No matter if you’re a fashionista who loves to keep up with the latest fashion trends or just an ordinary gal who see clothes as an ordinary part of her everyday life – you definitely need to hear the story behind the fashion you buy. Just stay with us, keep on reading, and find out about the not-so-fabulous truth about the fashion industry!
Is the fashion industry really becoming cruelty-free?
As you probably already know, animal cruelty is a sad reality of the industry, as millions of innocent animals get killed every year for the sake of fashion. The good news is that a growing number of brands and designer houses are gradually going green, which means that the whole industry is embracing and looking forward to its vegan future. Of course, we must also mention that there are still companies that still use leather made from the skin of cows, alligators, snakes, rabbits, foxes, ostriches, kangaroos, and many more, simply because the pieces made from these are perceived as a symbol of luxury and wealth. However, a lot of designers are supporting sustainable fashion that harms neither the animals nor the environment, which is an extremely important step towards cruelty-free fashion choices.
Is there a lack of sustainability in the fashion industry?
Speaking of sustainability, we must say that some companies have come up with collections of clothes made from sustainable fabrics, and one of them is certainly H&M. They have started an awareness-raising recycling program a few years ago, and they also have a collection of ‘conscious’ fashion items made from sustainable materials. Did you know that the fashion industry is responsible for more than 20 percent of industrial water pollution? That’s because it takes about 700 gallons of water to produce one T-shirt! Apart from water, there are also various chemicals that can cause irreversible damage to our environment, so be sure to support companies that fight for our planet and make sustainable clothes that don’t harm our environment.
Do the consumers actually gravitate towards vegan and organic clothing?
As mentioned above, the fashion industry is gradually becoming vegan as more and more brands and designers have decided to switch from the real leather to its eco alternatives. Of course, this is mainly because a large number of consumers have made an important decision that heavily impacted their choices. As more people are becoming aware of animal cruelty within the fashion industry, the brands needed to find other options for fabrics like real fur and leather, and that resulted in the rise of vegan fashion. Speaking of organic clothing, we must also say that a lot of consumers recognized the importance of organic fabrics like cotton and fleece. Besides these, there are also quality bamboo clothing items loved by thousands of people nowadays as they are hypoallergenic, highly breathable, and easy on the skin. Does it get better than that? Well, yes it does, as they are friendly towards the environment, too!
What about the poor working conditions?
When it comes to the real story that hides behind the clothes you buy, you must know that the majority of pieces you wear on a daily basis were probably made in countries like China or Bangladesh, by the people who earn the minimum wage that simply isn’t enough for them to live a decent life. Do we even have to mention that some companies exploit children for the sake of fashion? This definitely sounds horrifying, but it’s the devastating truth we as consumers must deal with. Some experts even say that such companies don’t respect the basic human rights, paying only the minimum wage established in that particular country instead of providing their workers with the living wage. Besides that, the working conditions are beyond appalling in most cases, which is exactly why there are a lot of organizations that advocate safer and more humane working conditions. Even though not much has changed so far, there’s still hope that people in underdeveloped countries will get the recognition they surely deserve.
As you can see, the story behind the fashion you buy isn’t really straightforward as you probably thought. There are a lot of controversies and problematic aspects that still need to be addressed, but it’s definitely good to know that the fashion industry is gradually moving forward. Even the smallest improvement is a huge step, so we’re sure that it will significantly improve over time. Or at least we hope so!
Mia Taylor is a fashion and beauty enthusiast from Sydney and writer for www.highstylife.com. She loves writing about her life experiences. Travelling and enjoying other cultures and their food with her husband is a big part of her life. She is always on the lookout for new trends in fashion and beauty, and considers herself an expert when it comes to lifestyle tips. Twitter | Facebook
