What is the value of certification labels? Is direct trade really the best option? Looking at Essential Oils and Simply Earth

Hey folks! I am back on the bloggie, this time to chat about choices businesses have to make with ethical labeling, product sourcing / supply chain,  and profits in the essential oil businesses. This is no defense thesis, but you may learn something new or have an opinion to share. To begin with. Today's post was brought about by the opportunity to try out a new brand of essential oils (Simply Earth). You may be an essential oil user or not. I was not until I moved to Guatemala and wanted a natural, chemical-free bug repellent. One of my students' parents in Guatemala actually sells essential oils out there too! 

- - -

In a time where being a socially conscious business is hip and to a certain degree expected, it is important to not only understand the players, but the game, when we are making choices. Why? Because companies may obtain certain certifications or slap fancy labels on their website or products which may actually be misleading. You, as the consumer, should be aware of what that pretty label is actually worth, especially if you are trying your best to be an informed consumer. There are many certifications including Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance Certification and Equal Exchange to name a few of the popular ones (read more here). However, for multiple certifications, the certification process is out of budget, and for some, only a small percentage of the product's materials has to follow the labeling standard to be certified. Recently in the makeup industry, we see the difficulties of following the production chain with how easy it is for the mineral mica to secretly involve child labor then be sold to a main supplier in a neighboring town who may in fact have an ethical certification. This is then sold to the producer of the sparkly lip gloss or eye shadow which you use. It is so easy to not be aware of all that occurs in the supply chain. The same thing happens with palm oil, which you can find in anything from makeup to ice cream to soap to shampoo! While I was studying for my Master's degree, I learned a lot about supply chains. This is all to say that I view ethical certifications as better than nothing, but I do prefer direct trade. When dealing with companies which are direct trade, weather they are certified or not, it is really up to the consumer to believe what they see based on information provided to the consumer, since it is not an option to visit every supply chain supplier for every single product which you wish to consume. Imagine that!

I have looked into a few essential oils businesses and pleasingly see how multiple work directly with farmers in developing countries across the world. In cutting out the middle man, a buyer (like Simply Earth) is allowed to purchase the raw material from the seller (farmer) and the seller can name their price. There are actually essential oil farmers not too far from where I live in Guatemala. Some work with middle man and some work directly with companies. Many times a middle man will push a seller to lower his price so that the middleman can take a cut for the coordination work involved in the transaction. You can see this in everyday life too! So, when companies like Simply Earth work directly with the farmer, the majority of the time, it implies that the farmers' work is more valued economically and socially. Moving forward to the post-production side of things, once a brand has their finished product, it is their choice to decide how to go about administration, packaging and profit distribution.

Simply Earth with their farmers in Haiti (Simply Earth 2019).

Companies like Simply Earth, and even food companies like Newman's Own, have decided to not only go ecofriendly with packaging, but have decided to go a step beyond and give profits to help further a social cause. In the case of Simply Earth, they donate 13% of their profits to help end human trafficking! Human trafficking (labor trafficking, debt bondage and sex trafficking) is a real-life problem which takes freedom, innocence and joy from millions of people every year! In college, I was very involved with a few anti human trafficking groups and to bringing down a multi-billion dollar industry requires a lot of funds to help raise awareness, rescue victims and provide rehabilitation to survivors. If you want to get involved in anti-human trafficking efforts check out this link. This is all to say that I am so pleased with the Simply Earth business model. They not only take into consideration production, but they area also conscious with their packaging and profit choices. Way to go!

As far as their essential oils. I am no essential oils know-it all. I can tell you that I had a lot of fun whipping up a few mixtures and that I thought that lavender oil was the best in the world because of it's anti-mosquito qualities, however, I am now a fur tree fan because of it's fatigue and pain relieving and deodorizing qualities. The great thing is that this month's Kid themed box came with both, so I am one happy camper! I was given a bonus box which came with a almond and coconut carrier oils, along with coconut oil and a bunch of glass bottles (diffusers and roll-ons). I am typically not a perfume smell person because strong smells usually give me a headache. But I think that in small portions I am a fan of these, because they smell like a fruit, a tree and a flower, which are all things found in nature! I also looked up the pros and cons of essential oils. One concern with the use of essential oils is that they cause free radicals. Free radicals are necessary for the body but are also found in fried foods and are created by excess alcohol and smoking and stress (anyone have stress in their life?). After reading more, I realized that, like anything, excess is harmful and that essential oils are an alternative to man-invented chemical lotions, bug repellents and detergents which also cause cancer. If I had to choose between the two, I would choose the choice closest to what God created for us. After all, if you are reading this, you are interested in a lifestyle that brings us back to the more natural and God-glorifying way of life. :)

Let me know what you think about certifications, supply chain and essential oils! This was very interesting for me to write and I would love to hear your opinion!

