FAST FASHION CAUSED THE LARGEST SUICIDE WAVE IN THE WORLD (India)
People are dying in factories to produce clothes for western societies, who walk around purchasing something ‘cheap’ with pride, which has actually had blood, sweat, tears and family destruction as a byproduct. Retailers, especially fast fashion orientated brands do not own the factories, yet their pressured demands of lowering cost per unit and benefiting from economies of scale means meant the factory owners and workers compromising on safety/working conditions as a last resort. This has continued for 15 further years, plummeting the already poor into a deeper state of living where wagers are lower, conditions are worse and less people care as it is not publicly discussed, nor visualised. A cohesive, socially responsible brand is to make the consumer fully aware.
Second hand clothes now goes to Hati which used to have a rich tailoring industry, yet as Hati does not have a cultural association with quality and ‘class’, tailors from within fashion hubs or more established countries were instantly favoured through modern history, abolishing the trade. A London tailor will always be chosen for quality, yet the Hatian tailor for the price. Considering the social implications this could cause, especially in the countries where these clothes are made, modern slavery is occurring. Distortions in offspring, villages of retarded children and toxins polluting villages from dying fabrics
MLK ‘Revolution of Values’s highlighted to ‘stop treating like things and people in a way which was just about profit, instead treat people in a real, human way.’ The updating of fashion is necessary for progression in society, yet it needs to be in an appreciative way- making products more valued and last longer- a nostalgic idea but its premise could be transferred in a contemporary way- such as making high street fashion like an event. Could even charge tickets for store admission to make up for the dip in profits, and celebrate the creativity of fashion and people. Look at fashion as an experience, manage profits another way. We think we need that item, we don't actually need- another item would do just as fine with imagination, yet in a search for happiness we deserve better than that, so no matter the cost the consumer wants it because it needs it to feel alive. A cultural shift in values would position clothing with the ‘luxury’ goods, raising prices but also raising qualitative commodities- possibly increasing brand loyalty, image and integrity along the way. Future of fashion industry perhaps?
The categories of ‘disposables' compared to ‘luxuries’ impacts how clothing is now perceived, and will act as a benchmark of societal consumption indefinitely. Just like being born into darkness can make you a monster, being born into a state of not knowing anything other than consuming regularly, cheaply and often is the right way to behave.
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- The idea of having fashion as an event would only work for middle bracket retailers- or would it? By taking more couture aspects forward needs to be done respectfully, yet in a way to enhance the present shopping experience…
- If Primark charged £2 on the door every time a new collection came out, providing an exclusive ‘early access’ for eager shoppers wanting the most up to trend things, people may still go elsewhere as it is still more expensive than it was before.
- If Topshop charged £2 on the door every time a new collection came out, yet the collections were limited, I think people would pay it for the early access, convenience to try on, service/store factors and size flexibility when trying on.
- Will prices only ever go down without a mental shift at looking at goods?
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People consume for multiple reasons, yet increased consumption levels have lead to an increase in mental illness- depression and anxiety mainly. We were a generation born into it [back up with statistics].
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