Fair Trade & Its Importance in Ethical Fashion
Fair Trade isn’t just a buzzword used by fashion labels and brands. It’s a movement or concept that is here to stay and is something everyone should abide with. It is also an integral part of the fashion industry and has a role to play in ethical fashion or sustainable fashion too. Ethical apparel manufacturers don’t just have to make their clothing eco-friendly but people-friendly too. Gen Z particularly loves buying from labels that are honest and write in-depth about their manufacturing practices. Today, as a fashion brand, you’re not just catering to a regular consumer. You’re catering to an eco-conscious consumer.
Through this blog, we aim at exploring all the practices fair trade encompasses and why it is so important in ethical fashion.
What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade is a global movement created by a diverse network of stakeholders, companies, producers, and advocates. It aims at helping people in developing countries by offering a stable and safe work environment, ensuring they receive a fair price for their goods, and ethical production methods are used. In the fashion context, it applies to garment workers and cotton farmers. Fair trade clothes are made using ethical business practices. It is not done by a low-waged worker or by resorting to child labour. The environment used to manufacture a garment should be free from exploitation too and the entire community in the workplace must have a voice. When the finished garment reaches the consumer, it should be nothing but responsibly produced.
In a nutshell, fair trade promotes – fair wages, safe and ethical working conditions, environmental sustainability, care and love for the community and no forced child labour.
Today, fair trade clothing has become a green giant. It is all about using eco-friendly methods to care for the planet and reduce harm. The clothes made should be safe for the workers and be good for the planet at the same time.
Principles of Fair-Trade Clothing & Ethical Fashion
Protect Worker’s Rights
By incorporating fair trade clothing practices, it is important that all manufacturers and producers follow the rules. Fair trade is all about treating everyone fairly. This guarantees fair pay, proper working hours and safe working conditions. This is not just for the garment workers but farmers too. By protecting worker’s rights, exploitation and unsafe labour practices are mitigated.
Promote Sustainability
Clothing is one of the biggest contributors of pollution in our country. Fair trade supports sustainable and environmentally-friendly farming and production methods. The materials used too are sustainable such as organic cotton, and the least amount of chemicals are used. It’s also about conserving energy, using green materials and producing less waste. In terms of packaging too, the products are packed in recycled or easily biodegradable materials.
Ensure Transparency
Transparency and accountability are an integral part of fair-trade practices. Whether it’s about how employees are paid or how the clothes are made, transparency should be ensured. Everyone should be sure of what’s going on behind the scenes. In your fashion labels, make sure you disclose your supply chains so that you can build trust with your consumers. This helps eliminate unethical practices that are usually hidden in complex supply chains.
Empower Communities & Children
Enterprises and businesses that follow fair trade practices, also pledge to respect communities and the culture of workers in the producing country. The programs also invest in local education, healthcare and infrastructure. This principle also ensures that there is no child or forced labour. Fair trade production units are also checked to ensure no one is asked to work against their will. Profits too are reinvested in producer communities so that their overall quality of life is improved for good.
Ensure Safe Working Conditions
Safe and healthy working conditions are a must for all workers. There should be no worker abuse, harassment or discrimination whatsoever. Gender equity and freedom of association should be maintained. Women too should be given chances, and full employment rights.
These are some of the most important fair-trade practices. Fair trade is not just important for the fashion industry but from the consumer point of view too, it is of immense importance. A report published by Forbes shows that 60% of millennials prefer buying from brands that follow Fair Trade. However, only 37% end up committing to a fair purchase. This proves that this isn’t just a random buzzword but people are actually eco-conscious. Fair Trade also promotes ethical consumerism. This means that consumers are slowly becoming more mindful about their purchases. They’d rather buy less but better.
In Summary
Fair Trade is surely an important part of ethical fashion. It aligns with purpose and ensures each person behind the manufacturing of every garment is treated fairly and the environment too is respected. Most design institutes in India have to have a module on Fair Trade as part of their curriculum. As a budding designer, it is important for you to know the fashion laws and the ethical fashion principles.