$40 Discount code: BEYOUFREE

Have a blessed rest of your week,

Christine

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The Truth Behind Wooden Watches: A look at the eco-friendly watch market

Happy almost October! It's been a while since I had a chance to hop onto my bloggie. I'm very excited to present to you a guest post by Melissa Long, a graduate from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and a young professional in the horology industry.

The Truth Behind Wooden Watches

Wooden timepieces have been growing in popularity for quite a few years now. Working with wood in watch casings and bands is not easy. Wood, unlike metal or plastic, does not machine easily. It breathes with the weather, absorbing moisture from the air which swells the grain. In an area of micro-precision such as watchmaking, this throws up some particular problems. Watchmakers, however, are craftsman. They love a challenge. Rather than say “We can’t”, they think “How can we?”. As Terry Pratchett writes in Thief of Time:

“Look, that’s why there’s rules, understand? So you think before you break ‘em”.

As a consequence, there are now some beautiful and practical time pieces available on the market.

Crafting wooden watches may be fun for watchmakers, but the market wouldn’t have expanded to size it has without demand. When cheap, reliable and proven alternatives are available, why buy a wooden watch? There are a multitude of reasons, but the main two are as follows: sustainability and style.

The Wooden Watch Trend

 Almost a quarter of consumers are swaying towards more expensive products that have an eco-agenda and 9/10 millennials would purchase a product over another if its purpose supported a cause.

Most plastic is a derivative of the oil industry, while metals come from the mining business. Both areas are notorious for being harmful to local ecosystems and the planets wellbeing as a whole. Creating watches from a sustainable alternative, such as responsibly farmed wood, reduces the impact these industries as a whole and contributes to a reduction in an individual’s personal carbon footprint. In an era of expendable material wealth where consumers throw away non-recyclable plastic or metal goods regularly, having an ethically disposable wooden watch is a step towards carbon neutral material goods.

Now to the second reason: style. Watches come in all shapes and sizes to suit the individual and occasion. From large, flashy metal timepieces to sleeker, leather strapped efforts, there are watches for any eventuality. The wooden watch adds to the range of versatility in the watch department and fills a niche previously unfilled. Plastic and metal do not have grain, while every piece of wood has a distinctive grain pattern. This makes every wooden watch made, even if it’s from a produced range from a watchmaker, a unique look and feel. Combine this with the fact that wooden watches are still very much in the minority and you have yourself a winning combination for individuality in style.

Money Doesn’t Grows On Trees

Unsurprisingly there are a wide range of price options when it comes to the wooden watch market. When it comes to the lower end of the market, Jord have a variety of options, ranging from the Sully series ($139) up to the Cora series ($259). Every series Jord produce can be bought in various different wood and inlay combinations.

If you have a little more cash to spend, Salix Watches makes its watches, including the movement—even including a tourbillon—entirely out of wood. No other watchmaker in the world can claim this of their wooden watches. These incredible watches are 42 mm in diameter and fashioned out of bubinga and maple. Salix have to be directly contacted for a pricing, but the watches reportedly come in between $4000 - $5000. While a reasonably pricey buy, the sheer individuality, and craftsmanship of each watch means the produce is worth the money.

Are Wooden Watches Sustainable?

Wooden watches require a more delicate approach to watch cleaning and watch repair than more traditional plastic or metal watches due to the nature of the material. Doing any watch cleaning with the wrong chemicals or approach could irrevocably damage a wooden timepiece so it is advised you take it to a professional for the watch cleaning.

 A growing industry is the area of online watch repairs. Postage is generally secure and free and it is an alternative to the highly competitive pricing of traditional high street watchmakers. This kind of service is advised for wooden watches, as it will help you to avoid serious damage to your wooden, eco friendly timepiece.


