Lacking Social and Environmental Transparency in the Fashion Industry

Although this is not universally true, most overseas labour in third world countries like Bangladesh, China, India and Vietnam, is unethical. Unsafe working conditions can become fatal, whether it’s from chemical exposure, building fires or collapses. Impoverished employees are placed in even more vulnerable positions with an extraordinarily low pay that doesn’t even come close to a living wage. Women and children are overworked, up to 12 hours a day during the busy seasons. Employers cut all these corners in an effort to save money. Why repair fire alarms when you can put that money right into your pocket? These conditions are made possible by the lack of workers unions and human rights regulations. 

Overseas manufacturing isn’t inherently bad. It started out as american companies outsourcing labour to countries where labour is less expensive. This is true where the facts are concerned, the American dollar goes much further in Bangladesh. It also makes sense to create a labour industry where jobs are needed. It’s a great deal for both parties. When western countries began putting pressure on overseas manufacturers to lower garment production costs even further, they started cutting costs at the expense of their employees. Suddenly this deal was made sour by greed.