How likely is it that my clothes were made by people in a slavery situation?
Dressember Reading Day #23
Every day during the month of December, we’re answering common questions and breaking down different aspects of human trafficking on our blog and Instagram. Join us in raising awareness about the injustice of human trafficking by sharing, donating, or joining the Dressember campaign.
The fashion industry is one of the largest contributors to modern slavery. But how likely is it that the clothes you’re wearing right now were made by people in slavery?
How does modern slavery play out in the fashion industry?
Poor wages, contracts, and workplace conditions. Lack of job security. The exploitation of migrants. These are the main ways workers’ rights are violated.
It’s difficult to accept “progress” at face value. A report from the Clean Clothes Campaign found that brands talked the talk about workers’ rights, but didn’t walk the walk. While 85% of the brands in the report committed to ensuring sustainable wages for their workers, all of the brands failed to do so. The safety of buildings has also been a focus to improve working conditions. Workers often use dangerous chemicals that cause skin and respiratory problems, and fainting is common in factories with improper ventilation.
Give me the stats...
Around 16 million people are victims of forced labor by companies, which is different than by private individuals, as is the case of sex trafficking. The Global Slavery Index estimates that $127.7 billion worth of garments imported into major countries is at risk of having slavery in the supply chain. The United States imports the most at a value of $3.9 billion, followed by the UK ($1.9 billion), and Germany ($1.4 billion).
Where are these clothes coming from?
The top source countries are Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Okay, but not my clothes, right?
Different reports focus on different aspects of modern slavery and therefore release varied ratings for companies. The Clean Clothes Campaign report included top brands such as Adidas, Amazon, Fruit of the Loom, GAP, H&M, Levi Strauss & Co., Nike, Primark, and Under Armour—most were found using unethical business practices. Most of these are also the parent companies of other well-known brands.
In short: modern slavery is probably happening to make your clothes.
It can also come down to the item. During the 2018 World Cup, the official shirt and shorts of the England football team sold for 180 Euros, but the workers in Bangladesh who made them earned less than 2 Euros per day.
How are so many brands involved?
Brands don’t own factories. They outsource to factories that are also being used by other companies, which is why protests at factories often involve many brands. Even though the brands do not own the factories, they are still responsible for choosing to outsource to factories complicit in using slave labor.
Unfortunately, many brands are not transparent about their supply chain, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Due to advocacy efforts, brands are beginning to share more information about their supply chain practices, which means that the work you are doing is making a difference!
Further Resources
Read
Watch and Listen
WARDROBE CRISIS (3 50-minute podcast episodes)
Shop
About the Author
Madeline Van Husen first decided to be a part of Dressember while procrastinating physics homework her senior year of high school and the rest is herstory. When she isn’t too busy hosting hot chocolate parties, asking people the 36 questions, or avoiding the dreaded side-hug, you can find her curled up reading a good book, creating playlists on Spotify or drinking copious amounts of tea or frozen hot chocolate. Maddy is a senior at Boston College and wants to be like her mom when she grows up.