The Reality Of Garment Workers Around The World
Look down at the clothes you’re wearing. Where did they come from?
Faced with this question, most of us would promptly resort to reciting a list of popular brands or retail stores of the likes of Zara or H&M or Urban Outfitters or Macy’s. Few would name the garments’ true places of origin: China or Bangladesh, perhaps Thailand or India.
Most consumers are oblivious - willfully or unintendedly - of where their garments come from. The unfortunate truth is, most retailers wouldn’t be able to tell you either. Something about the convenience of having cheap, easily-accessible clothes makes it easy for all of us to remain blissfully ignorant.
According to an article published in Vogue, “61% of clothing companies don’t know where their garments were made,” which means most people are unaware of the living conditions of whoever is making their clothes or the fact that the average garment worker in Bangladesh lives on merely $3.00 a day.
Mass production and rising demand result in egregious working conditions for millions of people around the globe. This, however, is no reason to be disheartened; herein lies an opportunity to make a difference. Demanding quality -not only in the products we buy but in the lives of the people involved in their production process-, reducing consumption and simply being aware are all small efforts that can make an extraordinary difference in the lives of factory workers. Here at Remu, we are committed to creating a safe working environment for our manufacturers alongside fair, above-average wages. We hope to inspire you to join us!
How to help
- Buy products that are fairly made and sustainable
- Make an effort to reduce consumption
- Question where your clothes come from
- Steer clear from fast fashion
- Consider the supply chain behind the garments you intend to purchase before buying them
- Spread awareness!
By: Maria Belen Iturralde
