Hi Justine, this is the first time I am writing to you. I am from Bangladesh and I am glad to see someone from the fashion industry actually acknowledging this horrible incident that scarred us for life and talking about the brands after a long time. It was a "hot" topic for 6 months then like everything happening in a developing country like ours, it was done and dusted. Thank you.
Hello Maliha, would you mind answering a few question, "from the inside"? If you don't want to, that's fine! :) The biggest defensive argument of fast fashion brands is that before clothes manufacturing, there was hardly any lucrative industry in Bangladesh and everyone was poor. "Bad work is better than no work." Do you think this is true? Is life better now, in general, than, I don't know, maybe 20 years ago? Thank you so much! :)
Your people deserve better !! The women are soo hard working. I saw that some of these factories are just finding loop holes now to pass recent regulations. I wish there as more to do in my end aside from no buying certain clothes ❤️ any suggestion please let me know
Marie Bach , Hi! Although your questions were indicated to Maliha but being a Bangladeshi myself along with 2 degrees in Economics, I reckon that I'm eligible for answering those. The garments industry actually evolved and flourished in here during the 80s and if you compare the data from the 70s and the 80s, you might see an improvement which kind of legitimizes the statements of the fashion brands. However, data always don't show the true scenarios. Bangladesh gained independence in 1971 so the economy of the new born country was thriving during the 70s and was agriculture based. With the advancement of the garment industry, the participation of labors (especially women ) has increased manifold. Also, it doesn't require special skills to get into a garment job cause Bangladeshi garments do the sewing parts mostly and most of the women here know how to that from a very early age at home. Since the economy was thriving already, and working in garments factory was easily accessible, more and more people opted for the job (cause having a job is better than none plus a job gives you some kind of a social status). So when more and more people were showing eagerness to work in the garment industry, investors became more interested in investing in creating more factories and that's how the garments industry have flourished in Bangladesh and have actually taken the lead in earning foreign currencies and revenues. In economics, when the supply is higher than the demand, prices fall. In this case, The number of unemployed people were (still are ) so high that more people were interested to work in the industry than actually needed for which the employers never had the urge to increase the wages of the garment employees. Also, The bargaining power of the workers is close to nil which is why they never raise their voice for a higher salary or creating a safe environment for working cause there's easy option for the employers to fire them and hire new employees. To answer your last question, to be honest, life isn't better. What happened in the last 20/30 years is that the income inequality and discrimination have increased so much that Poors have become much poorer and the riches have become much richer. And the government often tries to portray the better scenarios in front of the world so that everyone assumes that the govt is doing good and overall, The country is improving. When the data of wages and other facilities are shown, it's not corrected by inflation. If data shows that wages have increased, The prices for house rent, daily necessities etc have increased more (comparing the percentages). Hope I could answer to your queries. :)
I work in a fashion store and from my perspective, the problem with fast fashion is not only in the mistreatment of the workers who make the clothes (which is the biggest issue) but in the philosophy at its base and in the mentality that it develops in consumers as well. I speak to people who are very happy to see brands put out new stuff weekly and even more so daily. They don't stop a second to think about the quality of what they are paying with their hard earned money. They think just about how trendy the thing is. My colleagues buy new shoes at 5 pounds the pair almost every week, and they always complain about problems with their feet, legs, knees. Then they buy cheap insoles for their bad shoes, and new medical insoles to upgrade their bad insoles, and the right shoes to accommodate those insoles. And all this adds to a mass production of bad clothes never seen in history. And all this adds to pollution. And people are anyway never satisfied, never fulfilled. Personally, I buy just what I need to update my uniform from the store where I work, but I am very dissatisfied, and I almost completely stopped buying for myself. Thanks for this video, Justine. As a stylist, you are brave to speak out loud about fast fashion :)
Annarosa Girardini I totally agree! I think a huge part of it is about consumer behaviors and appreciating our clothes, buying quality and treating it well so it lasts
I hardly go shopping if I do I am a picky shopper. Some big department store just over price , the clothes are cheaply made the sewing the stiches the fabric some clothes are not durable.
Another problem with the fast fashion culture is that it is one of the biggest polluters to our natural waters and lands. Here are some numbers 1 load of laundry realizes 700,000 micro plastic. It takes 2,700 liners to make 1 cotton shirt. 100lbs of clothes a year are put in to garbage (enough for 1 person to drink for 2.5 years) Polyester products releases 706 billion green house gasses emission. AND lastly (my favourite numbers), pollutes over 100 million people's brains resulting in mental disorders. -- I had to research for a charity company. but these numbers where taken from 2017-2018 studies I can only imagine now (now that we have micro fashion cycles--apx 50+). NASTY.
I see that too. I'm part of a thrift store fan group on Facebook, and with them increasing prices (they needed to, they were shut down for months and had to make up for the costs incurred from that, plus inflation jumps) so many people have been saying "just go to Walmart, the clothes will cost the same and they'll be *new*." They don't care about the manufacturing or the quality, they're completely fixated on price. I thrift for many reasons, and yes price is part of it, but finding high quality clothing and knowing it's not getting thrown out is more important to me. I have zero desire to run to Walmart and spend $5 on a shirt that will fall apart in a couple of washes. And I don't fixate on used as a bad thing, but a good thing, because it reduces waste!
The bottom line is we should not support slave labor. Thank you for answering my questions about it. No more fast fashion for me. Frankly tired of the little person getting screwed over.
I‘m so glad I can sew. I used to work myself up about these issues...and then I decided to just resort to thrifting and sewing to circumvent the whole issue. Took me some time to get back into the groove, but now I couldn’t be happier with my decision. Most ethical brands are just not affordable for most people...there seems to be nothing in between fast fashion and really small, conscientious producers with harrowing prices...which is really unfortunate. I mean, if you look at that graphic about where the money for a piece of clothing goes, it looks like it wouldn’t take much of an increase, actually, to pay decent wages and produce somewhat more sustainably. It would be nice if there were brands who were at least ‚ok‘ ethically and able to produce for the mass market at somewhat competitive prices.
I am actually thinking of learning to sew for this reason. I can knit, so for now I at least enjoy my merino, alpaca etc. jumpers that are actually warm, unlike the acrylic stuff in the shops.
smajlik1 Of course it makes things easier, that I like casual, comfortable clothes...right now I pretty much live in an assortment of shortlegged rompers and jersey dresses. Quick and easy to make and pretty cute, actually. Not suitable for an office job of course. I don't know, if I could go through with it, if I needed more formal clothes on a daily basis. I do know how to do stuff like that but it's difficult and time-consuming...and materials get more expensive, too. I usually prefer to buy blazers and stuff in consignment stores. It's still second hand, but in impeccable condition (normal thrift stores really suck where I live). It's definitely doable to make do (mostly) without actually buying brand new clothes.
I have to agree with your observation about there being nothing in the middle - it's all high quality stuff at astronomical prices (...and some branded garbage at high prices too) or big chain store brands. I would prefer to buy something in the middle - decent quality, plain design (so no need for massive creative input) at a reasonable price, but that just doesn't seem to exist.
I'm always blown away by how thoughtful and well-researched your videos are, and by your sincerity on camera. I've learned so much about fast fashion (and fashion in general) from you and it's changed my buying habits and consumer mentality. Your's is the only channel that has really impacted me to think about how I factor into a global issue like this and what little ways I can help to fight fast fashion as an individual consumer. This is directly related to the content and quality of your videos. Anyway, I love your channel, keep up the wonderful work!
Thank you for this video. I'm Bangladeshi-American and when I learned about the tragedy, I was really upset. People sacrifice so much of their time, effort, and well-being to make money to support themselves and their families. It is really important to put a stop to this.
Until nobody else employs them, and they have no income. Because fat cats will always find a way to make THEMSELVES A PROFIT. So what do the workers do when little income becomes none??
It's sickening that they could afford to pay the workers a living wage in Bangladesh but still do not. If these CEOs had consciences, they could easily take a pay cut and continue to be rich
At some point money stops being a necessity and starts to become a power symbol. Nobody needs to be a billionaire but the power that comes with having so much money is just irresistible for so many of these people. It's vile.
its competition, forever 21 (that is so cheap) had to exit the Irish market as they could not compete with Primark.. people expect to pay very little as this is the new norm unfortunately, esp when you can buy clothes with your groceries in all our major supermarkets
I love how you nail the FACTS, Justine! I am from Bangladesh ;) This is just to add to what Justine has brilliantly portrayed.... often a manufacturer/brand claims to have policies in place, like minimum wage, ethical production, etc. may not mean those are implemented/followed. Look at their statistics or annual reports available on the web to get a better picture.
your videos are exceptional. if they sell a t-shirt for 5 dollars, they will never stop, because the minimum wages dropped significantly in many countries. people just can't afford alternatives. but i always get angry when i see a garment of a famous brand (armani, gucci, escada etc) made in china or bangladesh which costs hundreds and thousands of euros. and all these fast fashion brands like zara and mango selling their garments for 50, 80, 150 euros. and they are often not even of good quality, made of cheap fabric, sewed poorly. i just feel robbed.
75vasso... every institute or garment of any country do make good n bad quality of products... it's our concern to choose the right one...for the right cost..
Being poor definitely limit your choices but not necessarily in a way you might think. If you earn very little, you can still afford good quality and long lasting items and all you have to do is save money and plan. Been there done that, so to speak. Yes, it is hard and frustrating to see that the item you wanted is gone by the time you have saved up enough but I have changed the tactics - I used to save for the concept not the specific item. Famous brands no longer guarantee quality but I am glad there are some specialized shops that employ educated personnel who can help you with what you need for the budged you have.
This is a re-upload of today's video. There was a big mistake in the other version, which I didn't want to leave that way. Sorry about it. Now all is fine. Happy Sunday! PS: all my videos now come with English subtitles - tell your friends who want to train their English skills :-)
It seems that we (I’m speaking from an American point of view) are on the brink of a paradigm switch on all levels! Clothing, food, housing, transportation....so much is based on cost vs quality. I just bought 2 excellent chicken breasts from the farmer who raised them free range, non gmo, organic....$24! They were delicious....but the cost was a shock. Same for almost everything ... and for made in America it’s a real financial burden to choose healthy, ethically made products. But, you, along with others, have given consumers a lot to ponder. Thank you!
I don't know how much is $24 for you personally and when compared to the market. in my currency i couldn't even look at the product, lol. but truth is, if you don't grow it yourself, and you want it tasting good and being as healthy as possible, no matter where you are in the world, do expect to pay a price for it [though even growing your own food has it's price - time and effort on top of stuff you may need to buy].
I’m American as well - I would like to add that I have stopped eating as much meat in general. I used to eat meat approximately three meals per week. I make sure I continue to eat some here and there for omega 3 fatty acids and B-vitamins but I, too, have become willing to spend more WHEN I purchase meant (be it chicken, fish, beef, whatever) with the CLEAR proof that the company is a sustainable and ethical, humane one. I think it is okay to pay $24 for bison, chicken, whatever if you are getting quality. As with many things, you get what you pay for. That being said, the cost of living definitely is higher wherever you are. Very ethically raised, free range, and well -fed chicken here in Ohio would not cost that much but would still be expensive all the same. :)
Cathy Smallwood I live in Eastern Europe and situation is the same. Newspapers are writing that our children have serious health issues because we eat chickens feed with hormones, antibiotics and other bad stuff. But if you want to buy normal meet, you must now some farmer personally, and be familiar with how he feeds his animals, and then buy only from him. And that is almost inposible. We are in pat position.....
Julijana Cvejic It is so very interesting to hear the situation is so widespread ! Actually, shocking! The global food industry is a Goliath and we consumers must be Davids! I’m no vegetarian, but I will begin to do the same as the commenter above and eat less meat. Do you have farmers markets where you live? Check out Justin Rhodes on RUclips. He has a world-wide following and perhaps someone will know of a farmer in your area that will sell ethical raised animals. Best to you!
I think you should do a video about how to find affordable clothes without supporting fast fashion. I like clothes from more expensive brands, but I can't buy them all the time.
I would love to buy ethically and ditch fast fashion, but I can barely afford to pay $15 for a new pair of jeans. Are there ethical fashion brands for people who live on the poverty line?