Example from the Industry: The WeWood Watch Service

If watches are sustainable, to uphold that promise, the trees they are taken from need to be replenished/replanted. Let's look at one example of a watch service which offers wooden watches and stands up to their sustainability factor. WeWood designed their first timepiece six years ago in Florence, Italy (2010). Wooden watches at the time were gaining popularity but watch enthusiasts were craving something with was fashionable yet sustainable.  WeWood’s avant-garde approach have taken eco-friendly watches into a new era. WeWood produce wristwatches made from 100% natural and toxin free materials.  In recent years the brand has also announced a partnership with environmental organization American Forests. WeWood has joined forces with American Forests in a promise that they will plant one tree for every WeWood watch sold. In just the first three months of the project, WeWood planted 5,000 trees within American Forests. When you are looking for your wooden watch, be sure to investigate the brand and see if they are not only using a replenishable /sustainable resource, but that they are actually upholding that by replenishing the resource.

About the Author

Melissa is currently growing writing pieces on the luxury and tech watch market and contacted me to see if she could do a guest post. I myself had been interested in seeing what people have to say about wooden watches. ;)  During her time at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh - she was keen to get involved with environmentally friendly projects that would benefit the campus as a whole. Over the years, her love for fashion and accessories intertwined with her preference for sustainable goods. Now at 22 years old, is finding her feet in the blogging world and hopes to inspire those who may be investing in new accessories. "We may be living in the digital age, however, I believe that the smart watch phase is something that will never replace a timeless, mechanical piece."

Thanks for Reading,

Christine (+ Melissa)

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Cultural Appropriation vs. Cultural Appreciation... and the GuatemalanHuipil

Mustard Yellow Guatemalan Huipil // Trama Textiles (etsy)

Lightwash Shorts // Upcycled

In Quetzaltenango, Guatemala I took a weaving class with Trama Textiles. Walking into their shop, I immediately spotted this mustard yellow top -- a traditional Guatemalan top refereed to as a huipil. Trama Textiles is an indigneous women owned cooperative which sells handwoven and embroidered apparel and accessories. When I first saw this I mustard yellow top I thought, "I saw something like this at Free People but couldn't afford it in a million years." Shesh, talk about cultural appropriation for the upper class? If you aren't familiar with Free People, it's an overly priced boho store, owned by the Urban Outfitters chain, which I now only window shop at, unless I come across one of their ethically made goods or one of their made in the USA items (although I know that doesn't always mean ethical). 

Upon realizing that the first thought sparked by seeing the huipil was a remembrance of Free People, I faced the fact that I am part of a globalized system of culture and fashion, and the only way to combat that is to keep learning about the world and the origin of the products I come into contact with. This of course is no small task... and I don't think I will ever actually be fully knowledgeable on anything for that matter. As I learned in a graduate course this semester titled Latin American Dependency, fashion trends do hold significance. Fashion trends may demonstrate further integration in a global system. This integration may assist a country's development or may lead it to further dependency on the country which purchases these goods from it. The second case may do the opposite from the first (from a socio-economic perspective). 

Now, for a lovely block quote from my favorite critical fashion blogger, Nadia from Listen Girlfriends.

"So what is cultural appropriation? In its most simplistic definition, it is the seizing of another culture without their consent. It's taking an otherwise complex culture and turning it into a caricature. It's the "Navajo" shirts that Urban Outfitters sold that essentialized the many different American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian people in the United States into one broad "Native" tribe defined as Navajo. It is the sports mascot that reduces an entire group to their skin color. It's the celebration of Columbus Day as a day in which Columbus "discovered" a country that had been inhabited by indigenous people for years, and the erasure of the acts and policies of enslavement. It's the Victoria's Secret 'Geisha' lingerie line that featured white models in Orientalist eye makeup and outfits, which in the words of blogger Nina Jacinto, only perpetuates the stereotype of Asian women as objects of sexual fantasy, trading in "real humanness for access to culture." It's the Vogue dance-style that was attributed to Madonna when it really originated with gay urban men of color. It's Gwen Stefani wearing cultural and spiritual objects such as bindis as fashion, and using Asian-American dancers as props, always claiming that she is celebrating their culture. 

