⚠️The HIDDEN Side Of Fashion: Why Ethical Fashion Matters❕

As consumers of fashion, we should understand who is making our clothes. Often times we don't stop to consider the business of fashion and if our clothes are harming our world, so let’s take a look at the Secret Side of Fashion!

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Documentary: True Cost
Books:
The Conscious Closet
Overdressed
Fashionopolis

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[GaliadelaRosa]

As a designer i really appreciate people talking about this topic, however i am becoming increasingly cynical about the condescending way some people come about it, specially in the us and europe, who i am glad you mentioned are the top consumers and polluters of the world, no one consumes and dispose like you guys, i would love for you to talk about consumer habits, i think it would be very interesting.
I was happy you talked about labour explotation, as you said is often overlooked from the conversation, as we usually focus on the environment which is a mistake you kind of did yourself (no hate, it happens, this terms are relatively new) because Sustainability is not just about the environment, at its core, it has 4 pillars: environmental, cultural (human), social and económic, this is still a very simplistic view but i find it a great way to start talking about it.
I appreciated that you mentioned that offshoring is not just about price, it can be about skill or strategic alliances; for example, in some countries, like yours, its incredibly hard to find manufacturing for certain products, example: leather bags, people who know how to make them are not to many (and prefeer to work in small batches and b2c for several reasons) and are not in one area, so finding a factory can be really hard or sometimes not viable for the price range of the product. I appreciate you avoided cancelling brands or whole countries as i have seen the 'made in China bad' and other countries argument and its just and irrational reaction, even in Bangladesh, ethical clothes are produced, but its more left to every producer and buyer and not a law, which is the problem.
Overall liked the way you talked about this issue, labour explotation is real and EVERYWHERE :(, even the US and i am so glad we are talking about it more, because for many of us, it not something we learned from a book or documentary, but something we have seen and lived.
There is still a lot to learn, i have been learning about sustainable and ethical fashion for 6 years and its a topic that evolves everyday so i dont expect no one to know it all, but i am excited to see your next vídeos.
Sorry if english is a bit confusing.

[lieneke]

It is so great that you make such an informative video about this topic! I would love a video about sustainability and ethics regarding using newly bought fabrics to make your own clothes for personal use. I mean, it is of course a great tip to buy sheets and stuff from the thrift store if you are inspired, but it's not always feasible to find what you are looking for there, depending on what you want to make. But I always wonder what the 'dark' side of fabric production is and how to choose more sustainable, but also more ethical fabrics. I have started on the book 'Fabrics for Fashion', which I think is great, but I would love to hear your opinion about it.
A few things I always wonder are like, for example some people are against polyester, because it's produced with petroleum oil. However, the waste of raw materials is next to nothing when producing polyester fibre, while cotton from example uses a LOT of water, land, pesticides, human labor (not always ethical) and I believe like 1/5 of the cotton they pluck from the plants is not usable for fibre production. And so on about other types of fabric like viscose, bamboe, some other blends etc. So what choices can or should you make, or which questions should you consider when buying fabric at the fabric store regarding ethical and sustainable choices? Also, weirdly, there is never a 'produced in xxx' tag on fabrics at the fabric store, if that normal?

[gojiberry]

Thank you for educating. I try to buy all my clothes used (except underwear?!). I knew it was vital, but my shocking moment was seeing a video about men in India sewing outdoors, trash and filth piled around them, hardly making a dollar a day, and this really changed my view. Madison, you do such important work -- thank you for being both a teacher and an inspiration! Your students are truly lucky!!

[TheCatLady]

Great video, thank you! Very informative. I love how passionate you are 🙂

I watched another documentary on BBC called "Blood, Sweat and T-shirts" where they took six people who buy fast fashion and made them work in the factories where the clothes are made so they could experience it for themselves. Very eye-opening.

[catherineleslie-faye]

Good video. I have always wondered about the folks who made my clothes when I had not made them myself... I buy from my friends shops when I can so I know the source of the clothes and those who make them, but often I end up buying clothes from resale stores or when money is extremely tight I buy new fast fashion socks or panties... I wear my underwear until it is falling apart at which point it goes through the wash one last time and then becomes pillow stuffing.

[jolynnwhite]

Merry Christmas, happy new year 💕👌🏾🦹🏾‍♂️🌷

[TheVelvetKitten]

I just saw a statement from American Dutchess about why their decision to produce their shoes in China was an ethical and sustainable choice. (um, No. 1000 times no ... wrong) It was clever and designed to be funny. It isn't funny to me at all. No matter how you spin it (and omg it was spun like cotton candy) human slavery exists. The True Cost really changed my life. I am entirely thrift and sewing. And I love it. I am doing what I can to help. Love that you are talking about this on your platform.

[pepagv]

Yay! Excited to watch this ❤️ such an important topic

[tawnystaniszewski]

Hello. I enjoyed your vlog. 😂 You have to for sure team up with Bad Friends. Their vids are like Nelk Boys and a bit of Casey Neistat. They are a new friend group in Cali!

You should most definitely check out their page out and give the vloggers a subscribe! 👉 #BadFriendsInAmerica