I highly recommend apps like Depop and Poshmark. People sell thier old clothes (for less than retail) so it’s super affordable and you can find a lot of great brands for really good prices and even sell your old clothes. People also sell make up and home decor. Also if you want to save more on poshmark you can use the referral code : LILYTHEROSE for $10 off.
Thank you, Justine. Talking about these issues is my #1 reason I follow your channel and have a high regard for what you do. (Although I still love the rest of what you cover!) We are complicit in these human rights issues and need to be informed and thoughtful when we buy anything.
When you buy a cheap item of cloth in Walmart or H&M, is because that is what you can afford, you make low wages just like the factory worker that made the garment, the problem is when a brand that uses the same factory charges a lot of money for it, we have to pay attention to the label to see where they manufactured it, the same factory that do Walmart also does Ralph Lauren and Banana Republic for example.
Merci, Justine! This is one of the most important issues in fashion, & we can all do our part to make fast fashion die away. Fast fashion may have a cheap price tag in shops, but it’s ultimately far too expensive. You are among the brave designers who speak out about this unfortunate aspect of the industry, & thank you for making consumers aware of what they’re supporting when they buy these cheaply produced garments. Buying is voting, & we must stop voting for & giving power to those who look at the global supply chain and exploit the laws & labor force in developing nations for huge financial gain. Besides, fast fashion means clothes that only look good from far away; if you get too close, you see the shortcuts & shoddy materials. Fast fashion simply isn’t worth it.
Gorejs hey so what should I do? I didn’t see her give an alternative. Did she say to solve the problem we need to stop buying from those shops? What shops can I buy from then? I hope you know, thanks
Great question, & I don't have a comprehensive answer, but I can share what I've found so far. It takes some research, & I've found it's better if I shop online with companies I know & trust. Justine Leconte's beautiful line is, of course, ethically produced in Germany. Everlane (www.everlane.com) tells you where each piece was manufactured, & at the foot of each product page is a breakdown of what the piece cost to make, & how much profit Everlane will make, along with the price a "traditional" clothing company would charge for a comparable piece. Brass Clothing (brassclothing.com) is owned & operated by 2 smart women, & they're also transparent about their design & manufacturing process. All American Giant (www.american-giant.com) clothing is made in America. All these brands offer beautiful, high-quality clothing, ethically produced, & the prices will often surprise you. It does take some research, but that can be fun. Here's a very good article on the subject written by the owners of Brass: medium.com/the-workroom-by-brass/the-myth-of-the-maxxinista-82962369dccc. Hope this helps!
Gorejs thanks so much for your response and links. Unfortunately i can never buy online because I always have to try the item on. I guess secondhand is the only option for now then. I wish they made physical stores. I mean I love secondhand but there’s things I cannot find there sometimes. So pretty much all physical stores are fast fashion now? What a shame. Hopefully those ethical brands start making physical stores all over the world.
Hi Emily, I understand about having to try on clothes before you buy. Shopping online means trial & error, & lots of waiting for returns, hoping that the new size will fit. I used to buy all my clothes secondhand because I couldn't afford new clothes. As you know, you can get very good quality at a fraction of the price of often-crappy new clothes. I don't buy a lot of clothes nowadays, but through trial & error I've figured out my size in the brands I like. Even then, there's quite a difference from brand to brand, & I often still have to go through the nerve-wracking return & reorder process. Let's hope more & more ethical brands show up in stores. If there's enough consumer demand, it will happen.
i love thrift shops, its also good for the environment. one day i will try ethical brands. theres something weird ive noticed tho, i know everyone says clothing in op shops are good quality but in the ones i go to there all pretty much fast fashion clothes from poeple that have donated them, so i dont know why poeple say its better quality. i thought that fast fashion is the only thing that exists nowadays. im interested to know what kind of clothes do you find in your secondhand stores if its not fast fashion? i really feel touched by all these unethical things happening, its hard to understand it all and how it works because its all ive ever known, i was born into it and ive never known anything else than fast fashion and buying in big stores. i was wondering is it just clothes that have this problem? what about everything else and all other objects and things in stores?
Wonderful explanation. People need to know. The problem was not solved with the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire. Thank you for bringing this to the table for discussion.
YES YES YES! 🙌🏼 Such a useful video! Love you Justine! 💖 Even though things have improved slightly since Rana plaza, many factories are still unsafe with the majority of them not having fire exits which are critical in factories operating heavy machinery, irons, steamers etc. 😔
Hi, Justine! As someone who lives in a middle income country, I do find it harder to make people from these countries to stop buying fast fashion, since ethically made clothes are more expensive and the middle class is not able to afford. I’m talking about countries like China, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Russia. They are industrial modern countries, but have not yet achieved the level of salary of the US and Western Europe. I do think that citizens from the first world have a lot more income to spend on clothes. In middle income countries like mine, the middle class can not afford prices above Zara and F21. Even I myself shop mostly at Zara. I don’t have $170 dollars to pay for a pair of ethically made jeans. Citizens of the first world should be leading this process of changing fast fashion industry, since they have sufficient wealth to pay for ethically made products. I know a lot of people will disagree and say that everyone should be leading the process etc, but for billions of people around the globe, outside the bubble US-Europe, fast fashion is the only way to go if you want clothes that are current and have a nice design. A rise in the prices of fast fashion would exclude millions of people from countries like mine from being able to afford clothes. It’s very complex, and I find it problematic to say that fast fashion is a choice.
I agree with your argument. In my country, average income is about 350 EUR. Buying garments Wich cost more than 30 EUR for us is big deal, even in Zara or H&M. But we still have options not to buy in those stores, but rather to buy chlothes made in our own country, they are not more expensive than FF brends, but people don't do that because they want to wear "famous name brand". So more and more domestic brands are closing down. It is sad, because we can still make a difference in our own country, but we are not doing that.....
Some ethical brands I like for people getting into this: Patagonia Fair indigo Nisolo Indigenous Zady I’m not wealthy so I can’t buy everything from these brands, but I do the best I can. It is also very ethical to thrift and buying vintage is a great way to get good quality!
I really like thrift stores, in my country there is an entire industry of it. But the brands they've got are exactly the ones that do fast fashion. Mango, Bershka, H&M. If I buy them at a thrift store, would that make it more ethical?
@@Fabiola711 If you buy it at a thrift store, you haven't paid the manufacturer, you haven't encouraged them to manufacture more, you haven't even required *any* manufacture at all. So yes, I'd say it's ethical to buy anything used, for the most part.
None of those brands are sell in my country, I live in Peru and here we have brands like Zara, Mango, H&M, Tommy Hilfiger, Opposite, Oasis, Roxy, American eagle, 1 2 3, Naf Naf, Warehouse, Cortefield... I think the first 3 are fast fashion but the other ones??
Hi Justine, Thank you for your thoughts and observations on "Fast Fashion" being made in Bangladesh. I have several artist friends on Facebook from Dhaka in Bangladesh. I have had many conversations with them and know that they are all vastly underpaid and just get by in life with their meagre earnings. At this moment, I am sitting in a Starbucks inside of a Target Store. Target has a lot of "fast fashion" from Bangladesh. Recently I was walking through and saw some little boys shirts that were absolutely beautiful. I stopped and looked very closely at the design, the stitching, the fabric and the overall quality of the shirts. Then I checked the price and it was beyond reasonable. I thought of my friends and I honestly felt sad. Because I knew that most people in Bangladesh, not only the garment workers barely make enough to support themselves let alone their families. Anyways, thank you so much for taking a stand in the industry and bringing attention to this subject. As always another great video and looking forward to your next one!
You make great points. I also think that you might not have to go to far. The workers in Target that earn the minimum salary are probably not making enough to live in the USA as well. Of course the wages and costs of living differ greatly.
My country, Portugal, used to have a lot of textile production and that was one of the biggest forms of employment for people who didn't pursue higher education - with decent pay and work conditions. But now, with everything being produced in China and Bangladesh, there's a lot less employment here...and people are not treated fairly for their work in those countries unfortunarelly :/
As you said, often even very expensive brands use sweat shops, so I think it's best to get hands second-hand when you can. That way you are not only not supporting sweat shops, but also you are helping to reduce clothing waste by buying used instead of new.
Very thought provoking commentary. I've never heard of fast fashion before watching your videos. This gives me more to think about when I shop for clothing.
Justine, as always on point. Thank you for this important insight. However I'd like to highlight something else about videos. I LOVE the fact, that you just say your name and go straight to the topic of the video. No babbling around, no "oh so sorry i didn't make a video for long time but i was sick and my dog got lost and my boyfirend dumpt me", just pure content. Thank you for that, I really appreciate that you don't want to waste your viewers time and I just wish other youtubers also do that...
I am from Central Brazil, just 120 Kms from Brasilia, and we have a polo of cheap fashion around here. One day I went there for shopping and I saw a pair of jeans for R$ 35,00 (around $10.00) and I asked the sales clerck how was that possible. And she answered: "slave work". I just akwardly smiled, and walked out the store. Also, we talk about fast fashion - but Queen Letizia wears Zara and everyone thinks is so great. I mean, it is great she is not wasting public money on design brands, but I do not think is so great she supports a brand that is famous for disrespecting labour laws.
Serbia, where I live, actually former Jugoslavia had very developed textile industry ( and shoe, furniture etc.industries ), in Croatia were even produced high quality jeans, with good thread, materials, long life , durability etc. I am all in favour for any domestic brand who produces clothes, also because of this tradition of producing, but it is hard for them cause of the flood of fast fashion brands and low quality chinese wardrobe stores. I know you don't want to advertise any brand, but maybe you could advise us how can we find good quality not fast fashion brands :), all best
Ljupka Nenadovic Draga Ljupka, ne znam gde zivite u Srbiji, ali ja vam mogu reci iz mog iskustva gde jos mozete kupiti nesto cestito a proizvrdeno kod nas. Ja jako ne volim fast fashion brendove, I mnogo zalim za nekadasnjom tekstilnom industrijom koje nazalost vise nema. P.S.Fashion je dobar, ima velika snizenja I sjajan internet sajt za online kupovinu. Za dzins Maxers, provereno vise puta da je odlican. Trikotaza Biliczki, Kooi, oni su iz Ade, I St. George iz BG. Kupujem redovno kod ovih brendova, i vrlo sam zadovoljna. Daj Boze da nam potraju, u konkurenciji sa Zarom I ostalom ekipom stranih izrabljivaca. Pozdrav!
As a Bangladeshi living in North America who is always trying to educate my peers in NA about this same topic, I am so grateful for you to bring this story back into light and highlighting these issues.
You look stunning Justine! Your garment’s color and pattern, cut and drape, plus your hairstyle is a super combination for you! Thanks for helping to make so many of us aware of fashion’s impact on society.
There is no longer mango in Australia. I don't wear much Zara or H&M (H&M quality isn't good and Zara never has anything that fits me) but I've been thinking a lot about brands and where my clothes come from. I think it is all our responsibilities to be conscious and concern about who makes what we wear and where it comes from. But even with more expensive brands, I still wonder where the clothes are from. Thanks for this vid; for talking about this.
Zara has good shoes when they're made of real leather. but they rarely fit me - i have wide feet and they make very narrow shoes. their pants also have a VERY weird shape. In general over here [i dont know about other countries] Zara has better looking/more stylish clothe an the quality seems a bit better when compared to the other Inditex or to H&M. Last year marked the year when i reduced even the window shopping at H&M and Zara [never went to the other Inditex stores.. maybe 2 times if i did. those clothes simply aren't worth it :( ]
Zara is odd - when I travel I see they have nice stuff in other countries (although their sizing in the UK ranges from petite to emaciated) but Zara in South Africa stocks the most bizarre stuff. I have never seen anything attractive in there, it's all weird shapes and eye watering colours.
Love your content Justine. It is refreshing to see someone with so many subscribers talking about the things that matter. I get pangs of anger when I see huge youtubers (not mentioning any names... ahem) who are constantly posting "HUUUGE Zara Hall" "Primark Hall" "oooops I spent too much" kind of videos. They get millions of views, and this inspires not only the regular consumer to buy these garments but smaller RUclipsrs who think they can generate revenue from these ridiculous videos themselves. I have to remind myself that I was once a consumer of these brands and to be patient - education is key so videos like yours are SO important
Thank you for the video and the re-upload of it. Its a really informative video. I do have friends who have always wanted to improve their english skills they would love your english sub titles. Love you and love your channel.
