Globally, 40 million people are forced into slavery due to poverty as the driving force; many of which are forced into labor trafficking in the fashion industry.
Nike is a $100 billion dollar company that refuses to pay over 4000 garment workers $2 million in wages and benefits owed since 2020. Shein employees, if a single mistake is made are fined two thirds of their daily wage. Which is about 3% per item, and the average cost of each item is $8… you do the math.
Around the world, people are forced to work long hours under brutal conditions with no pay; certainly not a job any of my friends would take. These conditions are unlike anything most people can fathom, mainly because they are so occupied getting the most amount of clothes, for the cheapest price.
“My fingers were bleeding, but they forced me to work grueling hours for less than two dollars a day,”
Nasreen Sheikh was just 10 years old when she wound up in a textile industry as a child laborer. They had her working 12-15 hours a day with no labor rights. The rules were simple, no pay unless they finished the entire job. Oftentimes, they played loud music to keep workers from falling asleep and splashed cold water on their faces to wake them up.
Would you take this job? If not, would you support a friend working there? Most likely, your answer is no.
Every day, you have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those who constantly suffer under the demands of these leading fast-fashion brands. You can do this by not only investing in your clothing, but also take care of it so that the pieces that these workers paid with their blood, sweat, and tears, don’t end up in the landfill.
Like I said, money talks. Please don’t say that you have to buy from these fast-fashion brands because it’s “affordable” because I’m calling bullsh*t. Your local thrift store is overflowing with the same trending options you’re trying so desperately trying to save a buck on (and it’s probably even cheaper there.)
I guess all I’m trying to say is, stop supporting slavery; there are other options.