It's also the Dolce & Gabbana "black busts" earrings that commodified black bodies and were defended on the grounds that they "represented" Sicilian Blackmoore pottery, ignoring the legacy of race-based slavery which influenced this tradition. And while we're on the subject of earrings, who can forget when Vogue Italia referenced large hoop earrings as "slave earrings" in their fall 2011 issue, citing the "women of color" who were "brought" to the United States as their fashion inspiration? Brought, not sold. Brought, not enslaved. Cultural appropriation. Done."  

-Halloween: The Season for Culturally-Insensitive Fashion, 2014

Image taken from Google Images.

I typically enjoy getting into debates because it tests my knowledge and I either come out learning something or knowing what more I need to know about life. However, the cultural appropriation topic is one that frustrates me because from my perspective cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation it is very open to interpretation. Cultural appropriation is when a person of one culture uses the elements of another culture. But when is this inappropriate? Race Relations writes that cultural appropriation is when a dominant group exploits a minority group through the use of their symbols. Cultures have histories and unfortunately many cultures have hard, dark histories of colonization and oppression where symbols were stolen and people were forced to change or were just killed for their culture. This is one reason why it is so important to understand the richness of cultural symbols. However, when someone someone is aware of the history and has an appreciation and respect for it then wishes to use certain symbols in their clothing which represent a culture, a fuzzy line is drawn. Is this cultural appropriation (using elements from another culture) appropriate?

Let's look at identity. How someone identifies may not equal the typical features for that identity. If someone wears a piece as a way to appreciate a culture because they have learned about it and wish to share the story behind it, why is that wrong to do? Do cultures or cultural expressions actually belong to certain groups? Should they? In the cross-winds of increasingly integrated trade and communication systems where or why should a cultural barrier be erected? Disrespect to a group is disrespect but when does one have the right to claim a cultural expression as one that can not be shared? Not all cultures want to be exclusive. As I have traveled I have not come across a group that has told me not to share their fabrics with others and share their story.

I am not going to stop wearing this huipil which I purchased in Guatemala from a women's weaving association because someone out there in the world may feel offended that I made this purchase and may assume that I have to/not taken the time to appreciate and understand its history or significance. This is especially true considering that the women's association makes products specifically to sell to tourists so that we can then share their story and increase interest in learning about Guatemalan weavers and their history.

As an ethical fashion blogger I make my best attempt to see what is happening in the ethical fashion world. It's interesting to see brands like Hiptipico which are now integrating into the mass fashion world. Although, there are critiques of them within the ethical fashion world. For example, their recent collaboration with Topshop may be a plus for education, but if Topshop is going to end up knocking off these products and mass manufacturing them, what good does it do? (Hiptipico also sell at Free People; Topshop isn't known for ethics... Beyonce's line Ivy Park at Topshop is currently being shamed for it's poor labor practices for it's workers). It is interesting to see more 'fairly and directly produced goods' being integrated into markets which sell fast fashion. Perhaps this may be a channel to educate consumers. Anyways, going back to cultural appropriation and expression in general, fashion is still an expression of personality, experience, and emotions. Let's be critical, but not forget that.

Some women from the community radio movement in Quetzaltenango.
Photo Credit: Cultural Survival, "Women and the Radio"

Traditional huipil from the Quetzaltenango region (where I stayed)
Photo Credit: Fair Monkey blog 

What makes a Guatemalan Huipil?

There are symbols and meanings behind each traditional woven pattern in a Guatemalan huipil! Although the textiles are so beautiful and assume a history of original works and proud identity without any downside, the history of indigenous textiles in Guatemala is one of Spaniard colonizers pushing Mayans to wear certain patterns for spatial identification (who belongs to whose vicinity, in fact). This is what I was told by the locals when I was in Guatemala this past winter. Traditional huipiles can take dozens of hours to weave and then embroider to be ready for sale. The variation in time needed is based on the detail of the huipil being created. Some are fully embroidered and are double sided! Huipiles are expensive for the women who wear them themselves. Depending on the region (specifically in Guatemala) and type (some are fully hand embroidered and reversible), a huipil can cost up to $1,000 USD when it's new, however the mustard yellow one I purchased was $70 USD.

