Sweat shops in America and the sustainability of fashion

The slow fashion movement was first introduced in 2007 by journalist Kate Fletcher, who detailed fashion’s responsibility in terms of transparency, the production of environmentally sustainable goods and fair conditions for workers. Since then, interest in sustainable fashion has increased across subgroups and gained even more public interest during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted and accentuated the inequities in the fabric of society. He brought wealth inequality, backward-level capitalism, environmental disasters, and racial discrimination—particularly at the George Floyd protests—to the fore.

Since then, consumers have shown interest in seeking more sustainable and fair practices in the textile industry. About 57% of consumers They reported making lifestyle changes to reduce environmental impact. Therefore, brands have responded with signs for supply transparency, use of recycled materials, support for minority communities and, most importantly, self-care.

In the year October 12, 2021 Urban Outfitters introduced Nulli Thrift to its platform, allowing shoppers to shop for pre-owned clothing while browsing their current inventory. This business model has been implemented by many popular brands such as Patagonia, REI, Nordstrom, Levi’s and Lululemon. But there is no evidence that this linear buying pattern has turned into a cyclical one.

Luxury brands capture different markets than more affordable ones. People buying new and buying used can be completely different demographics. In addition, these companies did not reduce the production of new goods. One of the most popular brands, Nike, plans to reduce the carbon footprint of a single item instead of reducing overall production. This shows that big companies and consumers believe that profit and sustainability can coexist.

Speaking of trendy young adult fashion retailers, Urban Outfitters is one of the biggest offenders in supporting American brands like Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, and Fashion Nova in California factories paying their clothing workers. As low as $5 an hour. These brands owe millions of dollars to their workers, often undocumented immigrants, who are still campaigning after the George Floyd protests announced their support for BIPOC.

Urban Outfitters cited its partnerships with Where Are Black Designers?, the HBCU Summer Intern Program, and other LGBTQ and Black empowerment programs. However, the company is one of the biggest culprits in the disenfranchisement of BIPOC workers. This lack of responsibility for garment workers comes from the fact that these retailers are not legally liable for product practices if they feign ignorance.

The sweatshop is not just a matter of us women overseas bending over to sew our clothes. It’s in Los Angeles, home to influencers and wealth inequality.

There are arguments that low wages are necessary to compete with low-wage manufacturers like Bangladesh, but Los Angeles Garments disputes this argument. Created by the founder of American Apparel, Los Angeles Apparel was one of the only Fair Wage brands in the 2010s. The brand currently pays its garment workers an average of $20 an hour by keeping its own factories instead of outsourcing. The Los Angeles outfit is vertically integrated and relatively small.

These issues are just some of the things addressed in the Remake 2021 Fashion Accountability Report. Audits like it indicate that sustainability is not progressing as advertised. While companies have an obligation to employ ethical and fair practices, their responsibility is also profit. So it is the consumer’s responsibility to check sources to find out that 8% of companies pay their workers a living wage and can afford to buy accordingly.