-day lives to take a stand against the true price of cheap clothes. And like the fair trade movement, if enough of us come together and chose an alternative, the market will have no choice but to follow suit.
Rebecca Quinn is a grassroots campaigner for social justice and sustainability.
The opinions in politics.co.uk's Comment and Analysis section are those of the author and are no reflection of the views of the website or its owners.