Perhaps, you have seen some vintage huipiles around the time of Coachella? Perhaps they were labeled for sale as "upcycled huipiles." In this case, it is very important to be careful with the sourcing of these huipiles. Unfortunately, they may be the result of companies and middle (wo)men taking advantage of women's huipiles because of their economic desolation. There are many articles online which address this, however, I really liked "The Downside to Upcycling Huipiles" by Trama Textiles where they also cite other sources.

Snapshot of Free People, Vintage Loves page (2/2013) showing vintage huipiles
Source: Wayback Machine

Snapshot from 2/2016, Free People website

And so, it's frustrating. Even when you are trying to be a conscious consumer, attempting to make purchases that support small communities with a history of exploitation, unless you know the supply chain behind that finished product you may be doing the opposite and supporting an exploitative sourcing process. After reading this you may feel a bit down in the dumps. I know I feel this way as I learn about the fashion industry. I mean, look at the price of this huipil. The thing that frustrates me most is that there is absolutely no note about the history of this piece. Free People could have helped educate their consumer. Will the consumer of this huipil (let's assume (s)he is from the U.S.A.) wear this without knowing anything about it? What will be the context? I will deem this situation a Free People fail.

Free People does... no, no... DID have a (practically non-existent) conscious, eco-friendly line called Maheya. Maheya worked with indigenous communities for their dyes and fabric sourcing. However, it seems they have discontinued this project. I suppose they no longer care or decided their efforts would be better placed focusing on their products which are purchased from design companies.

Snapshot from 2/2016, Free People Website

In conclusion, I believe fashion is an individual expression and that each individual has the right to interpret it as they will. However, we each have a responsibility to think about where the things we wear come from. Art and pieces and cultures have history. Are you perpetuating a history of hatred through what you wear? The blurry line comes when (1) a person is wearing a cultural symbol in complete ignorance and when (2) people are told that only a certain identity is 'allowed' to express themselves with expressions from other cultures. If someone of one culture wears a piece of another culture (be that Guatemala, Native American, Indian...) as a form of expression that makes them feel closer to a culture or because they wish to share a story about it, I say go for it. Fashion is art which means it is an expression of human skill and imagination. Embrace your own sense of fashion but remember that cultures have rich values behind them. When you do incorporate expressions created by others, if you ever choose to do so, learn about them first so you can start to understand the meaning behind your expression.

How do you feel about cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation?
Let me know in the comments below or through my social media.



Let the conversation continue,
Christine

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P.S. Shout out to Super Miggy, blogger Safra, critical fashion blogger Nadia, and all of Guatemala (I suppose) for bringing this to my attention in a new way. :D

Why Not Ethical Fashion? Tips + Tricks to Ethical Shopping

I suppose we can start with the heated discussion I had with my cousin and uncle about why consciously shopping at stores which they know have bad labor and environmental practices is a selfish and uneducated decision. Or we can start with my personal frustrations in finding ethical fashion brands online which exist (first of all), offer what I want (second of all), fit my style(third of all) and that I can afford(fourth thing in the list). Firstly, let me address the discussion with my relatives. This situation just generally frustrates me and makes me wonder, "At what point do individuals draw the line on, 'Ignorance is bliss?' Is it a matter of convenience and personal hedonism versus justice?" Secondly, put into dialogue with my personal consumer frustration, I ask myself, "If the average Joe(or Christine) sees ethical fashion as even more out of arm's reach then I do, is it really their fault that they don't know anything about ethical fashion?" If all people know is what they see, and they do not see labels barking, "I am ethically made!" or "I was made using child slavery in factories and on cotton farms! I am not ethically made!" then when people go shopping, will they know the difference? If these issues are not on the forefronts of their minds, I say they will not know the difference, nor know how to tell the difference. This is where today's blog post comes in. ;)

What do you think of when you hear the term ethical fashion? Do you think it is all ugly? Looking back when ethical fashion first emerged ten years ago, I would argue that IT WAS frumpy old lady stuff. But it is not anymore. Do you think it is all expensive? Have you thought about how your standard of cheap and expensive was created and the amount of products you value worth your dollar? Ethical fashion will not reach HM or Forever 21's current price points because those companies mass produce apparel and footwear in a way which exploits labor in order to give you, the customer, the cheap-ass price point we have all become used to seeing online and in the mall. That being said, ethical fashion prices range from Target, Pac Sun, or Aeropostale price points to luxury designer price points (examples below). Making the transition to ethical fashion purchasing means giving up those HM price points which means BUYING LESS STUFF. Now knowing this, it is up to you to decide if you want to purchase less, but better, or if you want to continue purchasing at an exploitative price (Charolette Russe or Old Navy). I suppose you wouldn't be here if you weren't at least a bit curious or concerned. Fashion is meant for personal self-expression and gratification. But is it really worth the exploitation of others or the degradation to our beautiful planet?

