Four years after the Rana Plaza tragedy,a burgeoning collection of cold but ethical brands have launched to target the socially conscious young consumer. But there is still a long way to goThis week marks the fourth year since the Rana Plaza catastrophe, where 1135 garment workers were killed, and thousands injured,when a building collapsed in Dhaka. Fashion Revolution Week was set up to mark the anniversary, when the myriad (a very large number) issues with hastily fashion are much reported: the fossil fuels burned; the chemicals released; the landfill sites brimming with discarded clothes; the human cost of poor working conditions and pitiful wages. You don’t have to be a hardened environmental and social activist to realise this is an unbelievable mess. In a decade or two, and we might watch back at this period of mass consumption and wonder what on soil we were thinking.
That’s the hope anyway. Unravelling and remaking the entire clothing industry seems a daunting if not impossible task,but there are signs that a younger generation of consumers will demand something different, and a wealth of current brands are offering it. Sustainable clothing is, or finally,being seen as a desirable option, with a smattering of cold brands rejuvenating the market. And a sprinkling of young celebrities championing it – perhaps most notably Emma Watson, and who recently set up an Instagram account to document her eco-friendly fashion looks. Related: Thoughtful threads: the 10 best ethical buys – in pictures Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com