#SustainableSunday with Petra Němcová: Focus on Ethical Fashion 

There has been a big focus on fashion ethical & environmental impact which is super important, but it is also hard to be 100% sustainable. Many brands are on the sustainability path and are working hard to reach the 100% goal. Let’s support those who are truly committed & honest.  

What is important at this point is not just a commitment to environmentally conscious and ethical fashion but also to slow fashion. From both the customer and brands.

This #SustainableSundayWithVogueCS  let’s look into ETHICAL FASHION. 

Let’s take the example of women in Bangladesh. They have been working in unsafe and dangerous conditions with little pay for many years.

Bangladeshi garment workers, Approximately 4.1 million Bangladeshi garment workers — 80 percent of whom are women, work 10 – 12-hour shifts daily for the mere payment of $96 USD per month, to produce products which are marked up to $50-$200 in their retail stores.

Fair pay for labor is a fundamental human right, but wages paid on average to a garment worker are 2-5 times less than the amount a worker and her family need to live with dignity. Garment workers are unable to afford life's basic necessities, they don’t have social benefits, and can’t save for emergencies.

Recently you may have read about  #PAYUP. If not please read about it more on @cleanclothescampaign. Many brands have not paid up for orders they made and materials which they purchased prior to Covid-19, using Covid-19 as an excuse, they have not paid garment workers for over three months which has had detrimental effects on their livelihoods pushing them to the brink of starvation and homelessness. Bangladesh is not the only country.

Certifications like FairWear Foundation (@fairwearfoundation) and Fair Trade (@fairtradecertified) insures that garment workers are not abused. Some brands are new and getting certifications can take time and it is costly too. If they are ethical they will write about their ethical practices, just make sure that they are paying living wages, not minimum wages, and that they are transparent and are not greenwashing!  

@eticadenim which fab jeans and t-shirt I’m wearing on a photo is one of the many incredible brands which are committed to ethical fashion. This is the way they describe their Fair Trade practices. 

“ÉTICA is Spanish for ethical, and our company ethics include the people who make our brand possible.  The human side of sustainability is a major part of our brand ethos. We are committed to exceeding Fair Labor standards, providing our workers with living wages, health benefits, on-staff doctors, and free meals. A living wage ensures workers have enough income to afford a decent standard of living, to cover their necessary expenses, such as food, housing, healthcare, education, and discretionary items, and allows them to save for unexpected events.

We also provide safe, ability-inclusive employment to senior citizens and individuals with handicaps, who may not be able to find opportunity elsewhere. 

The technologies employed at ÉTICA provide our workers with a unique path to advancement.  The artistry and expertise required to not only operate the equipment but create products especially for this type of production provide valuable experience for the teams.  They are technicians. They are artists. They are family.“

This is the way to treat your employees properly. Reading this makes me tear up and so proud to wear and support ÉTICA!

You can read more about the @EticaDenim commitment to sustainability on eticadenim.com and about Bodhi’s @LovedBaby shorts on lovedbaby.com.

Next week we will dive into ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS FASHION, week after we will address why there is so much focus on SLOW FASHION & then FUTURE OF FASHION. Let me know if you have any questions.