I have learn a lot from this video. Thank you so much. I used to think that it was enough to buy from a well known, medium or higher price target, but now I know that’s not the case.
Thank you for taking the time to make these videos and for being such an outstanding influencer!! I'd live a video in which brands are not fast fashion, which brands are doing fashion right... like yours!!
Hello from Bangladesh, Justine! As a Bangladeshi myself I can see how in-depth and accurate your research was on this topic. The situation here is far worse than it sounds. From outside it looks great as clothes are very cheap here( you can understand why), everyone can look stylish and trendy with just a few bucks. I once bought a great t-shirt only for 1.50 dollars. But from the inside, there's this huge gap between the factory workers and the owners. I wish you could see how those people lead their lives. The worst thing is, no one has any clue about fast fashion and how it's destroying so many people. Almost no one has ever heard of the term "Fast Fashion". No one cares here. Everyone is happy to wear cheap and fashionable clothes. It's hard and truly almost impossible to not wear fast fashion clothings as it's EVERYWHERE. But I'm trying my best to not wear them anymore. Hopefully, the situation here will change. There are few NGOs that are working hard to improve the condition of garment workers. They are not successful yet but hey it's a start, right? Thank you for talking about this topic.Take care :)
Thank you for a very informative, very detailed video, you always put out great content! The Rena Plaza incident in 2013, was an eye opener for me, and I stopped shopping fast fashion since. I now buy secondhand and I purchase ethically made clothing.
I'm totally with you- I also realized I can have a much smaller wardrobe that is ethically sourced and also easier to manage- my way is to have a very limited colour palette and classic basics.
I took a course from MOMA that is call Fashion as design and part of the course is about this, after I took the course I decide to change my lifestyle, I start to be more aware of what I'm buying and not only about where it came or who made it, I start to look pieces of clothes that can be recycled or reusable WITHOUT POLIESTER I´m so shock how much pollution it produce and how is use all around the world. And now I'm designing things that are more eco friendly .
Hi Justine, I just found your channel and I'm obsessed with it! Thank you for your courage to speak about fashion in a way that honors women and also the world around us. You are a light in this space and a treasure.
If you are from a smaller country like me, buy local. I'm sure most countries have cute little boutiques that aren't expensive at all, plus you get much better quality of clothing and go to bed at night with a peaceful mind.
I'm brazlian and I'll for sure translate and share this video to every person who buy clothes in zara. Here in latin america big fashion industries explores the jobs of colombians, bolivians, refugees from Haiti in Brazil. Thanks so much for this video!
Dear Justine, thank you for the video on this topic, I consider that really important and will always like to get new information on that matter. Please keep making this type of videos. Wish you all the best!
I think it is common sense to know that a cheap garment is fast fashion and the workers are severely underpaid. However, it is hard to tell when brands even small boutiques are fast fashion if they are charging $50 upwards for a top.
If are looking for lists of slow fashion brands or ways to start a capsule wardrobe while transitioning over to slow fashion I highly reccomend Daria Andronsecu's YT channel. She does capsule wardrobes and her website has lists of ethical brands from various countries and price ranges. If you think things will be cheap ie the same prices as Zara or Forever21 they won't. This is the reality for brands who treat their employees right. If you're on a tight budget I recommend thrifting or clothing swaps with friends or simply saving for items you want.
A capsule wardrobe is a very good idea. I dont want to over-dramatise it but it felt like catharsis letting go and donating clothes that I havent worn in yrs (due to weight gain) And no, I dont regret it - eventhough I have lost a lot of weight in the past weeks and would fit in many of the pieces that I gave away. Someone else is enjoying them now. And I still have more than enough.
"If you think things will be cheap ie the same prices as Zara or Forever21 they won't" but Justine promised us that they will, that retailers and brands would simply reduce their margins by little and we won't have to pay more, so it was a lie?
@@shushanarakelyan3014 But if a brand is slow fashion, it probably uses higher quality fabrics than fast fashion brands, and those fabrics aren't cheap, especially if they are also ethically produced. Also, those brands are smaller, they don't sell clothes in huge quantities, so they have to have higher prices.
Please, do more videos like this! We all want to learn. I have always been concerned from the workers if i stop buying from other countries and focus only in local, small brands. You helped me a lot with this. Thank you!! We love your content!
Some of them I expected to be fast fashion and unethical but, as an italian, Benetton really let me down, especially considering the 'positive image' the brand wants to give...
I stopped buying in stores known for being fast fashion (Pull&Bear, Bershka etc.) but it's hard to find ethical clothing brands when you live in a small city (and you're also a student with no income)
I felt so bad that my linen pants are from Benetton, as I also believed the brand, but I checked them and they are made in Italy. I'm sure that's because I bought them in a thrift store and they must be from when Benetton made clothes in Italy.
Hi Justine, I just came across your site and have watched i think, most of your videos just like i would read a good book and not want to put it down... You are an amazing individual. Please keep up with your honest helpful work...
Thank you so much. I'm new to your channel and new to actually thinking about fashion. I always knew many clothes were made in terrible conditions but I didn't know how to make a difference. Now I do.
I really enjoy your channel and the way you present anything but I especially respect you for this type of content. I hope the information you give opens the eyes of many ignorant people and makes a difference. Thank you!
I will now boycott these stores. I would appreciate if you would make a list of stores that the clothes are made in an ethical manner. I normally will buy "play clothes" for my grandchildren at Walmart. I will now go to thrift stores and look for higher end labels. Another thing I do is buy from high end children's stores off season. I did this for my two boys every year (who are now 29 and 26). For example, at the end of winter I will look at the sale rack and buy a size or two up for the next winter. Especially coats! Most of the clothes were 60 to 70 percent off. The other thing I would do is buy VERY nice tops and sew the pants and shorts. This was ok until they were in middle school! Justine, thank you SO much for sharing this information!
Emily Jackson After a lot of thought, I have to agree with why you asked your questions. My friend and I went shopping, stopping into H and M, amd we had a major discussion about this topic. If I go down to Nordstroms and spend four times the money, how can I be truly guaranteed the clothing down NOT come from a sweat shop from another country? I have a hard time believing all the stores don't cut corners by using cheaper labor. AND, I can't afford to shop at these retailers. This is a universal problem and I don't have the answers. However, I do know what my clothing budget is, and I am kind of stuck.
Patti 1962 it's a very sad situation indeed. the onus of creating a sustainable global economy should be on the producers, not the consumers, especially when the average consumer cannot afford to shop with a sustainable mindset. that's capitalism for you, i suppose. also, i agree that i have a hard time believing that most of the more "high end" stores don't still use cheap labor. i try to do most of my clothes shopping at vintage or used clothing stores and i always donate my clothes as well. just make sure to wash before you wear! haha.
Emily Jackson there's loads of ethical brands out there but you'll most likely have to order online. Just Google ethical clothing brands. Places like Armed Angels, Veja, By Blanch, Kuyichi, Mud Jeans, Reformation, Funktion Schnitt, Good Guys Don't Wear Leather etc. Eco Age is a great resource for finding information on this sort of stuff.
Hello, Justine. I came across with this video of yours and i find it very interesting that it is so up to date even 2 years from its release. I am from Portugal and we used to have an healthy textile industry up until we entered the EU. Its true we didn't have so many stores, but we had stores directed to the upper classes and stores to the middle classes with a satisfactory quality and reasonable prices. And for the poorer there were people who sold low quality garments in fairs across the country. Back, before the 80's sewing your garments was a common skill and every house had a sewing machine. Then globalisation came and due to the open maket in the EU we watch brands like Zara, Mango, Red Globe, Benetton, H&M (some years latter) arrive and we were glad to have modern garmets on affordable prices to buy. Back in the 90's the price/quality of these brands was good. I bougth some pieces on a Mango store back in 2003 and I stil have them and they are very up to date and were made out of good material and with a good sewing technique. But in the last 10 years I have been noticing that quality is decreasing and that they don't keep a collection for long ... never new that's called fast fashion. But it really bothered me buying poor quality garments that don't last for a season, even if they were cheap. Back in 2011 we had a really hard time in Portugal and our incomes were cut and most of us had to reinvent ourselves to manage our lifes. And that included to figure out how to get properly dressed for work without spending tons of money with low quality garments and to really think if that peace was really necessary. And for me it also meant trying to do my own clothing because I'm a petite sized in my 50's and I don't really identify with Zara and Mango offers any more - at least most of them. Nowadays I try to buy national quality brands (and in Portugal we do have some), especially in sales season, buy less and sew more. I took sewing technique classes and modelling classes, but before I spend about a year watching RUclips videos and I learned a lot. Nowadays I'm proud that I can make fitted garments for me, with national fabrics. It's not cheaper than buying clothes on a store, on the contrary, it requires an investment on a good sewing machine, on a serger machine, it's time consuming but at least I can wear a fitted piece with a good finishing that will last for long, so, I can say I contribute to a sustainable way of life, in a small scale, but I do. And I have lots of friends and acquaintances that are on the same path. It's still hard to find good quality fabrics because the manufacturers sell most of its finest products to foreign clients, but an interesting phenomenon is happening: due to the pandemic of COVID19, we stoped and realized that we were strongly dependent on foreign providers and I thik there is an effort on reintroducing national industry again, people aren't buying so heavily (there is some fear abut the economy status after the great confinement). I think this is happening across many countries in Europe, so I'm kind of hoping that people stop and rethink their consumption habits. Thank you for your video. All the best.
Oh, Justine!! THANK YOU for making this video!!! You have such a gift for stating things simply and clearly. I am so grateful to have discovered your videos. I love Art, Fashion, Design & Architecture... and your videos are ... they're perfect. You are so lovely. I find such inspiration listening to all the knowledge you share with us. AND, you are funny, intelligent and soothing (I know that last adjective isn't one we equate with fashion, but in this era of high stress, it's very very dear to my heart). That you shine a spotlight on what is wrong with the industry, in such concise and not overly inflated terms, makes it easier for people to hear and assimilate. I WANT TO KNOW THESE THINGS! I want to know WHERE to shop and where NOT to shop. I want to make a difference! I think a lot of us do. So, thank you for helping us.Great blessings on your life! Please continue to make these wonderful clips.
Another problem is - even if the label says the garment was made somewhere other than Bangladesh, all that means is that *part* of the construction (the final stage of construction, I think) was done somewhere other than Bangladesh... So, for example, the bulk of the work could be done somewhere with minuscule wages, but the collar, or something, could get sewn on in Italy, so that the label can read "Made in Italy"....
Thank you for doing your part to make the world a more ethical and informed place! I've been sending friends to your channel as they update their wardrobes and "break up" with fast fashion.
I set myself a challange to only BUY sustainable fashion. If possible from the netherlands (no transport) and no Mixed fabrics. Not as easy as I would have thought
Vanessa Kountul I would love to hear how you are doing it and where you buy, if you don’t mind sharing. (I’m in the USA so would have to have shipped from the Netherlands, though.
How do you determine if it's ethical vs sustainable or both and how do you find out? In the US, any advice on how to actually see both of those factors. For example, Everlane is ethical but not yet classed sustainable....
One more question. When we buy designer, is that ethical, or sustainable, or... Are we simply paying for a logo? I just bought a Gucci Marmont wallet and it's made in Italy. I'm quite curious how the $620 price tag would break down for a good like this.
How i go about it: i Google for sustainable fashion in the netherlands. Daria Andronescu has Also made helpfull Lists. Then I go to the website of the brands and gather as much information as I can about the filosophy, manufacturing and the owners of the compagny. I check News about the brands online and the fabrics and labour they use. Then for every item that looks interesting to me, I check the fabrics. Mixed fabrics are hard to recycle. If I am not misstaken linen, lyocell and hemp are good choices. Wool, if its recycled and the same Goes for cotton. You have to pay attenties to How fabrics are produced. I Also like to look for brands that re use fabrics and leather. And in my experience, the big brand, just like fashion do next to nothing for the environment
Justine: Why is it so difficult to find natural fiber fabrics now? For people with eczema, synthetic fabrics make the problem worse. Not just fast fashion but even with middle and upper tier brands natural fabrics have nearly disappeared. Even "natural adjacent" fabrics such as rayon and modal can be irritating. Along that line, what happened to ramie fabrics? There was so much of it in the 90's but I haven't seen any ramie in years. I've started buying mens clothes and altering them just because they are more likely to be 100% cotton.
