| Bad Rags to Glad Rags |
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| Written by Site Admin | |
| Wednesday, 03 January 2007 | |
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As Green Threads Inch Toward Tipping Point There are many good news stories out there filled with inspiration when it comes to the greening of our threads. There’s the Bono-inspired Red range, featured in our last issue; African benficiary, ethically produced T-shirts at Armani and Gap; a new line of Fairtrade jeans from Levi; the Look Behind the Label campaign care of Marks and Spencers and of course, the straight talking anti-fur window dsplay campaign from high street flagship, Topshop. Others in the green corner include: Gossypium, Patagonia, People Tree, Howies and Hug. These pioneering brands address the fairtrade issues; saying no to the fashion industry parasites who still use oil and pesitcide technologies; who still refuse to give fair conditions and a decent working wage and who pollute on a global scale for all of our tomorrows. Many well deserving, emerging less well-known brands are also edging into the fray, and now the RSPCA awards in the UK which in just one year have become the emblem of excellence for the majority of the food and cosmetics companies, nearly all of whom submitted entries. However to make a speedy ascent from this heady utopia, only two fashion organisations were represented. Topshop and Marks & Spencer were dream green candidates. Well known, packaged, innovative, names who are serious about fashion and who take an ethical and cruelty-free manufacturing stance. What of the others in the fashion industry? Perhaps they missed the email? We are well aware we can put retailers on the spot by asking leading questions on the origins and ethical processing of leather. But then again snakes, ostriches and crocodiles are mostly farmed exclusively for their skins and are brutally culled to preserve the skin, in some cases while they are still alive. This for bags and footwear but what about all those accessories, buttons and trimmings? Sadly, ignorance and indifference is sometimes the case as a reponse to our questions from underpaid, couldn’t care less staff. The status symbols of free-range and organic foods known for superior health benefits, taste and ethical origin hasn’t yet transmuted into clothing. In truth, the rag trade has some way to go before green threads inch toward tipping point. The perceived image has much to be gained in the branding department. Jeans brands such as Edun, Levi, Hug, Oasis Future Organic Jeans and James Jeans, are making the conscious effort but what if it’s not a jeans day? There is a great deal of good green anticipation out there. Ex brand director at Top Shop , Jane Shepherdson, has been quoted recently giving an extremely positive take on the future of ethical fashion and the move towards responsible, transparent and cruelty free manufacturing. Mori poll research has indicated that 76 per cent of us think leather fashion items should include a label stating how the leather has been sourced. But perhaps to draw a simile to carbon emissions and big business in general it is now up to the retailers to send the word through to the designers, manufacturers and all ancilliary bodies involved with making change on a grand scale. Let’s go with change; bad rags to glad rags will help make the garment industry one of the lesser offenders; for a change. The use of polluting oil and pesticide based processes, unfair trade, poor working conditions and environmental damage on a global scale could become a thing of the past. Lets follow the foodies! |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 19 July 2007 ) |
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