http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03bvmyf/Panorama_Dying_for_a_Bargain/

Worth a watch

Hi everyone,
Here is a link to a programme relevant to our campaign, from the BBC series 'Free Speech'. It is only available until Wednesday, but we thought it would be of interest.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b01sksps/

Will tragedy ever lead to change?: Bangladesh

On the 24th of April this year ( merely a few weeks ago), Bangladesh was dealt a harsh blow at the hands of the fashion industry, with the disastrous collapse of the Rana Plaza clothes factory in which over 950 died and 149+  reported missing. We feel that it is integral to our project to express our views on consequences of sweatshop labour, and this catastrophe is a most relevant example. Rather than debate the ins and outs of who is to blame, we would like to discuss the fundamental issues that underlie the occurrence of  these tragedies.
The collapse has been considered as the deadliest garment-factory accident in history and the deadliest structural failure in modern human history. The building was in poor condition, and the other businesses occupying it had moved out after the discovery of cracks, but factory workers were told to return to work as normal the next day, or face docked wages, when the building collapsed that morning.
The factories in the Rana Plaza made clothes for The Benneton Group, Joe Fresh, The Children's Place, Primark, Monsoon, DressBarn and reportedly Walmart. It has since been discovered that the fourth floor, used for clothes production, had been built without a permit, and the building as a whole was not designed for heavy-duty clothes production but for shops and retail.
The collapse adds to the long list of major accidents that have happened in clothes manufacturing in Bangladesh, but also to the bucket of lessons served to the fashion industry on the costs of cheap labour; but will they listen this time? Unlikely, if the past is any indication of these matters. But we can listen, and if you are reading this , you are listening. But we need to put changes in place - heck, perhaps changes that are mildly uncomfortable at first. But so what? What is slightly tweaking regulations, compared to the hacking-off of limbs to save lives from the ugly wreckage wreaked by industry ? Perhaps making us, the consumer, aware of the implications of our consumerism would make us think twice anyway. As Deborah Ross ( The Independent) says " Let's stop labelling products positively. Why not go the other way? Instead of labelling all clothes as 'ethical' why not assume that all goods are ethical and if they are not, this must be expressly stated by manufacturers."
Exactly. Why is it anything to be proud of that you haven't used cheap labour , or sweatshops, to produce your stock?
I don't have all the answers. It's not my job. But perhaps the people who's job it is need to step up. Big time.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Savar_building_collapse 
              http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/forget-about-ethical-labels-for-clothes-we-need-unethical-ones-8594992.html

A (slightly more) serious post

As we mentioned in our first post , the reason for starting this blog was our GCSE citizenship project on Ethical fashion. As a part of this, we recently gave a presentation to our class explaining our aims for the project and what actions we had taken- this blog being one. So here it is, if you should care to see the 'academic' side of our campaign. Click the icon in the bottom right of the window to get it full screen as the writing is a bit teeny.




Another thing- there is a poll on the side bar, and the results will help us back up our arguments in said project, so pretty please tick a box before you leave.
Also, thanks to Mila Burcikova from http://www.misensefashion.co.uk/ for mentioning us on her Facebook page- much appreciated!

Book Review: Naked Fashion by Safia Minney

Safia Minney as you may or may not know, is the founder and CEO of our personal favorite fair trade fashion label, People Tree. She is also author of this rather fabulous book, which we think definitely deserves our attempt at a review.

Naked Fashion is the perfect handbook to ethical fashion for anyone, from newcomers to experts. Jam-packed with all sorts of information concerning sustainable style and illustrated with beautiful pictures, this is a must have resource for anyone wishing to move the fashion world into a better place.

After a cracking start with an inspiring foreword by Livia Firth and Lucy Seigle, there are sections oozing with detail on everything from life in Bangladeshi slums and fashions impact on the earth, to the medias role in unethical trading. there are plenty of inspiring stories and interviews from people who are helping these changes happen, including Emma Watson, Vivienne Westwood and Orla Kiely.

Naked Fashion is incredibly informative, with extensive and in depth information on the fair trade supply chain and how ethical fashion really works. We know it will appeal to fair trade fanatics and fashion lovers alike. We love this book, and anticipate it to be a massive helping hand in our campaign.

 Buy Naked Fashion at: http://www.peopletree.co.uk/eco-living/naked-fashion-book

The Proof of the Pudding: No.1

After a month of ignoring the fact that we have not yet exposed any fairtrade clothing that actually belongs to us, we have decided it is time to bite the bullet and reach into the furthest most corners of our wardrobes and  see what we can find. We have not been disappointed.

Today we kick of our fairtrade finds with this snug, hand knitted, turquoise cardigan from people tree. I was particularly happy with this buy as I bought it heavily reduced in the People Tree sale this autumn and it goes with practically everything, it has served me well on many a cold evening, brrrrrrrrr!

Keep your eyes peeled for the next peep hole into our fairtrade wardrobes!

St Michaels: Fairtrade Fashion at an even fairer price

Once again we ventured out into Oxford with a camera to find fairtrade in amongst our streets, but this time we went somewhere a little more well known to us but it is definitely not well known to most other members of the public.

The gorgeous necklaces we could hardly resist!

St Michael is a little known fairtrade shop tucked away underground practically right underneath St Michaels church itself, so there is little wonder why it is often walked straight past by the unknowing shopper. This is a huge shame as it is packed full of quirky, individual, stylish and not to mention fairtrade, fashion must haves!

Vintage chic

What we want you to say!!

Head turner is thus.

Scarf rainbow!

Fairtrade at a reasonable price.

Not only is this shop inspiring and filled with beautiful things but its workers are outstandingly friendly. We told the shop assistant about our campaign and they very kindly invited us to come and have a look at their archives. They gave us a long list of information and posters which we plan to put up in our school. We are incredibly thankful for the resources they have given us, so thank you very much St Michaels!!

Now it's your turn.

Fairtrade at St Michaels,

St. Michael at Northgate,
Cornmarket Street,

Oxford,

OX1 3EY

http://www.fairtradeatstmichaels.co.uk/