Fashion and human trafficking are undeniably linked. By becoming a more conscious consumer and making that switch from participating in fast fashion to supporting ethical and sustainable fashion, you can aid in the fight against human trafficking and advocate for a fashion industry that helps instead of harms. Although, we know that this is sometimes easier said than done, we’re here to give you a few tips on how to transition from fast to ethical fashion!
Read MoreFashion has a way of changing over the years, morphing and shaping alongside other cultural products. We are inundated with clothing every day much more than we all probably realize. Think about it: as soon as you wake up in the morning, one of the first thoughts you have is what you’re going to wear. Everywhere you go, you see people wearing clothing you either like or dislike. Whether you realize it or not, when you watch TV, read a magazine or scroll on Instagram, all of the outfits you see have a way of affecting you.
Read MoreWith Valentine’s Day coming up, you may be starting your search for the perfect gift for your loved one. This Valentine’s Day, we encourage you to practice gift-giving that advocates for others by supporting ethical, Black-owned shops. Supporting Black-owned businesses is an important way in which you can use your privilege to enhance your journey as a conscious consumer and be actively anti-racist, as it helps to lessen the racial wealth gap, promote Black representation and uplift Black culture.
Read More‘Tis the season to give gifts—so why not shop ethically this year? You can gift beautiful products from brands actively supporting sustainability and fair trade practices. This can help start fruitful conversations with friends and family about human trafficking and support businesses that pay and treat their workers fairly. This year we have partnered with amazing ethical brands, which can also be found on the Dressember Marketplace, to facilitate your holiday shopping while combatting human trafficking and labor exploitation.
Read MoreHands up if you’ve heard the term fast fashion! You might know the issues that come with purchasing from fast fashion counterparts rather than buying ethically made garments from local brands, as we’ve highlighted on the blog.
Although we might love the price tags on fast fashion brands because they are easily accessible, fast fashion causes many workers to not receive a fair wage, endure inadequate working conditions and even experience physical and emotional abuse.
With Black Friday coming up, you may be preparing to purchase some clothes simply because of their inexpensive price point. However, here at Dressember, we urge you to shop according to your values and in tune with anti-trafficking practices during this purchasing season. Working to be a more conscious consumer by buying from sustainable and ethical brands, doing research about the brands you buy from and spending your money at shops that maintain your values surrounding the treatment of employees are all forms of anti-trafficking advocacy, as fast fashion and human trafficking are intrinsically linked.
Read More“Ethical” is a buzzword in our world today. Many companies are striving to create more ethical clothing lines within their brands, which can have influence in the world of sustainable fashion. However, it is of utmost importance to truly understand what it means to be ethical in order to recognize when a company truly lives up to the ethical practices it claims to abide by.
Read MoreParticipating in the Dressember style challenge can be exciting and fun! By mixing and matching, you can easily change up with the look of any dress. You can do this with things that are already in your closet by tuning in to your creativity. To get started, choose a couple of dresses you want to spice up. Remember to use what you have and to buy sustainably if you plan on getting new dresses for this challenge.
Read MoreUntil just under a year ago, the fashion industry was booming. Overconsumption was the name of the game, and fast fashion was rising to meet the demand. But when COVID-19 hit, everything changed. Fast fashion companies and their workers, who are often trafficked, have suffered huge losses. According to a report by the Boston Consulting Group, this year’s fashion industry revenue “could drop by more than one-third, the equivalent of up to $640 billion in lost sales.”
Read MoreThe Dressember 2020 style challenge is only weeks away, and many advocates are already beginning to plan their outfits for the challenge. Though the prospect of buying a bunch of new dresses and ties may be exciting, it is of the utmost importance to understand how the clothing you purchase and the companies you support can play a role in combatting human trafficking. It’s not just about awareness, but also action.
Read MoreSizing when it comes to clothing can be a tricky topic, especially for women. For some reason we are conditioned by the media from a young age to think the size of our shirt, dress or bra defines some part of us. We’re here to say that every size should be celebrated, and what better way to celebrate than to shop?! There isn’t a lengthy list of stylish, ethical brands that are size inclusive, so we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight a few shops you can consider for your next shopping spree.
Read MoreÂdi Collective was born out of conversations with the refugee community in Seattle - conversations that explored questions like: “What employment barriers do women in the community face?” What does meaningful employment look like for you?” and “What skillsets are you most proud of?” Throughout these conversations, creativity and flexibility became clear pathways to building a brand that would elevate refugee women.
Read MoreBeing a conscious consumer applies to all areas of life. Ethical fashion is being increasingly popularized in the media. Brands may say that they’re eco-friendly or carbon neutral. Some people talk about sustainable fashion while others talk about ethical fashion. These terms can be confusing, and there are a lot of them. So here is the quick rundown of the top 12 ethical fashion terms you need to know to be a conscious consumer of fashion.
Read MoreThe interconnectivity of the modern marketplace makes millions of products available to us, but also leaves the supply chain dark and faceless. As people who care about the dignity of all people, it’s important we understand how our spending habits impact things like fair compensation for makers, cultivators, and other workers around the world. This month, we are focusing on how to be a conscious consumer. We want to shed light on how our products are made, grown, and dug up, so that we can follow our dollar and fiscally support companies and products that are consistent with our values.
Read MoreEvery time I get groceries, I’m tempted to get a cheap chocolate bar at the checkout stand, AKA the guilt lane. Unfortunately, my personal health concerns aren't the only reason to feel guilty about buying chocolate. Around 2 million children in West Africa are forced into 80-hour work weeks with little pay—or no pay at all—to make most of these chocolate products. Earlier this year, Sarah Beech wrote an article for Dressember about the connection between slavery and chocolate.
Read MoreJust how long did it take those coffee beans to make it into your cup, and who interacted with them before they reached you this morning? How can you, as a consumer, ensure that all of the hands who contributed to your coffee were treated fairly, paid adequately, and worked in safe conditions?
Read MoreHuman trafficking is a multi billion dollar industry, and it is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world. As an advocate, the statistics can be overwhelming. Although we want to help, it’s easy to feel powerless to stop these grave abuses against women, children, and men. Human trafficking thrives in secrecy, yet it still touches many facets of our lives. Every day, we have a choice to interrupt human trafficking schemes and fight for rights of all people. This is because many common products — from your cup of coffee to the necklace you’re wearing — could be made by people who are not earning a living wage.
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