This is extremely important and useful to know for consumers. I sew my own apparel I have for years but I also work as a professional pattern maker and can tell you fast fashion is truly damaging to the planet and the consumer.
My mother works in a company that does contracts with Escada, Hugo Boss, Marc Cain for coats and dresses mainly. I keep hearing how hard it is to steam garments made with cheap fabric and how much work goes into making them SEEM ok for the quality test. And yes, the clothes are made in almost sweatshop-like conditions, I’ve been there and seen it. They also have a little shop where you can buy next season designs made from the leftover materials but without the tags of course 😂
Interesting Justine! Thank you . I think its a great topic to discuss. These are the things most of us really don’t think too much about. I was just in H & M yesterday and thought HOW on earth can these clothes be made so cheap????
Its interesting that you ask that, but in a tangent I was surprised that H&M is considered a "luxury" brand in the Philippines when I visited my relatives.
I had no idea it was considered expensive or even luxury somewhere :O I am from the Czech Republic. It is super cheap here and the quality shows it quite clearly.
The prices in the biggest retail brands H&M, Zara etc. are the same everywhere. For instance, in Bulgaria the prices are the same as in western Europe although they have much lower costs for rent and staff salaries. So, yes, some of the clothing lines of these brands are considered luxury, especially in small towns.
I always love these videos on fast fashion. I love how clear and straightforward you are, and I love your insights from your point of view as a creator and as someone who is in the fashion industry
Excellent. Thank you for this. A lot of the people I know who wear fast fashion don't really know or haven't stopped to think. This video breaks it down in a simple accessible way that is share-able. Merci Justine!
Thank you for your compassionate portrayal of the garment workers in Bangladesh, and all others who are still not paid a fair wage for their labor. It is heartbreaking that the building collapsed on the factory workers, and that steps have been taken to greatly improve the working conditions, primarily the safety of the workers.
Very concise and precise. I understand the lack of ethics part behind Fast Fashion. However, I also do understand that I can’t afford to spend beyond a certain amount on my clothes, bags, shoes etc. (when my profession and the activities that I am into require me to wear different clothes and accessories) and which is why I don’t mind grabbing a tee for $5. However, I try my best to buy everything “Made in USA” (coz I know for a fact that labor/services in the US is expensive (compared to the Asian or Latin American countries). The sickening aspect of social media (besides TV) is that the so-called hardworking bloggers/vloggers ALWAYS promote constant buying of ridiculous number of products to make ourselves feel better. But the truth is constant-buying and earnings do not go hand in hand, so people tend to find cheaper alternatives, and embrace Fast Fashion without their knowledge. Can all the bloggers/vloggers, policy makers of every country and companies/brands learn to be ethical first? Then consumers will be ethical automatically.
Millions of people buy clothes that are considered by many to be 'fast fashion' because that is all they can afford. I have heard that people on welfare are now having trouble buying clothes from resale shops because the prices have gone up so much (increase in wages/electricity, etc). There is no way they could afford 'ethically' made clothing at retail prices. Yes, working conditions in factories can be awful, as in the beginning of the industrial revolution. Building codes can be loose and inspectors can be paid off. There are local cultural and political factors at play as well. Everyone should feel free to make the choices their conscience dictates, but don't look down at those who can only afford 'fast fashion' - or even second hand 'fast fashion', or lambaste those companies who are trying very hard to nudge 3rd world partners into the current century. These things don't change on OUR timetable, but on theirs.
Agreed! I live in the middle of Europe in Hungary. So not from a third world country. Still I work 8 hours from monday to friday and i earn 230 €. Im happy if i can buy clothes from h&m or Reserved. Before i began to work i could only buy clothes from chinese clothes shops. I bet some of those ppl who make these fast fashion clothes earn more than me. 🙄 And no i dont want to only dress from thrift shops or spend my whole salary for an ethical clothing and starve to death. So God bless h&m reserved mango mohito etc.
Jhw Webster I agree with you but she already stated in her previous video that she doesn't judge the people who buy fast fashion but the companies behind it.
Thank you, Justine. Again precise, and informative - and also important you remain cool, calm and collected. Its so easy to become agitated and unobjective which distracts from the actual point. There are more appaling facts about fast fashion apart from the inhumane working conditions - for instance the pollution (water/resources/waste) and usage of pesticides on the fabric. I stopped buying from the usual suspects about three yrs ago, whenever I pass a shop in a mall now I notice the chemical smell... Luckily, I highly enjoy sewing. But it has also humbled me, realising how long it takes from pattern to completed garment.
- - let’s put it this way: you buy 3 coats at £30 each and switch them up every other day or buy one coat at £90. When you don’t have £90 on the spot but do need a coat, you go for the £30 one. Having several cheaper ones do actually last a while because you change them often so wear and tear is minimal. If you cannot wait and save for one more expensive item, it will do.
Thanks for talking about this Justine, it's so important. People need to know about it. Using your platform to inform people is very admirable, thank you
I'm really thankful about this kind of videos. It is super necessary raise awareness about Fast Fashion industry and its consequences. Thank you, Justine!
The cheapest way to shop ethically is by thrifting used clothes. I recommend watching Kristen Leo on youtube, or the movie "The True Cost". I unfortunately don´t have any list over ethical brands. Hope my answer helped!
I highly recommend apps like Depop and Poshmark. People sell thier old clothes (for less than retail) so it’s super affordable and you can find a lot of great brands for really good prices and even sell your old clothes. People also sell make up and home decor. Also if you want to save more on poshmark you can use the referral code : LILYTHEROSE for $10 off.
Excellent video Justine. TY for giving us an update on whats been happening in the fashion industry. Just recently, I believe workers placed notes in clothing shipped to Zara stores about not being paid for their work. So even though some standards have improved, wages are still a concern. To this day I do not shop at many of these retailers.
Thanks, Justine, I find it very difficult identifying fast fashion brands that aren't so obvious due to a higher price tag. For example, brands like Boden, Marc O'Polo, Triangle, Taifun or Vertbaudet (for kids) aren't very cheap but they constantly issue new collections so I wonder which category they would fall in? I have started buying eco-conscious clothing brands as well but found their sizing erratic (especially for larger sizes) and the selection very limited.
Hi justine! hope you get to read this, I´ve been very interested in this topic, and the education you give is definetly encouraging, and eye opening, this video is definetly helpufull, and I lke to share the fast fashion experience from a "poor" country. I live in Colombia, South America, and as you may know this is not a developed country, some years ago I used to buy clothes from some stores that are local (so i thought) , they weren't exactly cheap but were ok. In the last years and due to agreements with other countries we've seen brands like Zara, H&M, Pull & Bear, Bershka, Mango etc. come here and take a lot of the market (I have to say that these brands here aren't cheap at all, except H&M, specially Mango and Zara are super expensive, like they were luxury brands, it took me years to realize they were not at all) So having in mind all of this fast fashion thing I moved back to the "local" brands, just to find out that the clothes they sell are made in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and other asian countries too. that made me sad and mad, 'cause it feels like you have no where to buy; even the cheapest things come from there. I've been looking some little bussiness that are made in Colombia, the thing is: they are super expensive!!!, wich I think is so sad, because the majority of the people here can't afford things made in our own country, that have incredible quality, where people is fairly paid etc. so lots of people just HAVE to go and buy these fast fashion clothes. And I think all of that is beacause goverments don't support local production, and just let these huuuge companies come in here to destroy local companies and just keep feeding savage capitalism. What do you think consumers in this position should do??? just wanted to share, thx for reading, love your vids
You're so intelligent, not just about fashion but about many topics that make up the fashion industry. I love your videos, they give so much insight. And from all the videos I have watched of yours, I love that you put emphasis on quality. That what these poor workers and large corporations are putting out to sell not only lacks quality and won't last for the consumer but hurts the workers. It's really a bad situation for both sides in the long run. Hopefully in the future more people will realize this and take action.
Thank you so much for producing these kinds of videos. It sure has made me buy less clothing especially if I truly don't need it. But more importantly it makes me take a look at where the garment was made and then decide to buy or not, even if I do need it. Keep these videos coming!
Very thought provoking, Justine. It seems like we are caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to Bangladesh. Support fast fashion and they eat. Don't support it and they eat less. I've been "trying" to purchase USA made clothing, but it's really hard to source. I've found Mimumaxi and Heirloom Clothing that make USA clothing (and do a lot of dresses and modest tops, I'm trying to dress more modestly while staying cool in the humidity and heat of Texas!). The prices are higher, so I buy fewer items. I have also loved thrifting, so I still go to thrift stores and buy used, although I'm sure quite a few of those items were made with near slave labor. Keep up your crusade on Fast Fashion. Maybe we can solve the problem by buying ethically sourced items. I'm with you on this one.
Hi Justine, this is the first time I am writing to you. I am from Bangladesh and I am glad to see someone from the fashion industry actually acknowledging this horrible incident that scarred us for life and talking about the brands after a long time. It was a "hot" topic for 6 months then like everything happening in a developing country like ours, it was done and dusted. Thank you.
Thank YOU for taking the time to write a comment. And for sharing your feeling.
You are welcome. You are an angel btw. I have always been a huge fan. Thanks for replying.
Hello Maliha, would you mind answering a few question, "from the inside"? If you don't want to, that's fine! :)
The biggest defensive argument of fast fashion brands is that before clothes manufacturing, there was hardly any lucrative industry in Bangladesh and everyone was poor. "Bad work is better than no work." Do you think this is true? Is life better now, in general, than, I don't know, maybe 20 years ago? Thank you so much! :)
Your people deserve better !! The women are soo hard working. I saw that some of these factories are just finding loop holes now to pass recent regulations.
I wish there as more to do in my end aside from no buying certain clothes ❤️ any suggestion please let me know
Marie Bach , Hi! Although your questions were indicated to Maliha but being a Bangladeshi myself along with 2 degrees in Economics, I reckon that I'm eligible for answering those. The garments industry actually evolved and flourished in here during the 80s and if you compare the data from the 70s and the 80s, you might see an improvement which kind of legitimizes the statements of the fashion brands. However, data always don't show the true scenarios. Bangladesh gained independence in 1971 so the economy of the new born country was thriving during the 70s and was agriculture based. With the advancement of the garment industry, the participation of labors (especially women ) has increased manifold. Also, it doesn't require special skills to get into a garment job cause Bangladeshi garments do the sewing parts mostly and most of the women here know how to that from a very early age at home. Since the economy was thriving already, and working in garments factory was easily accessible, more and more people opted for the job (cause having a job is better than none plus a job gives you some kind of a social status). So when more and more people were showing eagerness to work in the garment industry, investors became more interested in investing in creating more factories and that's how the garments industry have flourished in Bangladesh and have actually taken the lead in earning foreign currencies and revenues. In economics, when the supply is higher than the demand, prices fall. In this case, The number of unemployed people were (still are ) so high that more people were interested to work in the industry than actually needed for which the employers never had the urge to increase the wages of the garment employees. Also, The bargaining power of the workers is close to nil which is why they never raise their voice for a higher salary or creating a safe environment for working cause there's easy option for the employers to fire them and hire new employees.
To answer your last question, to be honest, life isn't better. What happened in the last 20/30 years is that the income inequality and discrimination have increased so much that Poors have become much poorer and the riches have become much richer. And the government often tries to portray the better scenarios in front of the world so that everyone assumes that the govt is doing good and overall, The country is improving. When the data of wages and other facilities are shown, it's not corrected by inflation. If data shows that wages have increased, The prices for house rent, daily necessities etc have increased more (comparing the percentages).
