I love the fashion business but it has changed a great deal since as a young girl I first dreamed of having my own store. One of the saddest events for me occurred on April 24th of 2013 when the Rana Plaza collapsed killing and injuring thousands of innocent garment workers in Bangladesh.
It took months for leaders in the “fast-fashion” world to help those that were struck by tragedy that day, and some companies have done nothing.
At the same time there are many companies doing a great deal to improve conditions for their workers in these countries but the result is higher costs for their garments.
I know fashion is important to us. It adds to our self esteem, our creativity and our image in society. But it should not be at the expense of people in other parts of the world just so we can have it at the lowest possible price.
As consumers and small retailers, we cannot fix all the unsafe buildings, underpaid workers and child labour abuses, but we can take responsibility for what we purchase. If we purchase clothing that is so inexpensive that we have no guilt about throwing it away after a few wears, it was likely made at the expense of workers in countries such as Bangladesh.
Today, when we remember the 1133 workers that died, let us also remember that we have some alternatives.
- Shop with intelligence. Purchase what fits you and will last for more than one season. Try to resist a purchase simply because it is such a great price. You may find you spend less if you buy for quality.
- Be conscious of where your clothing is made. Not everything made abroad is made to be the cheapest price. Look for quality made clothing. If you don't know how to determine this, ask the sales associate.
- Vote with the power of your wallet because it will directly influence the actions of corporations.
If we care as much about what we put on our bodies as what we put in our bodies we will find alternatives to cheap clothing. There is a great deal of information available on the web if you want to educate yourself. (see below).
Katie O'Brien
Co-owner and buyer at Plum Clothing Ltd.
More information on the Rana Plaza Tragedy:
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/episodes/2013-2014/made-in-bangladesh
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/20/rana-plaza-bangladesh-disaster-anniversary
http://www.businessoffashion.com/tag/rana-plaza
http://www.businessoffashion.com/2014/04/op-ed-rana-plaza-disaster-marks...
