Are you wearing slavery?
With Christmas sneaking up on us in only a few weeks it can be a daunting experience thinking about all the gifts, foods, events, and most importantly, the outfits that need to be planned. Christmas seems to extend far beyond December 25th, it’s a month-long celebration. The work Christmas parties, the family lunches and dinners, the old school friend’s gatherings, the close friend’s brunches, each requiring a different outfit so, of course, you don’t get caught on Facebook wearing the same thing.
There’s a lot to think about this time of year, but perhaps one thing you haven’t considered is where these outfits are coming from. But why is it so important to “think ethically” when venturing on your next shopping trip? The clothing industry is a global one, extending far beyond the reach of Australian anti-slavery laws. Although this business may affect portions of the 4300 estimated slaves within Australia, much of it involves 45.8 million slaves worldwide as part of the production process. Thinking about the clothing you are buying has the power to affect the lives of many, whether we see it or not.
The Baptist World Aid 2017 Ethical Fashion Guide is a great place to start when considering ethical stores to buy an outfit for your next Christmas party. Each year the organisation looks into the supply chains of popular brands and ranks them according to their efforts to prevent the risks of forced labour, child labour and worker exploitation. Some of the highest ranked stores include Zara, Supre, Sussan, Cotton ON, Sportscraft, Country Road, Kathmandu, Sportsgirl and David Jones.