Hope I could answer to your queries. :)
I work in a fashion store and from my perspective, the problem with fast fashion is not only in the mistreatment of the workers who make the clothes (which is the biggest issue) but in the philosophy at its base and in the mentality that it develops in consumers as well. I speak to people who are very happy to see brands put out new stuff weekly and even more so daily. They don't stop a second to think about the quality of what they are paying with their hard earned money. They think just about how trendy the thing is. My colleagues buy new shoes at 5 pounds the pair almost every week, and they always complain about problems with their feet, legs, knees. Then they buy cheap insoles for their bad shoes, and new medical insoles to upgrade their bad insoles, and the right shoes to accommodate those insoles. And all this adds to a mass production of bad clothes never seen in history. And all this adds to pollution. And people are anyway never satisfied, never fulfilled. Personally, I buy just what I need to update my uniform from the store where I work, but I am very dissatisfied, and I almost completely stopped buying for myself. Thanks for this video, Justine. As a stylist, you are brave to speak out loud about fast fashion :)
Annarosa Girardini I totally agree! I think a huge part of it is about consumer behaviors and appreciating our clothes, buying quality and treating it well so it lasts
That is the disposable and buying constantly in quantities mentality that these corporations prey on.
I hardly go shopping if I do I am a picky shopper. Some big department store just over price , the clothes are cheaply made the sewing the stiches the fabric some clothes are not durable.
Another problem with the fast fashion culture is that it is one of the biggest polluters to our natural waters and lands. Here are some numbers 1 load of laundry realizes 700,000 micro plastic. It takes 2,700 liners to make 1 cotton shirt. 100lbs of clothes a year are put in to garbage (enough for 1 person to drink for 2.5 years) Polyester products releases 706 billion green house gasses emission. AND lastly (my favourite numbers), pollutes over 100 million people's brains resulting in mental disorders. -- I had to research for a charity company. but these numbers where taken from 2017-2018 studies I can only imagine now (now that we have micro fashion cycles--apx 50+). NASTY.
I see that too. I'm part of a thrift store fan group on Facebook, and with them increasing prices (they needed to, they were shut down for months and had to make up for the costs incurred from that, plus inflation jumps) so many people have been saying "just go to Walmart, the clothes will cost the same and they'll be *new*." They don't care about the manufacturing or the quality, they're completely fixated on price. I thrift for many reasons, and yes price is part of it, but finding high quality clothing and knowing it's not getting thrown out is more important to me. I have zero desire to run to Walmart and spend $5 on a shirt that will fall apart in a couple of washes. And I don't fixate on used as a bad thing, but a good thing, because it reduces waste!
The bottom line is we should not support slave labor. Thank you for answering my questions about it. No more fast fashion for me. Frankly tired of the little person getting screwed over.
I‘m so glad I can sew. I used to work myself up about these issues...and then I decided to just resort to thrifting and sewing to circumvent the whole issue. Took me some time to get back into the groove, but now I couldn’t be happier with my decision.
Most ethical brands are just not affordable for most people...there seems to be nothing in between fast fashion and really small, conscientious producers with harrowing prices...which is really unfortunate.
I mean, if you look at that graphic about where the money for a piece of clothing goes, it looks like it wouldn’t take much of an increase, actually, to pay decent wages and produce somewhat more sustainably.
It would be nice if there were brands who were at least ‚ok‘ ethically and able to produce for the mass market at somewhat competitive prices.
I am actually thinking of learning to sew for this reason. I can knit, so for now I at least enjoy my merino, alpaca etc. jumpers that are actually warm, unlike the acrylic stuff in the shops.
That is exactly what I do - either I buy second hand or I "have to" sew it myself (excluding socks, undies and t-shirts)
smajlik1
Of course it makes things easier, that I like casual, comfortable clothes...right now I pretty much live in an assortment of shortlegged rompers and jersey dresses. Quick and easy to make and pretty cute, actually.
Not suitable for an office job of course. I don't know, if I could go through with it, if I needed more formal clothes on a daily basis. I do know how to do stuff like that but it's difficult and time-consuming...and materials get more expensive, too.
I usually prefer to buy blazers and stuff in consignment stores. It's still second hand, but in impeccable condition (normal thrift stores really suck where I live). It's definitely doable to make do (mostly) without actually buying brand new clothes.
I have to agree with your observation about there being nothing in the middle - it's all high quality stuff at astronomical prices (...and some branded garbage at high prices too) or big chain store brands. I would prefer to buy something in the middle - decent quality, plain design (so no need for massive creative input) at a reasonable price, but that just doesn't seem to exist.
Rara Avis how did you learn to sew? I would like to learn
I gave up Primark as a new years resolution for 2019, last year they were selling T shirts for 50 cent here in Ireland
What is really disgusting is to see a Mother carrying a Coach handbag and buying .50 tees for her kids. This is very common...
@@blathermore what if the coach bag is counterfeit loll 🌚 that's why they went to primark
😯
jeez, that's a result of literal slavery
I'm always blown away by how thoughtful and well-researched your videos are, and by your sincerity on camera. I've learned so much about fast fashion (and fashion in general) from you and it's changed my buying habits and consumer mentality. Your's is the only channel that has really impacted me to think about how I factor into a global issue like this and what little ways I can help to fight fast fashion as an individual consumer. This is directly related to the content and quality of your videos. Anyway, I love your channel, keep up the wonderful work!
Thank you for this video. I'm Bangladeshi-American and when I learned about the tragedy, I was really upset. People sacrifice so much of their time, effort, and well-being to make money to support themselves and their families. It is really important to put a stop to this.
Until nobody else employs them, and they have no income. Because fat cats will always find a way to make THEMSELVES A PROFIT. So what do the workers do when little income becomes none??
It's sickening that they could afford to pay the workers a living wage in Bangladesh but still do not. If these CEOs had consciences, they could easily take a pay cut and continue to be rich
Correct. The owner of Zara / Inditex even is one of the richest people in the world.
I honestly don’t know how they can sleep at night...
At some point money stops being a necessity and starts to become a power symbol. Nobody needs to be a billionaire but the power that comes with having so much money is just irresistible for so many of these people. It's vile.
I guess very well because they don't have a soul.
its competition, forever 21 (that is so cheap) had to exit the Irish market as they could not compete with Primark.. people expect to pay very little as this is the new norm unfortunately, esp when you can buy clothes with your groceries in all our major supermarkets
I love how you nail the FACTS, Justine! I am from Bangladesh ;) This is just to add to what Justine has brilliantly portrayed.... often a manufacturer/brand claims to have policies in place, like minimum wage, ethical production, etc. may not mean those are implemented/followed. Look at their statistics or annual reports available on the web to get a better picture.
your videos are exceptional. if they sell a t-shirt for 5 dollars, they will never stop, because the minimum wages dropped significantly in many countries. people just can't afford alternatives. but i always get angry when i see a garment of a famous brand (armani, gucci, escada etc) made in china or bangladesh which costs hundreds and thousands of euros. and all these fast fashion brands like zara and mango selling their garments for 50, 80, 150 euros. and they are often not even of good quality, made of cheap fabric, sewed poorly. i just feel robbed.
75vasso I bought a plain nice color beige t shirt yesterday at Wal Mart
For 5.00. I don’t care who made it or where it came from.
ingrid Good to know that you have absolutely no regard for other people's lives!
What a dumb comment DameChevalier.
75vasso... every institute or garment of any country do make good n bad quality of products... it's our concern to choose the right one...for the right cost..
Being poor definitely limit your choices but not necessarily in a way you might think. If you earn very little, you can still afford good quality and long lasting items and all you have to do is save money and plan. Been there done that, so to speak. Yes, it is hard and frustrating to see that the item you wanted is gone by the time you have saved up enough but I have changed the tactics - I used to save for the concept not the specific item. Famous brands no longer guarantee quality but I am glad there are some specialized shops that employ educated personnel who can help you with what you need for the budged you have.
This is a re-upload of today's video. There was a big mistake in the other version, which I didn't want to leave that way. Sorry about it. Now all is fine. Happy Sunday!
PS: all my videos now come with English subtitles - tell your friends who want to train their English skills :-)
Justine Leconte officiel Thank you for sorting it out! Xx
May I ask about your watch??? What brand is it??? Thanks in advance!! Hope u reply :)))
Fitbit lavender + rose gold
Justine Leconte officiel Your top looks just like something I'm looking for, what brand is it? :)
Justine Leconte officiel what do you think about hm's "missions" on their site? Is it likely just a facade?
It seems that we (I’m speaking from an American point of view) are on the brink of a paradigm switch on all levels! Clothing, food, housing, transportation....so much is based on cost vs quality. I just bought 2 excellent chicken breasts from the farmer who raised them free range, non gmo, organic....$24! They were delicious....but the cost was a shock. Same for almost everything ... and for made in America it’s a real financial burden to choose healthy, ethically made products. But, you, along with others, have given consumers a lot to ponder. Thank you!
I don't know how much is $24 for you personally and when compared to the market. in my currency i couldn't even look at the product, lol. but truth is, if you don't grow it yourself, and you want it tasting good and being as healthy as possible, no matter where you are in the world, do expect to pay a price for it [though even growing your own food has it's price - time and effort on top of stuff you may need to buy].
$24 for 2 chicken breasts is exorbitant. I guess I'll need to continue buying Perdue chicken...on sale...with coupons.
I’m American as well - I would like to add that I have stopped eating as much meat in general. I used to eat meat approximately three meals per week. I make sure I continue to eat some here and there for omega 3 fatty acids and B-vitamins but I, too, have become willing to spend more WHEN I purchase meant (be it chicken, fish, beef, whatever) with the CLEAR proof that the company is a sustainable and ethical, humane one. I think it is okay to pay $24 for bison, chicken, whatever if you are getting quality. As with many things, you get what you pay for. That being said, the cost of living definitely is higher wherever you are. Very ethically raised, free range, and well -fed chicken here in Ohio would not cost that much but would still be expensive all the same. :)
Cathy Smallwood I live in Eastern Europe and situation is the same. Newspapers are writing that our children have serious health issues because we eat chickens feed with hormones, antibiotics and other bad stuff. But if you want to buy normal meet, you must now some farmer personally, and be familiar with how he feeds his animals, and then buy only from him. And that is almost inposible. We are in pat position.....
Julijana Cvejic It is so very interesting to hear the situation is so widespread ! Actually, shocking! The global food industry is a Goliath and we consumers must be Davids! I’m no vegetarian, but I will begin to do the same as the commenter above and eat less meat. Do you have farmers markets where you live? Check out Justin Rhodes on RUclips. He has a world-wide following and perhaps someone will know of a farmer in your area that will sell ethical raised animals. Best to you!
I think you should do a video about how to find affordable clothes without supporting fast fashion. I like clothes from more expensive brands, but I can't buy them all the time.
I would love to buy ethically and ditch fast fashion, but I can barely afford to pay $15 for a new pair of jeans. Are there ethical fashion brands for people who live on the poverty line?
@@YippieKahYay Try local shops in your region, thrift shops is also highly suggested.
I highly recommend apps like Depop and Poshmark. People sell thier old clothes (for less than retail) so it’s super affordable and you can find a lot of great brands for really good prices and even sell your old clothes. People also sell make up and home decor. Also if you want to save more on poshmark you can use the referral code : LILYTHEROSE for $10 off.
Thank you, Justine. Talking about these issues is my #1 reason I follow your channel and have a high regard for what you do. (Although I still love the rest of what you cover!)
We are complicit in these human rights issues and need to be informed and thoughtful when we buy anything.
I am happy that there are people thinking about the planet. Lovely talk.
When you buy a cheap item of cloth in Walmart or H&M, is because that is what you can afford, you make low wages just like the factory worker that made the garment, the problem is when a brand that uses the same factory charges a lot of money for it, we have to pay attention to the label to see where they manufactured it, the same factory that do Walmart also does Ralph Lauren and Banana Republic for example.
Merci, Justine! This is one of the most important issues in fashion, & we can all do our part to make fast fashion die away. Fast fashion may have a cheap price tag in shops, but it’s ultimately far too expensive. You are among the brave designers who speak out about this unfortunate aspect of the industry, & thank you for making consumers aware of what they’re supporting when they buy these cheaply produced garments. Buying is voting, & we must stop voting for & giving power to those who look at the global supply chain and exploit the laws & labor force in developing nations for huge financial gain. Besides, fast fashion means clothes that only look good from far away; if you get too close, you see the shortcuts & shoddy materials. Fast fashion simply isn’t worth it.
