Fairtrade fashion is made by producers who have received better trading conditions, fair working conditions, and living wages. The fair trade movement aims to alleviate poverty and empower producers in developing countries. The industry is huge but often exploits cheap labor in countries with no labor laws or environmental regulations. Fair trade fashion includes clothing, jewelry, and accessories, and is becoming more popular due to media attention and concern for the environment.
Fairtrade fashion is made from clothing carried by the international FAIRTRADE brand, which is an independent consumer label. Fair trade is an internationally recognized strategy designed to create fair access to previously disadvantaged or economically marginalized markets with the goal of alleviating poverty and achieving sustainable development. The focus of fair trade is to help farmers and workers take control of their future by improving their quality of life through the empowerment of producers in developing countries.
A fair trade label on clothing ensures that producers have received better trading conditions, such as long-term trade agreements, fair working conditions, and living wages. Often there is also an improvement in infrastructure such as education and other facilities. Fair trade fashion is made available to the public by many large companies that support the movement towards more ethical fashion.
The garment industry is huge, with an annual turnover of more than US$1 trillion, but many of the products sold are made by cheap labor in countries where there are no labor laws or environmental regulations. Child labor, sub-subsistence wages, lack of health care or insurance, and inadequate disposal of often harmful chemicals all contribute to a system that results in cheap buying for the buyer in wealthier countries. Fair trade fashion is an increasingly successful movement to stop the exploitation of labor and the environment by reversing the trend and seeking a more ethical approach to the garment industry.
Prices for fair trade fashion vary, but since the emphasis is on giving producers a fair deal, there are probably cheaper items in the shops. It is up to the consumer to decide if the cheap prices they pay are worth the exploitation of the most vulnerable societies. However, many fair trade products are competitively priced and it is in the area of style that they face the most competition. It has been found that a consumer is more likely to pay a little more for an item of clothing or fashion item if it is stylish and fashionable. It is not enough to appeal to the ethics of a consumer, the products must also be updated and attractive.
Fair trade fashion includes jewelry and accessories, as well as clothing. More than 4,500 products carry the FAIRTRADE mark, including coffee, tea, chocolate, fruits and nuts, wines and beers. The international fair trade system benefits more than 7.5 million farmers, workers and their families in 58 developing countries. Consumer demand for fair trade fashion is growing as the media becomes more involved in highlighting the ethics or lack thereof behind many aspects of the conventional garment industry. Concern for the environment is also a factor as evidence mounts about the impact industries are having on the planet.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
