Making a Difference in Style

Talking about fashion sounds kind of frivolous when the world faces so many serious problems of poverty and hunger. So, when I heard about an event called Fashion for Development, my initial reaction was that it sounded like an oxymoron. Still, I decided to check it out, and realized the word “fashion” was a bit misleading. The issue really concerns clothes in general, no matter how trendy or untrendy.

After all, everything we wear comes from somewhere or other, and while choosing a pair of jeans or a new jacket, it’s worth considering who made it, under what conditions, and the environmental impact of creating it. Bottom line: fashion without suffering implies much more than just wearing painless high-heels. …

The Victoria and Albert Museum lists some of the major issues around the clothing industry, including the fact that child workers face violence and abuse, as well as unsafe working conditions, bad food, and very poor pay. Also, current textile growing practices are often harmful to the environment.  

For more info, check out the Youthink! feature on Fair Trade and the Dressing Right slideshow.