“It’s a time of despair and hope in the fashion industry” – Fashion

“I want you to pretend that the house is on fire. Because that’s the way it is.’ These words by Greta Thunberg, which she uttered at the World Economic Forum last year, are more topical than ever. At the time, it was about the climate, but the description also applies to the clothing industry. During the Corona crisis, millions of garment workers are now victims of the misconduct of brands that are also for sale here. During Fashion Revolution Week, we are not only holding brands around the world to account, but also calling for a necessary system change.

In recent weeks, the items about brands and retailers that flock to their orders due to the Covid-19 crisis CanceledLogically, one might think that they can no longer make full use of their markets, so they must act. But there’s the catch. Large retailers and clothing brands often pay for their orders only after delivery, so that the factory where the production takes place is responsible for the purchase of materials itself. As a result, the international trade union IndustriALL, millions of garment workers have already lost their jobs or are simply no longer being paid. Worldwide, they are therefore Massive on the street. And rightly so.

It is time for brands to take responsibility for the garment workers in their production chain. They are one of the most vulnerable connections, often without health care, social or financial safety nets. And on a global scale.

Workers pay the real price for clothes

Offshoring, which shifted production to low-wage countries, worked in the garment industry in the United States as early as the 1970s. But it was the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that initiated the massive outsourcing of garment manufacturers. This literally gave clothing brands and retailers a free hand, and they struggle to get away with it. As a result, more and more confusing and fragmented production chains are ignoring human rights and placing far too much strain on the environment. There is a weak excuse for brands to turn a blind eye because they do not know – or check – where their production takes place and under what circumstances.

It’s a time of despair and hope in the fashion industry

The real price of a garment is not paid by the consumer, but by the garment worker himself: your wages are often pitiful. For example, a garment worker’s wage in Bangladesh is around 85 euros, while a subsistence minimum to meet basic needs such as food and shelter should be at least twice as high. In addition, the workload is enormous due to the fast fashion system of the brands. It also loses the environment: for example, the clothing and footwear industry would be responsible for about eight percent of greenhouse gases, because factories in these countries, among other things, are still often powered by fossil fuels.

Rusted systems

However, we must not continue to despair. At Fashion Revolution, this is not our institution. Finally, the whole crisis can give us the opportunity to rethink deep-rooted systems in the clothing industry. As ugly as the image is, we can now make the choice to change: choose quality over quantity and put people and the environment first. We don’t have to pollute rivers in Asia en masse to pour our clothes into the hottest colors. We no longer have to buy a new garment every two weeks to follow the trends. So far, we have produced at a dizzying pace.

We must dare to cope with the efforts. Only then can there be a paradigm shift after the crisis

In 15 years our production has doubled. Seasons and mid-seasons flew around our ears, with sales chasing the previous, often cheap, seasonal items over the counter. While this price tag sells more items, it puts enormous pressure on garment workers, who often see their equal pay targets being increased.

Hope makes life

Fortunately, the crisis is forcing us to slow down and appreciate what is already there. Being more conscious in life can lead to more conscious consumption. Even before the crisis, there were more and more initiatives in the winners to drive the fashion industry in a good direction. For example, you have the Fashion Pact, a global coalition that wants to address the environmental impact of the industry, or the United Nations Charter for Sustainable Fashion.

But we must now dare to redeem it. If we maintain this vision and include it after the crisis, it can lead to a paradigm shift. That can work, but then governments must show determination in addition to the brands and turn the reputation of millions of people around the world into a strong policy.

“I want you to pretend that the house is on fire. Because that’s the way it is.’ These words by Greta Thunberg, which she uttered at the World Economic Forum last year, are more topical than ever. At the time, it was about the climate, but the description also applies to the clothing industry. During the Corona crisis, millions of garment workers are now victims of the misconduct of brands that are also for sale here. During Fashion Revolution Week, we are not only holding brands around the world to account, but also calling for a necessary system change. In recent weeks, it has rained down on brands and retailers that have massively cancelled their orders due to the Covid 19 crisis. Logically, one might think that they can no longer make full use of their markets, so they must act. But there’s the catch. Large retailers and clothing brands often pay for their orders only after delivery, so that the factory where the production takes place is responsible for the purchase of materials itself. As a result, according to the international trade union IndustriALL, millions of garment workers have already lost their jobs or are simply no longer being paid. That’s why they’re on the streets all over the world. And rightly so. It is time for brands to take responsibility for the garment workers in their production chain. They are one of the most vulnerable connections, often without health care, social or financial safety nets. And on a global scale. Offshoring, which shifted production to low-wage countries, worked in the garment industry in the United States as early as the 1970s. But it was the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that initiated the massive outsourcing of garment manufacturers. This literally gave clothing brands and retailers a free hand, and they struggle to get away with it. As a result, more and more confusing and fragmented production chains are ignoring human rights and placing far too much strain on the environment. There is a weak excuse for brands to turn a blind eye because they do not know – or check – where their production takes place and under what circumstances. The real price of a garment is not paid by the consumer, but by the garment worker himself: your wages are often pitiful. For example, a garment worker’s wage in Bangladesh is around 85 euros, while a subsistence minimum to meet basic needs such as food and shelter should be at least twice as high. In addition, the workload is enormous due to the fast fashion system of the brands. It also loses the environment: for example, the clothing and footwear industry would be responsible for about eight percent of greenhouse gases, because factories in these countries, among other things, are still often powered by fossil fuels. However, we must not continue to despair. At Fashion Revolution, this is not our institution. Finally, the whole crisis can give us the opportunity to rethink deep-rooted systems in the clothing industry. As ugly as the image is, we can now make the choice to change: choose quality over quantity and put people and the environment first. We don’t have to pollute rivers in Asia en masse to pour our clothes into the hottest colors. We no longer have to buy a new garment every two weeks to follow the trends. So far, we have produced at a dizzying pace. In 15 years our production has doubled. Seasons and mid-seasons flWe’re going to be chasing the previous, often cheap, seasonal items over the counter. While this price tag sells more items, it puts enormous pressure on garment workers, who often see their equal pay targets being increased. Fortunately, the crisis is forcing us to slow down and appreciate what is already there. Being more conscious in life can lead to more conscious consumption. Even before the crisis, there were more and more initiatives in the winners to drive the fashion industry in a good direction. For example, you have the Fashion Pact, a globale coalition that wants to address the environmental impact of industry or the United Nations Charter for Sustainable Fashion. But we must now dare to redeem it. If we maintain this vision and include it after the crisis, it can lead to a paradigm shift. That can work, but then governments must show determination in addition to the brands and turn the reputation of millions of people around the world into a strong policy.