For the past seven years ethical fashion has been getting bigger and bigger. “Mintel estimates that despite the recession the ethical fashion market has more than quadrupled in the last five years, to around £175 million in the UK alone.”
Many of the clothes on the show are made from sustainable fabrics, including loose-knit scarves and jumpers made from nettle, pineapple and super-soft banana fibres.
While its great sustainability is now being taken seriously and designers are thinking of new materials to use, there is no mention of how the garments were made. Many insiders confess that no garment is ever completely ethical especially with big brands.
The trend for ethical fashion is growing... But what kind of ethics? The kind where clothes are made from fruits yet still put together by children? Where working hours are still impossible with pay packets still low?
There is still no worldwide standard as to what comes under ethical.
What do you think ethical should mean? Clothes made from exotic fibres, that are sustainable or clothes made by adults, not children, being paid a living wage?
What should ethical fashion be?
Photo by:Nic Mcphee on Flickr and Creative Commons
Ethical fashion has different meanings to different people. Some people see it as a way to help the environment, some see it as a way to help the workers and some just see it as a way of looking 'good' and boasting about how their clothes are ethical.
ReplyDeleteHowever, i do think the worker's wages and the sustainability of the environment both need to be considered when talking about ethical fashion.