Ethical Fashion - does it exist?
| izant |
 Posted: Tue, 15/01/2008 - 11:56am |
|
|
Can fashion be ethical? Is organic t-shirt in Primark really organic? Is Tesco organic range ethical or produced in sweatshops? What is your point of view? Please help me with these, or any other 'ethical' questions. I am writing a dissertation "Can Fashion be ethical?". I need other people opinions or maybe you can share an interesting link, etc Thanks |
| MrPlatinum |
Posted: Tue, 15/01/2008 - 12:08pm |
 
|
Check out the blogs, loads of stuff there: http://fuk.co.uk/blog/marian/matthew_williamson_-_give_man_break http://fuk.co.uk/blog/marian/howies_shop_party http://fuk.co.uk/blog/marian/wwf_deeper_luxury_report_-_what_labels_celebs_should_avoid http://fuk.co.uk/blog/karensavage/eco_christmas_sample_sale http://fuk.co.uk/blog/karensavage/%E2%80%9Chis_and_hers%E2%80%9D_christmas_ethical_smellies http://fuk.co.uk/blog/marian/fast_fashion_piece_in_the_independent http://fuk.co.uk/blog/marian/gap_child_labour_accusations http://fuk.co.uk/blog/marian/ive_signed_up_to_tescos_greener_living_website |
| jet |
Posted: Tue, 15/01/2008 - 12:10pm |
|
|
Most definitely read Marian's blogs on here and perhaps Maz would kindly supply you with a quote you can use if you ask. Also, try and contact Safia Minney at the People Tree, or at the very least find out about People Tree. You could try Simon Birch at Ethical Consumer who is a wealth of knowledge on this, but sadly he's pretty unlikely to be able to spare the time. The UK criteria for what makes an item organic is pretty interesting, but if you're talking ethics then you should focus more on the production in terms of who makes items, for how much, and what their working conditions are. Also, make sure you talk about the nature of fashion and fast-turnaround trends, and the high level of consumption that this encourages. Oh, and, an item can be organic and still produced in a sweatshop, but your confusion is probably representative of the general public. be careful to clearly state exactly what you mean when you say ethical. |
| sofasogud |
Posted: Tue, 15/01/2008 - 10:31pm |
|
|
I think writing about American Apparel could provide some interesting points. On the one hand their clothes are produced in US non-sweated conditions but on the other hand they use non-union labour. Also, their ads are exploitative of women and use some problematic imagery. |
| Noble Locks |
Posted: Tue, 15/01/2008 - 10:38pm |
|
where is our mazza? |
| EVERS |
Posted: Tue, 15/01/2008 - 10:55pm |
|
|
Edun (Bono's missus' label, designed by Rogan Gregory, of Rogan fame), is all about ethical clothing. |
| Noble Locks |
Posted: Tue, 15/01/2008 - 11:20pm |
|
|
talking of rogan, has any other label that was condidered so cool and was so revered ended up so shit and unworn by anyone cos they just didnt keep up with the times and just died?? |
| colm |
Posted: Wed, 16/01/2008 - 2:54pm |
|
|
i really like what howies is all about. i just don't like the clothes very much. AA is a good example of how it can be done at scale (ignoring the CEO's penchant for wanking on his employees). Tesco and M&S have just committed to not using uzbekistani cotton. |
| YellowBear |
Posted: Wed, 16/01/2008 - 4:21pm |
|
Dunno if you can use this but And1 may be interesting to look at. They donate 5% of profit to charity. Many other labels organise/sponsor charitable events but may just be a marketing gimmick to sell more? American Apparel is def a good one to look at too. What is your course? |
| andymakesglasses |
Posted: Wed, 16/01/2008 - 4:24pm |
|
i really like what howies is all about. i just don't like the clothes very much. same for me, I keep getting the catalogues in the hope there's something I like, but so far out of 3 years' worth of catalogues I've only actually bought one womens t-shirt (not for me) |
| MilSpex |
Posted: Wed, 16/01/2008 - 6:19pm |
 |