Okay, Okay, so I admit it isn't particularly easy to make the switch to purchasing less at a higher price points, especially if you are ADDICTED TO BUYING STUFF and are not used to adjusting your budget (as I was). But it is worth it -- what you wear is never worth the exploitation, environmental harm and even slavery of others, including children. Remember the Rana Plaza factory collapse, which collapsed because a lack of regulations in the building, that killed over 1,100 people who were working for low wages with little labor rights in this factory which was subcontracted to sew for companies like HM? The Department of Labor's website shows statistics of the lack of workers protections and human trafficking in Bangladesh. This factory collapse is just one example which caught global news. 

The dense supply chain (the process in which different stages of production are linked) of subcontractors and logistics is complex and not very transparent, allowing large companies which mass produce, to pass on the responsibilities (and with it remembering that humans sew clothing and dyes kill the planet), to cheaper subcontractors along the chain of production. Just to give you an idea of this production chain we can start from the cotton farmer, or the sheep who are shaved, to the person who processes the goods, to the factory which creates the thread and then sews part of it, then there are the other factories that add the buttons to that shirt. Thereafter the shirt is shipped to a wholesalers and wait, then retail stores purchase the design and ship the shirt and send it to another factory for their label to be placed on the design... then it makes it's way to you. >.< (What a mouthful!) And guess what? This happens over and over again because the fast fashion industry (most stores in the mall) has turned out a  52 season micro cycle of production (which is designed to make you feel out of trend)! Ethical fashion is not a 52 season production cycle, which means yes, there are less choices. BUTTTTTT, don't let that deter you! I too am a self-proclaimed fashionista! Below I listed tips to help SAVE YOU TIME as you learn more about being a conscious consumer and become an ethical fashion shopper!

7 Tips + Tricks to Ethical Shopping

1. Refer to Resource Lists of Ethical Brands

Click here for my list of ethical and sustainable apparel and home goods!

2. Verify Ethical Standards of Companies using Consumer Guides:

1. Shop Ethical: Your Ethical Consumer Guide
2. Good Guide
3. Free 2 Work

You can also find more ethical consumer guides related to the environment here. The thing is, not all of the companies out there are a part of this database. This makes it a bit more challenging. In this case, go to the company's website and...

3. Check Individual Company Websites through Pages Labeled:

1. CSR
2. Corporate Responsibility
3. Transparency
4. Supply Chain Transparency
5. What We Do
6. Sustainability
7. Our Commitment

My general rule is, the less information available and the more vague the information, the less the company cares, which means the less ethical it is. If you want to go a step further, you can email the company to ask them about their ethical standards. However, remember that they can word their answers in such a way that makes them seem more ethical than they truly are.

4. Wait for the Sales (for those of us on budgets)

Remember that ethical fashion companies set price points at a more fair price, which you can verify for yourself if the company is truly transparent. However, speaking as an on-budget graduate student, every year Black Friday and Cyber Monday occur. Many ethical fashion brands participate in this. My advise is to keep an eye out for pieces you like when you see them, and then make the purchase when there is a sale!

5. Thrift / Vintage Shopping

Remember that shopping second hand is the most sustainable you can shop! Less production (factory contamination), less pollution (harmful dyes used, scrap material thrown away) and less from your bank (it's cheaper).

6. 10 Awesome Ethical Fashion Bloggers (with Great Resource Lists) that You Should Know About:

1. Birds of a Thread
2. Dress Well, Do Good
3. Ecowarrior Princess
4. Fair for All
5. StyleWise
6. The Note Passer
7. Let's Be Fair
8. Life Style Justice
9. Listen Girlfriends
10. Walking with Cake

I have more ethical fashion bloggers listed here!

