Hi there!

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the documentary ‘Fashion Victims.’ I wanted to educate myself further on this topic being an avid online shopper, so I sat down one evening to watch it. Needless to say, I was horrified by the incredibly cruel conditions in the sweatshops of Bangladesh. This eye-opening documentary focuses on the collapse of the Rana Plaza Factory, killing over 1,000 hard-working employees and injuring thousands more. A team of reporters traveled to Bangladesh to expose the dangerous, brutal and downright shocking working conditions. They visited various families of the workers, hearing the truth behind their treatment. In their own foreign tongue, the workers revealed how they are physically & verbally abused by their superiors, severely underpaid and that their working environment is incredibly unsafe, hence the industrial accident of Rana Plaza.

Listening to these sad stories, I could really see the physical & mental implications of working in sweatshops. One woman could barely lie down, her back was so sore. A young girl had taken the job to support her entire family but the pay was so low, she struggled to cover the costs anyway. I felt anger that sweatshops existed at all! I felt sad that I couldn’t help them. I needed to learn which brands were guilty, so I could no longer put my money towards them. As far as I was concerned, purchasing such labels was not shopping ethically. The reporters mentioned the following brands and I know there are many more:

• Forever New
• Kmart
• Mix (Coles Brand)
• United Colours of Benetton
• Zara
• Cotton On

I couldn’t understand why Australian brands would be associated with such cruelty. When the reporters went to speak to the owners of Forever New, they refused to comment. I’ll never forget the face of a husband and wife when they saw what Forever New charged for a simple t-shirt in Australia. Knowing the retail price was something like $60, they could’ve been paid so much more. Why were they keeping the money to themselves? There is so much greed and control in these sweatshops. Civilians are forced to work there or perish from poverty but it doesn’t have to be this way.

So how can we shop ethically? 

• Research your brands before you create demand for sweatshops. If enough of us do this, hopefully we can create change for better conditions, fairer wages & kinder treatment.
• Don’t be afraid to shop in second-hand stores! You can find some amazing pieces that are affordable and ethical.
• Educate others on the subject. This will cause more ethical brands to pop up and those that are unethical, to rethink their choices.
• Invest in a sewing machine and make your own clothes!
• Did somebody say Etsy? No sweatshops here! Just purely talented individuals sharing and selling their homemade wares.
• I’m so happy that Tree of Life were presented on the ethical shopping list. If you haven’t discovered their beautiful clothing & accessories, do so now!
• Ethical shopping is in no way uncool. If you’re familiar with Urban Outfitters, visit the section Urban Renewal for funky, recycled threads!
• Support local businesses!

In conclusion, I strongly recommend you watch ‘Fashion Victims’. It will really make you think twice about your purchases. There is so much that goes on that we don’t know about! Be a part of the solution, not the problem.

Peace & Love xxoo

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I am not being paid or sponsored for this post/products – all my thoughts/opinions are my own