"Sweatshops" are good. They give people fucken jobs. Nobody forces them to work there. Think their wages are low compared to ours? Of course they are you stupid fuck, if factory workers earned what they would earn in a Western factory they`d earn more than doctors in theirs, and all the doctors would want to work in the local Nike factory. Fact is manufacturing in developing countries is good for everyone. Lower prices for us, jobs and investment for developing countries. Fuck your do-gooder "ethical clothing". |
| subfunktion |
Posted: Wed, 16/01/2008 - 6:25pm |
|
"Sweatshops" are good. They give people fucken jobs. Nobody forces them to work there. Think their wages are low compared to ours? Of course they are you stupid fuck, if factory workers earned what they would earn in a Western factory they`d earn more than doctors in theirs, and all the doctors would want to work in the local Nike factory. Fact is manufacturing in developing countries is good for everyone. Lower prices for us, jobs and investment for developing countries. Fuck your do-gooder "ethical clothing". |
| YellowBear |
Posted: Wed, 16/01/2008 - 7:01pm |
|
|
"Sweatshops" are good. They give people fucken jobs. Nobody forces them to work there. Think their wages are low compared to ours? Of course they are you stupid fuck, if factory workers earned what they would earn in a Western factory they`d earn more than doctors in theirs, and all the doctors would want to work in the local Nike factory. Fact is manufacturing in developing countries is good for everyone. Lower prices for us, jobs and investment for developing countries. Fuck your do-gooder "ethical clothing". In some cases its not good if those in higher paid jobs, such as managers, are from another country. If these ground level workers are stuck in dead end jobs then they are simply just doing what is best with the given situation as imposed by some exploitative multinationals. If on the other hand, companies are teaching locals business and specialist skills then this is actual development, which is "good". Although, my perspective is that if intellectual property is given away to developing countries (that have most of the natural resources too) most developed countries would be fucked. Ultimately you end up fucking yourself over. A very cynical view I know but equality and REAL fair global trade is an idealism, at least with the current political and economic climate. You just got to appreciate that you are on the more advantaged side for now and that there will always be inequalities. |
| izant |
Posted: Thu, 14/02/2008 - 1:38pm |
|
|
apologies for replying so, so late.... I study fashion desing |
| eent |
Posted: Fri, 15/02/2008 - 5:00pm |
|
talking of rogan, has any other label that was condidered so cool and was so revered ended up so shit and unworn by anyone cos they just didnt keep up with the times and just died?? Duffer? |
| Noble Locks |
Posted: Fri, 15/02/2008 - 5:24pm |
|
|
no mate, duffer went to big (debenhams) that was their problem. |
| joe151 |
Posted: Fri, 15/02/2008 - 5:56pm |
|
|
Most expensive prices for us in the uk, jobs and investment for developing countries.
|
| izant |
Posted: Thu, 06/03/2008 - 5:52pm |
|
|
Thanks everyone for taking part in my post:) Interesting things to consider: 2) what about haute couture?? Is hand made, locally in Paris with traditional skills, etc... the only think that it's completely not moral is the price for me.... what do you think ?? |
| jet |
Posted: Thu, 06/03/2008 - 6:12pm |
|
|
Thanks everyone for taking part in my post:) Interesting things to consider: 2) what about haute couture?? Is hand made, locally in Paris with traditional skills, etc... the only think that it's completely not moral is the price for me.... what do you think ?? i'm thinking, fail. |
| YellowBear |
Posted: Sat, 08/03/2008 - 2:32am |
|
|
harsh izant shouldn't u be finding loads of ideas from research? Must be a fair few newspapers articles, books and journals on this stuff? I doubt you'd get much opinion on ethical fashion on here. u don't seem to have got very far in two months. |
| dan-tours-velos |
Posted: Sat, 08/03/2008 - 2:45am |
|
timberland own howies fwiw |
I was away for a bit