As the seasons begin to change and the British weather (unfortunately) becomes beyond unbearable this winter once again, there comes a concurrent rise in the need for new clothing. Inevitably, people begin to excessively spend their money on reshaping their closets in accordance with seasonal changes, fashion trends and more significantly, prices. Nonetheless, while it is appealing to pay the lowest possible prices for a luxury like plentiful clothing, it is important we consider our sources first and the effects this may have on many who are exploited to fulfil our seemingly harmless desires.
In many third-world countries like Bangladesh and India, children are continuously forced into child labour to earn a living for their poverty-stricken families, reaching a number of around 170 million (ILO) who are engaged in this exploitative work. Out of desperation, and regrettably, as a last resort, these children work long hours making garments and textiles contributing to the soaring fashion industry, in order to satisfy the demand of consumers in many Western countries, receiving very little reward for their work and low pay in harsh conditions. Although the fashion industry is not the sole contributor to the issue of child labour, it is undeniably one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, estimated to be worth around £26 billion in the UK – yet while the economy benefits and the people benefit, the children responsible for keeping us warm and clothed are given no consideration and no humane treatment.
While this remains an issue hard to resolve on our own, the minor changes we can implement in our lives should never be overlooked. It starts simply by doing our research and finding out which clothing brands are ethically sourced and which aren’t – understandably, it is both time-consuming and costly to find ethically sourced clothing, so simply buying from local charity shops can have a bigger impact than we may think.
Choosing to put ethics before convenience ensures that we create a world in which we are progressing rather than moving backward, and with growing industrialisation, it is unacceptable to justify the exploitation of countless innocent lives. As individuals in a more privileged society, what may seem a small contribution has a far greater impact on many of the helpless lives who have allowed us to live in luxury – to return this favour, even through a small gesture like boycotting, can lead to a change much bigger.