7. So What Can We Do to Bring Change to the Industry? Hold Companies Accountable!

As far as changing the industry, purchasing ethically alone will not do it. The industry itself needs to change. However, we can take action and make a difference! As my awesome professor, Dr. Trina Hamilton once told me,

"...it is important to help support niche ethical markets when you can (i.e. buying fair trade and doing the research when you're making big purchases), but I don't think that we'll change the industry through ethical consumerism alone. I actually think that other forms of activism are more important for creating regulations that cover all manufacturers and retailers, or for getting companies to act responsibly."

Check out her recent Huffington Post article on the Volkswagen scandal, Anger Over VW is Visceral -- And An Anomaly. She also pointed out recent changes that Urban Outfitters (along with Anthropologie and Free People) made after customers and activists took action through Jobs with Justice. So now what? You can start by signing petitions to corporations and international not-for-profit organizations which are working to change the industry. To send quick letters/join petitions (pre-written, all you have to do is fill in your information and edit if you like) check out:

1. Slavery Footprint - write to corporations
2. Walk Free - write to your congressman/woman 

If you would like to be further educated on the supply chain and corporate social responsibility, check out all of these articles and documents by Know the Chain. 

***

Before you go, I would love to refer you to one of my favorite posts on ethical fashion shopping by The Tiny Twig: A 5 Step Guide to Shopping with Ethics. I want to THANK YOU SO SO MUCH for taking the time to read this blog post. Definitely leave a comment below and let me know your opinions on the fashion industry! 

God Bless,

Christine

Images used in this article were taken from Fashion Revolution's resource page.
P.S. Thanks Amy for naming this blog post for me!!! >.< YOU ROCK! Also, thank you Erin for pushing me to write this post! ;)
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Fashion Revolution Day 2015

"On 24 April 2013, 1133 people were killed and over 2500

were injured when the Rana Plaza factory complex

collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Social and environmental catastrophes

in our fashion supply chains continue.

Fashion Revolution says enough is enough."

-- Fashion Revolution 2015

Happy FASHION REVOLUTION Day, a day for people worldwide to come together and raise awareness about the fashion industry. What does this mean? Today is a day to reflect. Who sewed your clothes? Who harvested the cotton? Where do they live? What conditions do they work in? How does that company treat them? Who do you purchase your clothes from and how often do you purchase clothes? When you are finished with them, where do they go, to the landfill? What can you do as a consumer to change these habits and bring justice for the factory workers, and harvesters, for those who are not profiting, but are being exploited by the fashion industry?

Last year, this week, my BFF and I entered our university's EcoWeek recycled fashion show and won first place, which was so exciting. This same week we also entered the Fashion Revolution USA contest, and won first place! This year, I am on a different side of the world, not surrounded by fashion-interested people, but through social media, I am still doing my part to help raise awareness. I hope you can too! Use your voice among your friends or through social media and remind people that the clothes they wear have an origin, and over 50 people have worked to get your clothes to you. Everyone matters and deserves respect and the right to work in a safe environment... let's remember that together. We must learn from our past, no one should die at the hands of fashion. Making the right choices as a consumer is one way to go, pushing brands to increase their labor standards is another, if you still want to do more, check out Slavery Footprint and Fashion Revolution for more resources! ;)

Here are some hashtags you can use: 

#FASHREV #fashionrevolution #whomademyclothes #fairtrade #love #newyork #dtla #ethicallysourced #fairtradefashion #ethicalfashion #slowfashion #ecofashion #igfash #instafash #fashionista #style #stylish #model #models #losangeles 

 Inside Out for Rana Plaza:

Dangle Earrings || c/o Trades of Hope

Fair trade, made by a women's group in Cuzco, Peru (interview here!)

Blouse || Dip- Dye upcycled from Salvation Army

Second hand fashion is the most sustainable!

Tank || c/o Project Happy Hearts

Raising funds and awareness for childhood heart disease research

Bangles || Relevee, c/o Hovey Lee, and gifted from friends

Relevee - Sustainably made by women survivors of human trafficking, women run, women directed

Hovey Lee - Made in the USA sustainable Eco-Jewelry

Ankle Crops || AG Jeans

Sustainably made in the USA

Low Cut kicks, Bajo Gato Blanco || c/o Mipacha

Sustainably and community made in Peru using local textiles (interview here!)

Join me and the revolution to raise awareness on Instagram & Facebook! :p