One year on from the Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh, which killed over 1,000 garment workers, Fashion Revolution Day is challenging people to wear an item of clothing inside out, look at the label and ask the brand “who made your clothes?” People will be doing this in over 60 countries, sharing images & stories on social media using the #insideout hashtag.
Clothing suppliers should be able to tell us who made the clothes we buy, whether they're made here in the UK or abroad. Here are two shirt makers in India who are proud of the work they do making shirts for the UK market.
 |
| 'Shankar - supremely skilled tailor' |
.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*) |
| Manju – tailor (and big fan of the Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni) |
Clare Lissaman, who sits on the board founder of the Ethical Fashion Forum and the Advisory Committee of Fashion Revolution Day and is a founder of Arthur & Henry, whose Indian-tailored shirts I've mentioned on this blog before, sent me these images of two of the tailors who make their shirts.
Clare told me, "We know who makes our shirts. And as you can see from the pictures they are proud to tell others. They were keen to design and print out the signs themselves."
If the suppliers of your clothes cannot tell you who made your clothes how can you be sure their workers are well-treated and paid and working in safe conditions? Should you be buying from them?
I try to avoid purchasing clothes made in SE Asia. I do this by buying US-made vintage ivy sports jackets, suits and outer wear. UK knitwear from Smedley and various Scottish Shetland knitwear manufacturers. US-made shirts from Brooks Brothers and Mercers. US and UK made shoes.
ReplyDeleteI try to avoid purchasing clothes made in SE Asia. I do this by buying US-made vintage ivy sports jackets, suits and outer wear. UK knitwear from Smedley and various Scottish Shetland knitwear manufacturers. US-made shirts from Brooks Brothers and Mercers. US and UK made shoes.
ReplyDelete