Gorejs hey so what should I do? I didn’t see her give an alternative. Did she say to solve the problem we need to stop buying from those shops? What shops can I buy from then? I hope you know, thanks
Great question, & I don't have a comprehensive answer, but I can share what I've found so far. It takes some research, & I've found it's better if I shop online with companies I know & trust. Justine Leconte's beautiful line is, of course, ethically produced in Germany. Everlane (www.everlane.com) tells you where each piece was manufactured, & at the foot of each product page is a breakdown of what the piece cost to make, & how much profit Everlane will make, along with the price a "traditional" clothing company would charge for a comparable piece. Brass Clothing (brassclothing.com) is owned & operated by 2 smart women, & they're also transparent about their design & manufacturing process. All American Giant (www.american-giant.com) clothing is made in America. All these brands offer beautiful, high-quality clothing, ethically produced, & the prices will often surprise you. It does take some research, but that can be fun. Here's a very good article on the subject written by the owners of Brass: medium.com/the-workroom-by-brass/the-myth-of-the-maxxinista-82962369dccc. Hope this helps!
Gorejs thanks so much for your response and links. Unfortunately i can never buy online because I always have to try the item on. I guess secondhand is the only option for now then. I wish they made physical stores. I mean I love secondhand but there’s things I cannot find there sometimes.
So pretty much all physical stores are fast fashion now? What a shame. Hopefully those ethical brands start making physical stores all over the world.
Hi Emily, I understand about having to try on clothes before you buy. Shopping online means trial & error, & lots of waiting for returns, hoping that the new size will fit. I used to buy all my clothes secondhand because I couldn't afford new clothes. As you know, you can get very good quality at a fraction of the price of often-crappy new clothes. I don't buy a lot of clothes nowadays, but through trial & error I've figured out my size in the brands I like. Even then, there's quite a difference from brand to brand, & I often still have to go through the nerve-wracking return & reorder process. Let's hope more & more ethical brands show up in stores. If there's enough consumer demand, it will happen.
i love thrift shops, its also good for the environment. one day i will try ethical brands. theres something weird ive noticed tho, i know everyone says clothing in op shops are good quality but in the ones i go to there all pretty much fast fashion clothes from poeple that have donated them, so i dont know why poeple say its better quality. i thought that fast fashion is the only thing that exists nowadays. im interested to know what kind of clothes do you find in your secondhand stores if its not fast fashion? i really feel touched by all these unethical things happening, its hard to understand it all and how it works because its all ive ever known, i was born into it and ive never known anything else than fast fashion and buying in big stores. i was wondering is it just clothes that have this problem? what about everything else and all other objects and things in stores?
Wonderful explanation. People need to know. The problem was not solved with the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire. Thank you for bringing this to the table for discussion.
YES YES YES! 🙌🏼 Such a useful video! Love you Justine! 💖 Even though things have improved slightly since Rana plaza, many factories are still unsafe with the majority of them not having fire exits which are critical in factories operating heavy machinery, irons, steamers etc. 😔
... or they don't have proper lamps to actually see what they are sewing (and no daylight coming in). Thank you for spreading the word too!
Hi, Justine! As someone who lives in a middle income country, I do find it harder to make people from these countries to stop buying fast fashion, since ethically made clothes are more expensive and the middle class is not able to afford. I’m talking about countries like China, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Russia. They are industrial modern countries, but have not yet achieved the level of salary of the US and Western Europe. I do think that citizens from the first world have a lot more income to spend on clothes. In middle income countries like mine, the middle class can not afford prices above Zara and F21. Even I myself shop mostly at Zara. I don’t have $170 dollars to pay for a pair of ethically made jeans. Citizens of the first world should be leading this process of changing fast fashion industry, since they have sufficient wealth to pay for ethically made products. I know a lot of people will disagree and say that everyone should be leading the process etc, but for billions of people around the globe, outside the bubble US-Europe, fast fashion is the only way to go if you want clothes that are current and have a nice design. A rise in the prices of fast fashion would exclude millions of people from countries like mine from being able to afford clothes. It’s very complex, and I find it problematic to say that fast fashion is a choice.
Andr ' and even if you have the money those ethical brands do not ship their products to Latin America (in cases only Argentina and/or Chile)
I agree with your argument. In my country, average income is about 350 EUR. Buying garments Wich cost more than 30 EUR for us is big deal, even in Zara or H&M. But we still have options not to buy in those stores, but rather to buy chlothes made in our own country, they are not more expensive than FF brends, but people don't do that because they want to wear "famous name brand". So more and more domestic brands are closing down. It is sad, because we can still make a difference in our own country, but we are not doing that.....
We can do that for the basics of the wardrobe, but it's very hard to find trendy pieces in small local brands.
Typos, broken tablet. Church clothes bank.
Stop not let, just make rest of typos up to fit
Some ethical brands I like for people getting into this:
Patagonia
Fair indigo
Nisolo
Indigenous
Zady
I’m not wealthy so I can’t buy everything from these brands, but I do the best I can. It is also very ethical to thrift and buying vintage is a great way to get good quality!
Boost.
Thanks😊👍
I really like thrift stores, in my country there is an entire industry of it. But the brands they've got are exactly the ones that do fast fashion. Mango, Bershka, H&M. If I buy them at a thrift store, would that make it more ethical?
@@Fabiola711 If you buy it at a thrift store, you haven't paid the manufacturer, you haven't encouraged them to manufacture more, you haven't even required *any* manufacture at all. So yes, I'd say it's ethical to buy anything used, for the most part.
None of those brands are sell in my country, I live in Peru and here we have brands like Zara, Mango, H&M, Tommy Hilfiger, Opposite, Oasis, Roxy, American eagle, 1 2 3, Naf Naf, Warehouse, Cortefield... I think the first 3 are fast fashion but the other ones??
Hi Justine, Thank you for your thoughts and observations on "Fast Fashion" being made in Bangladesh. I have several artist friends on Facebook from Dhaka in Bangladesh. I have had many conversations with them and know that they are all vastly underpaid and just get by in life with their meagre earnings. At this moment, I am sitting in a Starbucks inside of a Target Store. Target has a lot of "fast fashion" from Bangladesh. Recently I was walking through and saw some little boys shirts that were absolutely beautiful. I stopped and looked very closely at the design, the stitching, the fabric and the overall quality of the shirts. Then I checked the price and it was beyond reasonable. I thought of my friends and I honestly felt sad. Because I knew that most people in Bangladesh, not only the garment workers barely make enough to support themselves let alone their families. Anyways, thank you so much for taking a stand in the industry and bringing attention to this subject. As always another great video and looking forward to your next one!
You make great points. I also think that you might not have to go to far. The workers in Target that earn the minimum salary are probably not making enough to live in the USA as well. Of course the wages and costs of living differ greatly.
The problem did not stop at Bangladesh. The big companies outsourced them elsewhere. Thanks for this informative video, Justine. 😁
Yes, that's right. Other countries are being used by that system. And there are also even more expensive brands that also produce there.
But Justine, you said there aren’t other countries to go to. Which is it?
My country, Portugal, used to have a lot of textile production and that was one of the biggest forms of employment for people who didn't pursue higher education - with decent pay and work conditions. But now, with everything being produced in China and Bangladesh, there's a lot less employment here...and people are not treated fairly for their work in those countries unfortunarelly :/
As you said, often even very expensive brands use sweat shops, so I think it's best to get hands second-hand when you can. That way you are not only not supporting sweat shops, but also you are helping to reduce clothing waste by buying used instead of new.
Your content is always on point and highly informative. Thank you😀
Very thought provoking commentary. I've never heard of fast fashion before watching your videos. This gives me more to think about when I shop for clothing.
Justine, as always on point. Thank you for this important insight. However I'd like to highlight something else about videos. I LOVE the fact, that you just say your name and go straight to the topic of the video. No babbling around, no "oh so sorry i didn't make a video for long time but i was sick and my dog got lost and my boyfirend dumpt me", just pure content. Thank you for that, I really appreciate that you don't want to waste your viewers time and I just wish other youtubers also do that...
Thanks, Justine. That was very interesting. Your videos are always thought-provoking. I look at fashion differently now.
I am from Central Brazil, just 120 Kms from Brasilia, and we have a polo of cheap fashion around here. One day I went there for shopping and I saw a pair of jeans for R$ 35,00 (around $10.00) and I asked the sales clerck how was that possible. And she answered: "slave work". I just akwardly smiled, and walked out the store. Also, we talk about fast fashion - but Queen Letizia wears Zara and everyone thinks is so great. I mean, it is great she is not wasting public money on design brands, but I do not think is so great she supports a brand that is famous for disrespecting labour laws.
Serbia, where I live, actually former Jugoslavia had very developed textile industry ( and shoe, furniture etc.industries ), in Croatia were even produced high quality jeans, with good thread, materials, long life , durability etc.
I am all in favour for any domestic brand who produces clothes, also because of this tradition of producing, but it is hard for them cause of the flood of fast fashion brands and low quality chinese wardrobe stores. I know you don't want to advertise any brand, but maybe you could advise us how can we find good quality not fast fashion brands :), all best
Ljupka Nenadovic Draga Ljupka, ne znam gde zivite u Srbiji, ali ja vam mogu reci iz mog iskustva gde jos mozete kupiti nesto cestito a proizvrdeno kod nas. Ja jako ne volim fast fashion brendove, I mnogo zalim za nekadasnjom tekstilnom industrijom koje nazalost vise nema. P.S.Fashion je dobar, ima velika snizenja I sjajan internet sajt za online kupovinu. Za dzins Maxers, provereno vise puta da je odlican. Trikotaza Biliczki, Kooi, oni su iz Ade, I St. George iz BG. Kupujem redovno kod ovih brendova, i vrlo sam zadovoljna. Daj Boze da nam potraju, u konkurenciji sa Zarom I ostalom ekipom stranih izrabljivaca. Pozdrav!
@@julijanacvejic517 Hvala najlepše na ovim savetima! ❤
The concise, thought provoking and informative video is highly appreciated. Thank you.
Thanks! I wish more youtubers uploaded this quality of content! Congrats!!!!!
As a Bangladeshi living in North America who is always trying to educate my peers in NA about this same topic, I am so grateful for you to bring this story back into light and highlighting these issues.
I literally started panicking when the video was deleted xd. I was like wait, what happened??? I need my justine inspiration!!
You look stunning Justine! Your garment’s color and pattern, cut and drape, plus your hairstyle is a super combination for you! Thanks for helping to make so many of us aware of fashion’s impact on society.
There is no longer mango in Australia. I don't wear much Zara or H&M (H&M quality isn't good and Zara never has anything that fits me) but I've been thinking a lot about brands and where my clothes come from. I think it is all our responsibilities to be conscious and concern about who makes what we wear and where it comes from. But even with more expensive brands, I still wonder where the clothes are from. Thanks for this vid; for talking about this.
Zara has good shoes when they're made of real leather. but they rarely fit me - i have wide feet and they make very narrow shoes. their pants also have a VERY weird shape. In general over here [i dont know about other countries] Zara has better looking/more stylish clothe an the quality seems a bit better when compared to the other Inditex or to H&M.
Last year marked the year when i reduced even the window shopping at H&M and Zara [never went to the other Inditex stores.. maybe 2 times if i did. those clothes simply aren't worth it :( ]
Sapphire Camui I have several items from Zara and from H&M which I love! Who cares if it’s “fast fashion”? I dont
ingrid who cares? The people who can't afford to live who are making those clothes
Zara is odd - when I travel I see they have nice stuff in other countries (although their sizing in the UK ranges from petite to emaciated) but Zara in South Africa stocks the most bizarre stuff. I have never seen anything attractive in there, it's all weird shapes and eye watering colours.
ingrid obviously a lot of us care.
Love your content Justine. It is refreshing to see someone with so many subscribers talking about the things that matter. I get pangs of anger when I see huge youtubers (not mentioning any names... ahem) who are constantly posting "HUUUGE Zara Hall" "Primark Hall" "oooops I spent too much" kind of videos. They get millions of views, and this inspires not only the regular consumer to buy these garments but smaller RUclipsrs who think they can generate revenue from these ridiculous videos themselves. I have to remind myself that I was once a consumer of these brands and to be patient - education is key so videos like yours are SO important
Thank you for the video and the re-upload of it. Its a really informative video. I do have friends who have always wanted to improve their english skills they would love your english sub titles. Love you and love your channel.
