April 19, 2022
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On April 24, 2013, a building collapsed near Dhaka, Bangladesh. This building was the Rana Plaza, where thousands of people worked sewing clothes that would be found at low prices here. Today we offer you an update of the article we wrote 5 years ago.
This tragedy, in addition to being the deadliest workplace disaster, reminds us that behind our clothes are people who risk their lives for meager wages. Both in the manufacturing of the finished product and in the dyeing process... The fashion industry is a deadly industry. The word is strong but true. As for Rana Plaza, 1138 people were killed and more than 2500 injured.
The problem in all of this is that women are the primary victims. Indeed, more than 90% of poor workers are women. Most are very young (18 to 24 years old). They sew our clothes because, after all, sewing is necessarily a feminine task.
The annual dividends of Amancio Ortega, the founder of the clothing brand Zara, correspond to more than 800,000 times the average salary of an Indian garment worker.
Oxfam - A different world is possible report
I'm taking part in the change!
Fast-fashion leads to poverty
9 years after this tragedy, one can question the impact of Rana Plaza on our clothing consumption. To be honest, this tragedy was a wake-up call for many consumers. An awareness to consume differently. But like a soufflé, it deflated. You might say "oh you're pessimistic", but it's true. From the fast-fashion industry, we have moved to ultra-fast fashion. Where factories manage to produce collections in less than a week, working 6 days a week more than 12 hours a day. From there to linking it to modern slavery, there is only one step! Child labor, the Uyghurs, we can continue the list.
The Bangladeshi workforce sees its salary stagnate around 80 euros per month
THE ETHIQUE SUR L’ETIQUETTE COLLECTIVE
Let's use our power to change things!
The eternal question: what is the price of a garment? Should we only consider the financial aspect or also the cost of living for the person who worked on it? We're not even talking about a living wage; that's not taken into account. But if we find a women's underwear for €3, considering the cost of raw materials, labor, and the retailer's margin, there's a problem. I've always told myself to consume less but consume better. Easy to say, I know. And yet, it's truly the key to our change. Avenues for responsible consumption are proposed, but if you've read this article, the journey has already begun!
We invite you to read the Oxfam article, which already provided an assessment last year and also opens up reflection.
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