5 Ways to "Fair Trade" Your Wardrobe

It is a sad fact that many large corporations base their factories in developing nations in order to slip under the radar of regulation that is protected in the West. These sweatshops often have poor working conditions, gruellingly long hours, unfair wages and child labour. According to dosomething.org, an estimated 250 million children aged 5-14 are forced to work in such environments.

     It can feel like there is nothing we, the average person, can do to resolve an issue that is hundreds of miles removed from us. But there are small changes we can make that can lead to a better situation for these workers, because if we change our spending habits to purchasing fair trade, then clothes manufacturers will feel pressure to follow. Here are some suggestions to fair trade your wardrobe.

1.      Shop second-hand

While technically most clothes found in charity shops and second-hand stores were probably made using unjust labour practices, buying them used breaks the chain since your money won’t directly support those companies who use sweatshops.        

    2.      Fix your old clothes

So you have a hole in the elbow of an old jumper? Before you replace it with a new one, see if you can mend it. That way you’re not buying more unnecessary and unfairly produced items, and also by recycling you’re helping cut down on waste.

    3.      Make your own clothes

This may seem daunting at first, but there are countless resources and classes for making your own clothes. It is a great creative outlet too and when you get compliments on your new attire, it will be extremely satisfying to respond, ‘Oh this old thing? I just made it by hand.’

    4.      Hold a ‘swap party’

You may be bored of your clothes, but your friend, sister or next door neighbour might secretly covet them. Invite a small group round and ask them to bring five items each that are still in good condition and that they would want to swap for something else.

     5.      Be brand aware

Although the choices are admittedly still somewhat limited, the list of companies who provide fair trade apparel is forever growing. Online retailers Indigenous, Everlane and Helpsy are all entirely sweatshop-free, as well as big names such as American Apparel and People Tree.

(photo via pinterest)