I have learn a lot from this video. Thank you so much. I used to think that it was enough to buy from a well known, medium or higher price target, but now I know that’s not the case.
Thank you for taking the time to make these videos and for being such an outstanding influencer!! I'd live a video in which brands are not fast fashion, which brands are doing fashion right... like yours!!
Hello from Bangladesh, Justine! As a Bangladeshi myself I can see how in-depth and accurate your research was on this topic. The situation here is far worse than it sounds. From outside it looks great as clothes are very cheap here( you can understand why), everyone can look stylish and trendy with just a few bucks. I once bought a great t-shirt only for 1.50 dollars. But from the inside, there's this huge gap between the factory workers and the owners. I wish you could see how those people lead their lives. The worst thing is, no one has any clue about fast fashion and how it's destroying so many people. Almost no one has ever heard of the term "Fast Fashion". No one cares here. Everyone is happy to wear cheap and fashionable clothes. It's hard and truly almost impossible to not wear fast fashion clothings as it's EVERYWHERE. But I'm trying my best to not wear them anymore. Hopefully, the situation here will change. There are few NGOs that are working hard to improve the condition of garment workers. They are not successful yet but hey it's a start, right? Thank you for talking about this topic.Take care :)
Thank you so much for all the insights... Raising awareness is so important!!
Thank you for a very informative, very detailed video, you always put out great content! The Rena Plaza incident in 2013, was an eye opener for me, and I stopped shopping fast fashion since. I now buy secondhand and I purchase ethically made clothing.
I'm totally with you- I also realized I can have a much smaller wardrobe that is ethically sourced and also easier to manage- my way is to have a very limited colour palette and classic basics.
I took a course from MOMA that is call Fashion as design and part of the course is about this, after I took the course I decide to change my lifestyle, I start to be more aware of what I'm buying and not only about where it came or who made it, I start to look pieces of clothes that can be recycled or reusable WITHOUT POLIESTER I´m so shock how much pollution it produce and how is use all around the world. And now I'm designing things that are more eco friendly .
I heard about that MOMA class!! So it was a great one?
@@justineleconte Yes is a great one, I think that's a really good course! And I like that they talk about it
Openly and honestly said what needs to be said...I love your videos Justine!
Hi Justine,
I just found your channel and I'm obsessed with it! Thank you for your courage to speak about fashion in a way that honors women and also the world around us. You are a light in this space and a treasure.
If you are from a smaller country like me, buy local. I'm sure most countries have cute little boutiques that aren't expensive at all, plus you get much better quality of clothing and go to bed at night with a peaceful mind.
I'm brazlian and I'll for sure translate and share this video to every person who buy clothes in zara. Here in latin america big fashion industries explores the jobs of colombians, bolivians, refugees from Haiti in Brazil. Thanks so much for this video!
Thanks for investing your time!
Dear Justine, thank you for the video on this topic, I consider that really important and will always like to get new information on that matter. Please keep making this type of videos. Wish you all the best!
I think it is common sense to know that a cheap garment is fast fashion and the workers are severely underpaid. However, it is hard to tell when brands even small boutiques are fast fashion if they are charging $50 upwards for a top.
If are looking for lists of slow fashion brands or ways to start a capsule wardrobe while transitioning over to slow fashion I highly reccomend Daria Andronsecu's YT channel. She does capsule wardrobes and her website has lists of ethical brands from various countries and price ranges. If you think things will be cheap ie the same prices as Zara or Forever21 they won't. This is the reality for brands who treat their employees right. If you're on a tight budget I recommend thrifting or clothing swaps with friends or simply saving for items you want.
Thank you for the information on the website. I am already subscribed and can't wait to work my way through her videos.
A capsule wardrobe is a very good idea. I dont want to over-dramatise it but it felt like catharsis letting go and donating clothes that I havent worn in yrs (due to weight gain) And no, I dont regret it - eventhough I have lost a lot of weight in the past weeks and would fit in many of the pieces that I gave away. Someone else is enjoying them now. And I still have more than enough.
Yes! So much informative content on there, and swaps, secondhand and working with a clothing budget is such a great way to stay economical
"If you think things will be cheap ie the same prices as Zara or Forever21 they won't" but Justine promised us that they will, that retailers and brands would simply reduce their margins by little and we won't have to pay more, so it was a lie?
@@shushanarakelyan3014 But if a brand is slow fashion, it probably uses higher quality fabrics than fast fashion brands, and those fabrics aren't cheap, especially if they are also ethically produced. Also, those brands are smaller, they don't sell clothes in huge quantities, so they have to have higher prices.
Please, do more videos like this! We all want to learn.
I have always been concerned from the workers if i stop buying from other countries and focus only in local, small brands. You helped me a lot with this. Thank you!! We love your content!
Some of them I expected to be fast fashion and unethical but, as an italian, Benetton really let me down, especially considering the 'positive image' the brand wants to give...
I stopped buying in stores known for being fast fashion (Pull&Bear, Bershka etc.) but it's hard to find ethical clothing brands when you live in a small city (and you're also a student with no income)
Buy vintage and thrift!
ryokagirl
, I feel the same way
I felt so bad that my linen pants are from Benetton, as I also believed the brand, but I checked them and they are made in Italy. I'm sure that's because I bought them in a thrift store and they must be from when Benetton made clothes in Italy.
Hi Justine, I just came across your site and have watched i think, most of your videos just like i would read a good book and not want to put it down... You are an amazing individual. Please keep up with your honest helpful work...
Thank you so much. I'm new to your channel and new to actually thinking about fashion. I always knew many clothes were made in terrible conditions but I didn't know how to make a difference. Now I do.
I really enjoy your channel and the way you present anything but I especially respect you for this type of content. I hope the information you give opens the eyes of many ignorant people and makes a difference. Thank you!
I will now boycott these stores. I would appreciate if you would make a list of stores that the clothes are made in an ethical manner. I normally will buy "play clothes" for my grandchildren at Walmart. I will now go to thrift stores and look for higher end labels. Another thing I do is buy from high end children's stores off season. I did this for my two boys every year (who are now 29 and 26). For example, at the end of winter I will look at the sale rack and buy a size or two up for the next winter. Especially coats! Most of the clothes were 60 to 70 percent off. The other thing I would do is buy VERY nice tops and sew the pants and shorts. This was ok until they were in middle school! Justine, thank you SO much for sharing this information!
Patti 1962 hey what is higher end? And is it ethical? Are there any shops that are not unethical?
Emily Jackson After a lot of thought, I have to agree with why you asked your questions. My friend and I went shopping, stopping into H and M, amd we had a major discussion about this topic. If I go down to Nordstroms and spend four times the money, how can I be truly guaranteed the clothing down NOT come from a sweat shop from another country? I have a hard time believing all the stores don't cut corners by using cheaper labor. AND, I can't afford to shop at these retailers. This is a universal problem and I don't have the answers. However, I do know what my clothing budget is, and I am kind of stuck.
Patti 1962 it's a very sad situation indeed. the onus of creating a sustainable global economy should be on the producers, not the consumers, especially when the average consumer cannot afford to shop with a sustainable mindset. that's capitalism for you, i suppose. also, i agree that i have a hard time believing that most of the more "high end" stores don't still use cheap labor. i try to do most of my clothes shopping at vintage or used clothing stores and i always donate my clothes as well. just make sure to wash before you wear! haha.
Emily Jackson there's loads of ethical brands out there but you'll most likely have to order online. Just Google ethical clothing brands. Places like Armed Angels, Veja, By Blanch, Kuyichi, Mud Jeans, Reformation, Funktion Schnitt, Good Guys Don't Wear Leather etc. Eco Age is a great resource for finding information on this sort of stuff.
I shop in second hand stores constantly. I recently found my new favourite shorts from Versace for 25 bucks. :)
Hello, Justine. I came across with this video of yours and i find it very interesting that it is so up to date even 2 years from its release.
I am from Portugal and we used to have an healthy textile industry up until we entered the EU. Its true we didn't have so many stores, but we had stores directed to the upper classes and stores to the middle classes with a satisfactory quality and reasonable prices. And for the poorer there were people who sold low quality garments in fairs across the country.
Back, before the 80's sewing your garments was a common skill and every house had a sewing machine.
Then globalisation came and due to the open maket in the EU we watch brands like Zara, Mango, Red Globe, Benetton, H&M (some years latter) arrive and we were glad to have modern garmets on affordable prices to buy. Back in the 90's the price/quality of these brands was good. I bougth some pieces on a Mango store back in 2003 and I stil have them and they are very up to date and were made out of good material and with a good sewing technique.
But in the last 10 years I have been noticing that quality is decreasing and that they don't keep a collection for long ... never new that's called fast fashion.
But it really bothered me buying poor quality garments that don't last for a season, even if they were cheap.
Back in 2011 we had a really hard time in Portugal and our incomes were cut and most of us had to reinvent ourselves to manage our lifes. And that included to figure out how to get properly dressed for work without spending tons of money with low quality garments and to really think if that peace was really necessary.
And for me it also meant trying to do my own clothing because I'm a petite sized in my 50's and I don't really identify with Zara and Mango offers any more - at least most of them.
Nowadays I try to buy national quality brands (and in Portugal we do have some), especially in sales season, buy less and sew more. I took sewing technique classes and modelling classes, but before I spend about a year watching RUclips videos and I learned a lot.
Nowadays I'm proud that I can make fitted garments for me, with national fabrics. It's not cheaper than buying clothes on a store, on the contrary, it requires an investment on a good sewing machine, on a serger machine, it's time consuming but at least I can wear a fitted piece with a good finishing that will last for long, so, I can say I contribute to a sustainable way of life, in a small scale, but I do. And I have lots of friends and acquaintances that are on the same path.
It's still hard to find good quality fabrics because the manufacturers sell most of its finest products to foreign clients, but an interesting phenomenon is happening: due to the pandemic of COVID19, we stoped and realized that we were strongly dependent on foreign providers and I thik there is an effort on reintroducing national industry again, people aren't buying so heavily (there is some fear abut the economy status after the great confinement). I think this is happening across many countries in Europe, so I'm kind of hoping that people stop and rethink their consumption habits.
Thank you for your video.
All the best.
Thanks for the insightful comment!
I love how passionate you are about the fashion industry; thank you for bringing awareness to topics like this 💓💓💓💓 much love
Can I just say, I think your videos are so well researched, you obviously put a lot of thought and diligence into them. I just love your content.
Thanks 🌞
High quality content. Thank you!!
Oh, Justine!! THANK YOU for making this video!!! You have such a gift for stating things simply and clearly. I am so grateful to have discovered your videos. I love Art, Fashion, Design & Architecture... and your videos are ... they're perfect. You are so lovely. I find such inspiration listening to all the knowledge you share with us. AND, you are funny, intelligent and soothing (I know that last adjective isn't one we equate with fashion, but in this era of high stress, it's very very dear to my heart). That you shine a spotlight on what is wrong with the industry, in such concise and not overly inflated terms, makes it easier for people to hear and assimilate. I WANT TO KNOW THESE THINGS! I want to know WHERE to shop and where NOT to shop. I want to make a difference! I think a lot of us do. So, thank you for helping us.Great blessings on your life! Please continue to make these wonderful clips.
Another problem is - even if the label says the garment was made somewhere other than Bangladesh, all that means is that *part* of the construction (the final stage of construction, I think) was done somewhere other than Bangladesh...
So, for example, the bulk of the work could be done somewhere with minuscule wages, but the collar, or something, could get sewn on in Italy, so that the label can read "Made in Italy"....
Thank you for doing your part to make the world a more ethical and informed place! I've been sending friends to your channel as they update their wardrobes and "break up" with fast fashion.
We do have local talents and manufactures as well
Yes! And they are usually well trained and have high skills.
I am so glad that you have addressed this issue! Thank you Justine.
I set myself a challange to only BUY sustainable fashion. If possible from the netherlands (no transport) and no Mixed fabrics. Not as easy as I would have thought
Vanessa Kountul I would love to hear how you are doing it and where you buy, if you don’t mind sharing. (I’m in the USA so would have to have shipped from the Netherlands, though.
