Slave to Fashion: Forced Labour In The Fashion Industry

Since posting this video, I have learned a lot about the term "modern slavery" and the preferred term being "forced labour". While I can't change the terms I used in the video, I hope anyone that watches this also sees this comment. We all make mistakes, let's just acknowledge them and learn! ❤️
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This video looks at modern slavery around the world, within the fashion industry. From wage theft and abuse to rights violations and prison labour, fashion brands are complicit in a system of modern slavery in the fashion industry. Slavery in fashion happens everywhere, and it is an inherently racist and sexism issue, one that must be tackled on the road to sustainability. Watch on to find out more.
Topics covered: modern slavery in the fashion industry, is fashion sexist, modern slavery around the world, wage theft, prison labour, Uighur labour in China, wrongful imprisonment, H&M, Zara, Vera Bradley, Michael Kors, Kate Spade and more.
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[@thesustainablefashionguru5237]

Since posting this video, I have learned a lot about the term "modern slavery" and the preferred term being "forced labour". While I can't change the terms I used in the video, I hope anyone that watches this also sees this comment. We all make mistakes, let's just acknowledge them and learn! ❤️

[@HilaryBarker]

I especially appreciate your point at the end about price per wear. It's hard for people to feel okay with spending more on clothes because they're so used to paying prices made possible by slave labor. Thanks for making this!

[@thesustainablefashionguru5237]

Exactly, and we've been conditioned to expect an incredibly short life cycle for clothing,, so a higher price seems excessive. But what if you could buy an item and use it for years, even decades?

[@boopyvacaine]

Great video! This is one of the reasons I stopped buying new clothes. Companies will always find loopholes in laws in order to earn more money.

[@lilmissfab96]

This is such a high quality well researched video!

[@fritz8096]

Extremely well researched, I was surprised this has so few views. I hope more people begin to realize the pyramid scheme that is modern society.

[@thesustainablefashionguru5237]

Thanks so much! Haha I think this is now my most viewed video, but that's lovely of you to say.

[@davidd4696]

Any recommendations on alternative clothing that isn't made in these situations?

[@thesustainablefashionguru5237]

Hey David, the next video coming out will be all about how to shop sustainably, so subscribe to be notified when it goes public!

[@jeremiahcastro9700]

Looks like I'll have to go learn how to make my own clothes...

[@thesustainablefashionguru5237]

Haha well that's definitely an option if you're interested! Although you still have to make sure all your materials are sourced sustainably - but I do make some of my clothes too!

[@jeremiahcastro9700]

@@thesustainablefashionguru5237 Yes great point....hmm....now I'll have to look around town today. Lol! I bought this like sewing kit from Walgreens just to make minor repairs and then I come across your channel, and I'm like, "I have to check my clothes too?! Ha ha. Well your channel is great as it is an good example of how to properly channel what energy into something constructive rather than fly into a blind rage.

[@thesustainablefashionguru5237]

@@jeremiahcastro9700 thanks! I'm glad you find it helpful :) I actually have a few mending/upcycling videos on my other channel Sewing with Sofia, in case you need them

[@jeremiahcastro9700]

@@thesustainablefashionguru5237 Oh hey! Amazing! I'm going to subscribe now!

[@jeremiahcastro9700]

@@thesustainablefashionguru5237 Okay so what would make your channel more awesome is being able to touch on the four link supply chain: *1) Source* *2) Manfucature* *3) Storage* *4) Movement* Now while you would not have to be the source of all knowledge on sustainable fashion, it would be helpful if you could provide resources to other like minded people as yourself whose core competency focuses on one of the four chain links aforementioned. *As others have pointed out* you have a great way of presenting information so that people can connect and understand. I also like that your other channel sowingwithsofia proves that you practice what you preach.

[@ionidhunedoara1491]

The cruel logic in answering these arguments are the fact that if we ban these factories this may happen: (1) parents with unemployable children will maim them and send them out to beg. (2)Children will be trafficked either for underage weddings or for sex on an even greater scale than now. The only answer is fair labor standards but how do we impose them on the countries in question and provide alternate means of production and employment??? I could live wearing vintage and discards from a thrift shop but our children would be laughed out of school. The "thrift shop marm" is a figure for ridicule and the flavor of the month is the hit song "made you look."

[@ivailopetrov2827]

This goes for every consumer thing tbh. People nowadays think that the people before us were stupid for believing in gods. Now we believe in the consumerism god and that the way to happiness is to consume just enough stuff to keep us entertained be it cars, tech, houses or clothes.

[@thesustainablefashionguru5237]

Oh yeah, in no way am I saying that this is a problem unique to the fashion industry - I'm just trying to help view it through the lens of the fashion industry.

[@ld5437]

Very well put. As someone who knew little to nothing about this, I hope many more people see this.

[@thesustainablefashionguru5237]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it informative - do check out my other videos if you'd like to know more about the industry.

[@thesustainablefashionguru5237]

Thanks so much for watching, don't forget to subscribe for more! P. S. Apologies to Aja Barber, I have just found out that I pronounced her name wrong! It's Ah-ja not Ae-ja.

[@cindykaye4486]

great video!!!

[@sweaterpal94]

Not really into fashion, but a really good in-depth explanation!! Can definitely see this channel becoming more popular :)

[@thesustainablefashionguru5237]

Thanks so much! Do check out my other videos if you'd like.

[@EpicProDudeOfAwesome]

discovered you on reddit, keep up the good work :)

[@thesustainablefashionguru5237]

Ah thanks so much!

[@mddluvsu]

Thank you so much for this video.

[@leonardograndi1292]

Thank you sooo much !!! Great work and amazing quality :-) What can we collectively do ?? What are our options ? Is there an exhaustive list of those companies ? (Even beyond fashion)

[@thesustainablefashionguru5237]

Thank you! Unfortunately it's not really just about the brands themselves (there is no list, it's all of them), it's about the systems that allow and promote this. What we can do is demand systemic change through activism: vote, contact public officials, fund activists, protest etc. Most of all educate yourself on sustainability and intersectionality (check out my other videos). We can also try to live as sustainably as possible within the systems that exist, my next will be about how we can do that for fashion.

[@AprilBloomer]

Great vid! I'm losing all hope for the world. I wish people cared more about not financing slavery than about buying tons of cheap crap.

[@thesustainablefashionguru5237]

I know right? But I firmly believe that for most people it's the lack of knowledge, the fact that they simply don't know these things are going on, and don't know what they could do about it, that's the problem. Here's hoping my videos can help!

[@user-bp7of8mj6d]

Very well said :)

[@thesustainablefashionguru5237]

Thank you!