We should all be feminists. True.
But what does feminism even mean? Feminism believes that women should have the same rights and opportunities as men in all areas – social, economic, or political. And why shouldn’t they? If you are a woman reading this, chances are you agree and identify as a feminist too!
So, here’s a question – if you are a feminist shouldn’t your life choices, including your fashion choices, be aligned with your feminist values?
Did you know that about 80% of the workers in the garment industry are women, and most of them are young? In Bangladesh, the second-largest clothing exporter globally, the official minimum wage for a worker is 12,500 taka ($113 or ₹ 8,950). Not only does this amount fall short of a decent living wage, but many workers are not paid even this much. They have to work overtime, often without pay. And it gets worse. Their working conditions are pathetic; they don’t get any health benefits, are often abused and mistreated at work and its nearly impossible for them to get out of this poverty trap.
In short, women are highly exploited in the fashion industry. And who is the culprit? Majorly, it’s the fast fashion industry. Every time we buy from fast fashion brands, we are indirectly funding this exploitation. We are basically saying to them – we’ll turn a blind eye to your exploitation as long as we can buy ₹200 t-shirts and ₹999 jeans. But then, can we really call ourselves feminists?
The fast fashion industry has also unleashed a wave of mindless overproduction, overconsumption, and waste, reflecting a broader culture of materialism and disposability. It is harming the planet. E.g., people don’t have access to clean drinking water, thanks to all the toxins dumped in rivers by garment factories. Who is suffering the most because of it? Again, the women – the poor ones & women of color, as they are the most vulnerable to climate change and its impact.
Being a feminist requires just simple lifestyle tweaks and a shift in the mindset. Nothing groundbreaking.
- Start with avoiding fast fashion. We’ve already discussed at length how fast fashion is a feminist issue. It’s the women who are most impacted by all the problems plaguing this industry. So instead of fast fashion, choose pre-owned clothing stores (like charity shops, second hand websites) or clothing rental for occasion wear.
- Buy less. We already have too many clothes in our wardrobes. We don’t need more.
- Call out to fast fashion brands and demand that they pay fair wages to their workers. We need to be the voice of those who can’t raise their voices. They have families to feed and need a roof to survive. Their hands are tied and mouths shut. But we can demand change. Use the power of your purse and social media to bring the change. Reward brands that are doing good, flag the ones who aren’t.
- Support sustainable fashion brands set out to bring positive change. Companies that create beautiful clothing, jewelry, bags and other fashion items but at the same time pay the workers fairly, provide them good working conditions, and use eco-friendly materials while also keeping the life-cycle of the items in mind before producing them. For example, choosing sustainable fashion brands like Armedangels or Recolution over fast fashion brands.
True feminism isn’t just about our life choices but also about how they affect other women. Social justice, climate justice, women rights – they are all deeply connected and intersectional.
So, let’s be mindful with every purchase – a pair of jeans can either improve someone’s life or make it worse. Choose wisely