Not sure if the ship international but fair indigo is fantastic quality.
How do you determine if it's ethical vs sustainable or both and how do you find out? In the US, any advice on how to actually see both of those factors. For example, Everlane is ethical but not yet classed sustainable....
One more question. When we buy designer, is that ethical, or sustainable, or... Are we simply paying for a logo? I just bought a Gucci Marmont wallet and it's made in Italy. I'm quite curious how the $620 price tag would break down for a good like this.
How i go about it: i Google for sustainable fashion in the netherlands. Daria Andronescu has Also made helpfull Lists. Then I go to the website of the brands and gather as much information as I can about the filosophy, manufacturing and the owners of the compagny. I check News about the brands online and the fabrics and labour they use. Then for every item that looks interesting to me, I check the fabrics. Mixed fabrics are hard to recycle. If I am not misstaken linen, lyocell and hemp are good choices. Wool, if its recycled and the same Goes for cotton. You have to pay attenties to How fabrics are produced. I Also like to look for brands that re use fabrics and leather. And in my experience, the big brand, just like fashion do next to nothing for the environment
Thank you for continuing to talk about this. It's something I only thought about tangentially before hearing about it from you and it's so important.
Justine: Why is it so difficult to find natural fiber fabrics now? For people with eczema, synthetic fabrics make the problem worse. Not just fast fashion but even with middle and upper tier brands natural fabrics have nearly disappeared. Even "natural adjacent" fabrics such as rayon and modal can be irritating. Along that line, what happened to ramie fabrics? There was so much of it in the 90's but I haven't seen any ramie in years. I've started buying mens clothes and altering them just because they are more likely to be 100% cotton.
It's so sad. :( The synthethic fibers also don't allow the skin to breathe. (Also a problem if you don't have allergies.)
It's all about the profit.
Answer is Oil lobby
This is extremely important and useful to know for consumers. I sew my own apparel I have for years but I also work as a professional pattern maker and can tell you fast fashion is truly damaging to the planet and the consumer.
As always a thoroughly informative and well put together video. Love you justine!💞
My mother works in a company that does contracts with Escada, Hugo Boss, Marc Cain for coats and dresses mainly. I keep hearing how hard it is to steam garments made with cheap fabric and how much work goes into making them SEEM ok for the quality test. And yes, the clothes are made in almost sweatshop-like conditions, I’ve been there and seen it. They also have a little shop where you can buy next season designs made from the leftover materials but without the tags of course 😂
Interesting Justine! Thank you . I think its a great topic to discuss. These are the things most of us really don’t think too much about. I was just in H & M yesterday and thought HOW on earth can these clothes be made so cheap????
May I ask in which country? H&M is considered expensive in some parts of Europe.
Its interesting that you ask that, but in a tangent I was surprised that H&M is considered a "luxury" brand in the Philippines when I visited my relatives.
I had no idea it was considered expensive or even luxury somewhere :O I am from the Czech Republic. It is super cheap here and the quality shows it quite clearly.
I am in the USA
The prices in the biggest retail brands H&M, Zara etc. are the same everywhere. For instance, in Bulgaria the prices are the same as in western Europe although they have much lower costs for rent and staff salaries. So, yes, some of the clothing lines of these brands are considered luxury, especially in small towns.
I always love these videos on fast fashion. I love how clear and straightforward you are, and I love your insights from your point of view as a creator and as someone who is in the fashion industry
Thank you!
I really appreciate your videos.. They are thw most valuable.. Great effort Justine😍😍
Excellent. Thank you for this. A lot of the people I know who wear fast fashion don't really know or haven't stopped to think. This video breaks it down in a simple accessible way that is share-able. Merci Justine!
Thanks for sharing this with information!! We need to be educated as consumers and appreciate you taking the time to do this!!!
Thank you for your compassionate portrayal of the garment workers in Bangladesh, and all others who are still not paid a fair wage for their labor. It is heartbreaking that the building collapsed on the factory workers, and that steps have been taken to greatly improve the working conditions, primarily the safety of the workers.
Well researched and thought provoking. Thank you.
Very concise and precise.
I understand the lack of ethics part behind Fast Fashion. However, I also do understand that I can’t afford to spend beyond a certain amount on my clothes, bags, shoes etc. (when my profession and the activities that I am into require me to wear different clothes and accessories) and which is why I don’t mind grabbing a tee for $5. However, I try my best to buy everything “Made in USA” (coz I know for a fact that labor/services in the US is expensive (compared to the Asian or Latin American countries).
The sickening aspect of social media (besides TV) is that the so-called hardworking bloggers/vloggers ALWAYS promote constant buying of ridiculous number of products to make ourselves feel better. But the truth is constant-buying and earnings do not go hand in hand, so people tend to find cheaper alternatives, and embrace Fast Fashion without their knowledge.
Can all the bloggers/vloggers, policy makers of every country and companies/brands learn to be ethical first? Then consumers will be ethical automatically.
Millions of people buy clothes that are considered by many to be 'fast fashion' because that is all they can afford. I have heard that people on welfare are now having trouble buying clothes from resale shops because the prices have gone up so much (increase in wages/electricity, etc). There is no way they could afford 'ethically' made clothing at retail prices.
Yes, working conditions in factories can be awful, as in the beginning of the industrial revolution. Building codes can be loose and inspectors can be paid off. There are local cultural and political factors at play as well.
Everyone should feel free to make the choices their conscience dictates, but don't look down at those who can only afford 'fast fashion' - or even second hand 'fast fashion', or lambaste those companies who are trying very hard to nudge 3rd world partners into the current century. These things don't change on OUR timetable, but on theirs.
Jhw Webster Great points! While many have higher wages, they also have a very high cost of living. No simple answers here. Sadly,
Agreed! I live in the middle of Europe in Hungary. So not from a third world country. Still I work 8 hours from monday to friday and i earn 230 €. Im happy if i can buy clothes from h&m or Reserved. Before i began to work i could only buy clothes from chinese clothes shops. I bet some of those ppl who make these fast fashion clothes earn more than me. 🙄 And no i dont want to only dress from thrift shops or spend my whole salary for an ethical clothing and starve to death. So God bless h&m reserved mango mohito etc.
Jhw Webster I agree with you but she already stated in her previous video that she doesn't judge the people who buy fast fashion but the companies behind it.
I addressed that in the last sentence of my response regarding 'fast fashion' retailers.
Jhw Webster Sorry,I took it the wrong way,I thought you were accusing her personally for being judgemental. My bad~
Thank you, Justine. Again precise, and informative - and also important you remain cool, calm and collected. Its so easy to become agitated and unobjective which distracts from the actual point. There are more appaling facts about fast fashion apart from the inhumane working conditions - for instance the pollution (water/resources/waste) and usage of pesticides on the fabric. I stopped buying from the usual suspects about three yrs ago, whenever I pass a shop in a mall now I notice the chemical smell... Luckily, I highly enjoy sewing. But it has also humbled me, realising how long it takes from pattern to completed garment.
The trouble is that there is little alternative especially on a budget! I know capsule wardrobes work in general but it’s not enough.
Second-hand stores and flea markets could be a solution.
tibokca already doing that
I think this is a logical fallacy. Poor quality costs much more in the long run. If you can’t afford new, buy used and learn to repair things.
- - It's what people used to do before relying on cheap fast fashion.
- - let’s put it this way: you buy 3 coats at £30 each and switch them up every other day or buy one coat at £90. When you don’t have £90 on the spot but do need a coat, you go for the £30 one. Having several cheaper ones do actually last a while because you change them often so wear and tear is minimal. If you cannot wait and save for one more expensive item, it will do.
This video is amazing. You are amazing. I dont know why it took me so long to see one of your videos but now I simply cant stop. Bravo!
one of the best videos!
I have been watching your videos but finally subscribed when I saw this video. Thank you for highlighting this important topic.
what a coincidence, i saw this week the documentary film on Netflix "the true cost"
Thanks for talking about this Justine, it's so important. People need to know about it. Using your platform to inform people is very admirable, thank you
I am from Bangladesh, thankyou for talking about this issue.
I'm really thankful about this kind of videos. It is super necessary raise awareness about Fast Fashion industry and its consequences. Thank you, Justine!
So can you recommend some non fast fashion brands.
Lhamo Chodon Daria Andronescu here on yt has some great videos highlighting brands as well as a list of like 70 brands on her website
The cheapest way to shop ethically is by thrifting used clothes. I recommend watching Kristen Leo on youtube, or the movie "The True Cost". I unfortunately don´t have any list over ethical brands. Hope my answer helped!
I highly recommend apps like Depop and Poshmark. People sell thier old clothes (for less than retail) so it’s super affordable and you can find a lot of great brands for really good prices and even sell your old clothes. People also sell make up and home decor. Also if you want to save more on poshmark you can use the referral code : LILYTHEROSE for $10 off.
Excellent video Justine. TY for giving us an update on whats been happening in the fashion industry. Just recently, I believe workers placed notes in clothing shipped to Zara stores about not being paid for their work. So even though some standards have improved, wages are still a concern. To this day I do not shop at many of these retailers.
Thanks, Justine, I find it very difficult identifying fast fashion brands that aren't so obvious due to a higher price tag. For example, brands like Boden, Marc O'Polo, Triangle, Taifun or Vertbaudet (for kids) aren't very cheap but they constantly issue new collections so I wonder which category they would fall in? I have started buying eco-conscious clothing brands as well but found their sizing erratic (especially for larger sizes) and the selection very limited.
Hi justine! hope you get to read this, I´ve been very interested in this topic, and the education you give is definetly encouraging, and eye opening, this video is definetly helpufull, and I lke to share the fast fashion experience from a "poor" country. I live in Colombia, South America, and as you may know this is not a developed country, some years ago I used to buy clothes from some stores that are local (so i thought) , they weren't exactly cheap but were ok. In the last years and due to agreements with other countries we've seen brands like Zara, H&M, Pull & Bear, Bershka, Mango etc. come here and take a lot of the market (I have to say that these brands here aren't cheap at all, except H&M, specially Mango and Zara are super expensive, like they were luxury brands, it took me years to realize they were not at all) So having in mind all of this fast fashion thing I moved back to the "local" brands, just to find out that the clothes they sell are made in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and other asian countries too. that made me sad and mad, 'cause it feels like you have no where to buy; even the cheapest things come from there. I've been looking some little bussiness that are made in Colombia, the thing is: they are super expensive!!!, wich I think is so sad, because the majority of the people here can't afford things made in our own country, that have incredible quality, where people is fairly paid etc. so lots of people just HAVE to go and buy these fast fashion clothes. And I think all of that is beacause goverments don't support local production, and just let these huuuge companies come in here to destroy local companies and just keep feeding savage capitalism. What do you think consumers in this position should do??? just wanted to share, thx for reading, love your vids
Very very useful indeed
You're so intelligent, not just about fashion but about many topics that make up the fashion industry. I love your videos, they give so much insight. And from all the videos I have watched of yours, I love that you put emphasis on quality. That what these poor workers and large corporations are putting out to sell not only lacks quality and won't last for the consumer but hurts the workers. It's really a bad situation for both sides in the long run. Hopefully in the future more people will realize this and take action.
Thank you so much for this video. People are so concerned with Cruelty free brands, but don't bat an eye at sweatshops that produce their clothes.
Thank you so much for producing these kinds of videos. It sure has made me buy less clothing especially if I truly don't need it. But more importantly it makes me take a look at where the garment was made and then decide to buy or not, even if I do need it. Keep these videos coming!
I’d rather buy second-hand good quality garments than fast fashion. But I’m old and I hope, wiser.
Very thought provoking, Justine. It seems like we are caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to Bangladesh. Support fast fashion and they eat. Don't support it and they eat less. I've been "trying" to purchase USA made clothing, but it's really hard to source. I've found Mimumaxi and Heirloom Clothing that make USA clothing (and do a lot of dresses and modest tops, I'm trying to dress more modestly while staying cool in the humidity and heat of Texas!). The prices are higher, so I buy fewer items. I have also loved thrifting, so I still go to thrift stores and buy used, although I'm sure quite a few of those items were made with near slave labor. Keep up your crusade on Fast Fashion. Maybe we can solve the problem by buying ethically sourced items. I'm with you on this one.