Today is the 5th anniversary of Rana Plaza. If you don’t know what that is, take a deep breath as I give you a quick run down. In 2013, a 5-story building that housed retail stores and garment factories in Bangladesh collapsed, killing more than 1,100 people and injuring 2,500 more. The building was not up to code and deemed unsafe by it’s workers inside, yet they were forced to work in the building or risk losing their jobs and income. This incident sparked some major conversation within the garment and fashion industries. It provoked the interest in transparency within the fashion supply chain and was the basis of Fashion Revolution Week.
We all know those fast fashion stores. We shop at them all the time, me included, because they’re cheap, have all the latest trends, but mostly because they’re cheap. But how much do we know about their supply chain? About the manufacturing of the things we wear? Where exactly is that shirt from that we are wearing today? Is that person who stitched my pants together getting paid a fair wage? I for one find myself asking some of these questions and it’s now more than ever that we as consumers can demand those answers thanks to social media. You can go right in and ask your favorite brand who made your clothes. Fashion Revolution Week was founded with these questions in mind. According to their mission statement, we, the consumers, can work together to “change the way our clothes are sourced, produced and consumed, so that our clothing is made in a safe, clean and fair way.”
I don’t know about you, but that is a powerful statement. We wear clothes every day, but never truly stop to think about the people who made them, the environment they made them in, or the process of how it gets from them to inside the store. We are the ones who can change things since we have the power.
On my Instagram today, I asked Zara #whomademyclothes with a recent favorite piece of mine and posted this photo:
It’s a small way to get involved this week but a great way to get your voice out there and to get some transparency from a brand!
Here are some links for more information:
– Visit the basis of it it all and learn more about why we need a fashion revolution now and what you can do about it at Fashion Revolution
– Watch The True Cost. This is a life-changing movie every single person on this planet needs to watch. If you have ever bought clothing, this is a must for you.
– Read all about the Clean Clothes Campaign. A global alliance to help make sure garment factories are a safe place to work and workers are given rights.
This is something I have felt strongly for since I watched The True Cost a couple years ago. Retailers depend on us to buy their product and to use/wear their product, so don’t we have all the more right to know how that product is made?
+ALYSSA
I’ve been thinking about this more and more lately. I honestly want to start shopping more thoughtfully and slowly. It’s so easy to get caught up in fast fashion and the latest trends without thinking about the supply chain. But since I watched The True Cost, I can’t help but think about it everytime I shop – who made my clothes? Are they being treated fairly? And are they being paid a living wage?
Hopefully more and more people will start thinking about how and where they can shop due to initiatives like Fashion Revolution Week
The True Cost is such an eye opener. Many points I knew about, but never truly thought about. After that movie I couldn't get fair trade, ethical brands, the affect of fast fashion, etc. off my mind!