'Sewing a garment should not be dangerous - but it is.' - Lucy Siegle.
This past Sunday, myself and 1 Million Women's brilliant Sarah attend the All About Women event at Sydney Opera House.
We went to listen to the inspiring Lucy Siegle talk about sustainable fashion and the insights she shared were beyond amazing, and as such I'm here to pass it on to you.
Lucy Siegle is a British journalist, writer and activist for environmental issues. She took to the stage last Sunday to discuss her work in the sustainable fashion industry in the seminar - "Fashion to die for- is fashion wearing out the world?"
Lucy has had great success with campaigns like the Green Carpet Challenge and freely admits that in her past, she was a fast fashion addict, to the excess of owning 19 pairs of jeans at one time.
In the UK alone, it is estimated that the fashion industry produces 80 million new garments every year, with 2 million tonnes of textile waste being dumped in landfill.
Lucy explains, "It's becoming commonplace for people to pay for storage units to keep all their clothing - we can't stop buying."
"We shouldn't be ashamed to love fashion, it can be innovative transformative and empowering. We are in a battle to pursue that element of fashion culture."
It's no secret that the fashion industry targets women, with a seductive illusion that completely distracts from the important questions- Who made it? We need to reflect on the process and stages in the lifecycle for each item.
There are 4 traditional seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter. Right?
OR so we think - within the fast fashion industry there can be up to 50 seasons a year, if not more.
Lucy explains, "Fashion consumers are slaves to the micro trends"
There is big money to be made in the fast fashion world, and to make big money brands need outsource to fast cheap, labour forces. So far removed from their day to day dealings that many brands aren't even aware of who is making what, and at what stage in its creation.
Bangladesh has put all it's eggs into the fast fashion basket, with 80% of their economy coming from the industry - and yet these people are still living hand to mouth every day.
1133 people died in Rana Plaza and 2500 people were injured.
To keep up with our 'mob shopping' and fast fashion western mentalities, many garment workers are being forced to work in unsafe conditions, with very low wages in order to keep costs low. Such was the case at Rana Plaza, April 24th, 2013.
Out of the 28 brands producing at Rana Plaza, currently only 7 have put in for compensation towards the injured workers, and 16 others have contributed to a Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund . Some of the large brands involved had no idea their garments were even being manufactured at this location, let alone in these conditions - so removed are we from the processes bringing our clothing to life.
However, there are some positive moves towards a brighter future. Lucy told that there are currently 150 signatures on the Bangladesh Accord and inspections of factory working conditions are going very well.
What is the Bangladesh Accord?
The Accord is a legally binding agreement between international trade unions IndustriALL and UNI Global, Bangladesh trade unions, and international brands and retailers (Companies). The aim of the Accord is the implementation of a programme for reasonable health and safety measures to ensure a safe and sustainable Bangladeshi Ready Made Garment industry for a period of five years.
What can we do moving forward?
A recent study conducted in Sweden has concluded that fast fashion is not going anywhere anytime soon. Not only is there a consumer demand for it, the work it provides is currently supporting entire economies.
So what can we do as consumers to make sure we're using our money to vote for a better future? Lucy has some excellent tips:
- Make sure the brand you are purchasing from has signed the Bangladesh Accord. You can find an up-to-date list of who has signed by clicking here
- Lucy explains that we should be supporting brands who are working together to make a difference in the sustainable fashion world. When brands come together it shows they are willing to forego the competitive and secretive elements of the fashion industry to invest in a better future. A single brands mission can sometimes be a case of greenwashing, and as we all know actions speak louder than words .
- Purchase sustainable fashion and support the industry. A great resource in your journey is the ethical fashion forum , showcasing sustainable brands from around the world.
- Before you buy an item, make sure you'll be able to wear it a minimum of thirty times (washing in between).
1 Million Women will also be attending this year's Sydney Fashion week, where we will be reporting back to you on all the latest news and garments from the sustainable brands that are involved. Watch this space.