Child labour in the fashion industry

Photo Courtesy of rene bernal (unsplash.com)

As I mentioned before in my last blog post about the shenanigans that fast fashion imposes, I left out an important issue that deserves to be unmasked.

Child labour.

Unfortunately, the fashion industry does contribute to this type of undertaking that is still happening to this day.

Nearly 1 in 10 children across the globe (around 152 million) are subjected to child labour, almost half of whom are in hazardous forms of work.

https://www.unicef.org/protection/child-labour

Because of the great demand and supply of textiles and garments needed in the industry, brands and other clothing companies rely on this type of labour. Even if they claim they may not be aware of it or turn a blind eye and ignore it is happening. Some companies even declare to consumers that they pose strict guidelines to stop this kind of labour. It is a little hard to believe after learning how much children in the world are still engaged in child labour today.

I can understand how they cannot enforce the guidelines because it is happening in other countries, with different laws and rules. These countries do not provide protection for working children who work or are forced to work and simply do not care as long as the job is done.

But because of the demand for finding cheaper sources to produce the textiles and garments, the fashion industry holds the pioneering role of employing this kind of labour.

Although child labour is prevalent in the most impoverished countries in the world. In many other countries, it is not permitted. The causes, poverty hardships people encounter in these countries and no laws to protect the children, they are taken advantage of. It is a continuous harsh cycle for poverty-stricken families. They are left with no choice to let their children work or even force them to, and the consequences are upsetting. The children are faced with terrible physical and mental harm, restricting their rights to go to school and have proper healthcare, threatening their futures.

In South India, parents are tricked into sending their daughters to work in spinning mills (a place where the production of yarn or cloth is from cotton). Promised that their children will be taken care of, with a suitable place to live, fed nutritious meals, provide training and schooling and a payout after three years. But in the end, they do not get paid. Instead, forced to work long hours, work in hazardous conditions, violated their human rights. To become…

A modern-day slave.

In the statement above, it was hard to declare, especially the particular word slave. It is the description of the reality of what child labour is today. What is harder to grasp is children who are placed into this type of subjection.

““In reality, they are working under appalling conditions that amount to modern-day slavery and the worst forms of child labour.””

— As stated in the SOMO report by the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations.

Here are some examples of the work children do across the world:

Photo courtesy of janine robinson (unsplash.com)

The production of cotton seeds in Benin (West Africa). Harvest in Uzbekistan (Central Asia).

Children transfer pollen from one plant to another and chosen to pick the cotton because of their small hands and fingers (which do not damage the crops).

Yarn spinning in India. Sixty percent of workers at the mills in India are under the age of eighteen. The youngest workers start at the age of fifteen.

In Bangladesh factories, they are used to put garments together. The children dye, sew buttons, cut and trim threads, fold, move and pack the garments. They also do such tasks as embroidering, sequin and smocking (making pleats).

Keep in mind, they get paid way below minimum wage, work long hours, expose to harsh chemicals, and work in hazardous conditions that affect their health. These are little children who have to endure this type of work because of the social inequalities in the world. And it is discouraging that the fashion industry takes advantage of this situation.

By 2025, an estimated 121 million children will be in child labour, with 52 million enduring hazardous work.

https://www.unicef.org/protection/child-labour

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Colleen Moore

Colleen is a second-year student in the professional writing program at Algonquin College. She enjoys reading, old school zombie movies, family game nights and currently found a new passion for poetry. She is either busy doing assignments or playing Mario party with her daughter on the weekends.

Fast Fashion Shenanigans

Photo courtesy of xiaolong Wong (unsplash.com)

A couple of years back, I was disappointed in myself after I learned a little more about what fast fashion was about. And how I contributed to it myself.

I have to admit, I have heard about it before. But not to the extent of what was really happening behind the scenes. I was naïve. I thought of myself as a decent shopper because I really thought I was getting a good deal. But then the hard truth hit me in the face when I learned the harsh effects of what fast fashion was doing to our world.

What is fast fashion?

For those who don’t know: Fast fashion is known for its speedy process of producing trends at a much lower cost, mass production of clothing trends.

It quickly became an instant hit because it accommodated the many needs of consumers acquiring the latest trends and at a more affordable price. It evolved the whole concept of how consumers shop today. But this is the basis of what fast fashion is about and why it has progressed. Retailers have prospered because of this method. The wide range of attraction from the consumers grew because of how quickly it was made available and ready for the shelves in high quantity. It definitely made a mark in the fashion world.

What are the advantages of fast fashion?

If we take a look at a different point of view, as college students, we can see how this can benefit us.

PROS:

• More affordable clothing; an advantage for low-income consumers such as students/youth

• A greater variety of styles

• More convenient and accessible (instant gratification)

And more profitable for the big retailers out there.

But here come the shenanigans to these fast fashion “too good to be true” price tag. The cost of purchasing these kinds of clothing is much more substantial and harmful to our environment. It also contributes to the negative impacts of human beings in this world.

CONS:

• Creates large amounts of waste (unused clothing filling landfills)

• Contributes to climate change (the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions and expected to rise in the coming years)

• The chemical manufacturing process (such as bleaching, dyeing, treatments, etc.) is destroying the environment and human health.

• It creates unfair and unsafe working conditions for the garment workers in third world countries (which have poor labour laws and human rights protection). They also make unlivable wages working in this production.

• And because of the low cost of production, the product suffers. The quality of it is not up to par as many would like it to be, and frankly, it may not last as long either.

I held my breath when I came across the effects implicated by fast fashion. I actually bought clothing from retailers who manufactured at this kind of level. If I knew back then what I do now, I would have made better choices. I would have paid a little more attention. I should have been a much more conscious shopper.

I am trying to this day to be one. As I presently purchase my clothing with sustainability on my mind. I am determined that everything I buy would be useful, necessary, something I absolutely would love and always wear. And I stand here today in front of my closet, amongst my favourite clothing pieces. Proud of the fact that I put so much thought and effort into purchasing something that can benefit our environment and the human lives around the world.

Colleen Moore

Colleen is a second-year student in the professional writing program at Algonquin College. She enjoys reading, old school zombie movies, family game nights and currently found a new passion for poetry. She is either busy doing assignments or playing Mario party with her daughter on the weekends.