“Fashion Industry” is the most aristocratic term in today’s modern world. Fashion can be defined as a language to communicate values, culture, and traditions. This industry is one of the chief industries of the world that are ruling the world’s economy. Needless to say, it accounts for 2% of global GDP. We all presume that the fashion industry is a lucrative industry all over the world. It has created a dazzling persona before the world. But it is this much transparent in real? Not really. It has many dark sides.
Have you ever thought about these dark sides of the industry? If you have done so, then you can understand how unethical the industry is. It is the fashion industry which is the 2nd largest polluter industry. Moreover, numerous fashion brands have had many allegations against them for crimes like forced labor.
Environmental pollution in the fashion industry is the most alarming problem in the present day. So much research have been conducted on this dreadful matter caused by many reputable brands. Today’s consumers are absorbing fast fashion at a fast rate by being fascinated by the trendy clothing of many brands. Fast fashion may be happening for affordable clothes, but its cost to the environment is too high. The worst side of these brands is that most often they end up having unsold inventory in a large amount. To hold the exclusivity they often burn these unsold inventory. Because they prefer ordering, instead of not being able to satisfy potential buyers for unavailable stock. LVMH and Kering are the most prominent example of this.
Louis Vuitton, Dior, Bulgari, Givenchy, and Fendi are some luxurious fashion houses that LVMH owns. In a recent article, it was mentioned that these fashion houses has dealt with 3.2 billion euros worth of excess inventories which ended up in getting disposed of improperly. Even the French luxury group Kering owning Gucci, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, and Brioni, etc. has destroyed 1.5 billion worth of inventories.
Then, the issue, of forced labor comes to light. The luxury brands like Zara, and H&M have been accused of such a heinous issue. Even a campaign has also been started to boycott Zara for their association with forced labor and also for having worse working conditions in their Brazilian factories. Under pressure from China, Zara and H&M had to remove their statement on forced labor on their website they openly claimed that they had zero tolerance for forced labor. In Brazilian factories, Zara had a modern labor abuse. They were forcing labors to work 16 hours a day in cramped workshops in the city, of Sao Paolo. In 2015, they have been revealed and found to be engaged in unethical labor practices.
The fashion industry has cajoled modern consumers with its fashionable trendy wear. But we don’t conjecture how delusional this glamorous success is. Most fashion brands play an evil role in our environment and society. It is high time we had a thought on it. We all should not be reticent knowing all these.
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Category: Feature
Writer,
Adri Sen,
Intern,
Content Writing Department,
YSSE