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In 1911 a fire in a
garment factory in New York killed 500 workers. Employees were working
in inhumane, unhealthy conditions as well as being poorly paid. You'd
think almost 100 years later that things might have improved, but
workers worldwide are still subjected to sweatshop conditions.
However, fashion can be both stylish and ethical. Eco-friendly products are becoming more and more popular as we are becoming more and more aware of the social, environmental and economical factors that are affecting our world. Avoiding polluting substances, such as dyes, using bio-degradable substances and recycling materials are all key to being eco-friendly. A handful of labels incorporating eco-friendly policies... People Tree – The Fair Trade fashion pioneer  ‘For every beautiful garment People Tree makes, there’s an equally beautiful change happening somewhere in the world’. People Tree is a company that helps the workers and the environment through sticking to their ‘Eco Policy’; - To promote natural and organic farming. - To avoid polluting substances. - To protect water supplies - To use biodegradable substances where possible. - To recycle materials where possible. People Tree makes a difference to those that need it. ‘People use the money they earn to educate their children at the KTS primary school (which People Tree funds 50% of), which is something that they could never have dreamed of previously.’ www.peopletree.co.uk  Red Mutha - specializes in creating one-off, customized, recycled garments for those who dare to wear them! Red Mutha re-cycles old clothes into new funky pieces. They use methods such as appliqué and completely change the look of the garment. The pieces are suitable for those who want to be seen! They have a shop in Camden and also an eBay shop where you can find daring designs. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Red-Mutha  TopShop Topshop has a link with fair trade also, selling a collection in their accessories section of ‘fairly traded’ bags. The bags feature patterned designs for casual outings. They are woollen and at a reasonable price. Fair trade is beginning to make a big impact on the high street with more and more shops integrating organic and fair trade ranges into their collections - definitely one to keep an eye on. http://www.topshop.com Marks & Spencer In 2006 Marks & Spencer’s did a survey which showed that almost a third of shoppers had put clothes back on the rail because of concerns of their origins. Further research also claimed 78% of shoppers wanted to know more about the way clothes were made, including use of chemicals and conditions in the factories producing the goods. 
"Customers want good value, but they care more than ever how food and clothing products are made." Said M&S chief executive Sir Stuart Rose. http://www.marksandspencer.com By Sarah Taplin Share this Article:                        Advertisement |
