WHY FAST FASHION IS A FEMINIST ISSUE

Have you ever come across a fast fashion shirt with a feminist slogan on it? Let's think twice about that.

According to the Labor Behind The Label campaign, about 80% of textile workers are women between the ages of 18 and 35. Many have children and families to take care of and these jobs are their only source of income. In Bangladesh for example, this primary income is approximately equal to 5,000 takas, or $97 per month.

Labor Behind the Label's report on working conditions in garment factories in Cambodia found that poor ventilation and heat, lack of water, excruciating long hours, and exposure to chemicals in factories have led to frequent occurrences of fainting and malnutrition among workers. Then there is the real and present threat of death, as seen in horrific disasters such as the 2013 fire at a clothing factory in Pakistan and the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh. Around 80% of the 1,129 people killed in the factory collapse were women, along with some children. Rana Plaza is a shocking wake up call for the fashion industry. It has since then brought the unethical and dangerous working practices of third world garment factories into light. As a result of this disaster, many clothing brands have taken steps to take better control of and change their supply chains. However, there are still thousands of brands that don't know or care about the workers behind their products.

So how can we help? We can start by simply not supporting famous fashion brands that exploit third world labor by not paying livable wages. Consumer resources like the Good On You app evaluate thousands of brands to showcase the transparency of their manufacturing and working practices in order to shed light on the people that made their clothes and the conditions they work under.

It seems reasonable to assume that the cheaper clothes are, the more likely they were made by an exploited woman. But keep in mind that even luxury brands have shady production paths.

If you're looking to take your conscious consumerism one step further, there are countless brands that actively support and empower female workers. It's also worth mentioning that many of these brands make high-quality clothes that rival any high fashion chain. Let's start being more mindful of the labor behind the label.