The true price of fashion

THE environmental impact of fashion is plain to see. The industry emits 10 per cent of total annual global emissions, equivalent to the amount produced by the European Union. Textile production generates more greenhouse gas emissions than shipping and aviation combined, and the sector is the second largest user of the world’s water. But the impact on social and human rights issues is less well-known, making it easily ignored.

Modern slavery is a real risk, and fashion is the sector with the second highest risk of being exposed to it. Most production is outsourced to developing countries, where 80 per cent of garment workers are women aged 18-35. Extremely low wages, dangerous working conditions and high levels of poverty are common.

Between 2000-2014, clothing production doubled. While the costs of most other commodities have risen, fashion prices have steadily fallen. The leap in demand for affordable, trend-based clothing has led to the rise of fast fashion. As brands raced to meet demand, they slashed production lead times, cut textile quality and pushed for lower manufacturing costs. These saving initiatives are pushed further down the supply chain to those who can least bear the burden.