If you haven’t seen me nattering away on Twitter, then you won’t have seen my tweets about a new documentary film called, The True Cost. I first discovered it on the Business of Fashion YouTube channel (which I would highly recommend subscribing to) and had been waiting for the launch day ever since. I thought I would discuss the movie and what I’ve taken from it, to hopefully inspire you and get you all to watch it. Sorry if this is a long one… if you read all the way you might find a 40% off surprise at the end!
The film itself probably isn’t suitable for all age groups. There are a couple of graphic scenes, so please watch at your own risk, or at least ask your parents first if you’re under 13.
First of all, the film in summary: The True Cost is a documentary film about the true costs of fashion. It talks about (what I like to call) ‘diseases’ of the fashion industry. Whether that be in production or in the end, consumption. I do have to admit, it makes your stomach flip inside out. You feel a sense of guilt as you watch what is before your eyes, but I think that it is the only way anyone can get the message across. You may be thinking, why the guilt? What have you done wrong? Well, it depends who you are.
As I just mentioned, the film talks about everything from production to consumption, and I believe it is important to define what we mean by that. What exactly is a ‘consumer’? In my opinion a consumer of (mainly, fast) fashion is somebody who literally, consumes. Its somebody who takes what they can, because they can.
I don’t think I am a consumer. I don’t buy things just for the fun of it… I don’t live in a world where I run into a shop on Black Friday screaming because the deals are just SO inviting. I live in a world where I buy what I want when I need it.
Okay I admit, I don’t necessarily need any more clothes, but I never buy things just because. I’m not trying to excuse myself at all… but I do understand the problems in buying dirt cheap. Now that the problems have been put in front of me, I think more about the item and what its been through. I absolutely adore second-hand shopping and actually find it slightly more satisfying when I find something that is my style. Its like a treasure trove… but you’re not just buying, you’re recycling too.
But, I am part of the problem, and you probably are too.
We should all know about the Rana Plaza disaster by now; 1,133 people died (and 2,500 were injured) in 2013 when the factory in Bangladesh collapsed. It was the factory home to many well known western brands including the ‘almighty’ Primarni… I mean, uh, Primark. It was also the workplace of many women (and men) of which provided them with around $50 a month (or much less) and extremely poor living conditions.
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The factory collapsed on April 29th 2013 after several employees noticed cracks appearing on the walls. You may recognise this date as Fashion Revolution Day which started exactly 1 year after the disaster.
If you watch The True Cost, you will soon understand that this is not the only ‘disease’. It isn’t just the fact that Rana Plaza collapsed and killed many, that makes it so important. It’s also the fact that even the fabrics, leathers and materials that go into these cheap clothes, are harmful. Chemicals used on the farms are dangerous, and there are already many cases which show that we could should be doing better.
It has really made me start to think that the industry, including the consumers, just keep putting a one word excuse in front of them… money.
If the industry, and all the major companies and corporations really cared about the people, the environment, the future and their credibility, they would stop putting it all down to money. Did you know that a t-shirt in the US would cost 3 cents more if the factory workers in places just like Bangladesh were paid enough to live under standard living conditions?
Yes, there are middle men in between, but if it is over us and the consumers spending a few more pennies, the H&Ms and the ZARAs of the world having to spend a few more too, and mothers in the garment factories having to send their children away because working in a factory is the only answer, meaning their children aren’t being educated or looked after, then that is sickening.
CLICK TO TWEET: Sharing this blog post will already start putting the message across. Spread awareness for the true cost of fashion…
That is where my guilt comes in. I’m giving my money to companies that don’t actually care that much about anything other than what goes into their pocket. I don’t shop with them that often, but it really does make me wish I could do more.
Right now, what I can do is influence you, my readers. I can change your view on things, make you watch The True Cost and other documentaries to educate yourself on topics that effect you, the world and many individual families. I can also avoid consuming products from these shops as much as I can (I know that for some of us on tighter budgets, it is harder. It often feels like the only option). I can buy second-hand items which also recycles items that are perfectly usable. I can support and promote brands that are doing all the right things, like People Tree for example.
I know that isn’t much. If I could, I would be doing so much more. You could be too. Think about what you could be doing. Don’t think that what you could be doing as worthless because if we all thought that then we would get nowhere. If we didn’t vote for our favourite contestants on Britain’s Got Talent, then nobody would win. Use your voice and spread the word because you can. Speak for the families and workers who get beaten and killed for wanting something that is totally human and fair.
CLICK TO TWEET: Think about what you could be doing and ask your followers to start joining in too. Change the industry one step at a time…
SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER FOR 40% OFF THE TRUE COST & A FREE “Change The Industry” CHECKLIST
To really get the ball rolling, the creators of The True Cost have given you guys a discount code for 40% off when you buy the movie directly from their site via VHX. To get your discount code, simply subscribe to my newsletter (click the link or use the form above) and in the “Subscription Confirmed” email, there will be a code and also a FREE checklist for you to start changing the industry.
Try and achieve all of the simple tasks on the list! Complete them knowing that even if what you do is small, it’s still making a difference. Tiny grains of sand make up the most luscious beaches, so start small and make this problem become a BIG issue.
It’s not just the companies and brands responsibility, it’s our job too.
9 Comments
Wow, this post was amazing, and I loved the video. It really made me think about the influence that shoppers and shops themselves have on actual human lives. Especially now as people are becoming so disconnected with what they are actually buying, that it all seems so far away and not truly relevant to them, and believe that one person can’t change anything or make a difference. And I agree with Olivia, Primark in many ways has become a scapegoat for other big shops, even though yes, it does have some slightly “dodgier” philosophies. This post has been really great and the next time I see a “bargain” of a price, I’ll try and think about who it may actually be affecting and where it is from. 🙂
Thank you Tolly for sharing your lovely thoughts! C xx
Thank you so much Charlie! Yes, I think we all agree. Thank you for reading it and making an awesome comment. Let’s change what we can! <3x
The Incident was very shocking and we even studied it at school last year! A GREAT post Tolly x
Love you blog xoxo
Ahh very good! Glad to know you’re educated 🙂
Haha thanks Tolly 🙂 x
In theory, making clothes abroad SHOULD work; we get cheaper clothes because cost of living is cheaper abroad and they get jobs which can help them escape poverty. But as usual, we are too heavy handed and greedy and abuse the system. We do it with the livestock industry, electronics industry, fashion industry….everything in our lives. It’s all too easy to blame one shop (Primark is the usual suspect) as they were one of the main fashion brands involved in the Rana Plaza collapse, but really, EVERY brand has their methods that we would not consider satisfactory. Topshop were involved in the angora fur scandal, Apple and their ‘camps’ with 15 hour days. It’s the companies like Hollister, Jack Wills (the dim-light-loud-music-crew as I call them) that really annoy me; people think that because they’re paying more money the workers will be treated better, and maybe they are, but only marginally. And if I ever try to talk to my dim-light-loud-music crew adoring friends about it, telling them the real facts, they accuse me of lying or say ‘well you shop at Primark’. Yes I do sometimes, but they don’t appreciate that they are all as bad as each other and the whole industry needs to change!! It frustrates me that they can be so hypocritical, and of course I know that Primark is not one of the best, but at least they are trying to improve and be more transparent; the other companies just stand back and watch without improving their own standards and pinning a whole industry’s problems on one shop, which is not realistic. Even the factories that have ‘good standards’ we would never work in ourselves, but the sad thing is that these people need these jobs and they are considered good jobs in the poorer countries. Did you ever see the TV programme Show Me What You’re Made Of? They sent 8 British kids to ‘good’ factories abroad to see what it was like and they would never survive there.
The thing is, I really struggle to vintage shop and shop in jumble sale; I love my outfits to match pretty much exactly in colour (I’m a bit OCD about it haha!) so I tend to buy everything I need for an outfit in one shop so that I know it will match. I wish I had the ability to throw an outfit together and look as amazing as you do!
Sorry for the long comment, but it was such a great post!
Olivia xx
Please do not apologise for this long comment! It was great. I agree with your opinions on Twitter too! Like you said, these people do need jobs, but if we’re the ones who have the power to change their jobs for the better, then we should. We do abuse the system so it’s our responsibility to change it around.
Please tell your friends to educate themselves so they actually know what they’re doing. Otherwise they’ll carry on with the same mindset on into their adulthood!
Thank you SO much for your thoughts, I really appreciate it <3
It feels awful to know that If we don’t do anything about it, these people will not have their lives change for the better
Wow Olivia x
I LOVE this comment